The insurance trap many caravan owners miss

When Kenneth Gustafsson’s caravan got a flat tire, he hoped to get help towing it to a tire repair shop.

But he was denied.

– The car and caravan were insured with different companies, so the insurance did not apply, says Kenneth. News, reports and analyses in Sweden and around the world.

The summer holidays are just around the corner and it has become increasingly popular to hitch a caravan to your car to travel around Sweden. But it is important to read the insurance terms and conditions carefully, because when you need help the most, the so-called trip interruption insurance may not apply.

This is what happened to Kenneth Gustafsson when his caravan got a flat tire. Kenneth tells us:

– I had lent the caravan when they called and said they had a flat tire. When the car and caravan were insured with different companies, it was not possible to get help with the towing. I had to go and pick up the caravan myself. I don’t think many people know about this, says Kenneth Gustafsson.

Kenneth’s caravan was insured through Caravan Club with their partner Watercircles AB. The insurance company’s customer service confirms that trip interruption insurance is not available if the car and caravan are insured with different companies.

Sofia Ulriksson of the Consumer Insurance Agency confirms that the vast majority of insurance companies have this letter in their terms and conditions.

Significant limitation

It is the trip interruption insurance that regulates whether you will receive assistance with, among other things, towing and compensation for trip interruption. In order to be entitled to compensation against an insurance company in a similar dispute, it may be required that the terms of the insurance contain an unexpected and significant limitation.

– Most insurance companies do this with trip interruption insurance, so it is not “unexpected”. However, we think it is important that insurance companies draw the buyer’s attention to this when purchasing, that they point out that if the car and caravan are not insured at the same place, the trip interruption part is not covered, says Sofia Ulriksson.

Even though the fault with the caravan has nothing to do with the car, such as a flat tire, an insurance company can refuse to tow the caravan.

– It is therefore important that the customer is informed of this, especially if the insurance company can see that the policyholder does not have a car insured with them. A significant limitation should be stated in the pre-purchase information or stated in a consultation, says Ulriksson.

Many car owners choose so-called brand insurance, which often gives a certain car brand good terms. The same applies to caravans, which can get good insurance terms and lower premiums through Caravan Club, among other things. But insuring the vehicles with different companies can mean problems if an accident occurs.

Trip interruption insurance

Trip interruption insurance provides financial compensation if you are forced to cancel your trip due to unforeseen events:

■ In case of acute illness or accident during the trip.

■ If a close relative becomes seriously ill, injured or dies.

■ If you have to cancel due to a natural disaster, act of terrorism, war or epidemic (if the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises against traveling there).

Sources: Konsumenternas.se, If.se