How many people inform their insurer that they tow

[Len_Cuff]

Following on from a previous thread I am intrigued to find out how many people tell their car insurance provider that they tow? I have gone through my policy documents with a fine thread and can find absolutely no mention of towing. I even went online and re-applied for the same policy and nowhere did it ask that question. My current insurer even offers breakdown cover for a caravan or trailer! I have reported my recent accident to my insurer and they didn't seem bothered that it was the caravan which caused the damage.

A friend of mine had an accident with a trailer, writing another car off and even though he had never told his insurer that he towed, they accepted the claim.

 

[colin-yorkshire]

hi Len. the trouble with the insurance industry is the way claims are investigated these days every ( or seemingly ) claim is looked at with a fine tooth comb for the possibility of fraud and or finding a get out clause so as not to pay out.
and as a consequence there have been many changes to small print of many policies. there are of course many good no quibble companies that offer good cover, but on the other hand some do seem a little shady and guilty of sharp practice.
as one does not know which is which when buying a policy, the best safe guard is to tell them everything and make sure the contract reflects the inclusions,
so in answer to your question yes tell them every time,if you have any modifications like a tow bar, alloy wheels (if not standard) ect I even tell them the type of trailer I tow so there is no misunderstanding, what the company does with this information it up to them, but there is less chance of a problem occuring in the event of a claim. if you have told them.

 

[Len_Cuff]

My policy states that I need to tell them if I make any cosmetic or performance changes - engine exhaust spoliers alloys etc but no mention anywhere about a towbar? I've told them I've changed my exhaust to stainless steel and they weren't a bit interested!!

 

[colin-yorkshire]

My policy states that I need to tell them if I make any cosmetic or performance changes - engine exhaust spoliers alloys etc but no mention anywhere about a towbar? I've told them I've changed my exhaust to stainless steel and they weren't a bit interested!!

yes but at least you told them as for a tow bar some companies do not see a bar as a modification but other do!! one would assume that if they don't they automatically accept 3rd party liability for a trailer but untill you claim who knows it is probably in the small print,

 

[ProfJohnL]

The problem is many insurers may not show any interest in such things until you try to make a claim, when as stated above they will go through the documents with a fine tooth comb, and if anything arises about which they were not informed, they may turn round and say the policy holder failed to inform the insurer of some relevant fact. Not only could they decline the claim, they could void the policy which has wide ranging implications for obtaining any insurance in the future.

The insurer should always ask an prospective policy holder if there are any other relevant facts that should be considered whilst preparing the proposal. The safest course of action is to inform your insurer you are having a tow bar fitted and you intend to tow, then they can't hold it against you.

 

[Len_Cuff]

Agreed but I can't find any mention of towing at all even in the small print, assuming I've got all the info!
Yet they offer breakdown recovery of trailers and caravans as an 'extra' on the policy?

 

[Damian]

The informing Insurance companies that you have a towbar fitted is a precautionary measure.
As you will be aware there is a clause in the small print that says words to the effect that you must be truthful and declare anything you know about, withholding information gives them the perfect opportunity to decline a claim.
They maynot be bothered by a towbar BUT YOU have told them , what they do with that information is their business.

 

[Len_Cuff]

If I'm honest, it never occurred to me to tell them as it already fitted when I bought the car and they never asked! No excuse just ignorance

 

[JonnyG]

tell them or not,? does anyone have it written on their insurance docs that they can tow a caravan? or that they have a towball fitted? when i told my insurance company of the time they said ok but afterwards i thought i don't have anything in writing so i phoned them again and was told they don't write it down on your docs!.no doubt some do but it does make you wonder do you need to inform them or not,as without it being written on your docs,you have no proof that you informed them...

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

tell them or not,? does anyone have it written on their insurance docs that they can tow a caravan? or that they have a towball fitted? when i told my insurance company of the time they said ok but afterwards i thought i don't have anything in writing so i phoned them again and was told they don't write it down on your docs!.no doubt some do but it does make you wonder do you need to inform them or not,as without it being written on your docs,you have no proof that you informed them...

They might not write down the fact that you have told them you tow, but all calls are recorded so the evidence is there if a matter goes to court.

 

[Len_Cuff]

Surely those calls are only kept for a certain time? What if you told them years ago and stayed with the same insurer? And of course you'd need to remember when and at what time you made the call!!

 

[JonnyG]

I'd like to think that too, but are they? and for how long are they kept if indeed they do keep them? i know i keep hearing telephone messages that say "this call MAY be recorded" and no doubt they might well say "are recorded" but it is not a legal obligation on their part so i'd like it in writing, proper confirmation or i;d like to know that it goes without saying that you are insured tow a trailer or caravan without the need to inform them

 

[Len_Cuff]

I'd like to think that too, but are they? and for how long are they kept if indeed they do keep them? i know i keep hearing telephone messages that say "this call MAY be recorded" and no doubt they might well say "are recorded" but it is not a legal obligation on their part so i'd like it in writing, proper confirmation or i;d like to know that it goes without saying that you are insured tow a trailer or caravan without the need to inform them

Well certainly in my mates case, the insurer paid up even though he hadn't told them about towbar/towing and in his case the car the trailer hit was written off!!

 

[Parksy]

The informing Insurance companies that you have a towbar fitted is a precautionary measure.
As you will be aware there is a clause in the small print that says words to the effect that you must be truthful and declare anything you know about, withholding information gives them the perfect opportunity to decline a claim.
They may not be bothered by a towbar BUT YOU have told them , what they do with that information is their business.

I'm with Damian on this one.
I tell the insurers that I have a towbar fitted and that I regularly tow a touring caravan, even when my policy comes up for renewal and I stick with the same insurer.
I know then that I've disclosed all the material facts that could affect my policy to the insurer, so in the event of a claim I'm covered no matter what.

 

[colin-yorkshire]

tell them or not,? does anyone have it written on their insurance docs that they can tow a caravan? or that they have a towball fitted?

Yes I have confirmation, but not on the documents. when I changed insurance this year from the LV that had "tow bar fitted" clearly marked on the policy documents under modifications, to my new one that did not I sent them an email stating I was returning the paperwork back to them as "seeing as how I tow a caravan with the car." I was worried this fact was not included in the documents, I recieved a email back stating this was not required as the company had included this fact on it's data base.
so now I have an email stating they know because I told them.

 

[Dustydog]

Len
We have been here before.
Three years ago both Saga and Aviva told a number of people , me included, they did not cover claims arising out of towing caravans. They said they only covered trailers.
I followed Aviva's complaints procedure. Initially they told me I hadn't been insured for two years as a caravan is not a trailer. Saga stated the same. After three months Aviva finally admitted an error in their employees understanding of what a trailer is . Yes I had been insured. By then I had moved to the CC.
Saga who started the rejections did apologise in an open letter published in a PCv edition confirming caravans are trailers.
Thus take it from me do as everyone else has on here and tell your insurer you have a tow bar and tow a caravan.
Somewhere in the small print of your policy will be a reference to "trailers".

 

[SteveW77]

The Schedule document for my insurance has the tow bar listed seperately as a modification.

 

[Len_Cuff]

I was pretty sure I'd read somewhere in the booklet I got when I first insured with this company but typically I lost it. Managed to find this online after searching for ages!!

"Section 3
Liability to third parties
What is covered
4
Your insurer will cover legal liability for the death of or
injury to any person, and damage to property, caused by:
-
You using or being in charge of your car
;
- a trailer, broken-down vehicle or caravan while attached to
your car"

 

[Dustydog]

I was pretty sure I'd read somewhere in the booklet I got when I first insured with this company but typically I lost it. Managed to find this online after searching for ages!!

"Section 3
Liability to third parties
What is covered
4
Your insurer will cover legal liability for the death of or
injury to any person, and damage to property, caused by:
-
You using or being in charge of your car
;
- a trailer, broken-down vehicle or caravan while attached to
your car"

It appears your Insurers have made an incorrect decision regarding repudiation of your claim. Challenge them .If they still refuse follow their written
complaints procedure.

 

[Len_Cuff]

Whoops, sorry if I mislead anyone! The 3rd party hasn't made the claim yet. I was just preparing the ground work just in case

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Len,

Each insurer issues their own terms and conditions, so you cannot assume that just because one adds those lines to their policy, does not mean they all do. Also do be careful because the T&C's governing your policy will be those in force at the time you took out or renewed the policy. Copies posted on line might not have been in force when you took out your policy.

They do have to cover what is required by the Road Traffic Act, but it is possible that some policies might for some preclude their customers from towing trailers.

I personally cannot see what the problem is with telling your insurer of intention to tow, its positive information rather than assumed, and it simply avoids any possible misunderstanding further down the line.

 

[Len_Cuff]

Agree completely, it was just ignorance on my part. When I change my current insurer I'll make absolutely certain to remember to tell them.

 

[Gafferbill]

I have never told my tow car insurance company that I tow a caravan or a 750kgs trailer.
I simply choose a company that includes Third Party caravan and trailer cover automatically and says so in my policy document.

 

[Len_Cuff]

I have never told my tow car insurance company that I tow a caravan or a 750kgs trailer.
I simply choose a company that includes Third Party caravan and trailer cover automatically and says so in my policy document.

Pure luck but I'm the same but after reading through this thread I think I'll tell them just to be doubly sure!!

Nice to know that there is at least one other person in the same situation as me

 

[Len_Cuff]

I have never told my tow car insurance company that I tow a caravan or a 750kgs trailer.
I simply choose a company that includes Third Party caravan and trailer cover automatically and says so in my policy document.

Out of interest, how do you find out if it includes this type of cover BEFORE you take the policy out? I always tend to do mine online.
My current one does include it but I didn't know that until I got the policy document/booklet!