Tow Bar and insurance

Emsylou replied on 25/08/2018 10:13

Emsylou

Posted on 25/08/2018 10:13

Hi everyone

I am hoping you can help out. We pick up our first caravan next weekend and have had to have a tow bar fitted to the car. After reading in a caravanning magazine that once you have a tow bar fitted it is classed as a modification to the car and you need to declare it with insurance provider. I have done this and was told that they can no longer insure the car because of this. I have just tried to take out insurance with another company to be told the same thing, however my argument with them was that they didn't ask if the car had any modifications and if I hadn't of asked if they needed this information then they would never have known. I then asked what would happen if had an accident whilst towing, would the policy have paid out and they said no it wouldn't have done. The insurance sites do not ask this question when trying to get quotes.

I guess my question is, who do you insure your cars with as I am struggling to find insurance for under £1000!!

I have done the insurance quote through the caravan club, but that didn't ask the question either, so do I just assume that because its through this website they will automatically know that you will have a tow bar?

I would really appreciate any help with this matter.

Thank you

15 replies

lornalou1 replied on 25/08/2018 19:54

lornalou1

Caravanner from Lancashire

Posted on 25/08/2018 19:54

been with admiral a couple of years and rang to say had towbar fitted, no problem and no charge. when renewal came stated on policy under modifications that towbar fitted.

SteveL replied on 26/08/2018 10:46

Member

SteveL

Motorhomer from Nottinghamshire

Posted on 25/08/2018 11:27 by Milothedog

I think an insurance company would be on dodgy ground if they tried to wriggle out of a claim if the policy holder had already declared they towed with the vehicle. surely its the same as declaring having a towbar fitted?

Then there is the argument that some makes are marketed and sold as tow cars, Land Rover being one......

With our latest policy with Churchill, I stated the car was un-modified from new and stressed the point at least twice to the agent on the phone that we tow a 7.3mtr caravan with the car. The answer being that's fine, your covered.

Posted on 26/08/2018 10:46

That's interesting. Ours is with Churchill and it states tow bar, under modifications on my confirmation. I suppose at least with that listed, they would find it hard to say they did not expect you to tow anything.

You mentioned the 7.3 m caravan, is that noted on the confirmation?

Milothedog replied on 26/08/2018 14:24

Member

Milothedog

Caravanner

Posted on 26/08/2018 10:46 by SteveL

That's interesting. Ours is with Churchill and it states tow bar, under modifications on my confirmation. I suppose at least with that listed, they would find it hard to say they did not expect you to tow anything.

You mentioned the 7.3 m caravan, is that noted on the confirmation?

Posted on 26/08/2018 14:24

We just got a quote from a compassion web site Steve, answered all the questions honestly but then I phoned them with the quote reference number and then stressed the point about having and towing a caravan.

The only thing I have read is the Caravan is covered 3rd party only when towing it. As far as I'm aware my Land Rover has always had a Towbar, dealer fitted and Genuine Land Rover part so its not been modified, as in added at a latter date.

See Here

SteveL replied on 26/08/2018 16:36

Member

SteveL

Motorhomer from Nottinghamshire

Posted on 26/08/2018 16:36

That might be the difference then. Although dealer fitted ours is not a Nissan tow bar. I did mention it when taking out the insurance and they said it needed to be noted as a modification, but there was no additional charge. The van is definitely covered though, as we had an arguement with a bus wing mirror and they sorted out the third party claim.