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[autorover1]

I always think it is a nice point about,  third party cover, does it cease if it comes detached ,as its not longer being towed ?

[diffwhine]

The legal eagles would have a field day with that one!
Arguably the intention would have been for it to have been towed, so unless it could be proven that disconnection has occurred through negligence you are probably safe.
So speaks the person who's Discovery 3 removeable tow bar fell out while towing my trailer one day... No damage done thankfully.

[w3526602]

Hi,

In France, trailers require their own registration plate, etc. I think they also required their own insurance, but I don't know the details.

Does UK insurance still cover mainland EU, or have we reverted to pre-EU requirements, when I presume you could (in theory) insure your trailer, for life in UK, using an EU insurer?

Er ... caravans are trailers, but can be insured independantly.  Worth asking a specialist broker. Similarly boat trailers.

So speaks the person who's Discovery 3 removeable tow bar fell out while towing my trailer one day... No damage done thankfully.

So there I was driving along, nonchalently, as you do ... when I suddenly realised there should be a caravan in my mirror. Sorry, I can't remember how/why, so it couldn't have been anything serious.

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[Herald1360]

French trailers over 500kg GROSS need to be registered, carry their own number plate and be insured in their own right. (Was 750kg until a few years ago.)

[Genem]

^^^ Trailers having their own plates etc is quite normal in many countries. I once had to get a newly imported trailer put onto Polish plates. The trailer had been built in Sweden. Very strict MOT type inspection was part of the process.

[w3526602]

and be insured in their own right.

Hi Herald,

It's been quite a few years since we sold our place in France.

Memory tells me that after 183 days (cumulative) in any year, your UK vehicle had to be considered a "resident", and comply with French regulations. I don't know who counted the days, as being in the EU, our trucks were not counted in and out .... the car park at Dinan airports was full of of "established looking" Channel Island registered cars.

Er ... the Channel Islands were not (then?) part of the UK, nor the EU (although I understand there were FRENCH plans to incorporate them into either Normandy or Britanny, according to Radio Jersey (which we could receive in Evran, near St.Malo).

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[w3526602]

I was told that any trailer being towed correctly was covered for 3rd party insurance only, not any damage or loss to the trailer.

Hi,

I'd agree with the above, subject to one's driving licence covering the ALW of the combination.

I'm guessing that exceeding the MGW of the combination should not disbar the insurers from paying out for 3rd Party claims, but the RTA give the insurers the right to recover their losses. I think thats Para 143 (or 148?) of the RTA, but I'm happy to be corrected.

The poor insurance companies find it very difficult to not honour a 3rd Party claim ... provided you comply with the terms on the CERTIFICATE of insurance, but subject to the exceptions on the back of the certificate.

I would not be without LEGAL PROTECTION (about another £10 ... ? ... on the premium.) Barbara's incident with an undertaking articulated lorry on the M4, was settled promptly (and generously) by LV, but she lost her NCD, and had to pay the first £1,000. The HGVs owners ignored all correspondence. Barbara invoked her LEGAL PROTECTION, and LV pursued it through the courts. It took two years , with the Supermarket (who insured themselves) ignoring all correspondence, but settling on the "Courthouse steps". Immediate return of NCD, and refund of the £1,000. Her SAAB was a write-off.

The "undertaking" was legal ... two lanes, 50 mph limit due to road works on M4. The Highway Code permits, the inner line of traffic to undertake a slower line of traffic.  On that particular stretch of the M4, there was a 50mph limit due road works. The two lines of traffic were taking turns at passing each other.

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