We think it should be compulsory for all caravans to have third-party insurance, what happens if an uninsured van causes an accident or reverses into someone and they do not have this insurance? Must you insure your car, so the caravan should also be covered when it is unhitched?

A few years ago me and my husband had an accident when our caravan overturned on a motorway due to a faulty tyre. Ever since then, we?ve been careful to take out the best possible insurance for our van, so our advice is to always have yourself properly insured or accidents can be costly.

Surely your car or caravan insurance will cover any damage your van causes when towing? As well as this, we think the risk of our caravan damaging anything when it is hitched up is very minimal. Our van is really old as well, and we just don't think it's worth insuring it.

Whilst serving as a Police Officer I was often asked this question. I was concerned how many caravanners were not aware that the fitting of a towbar to a vehicle needs to be nofitfied to their 'tow vehicle' insurer. Failing to advise this alteration could invalidate all of your insurance. A number of correspondents consider the scenario where an uninsured unit is involved in an accident. This may be as apparently simple as running over a kerb during a left turn manoeuvre and in doing so colliding with a pedestrian. This type of claim can, and often does, involve substantial costs and no insurance cover renders you personally liable for these costs. Those people who purchase a caravan by way of a finance agreement are required to insure the unit - but I am aware of caravans purchased in this way that have been subject of both theft and accident involvement. This left the buyer responsible not only for the personal injuries caused but also the cost of the loan, plus the interest that should have been paid to the finance company ...Ouch!

Of course you should have thrird party cover for your caravan, especially as (something too many people seem to be unaware of) your Camping Carnet covers damage occasioned by your caravan when it is not hitched. Can't happen I hear you say. Well, I had been caravanning for over 30 years when, for some reason, I actually forgot that if you reverse up a slope, unhitch and apply your caravan handbrake, said brake will release as the tow hitch slowly decompresses and this is exactly what happened. The caravan, while we were talking to friends who had greeted us, silently rolled down the grassy slope, across the site road and, quite gently, into the side of a campervan denting the campervan's door. I noted the details and informed the insurers who dealt with everything. Tha campervan owner tried a fraudulent demand for duplicate money on solicitor 's headed notepaper. My insurers sorted that out too, and I made the solicitors make a donation to a charity and apologise on behalf of their (now former) employee. So, be covered. The carnet costs a little and can save you a lot, especially if an 'injured party' tries pulling a fast one.