New to trailer ownership - a couple of questions!

[ecrozier]

Off to look at a trailer this afternoon, and if looks as advertised, may bring it back! I've had lorries for last 7 years, so forgotten most of what I knew about trailer ownership!!
Two questions - firstly, insurance, who do you all use? Would you recommend them?
Secondly, roadside recovery. How does this work? Am about to swap to NFU for my landy insurance, can I do this with them too?

 

[Merlin11]

I haven't insured my trailer as it is fairly pricey to do so and I reckon the risk is quite low and I could replace it if I had to. Have had mine 6 years and would have had no need to claim. Trailers should normally be covered under road side recovery. I would just double check this.

 

[Theocat]

Off to look at a trailer this afternoon, and if looks as advertised, may bring it back!

If you want to buy it on the spot, make sure you have all the paperwork for it. If there isn't any, take a note of the numbers on it and check it isn't stolen with The Equipment Register before you hand any money over. You can also check it with the manufacturer to make sure it's the age the seller says it is - I checked mine and it was four years older than thought, which gave me an excellent reason to negotiate the price down!

ETA: and if there is paperwork, check it matches the trailer!

 

[Highlands]

Check on trailer stolen register that s is not stolen, you will did the long number on the hitch. Ring ifor if its a ifor Williams and ask them to check.

 

[braindead]

NFU do a trailer and horsebox assist package with the RAC.

 

[ecrozier]

Thanks all - its not an ifor it's an equitrek. I have already got/checked the chassis number, and the paperwork all comes with it including a receipt for service last year and year before. I think I would want it insured against theft as its more expensive than my lorry was! Will look into the NFU/RAC thing, thanks. Merlin11 I don't think horses in trailers are covered usually? As count as livestock?

 

[Slightly Foxed]

I haven't insured my trailer as it is fairly pricey to do so and I reckon the risk is quite low and I could replace it if I had to. Have had mine 6 years and would have had no need to claim. Trailers should normally be covered under road side recovery. I would just double check this.

Trailers are NOT covered by 'normal' roadside recovery, you need specialist insurance.

 

[braindead]

The RAC are the only "regular" breakdown service that offers a service to transfer both you and your horses in the case of a breakdown. The AA will recover your trailer but not your horses

 

[kerrieberry2]

i've just got my trailer insured with E&L for £6.74 a month! but noticed that when I took out my horses insurance with petplan I could have added the trailer to that, so think ill do that next year!

I dont have breakdown cover, so don't know about that

 

[Paddy and Dandy]

I have an equitrek. It's insured with Anthony Evans. It costs £140 a year. I couldn't afford to replace it if was stolen. They cost more to cover than other trailers because out their higher value.

 

[Baileyhoss]

NTTA do a good trailer policy for £89/year.

 

[little_critter]

The RAC are the only "regular" breakdown service that offers a service to transfer both you and your horses in the case of a breakdown. The AA will recover your trailer but not your horses

BUT you have to sign up to it for an extra fee (not too much) so don't assume if you call out the RAC they can deal with your horses.
I've signed up to the RAC trailer recovery plan. They contract it out to PRP to deal with the trailer / horses while they sort out the car.
Not used it yet so can't comment on the service.

 

[Suechoccy]

Roadside recovery for your vehicle (AA, RAC, etc) does not include roadside attention/recovery for your horse trailer.

AA offer a discounted roadside recovery/repairs for horse trailers via OHTO (Organisation of Horsebox and Trailer Owners). I'm with AA and that gives me a discount on my OHTO membership and the OHTO membership gives me a discount on my AA membership.

RAC offer a similar thing through their partner (I don't know the name of theirs).

Insurance-wise, for liability (say if your trailer causes a road accident), then your car insurance will cover you for such claims. But you may need to prove your trailer was roadworthy and your car and car towhitch in good repair. So it's worth keeping paper receipts and having the trailer serviced yearly with a paper receipt too.

Insurance-wise for theft, most horse insurance policies have an extension to cover horse trailers so if you have an insured horse, see if you can add the trailer as that may be cheapest way.

otherwise, all the horse insurance policies offer standalone theft insurance for trailers. I'm with Stoneways and it was £90.

With 2ndhand trailers, esp older trailers, the insurers may ask you for an uptodate valuation, otherwise there's nothing to stop you insuring a crappy old thing for £3k when it's only worth £1k and then it mysteriosuly gets stolen and you get £3k for a newer trailer.

My trailer's 20 years old so Stoneways asked me for such a valuation on renewal. In that case, make sure your valuer (had to be trailer dealer, not my local man-in-garage, so I went to Barnfields near Peterborough) writes on the valuation of any modcons added to your trailer (eg swing partitions, new floors, aluminium floors, extra windows, etc as these affect the value too).

Enjoy!

 

[Victoria25]

My breakdown is with Greenflag and my trailer was covered – I’d just come back from a show and was leaving my trailer outside my mums house for the night – I’d parked up and was unhitching when the handle fell off in my hand so couldn’t remove the trailer! They came out and repaired it for me BUT doesnt include handling the horses so you have to do that seperate!

Insurance wise Im with E&L (its in a secure lock up with every anti theft device on it possible) x

 

[ecrozier]

Thanks all - insured today with SEIB and took out their 'bolt-on' rescue and recovery service which covers car all the time and also trailer/horses when applicable. Insurance was £150.
Thanks for advice!