Caravan insurance in Germany: trailer, awning, contents and seasonal pitch
A caravan has no engine and no driver, which is why German insurers treat it differently from a motorhome. As a trailer it needs its own third-party liability policy, but it never earns a no-claims discount. Kasko protects the van and, if named, the awning, while clothes, electronics and crockery usually need separate contents cover. Once a caravan is deregistered and parked on a seasonal pitch, a dedicated static caravan policy fits better than a motor contract.
What insurance does my caravan actually need in Germany?
As long as it is registered, it needs its own motor liability policy, otherwise you will not get a number plate. A new or valuable caravan should also have Kasko, and the policy should name the awning. Loose belongings are usually not part of Kasko, that is what contents cover is for. If the caravan is deregistered and stays on a seasonal pitch, the liability requirement ends and a static caravan policy protects the van and what is inside.
Hitched or parked: who pays for damage
Since July 2020 section 19 of the German Road Traffic Act sets out liability for car and trailer combinations. Towards an injured party, the keepers of the car and of the caravan are jointly liable, so the claimant can turn to either. Between the two insurers the car's policy normally carries the loss. The caravan side only pays when the damage came from a risk specific to the trailer.
The caravan's own liability policy still matters. Once it is unhitched on a pitch it is the only cover in play, for example if the van rolls away and hits someone else's car. In 2023 the Federal Court of Justice also confirmed that reversing with a trailer counts as towing it.
Awning, canopy and accessories: what Kasko covers
Partial Kasko (Teilkasko) covers theft, storm, hail, lightning, fire and glass. Comprehensive Kasko (Vollkasko) adds damage you cause yourself, for example clipping a gatepost while manoeuvring. For a new or high-end caravan comprehensive cover is usual for the first years, for an older one partial cover is often enough.
The awning is the most common gap. Some policies include it up to a limit, others only for an extra premium. Check that the awning and any wind-out canopy are named in the schedule, and report one you bought later. The same goes for a motor mover, solar panel or satellite dish added after purchase.
Seasonal pitch: when the caravan is deregistered
If you leave your caravan on a campsite for the season and deregister it, motor liability is no longer required. In most contracts, though, Kasko ends with the plates unless the policy includes dormant cover (Ruheversicherung). Clarify this before you deregister, or the van may sit unprotected for months.
German insurers offer dedicated policies for this, known as Dauercamping cover. They work like a mix of Kasko and contents insurance and protect the van, awning and inventory against storm, fire, burglary and, depending on the policy, snow load or vandalism. Many require the caravan to stand on an official campsite or in winter storage.
Caravan or motorhome: why they are separate contracts
A motorhome is a motor vehicle with an engine and a driver, a caravan is a trailer. That drives the differences: no no-claims class for the caravan, and when towing the car's liability normally carries the loss. Breakdown help and repatriation depend on a breakdown policy, so check whether yours names the caravan.
If you are choosing between the two, or own both, look at the contracts separately. What matters for a motorhome, chassis, engine and Kasko territory for long trips, is on our motorhome insurance page.
What is covered
Liability: damage the parked or detached caravan causes to others
Partial Kasko: theft of the whole caravan and fixed parts
Partial Kasko: storm, hail, lightning, fire, explosion, flood and glass
Comprehensive Kasko: damage you cause yourself, for example when manoeuvring or hitching
Comprehensive Kasko: vandalism by unknown persons
Awning and canopy, if named in the policy
Contents cover: clothes, crockery, electronics and camping furniture against burglary, fire and storm
Seasonal pitch policy: deregistered caravan and inventory on a long term pitch
What is not covered
Damp that creeps in through failing seals over years, without an insured event
Wear on tyres, axle, brakes and the overrun coupling
Loose belongings under Kasko alone, that is a job for contents cover
An awning that is not named or was never reported
A deregistered caravan without dormant cover or a seasonal pitch policy
Breakdown help and repatriation, which belong to a breakdown policy
Who needs it
Every keeper of a registered touring caravan in Germany
Buyers of new or financed caravans who need comprehensive cover
Anyone travelling with a large awning, canopy or motor mover
Seasonal campers whose caravan stays deregistered on a pitch
Anyone who leaves electronics, bikes or a lot of kit in the van
Who does not need it
Comprehensive cover for an old caravan of little value, if you could absorb a total loss
Motor liability for a caravan that stays permanently deregistered on its pitch
Wheel of misfortune
Spin the wheel of bad luck
Six things that really happen. The wheel picks yours and shows who pays.
Cost:
Budget policy Strong policy
See all six cases
Storm rips the awning, a few hundred to several thousand euros. Budget policy: pays in part, Strong policy: pays. Storm is a partial Kasko event, but the awning is only paid if the policy names it. Strong policies include it with its own sum.
Gatepost hit while manoeuvring, a few hundred to several thousand euros on the body. Budget policy: does not pay, Strong policy: pays. Damage you cause yourself is an accident claim and only covered by comprehensive Kasko.
Hail smashes the roof light, a few hundred to several thousand euros. Budget policy: pays, Strong policy: pays. Hail is a classic partial Kasko claim, and rain getting in afterwards belongs to the same event.
Break-in on the campsite, laptop, camera and cash, easily four figures. Budget policy: pays in part, Strong policy: pays in part. Partial Kasko pays for the forced door. The stolen items only contents cover pays, cash usually not at all or only up to a small limit.
Unhitched van rolls into a car, damage to the other vehicle. Budget policy: pays, Strong policy: pays. Here the caravan's own liability policy pays, not the car's. Damage to your own caravan is only covered by comprehensive Kasko.
Damp rots the floor, repair often in four figures. Budget policy: does not pay, Strong policy: does not pay. Water creeping in without storm, hail or accident is not an insured event. Only regular damp checks help.
What it costs
The premium for a caravan does not depend on a no-claims class, but mainly on value, use and the cover you choose. An older van with liability only and a new caravan with comprehensive cover and an awning are far apart. So we list what drives the price instead of quoting averages.
What drives the premium
Value and age of the caravan
Gross vehicle weight
Year round registration, seasonal plates or deregistration
Partial or comprehensive Kasko and the excess
Awning, canopy and accessories as a separate sum
Contents cover as an add on
Seasonal pitch instead of touring
We do not quote ranges because value, equipment and use vary too much from one caravan to the next. Your premium is only fixed in the quote.
The policy levels on the market
01
Basic
Liability with a high flat limit and partial Kasko against theft, storm, hail and fire. Awning only if expressly named. Fine for older caravans of moderate value.
02
Comfort
Comprehensive Kasko that waives the gross negligence defence, awning and canopy with their own sum, accessories such as a mover included. The usual choice for caravans up to ten years old.
03
Premium
New value or purchase price settlement for several years, contents cover with electronics and bikes, dormant cover for the off season. Worth it for new and high-end caravans.
How to recognise a good policy
Criterion
Minimum standard
Strong policy
Why it matters
Liability limit
EUR 100m flat
EUR 100m with a high limit per injured person
A detached caravan rolling away can cause serious injury.
Awning and canopy
named, with a fixed limit
own sum matching replacement value, later purchases included
A large awning is expensive and the first thing to suffer in a storm.
Accessories
fixed parts included
mover, solar and satellite dish with their own limit
Retrofitted kit adds up and is otherwise missing after a loss.
Gross negligence
waived in partial Kasko
waived in partial and comprehensive Kasko
A forgotten corner steady or open roof light would otherwise reduce the payout.
New value settlement
twelve months
24 months or more, purchase price for used vans
A caravan loses a good part of its value in the first years.
Contents
burglary and fire
all risks including electronics and bikes
Thieves usually take what is inside, not the caravan.
Off season
dormant cover when deregistered
seasonal pitch cover for van, awning and inventory
Without it a deregistered caravan sits in winter storage unprotected.
Insurers on the German market
Almost every large German motor insurer covers caravans, and several offer seasonal pitch policies as a separate product. This is a market overview, not a statement about who we work with.
Insurer
Background
Allianz
caravan cover and its own seasonal pitch policy, agents and brokers
Württembergische
dedicated caravan policy, part of the W&W group
R+V
trailer insurance, insurer of the cooperative banks
The mandatory cover for a registered caravan. Matters most once it is unhitched.
Partial Kasko
Theft, storm, hail, fire and glass. Often the sensible level for older caravans.
Comprehensive Kasko
Adds damage you cause yourself and vandalism. Standard for new and financed caravans.
Contents cover
For clothes, crockery, electronics and camping furniture. The sum should match what you actually keep inside.
Seasonal pitch policy
For a deregistered caravan on a long term pitch, usually with awning and inventory.
Seasonal plates
Registration only for the travel months, which lowers the premium accordingly.
Myth or truth
True or false?
Five things people say about this insurance. Guess first, then see the answer.
When towing, only my car insurance is ever liable.
This is false.
False. Since 2020 both keepers are liable towards the injured party. Between them the car usually pays, but the caravan side does when the cause lay in the trailer.
My caravan builds up a no-claims discount like a car.
This is false.
False. Trailers have no no-claims class in Germany. In return, a claim does not lead to a downgrade.
A deregistered caravan does not need motor liability.
This is true.
True. Without registration the requirement ends. The van and its contents on the pitch then need their own cover.
The gas inspection is mandatory for caravans too.
This is true.
True. Since 19 June 2025 the two-yearly inspection applies to vehicles with an LPG system, whether motorised or towed.
Every caravan Kasko policy automatically includes the awning.
This is false.
False. Many do, but not all, and often only up to a limit. Always report an awning you buy later.
Common mistakes
Not naming the awning, or not reporting a new one
Deregistering the caravan and forgetting that Kasko often ends too
Assuming the towing car's insurer always pays for everything
Letting the gas inspection lapse and having no certificate after a fire
Exceeding the car's nose weight limit and risking a reduced payout after an accident
Driving abroad at 100 km/h because of the German sticker, where local limits are lower
Frequently asked questions
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
Does my car insurance pay if the caravan causes damage while hitched?
Usually yes.
Both keepers are liable towards the injured party,
but between the insurers the car's liability policy normally carries the loss.
Only when the cause lay in the caravan itself does its insurer contribute.
Do caravans earn a no-claims discount in Germany?
No.
Caravans and other trailers have no no-claims class,
so a claim does not push the premium up through a downgrade either.
Is my awning covered?
That depends on the policy.
Some include it up to a limit, others only for an extra premium.
Ask for written confirmation and report any awning you buy later.
Do I need insurance if my caravan is deregistered on a campsite?
Not motor liability.
Without plates, though, Kasko usually ends as well.
A seasonal pitch policy then protects the van, awning and inventory,
often on condition that it stands on an official campsite or in winter storage.
Which driving licence do I need to tow a caravan?
With category B, car and caravan together may weigh up to 3,500 kg.
The B96 extension allows up to 4,250 kg after a training course without a test.
Heavier combinations need category BE.
Can I tow at 100 km/h?
On German motorways yes, if car and caravan meet the conditions and carry the Tempo 100 sticker.
Without it the limit is 80 km/h, and on country roads always 80 km/h.
Abroad the local rules apply.
Is the gas inspection mandatory for caravans?
Yes, again since 19 June 2025, every two years.
The certificate also helps with the insurer if the cause of a fire has to be established.
Does German household contents insurance cover a break-in to my caravan?
Do not rely on it.
The away from home part of household cover is mainly for belongings inside buildings.
Ask whether your policy includes the caravan, otherwise contents cover closes the gap.
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