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Getting away from it all with a caravan is a very popular weekend and holiday activity in the UK. But do you know the insurance rules for car insurance when towing a caravan? There are a couple of issues that you need to be aware of if you are new to caravanning. Firstly, tow bars (and roof racks) are classed as modifications by insurers and need to be declared when you are applying for insurance cover. You should not assume that your car insurance policy covers you for towing a caravan, and if it does you should check whether your cover imposes any size/weight restriction. You should also check your driver's licence to see whether you are entitled to tow as the law was changed in 1997 and again in January 2013. If you passed your test before 1997 you can tow any outfit where the combined MAM (Maximum Authorised Mass) does not exceed 8,250kg. Maximum Authorised Mass means the maximum total weight that a vehicle or trailer is designed to carry. It is set by the vehicle's manufacturer and includes the vehicle weight and the maximum load it can carry. If you passed your test after 1997 you are restricted to a combined MAM of 3,500kg and the trailer MAM must not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle. Also you must pass an additional driving test in order to gain entitlement to category B+E (Car and Trailer combinations), and also for all larger vehicles. From January 2013 drivers passing a category B (car and small vehicle) test can tow small trailers weighing no more than 750kg and a trailer over 750kg as long as the combined weight of the trailer and towing vehicle is no more than 3,500kg Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM). Secondly, your car should be of a suitable size and weight for the caravan you wish to tow. Many people use Land rovers for the purpose, but you should still ensure that your Landover's insurance policy covers towing and therefore you should still declare modifications to the vehicle as describer earlier in this article. Remember also that your car insurance does not cover any damage to or theft from your caravan; it will only cover third party claims in the event of an accident. If you are new to caravanning the Camping and Caravanning Club website is a good source of information. As UK insurance house prices continue to rise, buying property to rent out is becoming an increasingly popular investment for people seeking an income and also to build up some pension security for the future. But it is important for a new landlord to understand both what their insurance obligations are and also how to protect themselves from the various potential problems that can arise from letting property to tenants. Income may not be steady, as there may be periods between tenancies when houses or flats are unoccupied. Properties or their contents can also suffer damage that has to be repaired. There are special types of let property insurance designed for landlords and these cover three main areas, two of them similar to those for owner-occupied properties. They are Landlords building, Landlords Contents and Landlords Liability insurances. The buildings insurance cover will cover for any damage to the structure of the property, such as from a fire or a flood, and will pay out to cover the cost of making repairs. It should also cover the cost of needing to rebuild the property in the event of extreme damage. If the property is let partly or wholly furnished or with kitchen appliances fitted then Landlords Content insurance will be needed. It will cover the cost of replacing or repairing furniture and fixtures such as carpets, kitchenware or electrical items like TVs. It does not cover tenants' own possessions. Landlords Liability insurance is designed to cover for any harm or injury suffered by tenants or their visitors, for which the landlord may be held responsible. In addition there are a number of extra items that landlords may wish to have covered by their insurance policies. The most important is Rent guarantee insurance to protect against a loss of income from unreliable tenants, and when the property is empty between tenancies. Legal expenses cover may also be needed to cover the landlord's costs if they are involved in a legal dispute with a tenant. Home emergency cover can also be useful to help get a problem such as the property's supply of gas, electricity, heating or water fixed quickly if it is disrupted.
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