Any caravan or trailer intended to circulate must necessarily be assured at least in civil liability, in the same way as land motor vehicles (article L211-1 of the Insurance Code). The insurance must be taken out before any entry into circulation to comply with the legal obligations in terms of automobile civil liability insurance.
Attention ! This insurance does not always go hand in hand with the insurance of the towing vehicle, it mainly depends on its weight.
As a reminder, a caravan whose GVW does not exceed 500 kg does not have to have its own registration document, only a number plate identical to that of the vehicle towing it. On the other hand, a caravan whose PTAC is above 500 kg must have its own gray card and registration plate. Learn more.
Insurance for caravans under 750 kg
A hitched caravan weighing less than 750 kg is most often covered in civil liability (+ defence-appeal) by the same contract assurance that the towing vehicle. It is nevertheless advisable to report its existence to the insurer so that it is mentioned in the special conditions, especially if the caravan has its own gray card (caravan weighing more than 500 kg). Some contracts exempt the insured from this formality: in this case, the mention must be checked in the general conditions.
The assistance services included in the insurance contract for the towing vehicle generally also provide coverage for the caravan or trailer weighing less than 750 kg. But beware: this is not systematic! A few rare contracts include more restrictive conditions (trailer weighing less than 500 or 350 kg).
If the insured wishes to subscribe more guarantees than simple civil liability (all-risk damage, climatic events, private content, accessories, etc.), it is sometimes possible that the insurer offers a Extended Warranty or a separate contract.
To know : the tractor vehicle + caravan road combination is referred to as a “running gear” by the Highway Code.
Insurance for caravans over 750 kg
Some auto insurance contracts include in the risk to be covered in civil liability the caravans or trailers of more than 750 kg and of less than 3.5 t. However, it is compulsory to report their presence to the insurer in order to adapt the contract and the premium accordingly.
However, most insurance companies do not offer this possibility and require the insured to take out a separate caravan contract (sometimes with a competing insurer, etc.). This contract will necessarily include the civil liability insurance in circulation, but also possibly additional guarantees also covering the unhitched caravan:
- Damage following an accident, collision;
- Climatic events, natural disasters;
- Fire, explosion…;
- Theft, vandalism;
- Support;
- Juridic protection ;
- Contents and awning;
- Special accessories and fittings;
- Etc.
Insurance for residential caravans
If the trailer is unhitched and is not not intended for circulation (only at home), motor vehicle liability insurance is not compulsory. However, specific civil liability insurance may be required for the practice of caravanning (by campsite owners or in national forests).
The insurance of an unhitched caravan approaches a multi-risk home traditional, including guarantees such as fire, water damage, glass breakage, theft… in addition to civil liability guarantees allowing the repair of damage caused to others.
If the caravan insurer is different from the vehicle insurer
It may happen that a caravan is insured for automobile civil liability both by the contract for the towing vehicle and the specific “caravan” contract taken out with another insurer. This particular case does not pose a problem as long as the road combination is not involved in a traffic accident (for assistance, it is most often the insurer of the towing vehicle who performs the service).
But if the vehicle and its trailer / caravan are involved in an accident, the question arises as to which insurer should bear the consequences of the loss. Two possibilities then open up:
The insurers of the vehicles involved in the accident are all signatories of the IRSA convention
In this case, the insurer of the towing vehicle assumes joint responsibility for the consequences of the loss and the compensation for damage to third parties. The loss is then divided between the two insurers of the articulated assembly in proportion to the weight of the trailer:
- If the caravan weighs less than 750 kg: the loss is distributed 100% to the insurer of the towing vehicle;
- If the caravan weighs between 750 and 3,500 kg: the loss is divided 70% to the insurer of the towing vehicle and 30% to the insurer of the trailer;
- If the caravan weighs more than 3,500 kg: the loss is divided 50% to the insurer of the towing vehicle and 50% to the insurer of the trailer.
Find out more about the IRSA convention (the relevant article is 2.5).
One of the insurers of the vehicles involved in the accident is not a signatory to the IRSA convention
The victim can bring a direct action against the insurer of the towing vehicle or against that of the trailer. The one of the two who bears the repair of the damage then has a right of recourse against the insurer of the other part of the articulated assembly or “against any other party who would ultimately bear the responsibility for the damage” (article R211 -4-1 of the Insurance Code).
List of car insurance including guarantees for caravans and trailers
Car contracts including by default civil liability and damage cover for caravans weighing less than 750 kg
List of auto insurance contracts including by default, for caravans and trailers weighing less than 750 kg, civil liability guarantees, defense / recourse, assistance, fire, theft, miscellaneous damage, etc.:
| car insurer | Contract name | Guarantees included for caravans under 750 kg | Possibility of a separate caravan contract? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allianz | Allianz car insurance | RC + defense / recourse + damages | Yes |
| Allsecur (Calypso) | Auto Allsecur | RC + defense / recourse + damages | Nope |
| AON | Standard Auto | RC + defense / recourse + damages | Nope |
| AXA | My car | RC + defense / recourse + damages | Yes |
| Credit Mutuel (ACM) | Auto Credit Mutuel | RC + defense / recourse + damages | Nope |
| Generali | Auto Generali | RC + defense / recourse + damages | Yes |
| Groupama | Conduct | RC + defense / recourse + damages | Yes |
| Macif | Automotive | RC + defense / recourse + damages | Yes |
| MAIF | VAM car-motorcycle | RC + defense / recourse + damages | Nope |
| Thelem Assurances | Automotive | RC + defense / recourse + damages | Yes |
Car contracts including by default only civil liability for caravans weighing less than 750 kg
List of car insurance contracts including by default, for caravans and trailers weighing less than 750 kg, the only civil liability, defense / recourse and assistance guarantees:
| car insurer | Contract name | Guarantees included for caravans under 750 kg | Possibility of a separate caravan contract? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bee Insurance | Vector | RC + defense / recourse | Yes |
| AcommeAssure | AcommeAuto | RC + defense / recourse | Nope |
| april | Private car | RC + defense / recourse | Nope |
| Areas Insurance | Private automobile | RC + defense / recourse | Yes |
| Insurance 2000 | Automotive Group | RC + defense / recourse | Nope |
| Banque Populaire (BPCE Insurance) | People’s Bank Car | RC + defense / recourse | Yes |
| Caisse d’Epargne (BPCE Assurances) | Car Savings Bank | RC + defense / recourse | Nope |
| Crédit Mutuel Arkéa (Suravenir Assurances) | Auto Suravenir Assurances | RC + defense / recourse | Yes |
| Direct Insurance (Axa – Avanssur) | Auto Direct Insurance | RC + defense / recourse | Nope |
| Euro Insurance | Automotive | RC + defense / recourse | Nope |
| Eurofil | Auto | RC + defense / recourse | Yes |
| Gan | Auto Oxygen | RC + defense / recourse | Yes |
| GMF | Self Pass | RC + defense / recourse | Yes |
| Olive Tree | Automotive | RC + defense / recourse | Nope |
| The postal bank | Automobile La Banque Postale | RC + defense / recourse | Nope |
| Leocare | Automotive | RC + defense / recourse | Nope |
| MAAF | Multi-risk car insurance | RC + defense / recourse | Yes |
| MFA (Mutuelle Fraternelle d’Assurances) | Auto MFA | RC + defense / recourse | Yes |
| mma | Self MMA | RC + defense / recourse | Yes |
| Ornikar | Standard / Auto-Bonus | RC + defense / recourse | Nope |
| SMACL Insurance | Auto | RC + defense / recourse | Yes |
| Societe Generale (Sogessur) | Automotive | RC + defense / recourse | Yes |
| Wilov | Auto Wilov | RC + defense / recourse | Nope |
Car contracts including by default civil liability and damage cover for caravans weighing less than 500 kg
List of car insurance contracts that only include guarantees for caravans and trailers weighing less than 500 kg:
| car insurer | Contract name | Guarantees included for caravans under 500 kg | Possibility of a separate caravan contract? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matmut | Auto 4D | RC + defense / recourse + damages | Yes |
| Mutual of Poitiers | Multi-risk Automotive | RC + defense / recourse + damages | Yes |