Every year people discover that their caravan or motorhome insurance does not pay out the way they expected, because of something to do with how or where the vehicle was stored. Almost always, the underlying issue is a misunderstanding of what the policy actually requires. This is a quick walk through the things insurers genuinely care about — and the things they do not.
What "Storage" Means in Insurance Terms
When an insurer talks about storage, they mean the place where the vehicle lives when you are not actively using it. Most caravan and motorhome policies ask you to declare this address on the proposal form. A few policies use the term "garaged" to mean the same thing more loosely.
Importantly, the storage address you declare is binding. If you declare your driveway and then move the caravan to a friend's barn for the winter without telling the insurer, you have technically misrepresented your risk. In a claim situation, that can be enough for the insurer to refuse to pay or to reduce settlement.
The first rule, then, is simple: whatever your storage arrangement is, declare it accurately. If it changes, tell your insurer.
What Insurers Actually Look For
Insurers have a hierarchy of storage situations, roughly:
- Locked garage at home — best, but very few caravans fit in a UK domestic garage. Most motorhomes definitely do not.
- CaSSOA-accredited storage site (Gold or Platinum especially) — strongly preferred, usually attracts a discount.
- CaSSOA-accredited site at Silver level — well regarded.
- Secure compound, not CaSSOA accredited — often acceptable but assessed on details.
- Driveway with security devices (hitch lock, wheel clamp, alarm) — accepted by most insurers, often with no discount and sometimes with a minimum-security clause.
- Driveway, no security devices — often refused or loaded heavily.
- Street parking — many insurers will not quote at all.
Within categories, insurers look at specific features: 24/7 CCTV, electronic gates, perimeter fencing, on-site lighting, presence/absence of staff, and incident history at the site.
The Security Devices That Matter Most
Even on a secure compound, insurers will normally still expect you to use physical security devices on the vehicle itself. The two that come up nearly universally:
- Hitch lock — fitted to the coupling whenever the caravan is unhitched.
- Wheel lock (clamp or wheel lock) — fitted whenever the caravan is parked for any meaningful period.
Many insurers also like to see an alarm, ideally a Sold Secure or Thatcham category device. For motorhomes, factory-fitted alarms are usually sufficient if you can demonstrate they are armed.
Read your policy. The "security warranty" or "security clause" section is short, and it will tell you exactly what devices need to be in use, and when.
The Common Pitfalls
Most claim disputes around stored vehicles trace back to one of these:
1. Failing to declare a change of storage location. Moved your caravan to a different storage site? Tell your insurer. It only takes one phone call or an email.
2. Not actually fitting the security devices. A hitch lock left in the locker is not a hitch lock fitted. Some insurers can and do refuse claims when, on investigation, the devices were not in place at the time of theft.
3. Storing somewhere that is not actually secure. "Friend's field with a gate" is not a secure compound, and most insurers will treat it as outdoor storage at a private address. If you are paying for storage-site cover and storing in a field, you have a problem.
4. Not updating the policy when you upgrade the vehicle. A new awning, an aftermarket alarm, a roof box — these all change the risk. If they affect value materially, declare them.
5. Letting cover lapse during long-term storage. "It is not on the road, so I do not need insurance" is wrong. Theft, fire, storm and flood damage all happen to stationary vehicles. A laid-up policy variant is usually cheaper than full cover but still protects against the main static risks.
What to Tell Your Insurer About a New Storage Site
When you are switching to a new storage site, the underwriter typically wants to know:
- Site address and postcode
- CaSSOA rating (and grade if applicable)
- CCTV coverage (24/7? recorded? motion-triggered?)
- Perimeter security (fencing, gates, access control)
- Lighting
- Whether the site has an on-site presence
- Whether you will continue to use a hitch lock and wheel clamp
Gathering this information is faster than you might think — most well-run sites can answer these questions on a single phone call.
Final Thought
Insurance does not exist to surprise you. The policy wording tells you exactly what it requires. The proposal form tells you exactly what the insurer wants to know. The single biggest favour you can do yourself is to read both — and make a phone call to the insurer the moment your storage situation changes. Cheaper than discovering the gap at claim time.