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Does my caravan need to stay insured in winter storage?

In short

Does my caravan need to stay insured in winter storage? As long as it is registered, yes: liability cover is compulsory in Germany. Deregistering saves premium and tax, but under the model terms the free dormant cover (Ruheversicherung) does not apply to caravans. You then often have no cover at all and pay for storm, fire or theft in storage yourself. Seasonal plates are usually the better choice.

Does my caravan need to stay insured in winter storage?

What it costs

Published tariff examples and costs around winter storage, as of 2026.

ExampleTypical range
Caravan with liability only, tariff example 2026about EUR 13 to 62 a year
Caravan with liability and partial cover, deductible EUR 150about EUR 157 to 557 a year
Caravan with fully comprehensive cover, deductible EUR 500about EUR 629 to 1,223 a year
Vehicle tax for a caravan with 1,500 kilograms gross weightEUR 59.68 a year
Winter place in a hall, rural areaabout EUR 50 to 90 a month
Open plot, rural areaabout EUR 20 to 40 a month
Changing seasonal platesabout EUR 50 to 60

Premiums from a published tariff comparison for 2026, depending on model,

place of residence and age of the keeper.

Tax under section 9 of the Motor Vehicle Tax Act, storage and fees from the guides listed.

The example below is a guide value from our quoting practice.

Worked example

Caravan, six years old, liability and partial cover

The caravan is used from April to October and stands in a hall in the countryside in winter. Registration all year is compared with seasonal plates.

Liability and partial cover all yearabout EUR 250
With seasonal plates 04 to 10about EUR 150 to 180
Vehicle tax at 1,500 kilograms, all yearEUR 59.68
Vehicle tax for seven monthsabout EUR 35
Hall from November to Marchabout EUR 250 to 450

Seasonal plates save around EUR 90 to 125 a year. Because the caravan is in a hall, it stays insured against storm, fire and theft in winter.

What is different if you come from abroad

If you come from a country where a caravan simply carries the towing car's number plate, Germany will surprise you. Here a caravan has its own registration and its own plate, and as long as it is registered it needs its own motor liability insurance, even when it is parked for months.

Germany also offers seasonal plates, which many newcomers do not know. They show a period such as 04 to 10, and the caravan may only be used on public roads in those months. Outside them, you pay neither premium nor vehicle tax.

Three ways through the winter

For the months in winter storage you have three options: keep the caravan registered, deregister it (abmelden) or use seasonal plates. The main difference is what happens if something goes wrong in storage.

If it stays registered, you pay full premium and tax but are fully insured. If you deregister, you save both but are often left without cover. Seasonal plates sit in between.

OptionCover in winter storageCosts in winter
Keep registeredfull cover as in summer, including comprehensivefull premium and full tax
Seasonal platesliability and partial cover, if you have comprehensive coverno premium, no tax outside the season
Deregisternone under the model terms, the contract usually endsno premium, no tax, fees for deregistering and registering again

While it is registered, the duty applies

Under section 1 of the Compulsory Insurance Act (Pflichtversicherungsgesetz), the keeper of a vehicle must take out and maintain liability insurance. Trailers count as vehicles, even when they are not hitched. A registered caravan therefore needs its liability cover in winter storage too.

Comprehensive cover (Kasko) is voluntary. If the caravan stays registered, you keep the full scope, including fully comprehensive cover with vandalism. For a new or financed caravan this can make sense.

Why deregistering a caravan is risky

For a car, the contract switches to free dormant cover after deregistration. The model terms for motor insurance explicitly exclude caravan trailers from this (AKB H.1.3). If you deregister the caravan, the contract therefore usually ends, and with it liability and comprehensive cover.

Some insurers still offer dormant cover for caravans. Ask in writing before deregistering. Without a confirmation, you bear damage from storm, hail, fire or theft in storage yourself.

Seasonal plates: dormant cover with conditions

With seasonal plates, for example 04 to 10, you are fully insured in the season. Outside the season, the model terms give dormant cover with liability and, if you have comprehensive cover, partial cover (Teilkasko). This partial cover includes storm, hail, fire and theft.

Dormant cover has two limits. The caravan must be kept in a storage room such as a hall or garage, or on an enclosed plot behind a fence, hedge or wall. And vandalism, which belongs to fully comprehensive cover, is not insured in winter. If you want to change the months later, the registration office charges fees again.

Where the caravan may be parked

On public roads, trailers without a towing vehicle may be parked for at most two weeks under section 12 (3b) StVO, except in parking spaces signed for this. For the winter you therefore need a place on private land.

For dormant cover with seasonal plates, the model terms require a storage room or enclosed plot anyway. A hall also protects the roof from hail and snow; a fenced plot meets the conditions of dormant cover.

When you should stay registered

If you also travel in winter, skiing or to the coast, you are better off staying registered all year. The same applies if the caravan stands on an open plot without a fence, because dormant cover does not apply there.

Honestly: for an older caravan with liability cover only, the saving from deregistering is often small. A liability premium of a few dozen euros a year is set against fees and time at the registration office.

Step by step

  1. Decide whether you want to use the caravan in winter.
  2. Choose a storage place: hall, garage or fenced plot.
  3. Ask your insurer whether it offers dormant cover for caravans.
  4. Without a confirmation, do not deregister; choose seasonal plates or registration all year.
  5. Take valuables and loose equipment out of the caravan.

Checklist

  • Storage place in a hall, garage or behind a fence
  • Partial cover in place if storm and theft should be covered
  • Written answer from the insurer before deregistering
  • Not parked on a public road for more than two weeks
  • Contents removed for the winter or insured separately

Common mistakes

  • Deregistering the caravan and expecting dormant cover as for a car
  • Parking on an open plot without a fence while on seasonal plates
  • Thinking vandalism is covered during dormant cover
  • Leaving the caravan on the street all winter

Questions and answers

Frequently asked

Can I simply deregister my caravan for the winter?

Yes, but under the model terms there is no free dormant cover for caravans.

The contract then usually ends, and the caravan is not insured in storage.

Does a deregistered caravan have to be insured?

After deregistration there is no duty to have liability cover.

But you then have no protection against storm, fire or theft either.

What does dormant cover with seasonal plates include?

Liability and, if you have comprehensive cover, partial cover, for example for storm, hail,

fire and theft.

Vandalism and damage you cause yourself are not included.

Where must the caravan stand during dormant cover?

In a hall, garage or on an enclosed plot, for example behind a fence, hedge or wall.

Otherwise the insurer may refuse to pay.

May my caravan stand on the street in winter?

Without a towing vehicle for at most two weeks, except in parking spaces signed for this.

For the winter you need a place on private land.

Is fully comprehensive cover worth it in winter storage?

For a new or financed caravan often yes, because only it covers vandalism.

For that the caravan must stay registered;

with seasonal plates you only get partial cover in winter.

Sources

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