Insurance whilst towing

Author
Discussion

dirty_dog

Original Poster:

676 posts

183 months

Tuesday 30th September 2014
quotequote all
Does anyone know of any restrictions to their car insurance whilst towing? I've spoke with Admiral making sure they know about the tow-bar now its renewal time on the car and queried with them the insurance situation when towing. They tell me if I tow any van over 23ft then my insurance is invalid!

Do most insurers have this kind of restriction or can I cover myself via some kind of 3rd party? I'd be interested to hear what you all do!

Thanks

surveyor

18,143 posts

191 months

Tuesday 30th September 2014
quotequote all
Never seen this before. My only restriction is that trailer only covered 3rd party.

Don't think I've ever seen anyone post anything good about Admiral.

R0G

4,998 posts

162 months

Tuesday 30th September 2014
quotequote all
https://www.gov.uk/towing-with-car/car-towing-weig...
Admiral stated the max legal towing length with a B category vehicle

dirty_dog

Original Poster:

676 posts

183 months

Tuesday 30th September 2014
quotequote all
Just spoken to them to clarify - got someone who knew what they were talking about. The 23ft limit is if you have breakdown cover for recovery purposes. They conformed the vehicle is covered as per policy and towed vehicle 3rd party (as long as its attached to the car.)


R0G

4,998 posts

162 months

Tuesday 30th September 2014
quotequote all
dirty_dog said:
Just spoken to them to clarify - got someone who knew what they were talking about. The 23ft limit is if you have breakdown cover for recovery purposes. They conformed the vehicle is covered as per policy and towed vehicle 3rd party (as long as its attached to the car.)
The limit length is THE LEGAL TOWING LIMIT = LAW so not insured if law is broken

dirty_dog

Original Poster:

676 posts

183 months

Tuesday 30th September 2014
quotequote all
R0G said:
The limit length is THE LEGAL TOWING LIMIT = LAW so not insured if law is broken
Yes they mentioned that which I understand and that makes total sense. I was bemused by the 23ft limit but I'm not sure the person that told me that even knew what a towbar was (probably).

surveyor

18,143 posts

191 months

Tuesday 30th September 2014
quotequote all
R0G said:
https://www.gov.uk/towing-with-car/car-towing-weig...
Admiral stated the max legal towing length with a B category vehicle
I have doubts on that towing length. There are plenty of 26ft caravans, which on the face of it would not be legally tow-able. Perhaps it does not include drawbars and the like.

ETA - the 7m does not include drawbar or coupling.

Edited by surveyor on Tuesday 30th September 15:25

TwigtheWonderkid

44,678 posts

157 months

Saturday 4th October 2014
quotequote all
R0G said:
dirty_dog said:
Just spoken to them to clarify - got someone who knew what they were talking about. The 23ft limit is if you have breakdown cover for recovery purposes. They conformed the vehicle is covered as per policy and towed vehicle 3rd party (as long as its attached to the car.)
The limit length is THE LEGAL TOWING LIMIT = LAW so not insured if law is broken
Not so. UK insurance gives tp cover for anything that's towed, regardless of it being within the law or not. In the same way as if you hit someone whilst speeding, the fact that you were acting outside the law would have no effect on the tp damage cover.

If you were towing an illegal trailer and had a crash, and your own car was damaged, and you had comp cover, it may have an effect on the claim for your own damage. That would depend on the circumstances of the crash and a whole load of otheh factors.