Insurance companies that only require hitch lock
Hi. We have recently bought a new twin axle caravan that has the alko wheel locks supplied as standard.
Our current insurance company (RAC) require either a wheel lock on each axle OR a hitch lock.
I have no desire to start jacking up a twin axle caravan to fit the two alko wheel locks. I appreciate the great security they provide but the fitting process for a twin axle caravan is in my opinion cumbersome.
I have bought the latest Alko hitch lock for the caravan and that is sufficient for our current insurer.
Renewal is due shortly and I wanted to get some quotes and wondered if other members know of insurance companies that are happy to insure with hitch lock only.
Comments
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As far as I know the CC do. They give me separate discounts for alko wheel lock, tracker etc. In fact I did not declare I use a hitch lock, as when I put it in the discount did not increase. So I assume you could state you have none of the security measures, the premium would just increase accordingly. Although I suppose it may come up as they won't cover you. I never tried it to find out.
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My insurers require a hitchlock AND a wheel lock when the caravan is completely unattended, including motorway service areas as well as on site and at home.
The type of wheel lock is not specified, so I just use a simple two-piece clamp that fits through the wheel spokes which is easy to take off and put on, taking a few seconds only. No need to jack up the caravan but a little mat to kneel on is useful.
On service areas we don't leave it unattended anyway, preferring to use our own loo and our own refreshments.
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I was surprised to see in my policy - the other club - that the locks must be applied if leaving the caravan for more than 3 hours. No mention of Mway services where I seldom leave it unattended or guarded by dogs with the tailgate open. The noise they
make would bring a lot of attention!0 -
I was surprised to see in my policy - the other club - that the locks must be applied if leaving the caravan for more than 3 hours. No mention of Mway services where I seldom leave it unattended or guarded by dogs with the tailgate open. The noise they
make would bring a lot of attention!Srom memory the CC requires tha tsecurity be fitted if unattended for more than 8 hours
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CC give a 10% discount if you use both Alko wheel locks. They will still insure the van if you don't fit both locks but you don't get the discount, of course.
I also didn't want to go through the pain of jacking up my twin axle every time I wanted to fit locks so have forgone the 10%discount and only use one Alko lock.
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One of the reasons we use Caravan Club insurance is because they don't have the same tight (sometimes impractical) restrictions that other insurance companies insist on. As above, you can leave the caravan for 8 hours wth no lock, however we always put
the Alko lock on when leaving the van at services for our own peace of mind
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The CC require at least a wheel clamp and do not accept hitchlocks alone or give a discount for them. Frankly hitchlocks are useless and as twin axle caravans are the most targetted by thieves it is foolish to rely on them. The loss of the caravan can be dealt with by insurance but the loss of your personal possessions and the problems arising are not something you would want. Whatever the insurer demands good wheel clamps or wheel locks are vital for your own peace of mind.
If you want a quick fitting clamp for short stops like motorway services the Nemisis Ultra is the easiest to fit and more secure than many clamps although not totally thiefproof.
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Saga is content for me just to have a hich lock, but perhaps that varies with make, type and value of caravan, and location of storage. You would have to ask them.
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I'm with Saga insurance & Caravan is stored on a Casso gold site I only need to have one item attached while there either hitch lock or wheel clamp or Caravan alarm.
I'm then covered for theft , or vandal damage , but when touring or left at motorway service areas unattended all 3 item have to be on to maintain cover .
Hope this helps
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We are with NFU mutual and they require a wheel clamp- unspecified make. I tell them i do not use the Alko lock because of the difficulty of fitting it. The advantage for us is that the caravan policy is part of the home policy and so contents are covered
by the house policy, making it cheaper.0 -
The CC require at least a wheel clamp and do not accept hitchlocks alone or give a discount for them. Frankly hitchlocks are useless and as twin axle caravans are the most targetted by thieves it is foolish to rely on them. The loss of the caravan can be dealt with by insurance but the loss of your personal possessions and the problems arising are not something you would want. Whatever the insurer demands good wheel clamps or wheel locks are vital for your own peace of mind.
If you want a quick fitting clamp for short stops like motorway services the Nemisis Ultra is the easiest to fit and more secure than many clamps although not totally thiefproof.
I have my insurance through CC and told them I was not prepared to fit wheel locks on my TA but did have and would fit hitch lock.
CC said fine, no discount for wheel locks but did get a discount for hitch lock!
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We are with NFU mutual and they require a wheel clamp- unspecified make. I tell them i do not use the Alko lock because of the difficulty of fitting it. The advantage for us is that the caravan policy is part of the home policy and so contents are covered
by the house policy, making it cheaper.Hmmmm, I use NFU for house and car insurance but they quoted me double what CC quoted me for the exact same van and I do mean double!
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We have a 2015 Bailey Barcelona (TA) and insured with Saga. Although I have two wheel locks, Alko hitchlock, Tracker Monitor and Alarm (and get discounts for them all), the policy only requires "at least one" security device to be fitted. That said, I
fit everything, all of the time and using the Lock 'n Level system it takes the hassle out of fitting two wheel locks.0 -
Why is it that when we have paid our £20 plus grand for a caravan, we then have to spend more to buy lumps of steelwork, which require us to get on our hands and knees to fit, in order that we can render it sufficiently safe for an insurance company to cover
it against theft? Surely it can't be beyond the capability of Alko etc to design an integral security device? I would sooner pay for this than the loose bits and pieces we are currently offered. But hey who listened to the customers?0 -
We too are CC insured. We asked for the wheel lock clause to be removed as its a holiday and we can't be bothered to spend time adjusting a twin axle to fit them. We still have to have a Hitch Lock, Tracker and Alarm and it cost us about £20 more but in
our view worth it for the convenience.0 -
Same here but I've had CC insurance so long wheel clamps have never been mentioned. I've always had twin axles and rely solely on a hitch lock. I put my Alko one on when I leave home and remove it when I reach my destination so no worries at services either.
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Wheelclamps are a British thing - like sticky black plastic on headlamps, aquarolls and wheely wastemasters . No one else has them , but the Brits have an attachment to all four - and I saw a man fit a hitchock on a cross channel ferry.
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A wheel clamp is definitely a better deterrent tnan a hitch lock and it seems to me risking a theft just because you cannot be bothered to put a wheel clamp on is very short sighted. Buy a Nemisis Ultra. It is as fast to put on as any hitchlock and cannot be defeated by wrapping a chain round the Aframe.
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WW, perhaps you should Try fitting an alko on a T/A before making such a comment! I have just secured insurance at £222, new for old, £100 excess, stored on a working farm,
without need for the alko wheel lock. They do ask for a proprietory device so will use my old Bulldog clamp.0 -
Most dealers have disclaimers for customer Caravans when in for servicing or repairs and are left at the customers risk.
Anybody give them the Alko wheel lock to fit every night?
I don't ether.
Disclaimers do not work. If the caravan is stolen or damaged due to the dealers fault you can claim whatever the disclaimer might say. You can check your own policy but theft when at the dealers should be covered.
I would not neccessarily say you need the ALKO wheellocks but decent wheel clamps. Twin axles are particularly prone to theft so decent security is needed and a hitchlock gives no protection against those looking for twin axles. The hassle in dealing with
a theft claim is simply to great to make me think a hitchlock is enough.0 -
I've just renewed my insurance with the CC and reading the small print it seems that they only require one security device from those listed in the policy . They do however give a discount for an " axle lock" which I take to include an Alko wheel lock.
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