Ripe Caravan Insurance Claims Index 2026

Summer sees highest claim frequency - but winter incidents costs the most 

Analysis of more than 800 caravan claims reveals the financial risks owners may need to prepare for throughout the year.

Caravans give us the freedom to escape, explore and spend more time in the places we love. But whether yours is touring the country or permanently sited at a holiday park, it can still be vulnerable to issues like accidental damage and theft.

For many owners, summer is when their caravan gets the most use. It is when tourers are being towed, manoeuvred onto pitches and taken on longer journeys, while static caravans and holiday homes are at their busiest.

However, Ripe’s latest analysis reveals an important contrast: summer produces the greatest number of claims, while winter claims cost the most on average.

Ripe analysed 807 claims and claim notifications reported between January 2025 and July 2026 to identify the most common financial risks facing caravan owners, and the incidents that tend to have the greatest financial impact.

The analysis found:

• Nearly four in five reported claims involved accidental damage

• Touring caravans accounted for 68% of claims

• Summer produces the highest number of claims

• Winter claims cost the most on average

• Theft was the costliest individual claim type

• Contents claims have increased significantly in 2026 comparing the same period in 2025

So, would you be financially protected if your caravan was stolen, damaged in a storm or involved in an accident?

Here are some more of the findings.

Summer is the busiest season for caravan claims

Summer accounted for 29% of all caravan claims reported during 2025, making it the busiest season of the year.

Spring followed with 27%, while winter accounted for 23% and autumn for 21%.

This is perhaps unsurprising. Touring caravans are more likely to be on the road during warmer months, while caravans of all types are generally used more frequently.

• More use can mean more opportunities for:

• Damage while pitching or manoeuvring

• Collisions with other vehicles or objects

• Damage to caravan panels, windows or fittings

• Incidents while towing

• Accidental damage caused by owners, visitors or other site users

Before every journey, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency recommends checking that the caravan is correctly coupled, the breakaway cable is properly attached, the tyres and lights are in good condition, and the load is secure and evenly distributed. Drivers should also reduce their speed gently rather than braking harshly if the caravan begins to snake or swerve.

Nearly four in five claims involved accidental damage

Accidental damage was by far the most frequently reported claim type.

There were 640 accidental damage claims, representing 79% of all claims and notifications included in the index.

Accidental damage also generated the highest overall recorded claims cost. This was primarily because these incidents happened much more frequently than any other claim type, not because each accidental damage claim was necessarily the most expensive.

Accidental damage can happen while a caravan is:

• Being reversed or positioned on a pitch

• Towed along narrow roads or through gateways

• Parked at home or in storage

• Used by friends or family

• Exposed to falling objects or nearby vehicles

Even damage that initially looks minor can require specialist repairs, particularly when caravan panels, bodywork, windows or structural components are affected.

A smaller group of claims specifically involving accidental bodywork damage was among the costliest claim types on average, highlighting the potential impact of serious external or structural damage.

Touring caravans account for more than two-thirds of claims

Touring caravans represented 68% of all reported claims, making them the most commonly affected caravan type in the data.

They were followed by:

• Static caravans: 15%

• Lodges, cabins and chalets: 9%

• Park homes: 6%

Touring caravans also accounted for the greatest share of overall recorded claims costs.

Unlike a permanently sited caravan, a tourer is regularly transported, hitched, unhitched and moved into position. This can expose it to risks both on the road and at its destination.

However, the findings do not mean every touring caravan owner is more likely to make a claim. Ripe arranges insurance for different numbers of each caravan type, and the figures have not been adjusted for the total number of policies held in each category.

Winter claims cost the most

Although summer generated the greatest number of claims, winter claims had the highest average recorded cost.

The seasonal ranking by average claim cost was:

1. Winter

2. Autumn

3. Spring

4. Summer

This suggests that claims happening during the colder months may be less frequent but more serious when they occur.

Winter risks can include:

• Storm damage

• Falling trees and branches

• Flying debris

• Flooding and heavy rainfall

• Frozen pipes and water systems

• Damage developing unnoticed while a caravan is unoccupied

• Theft from caravans left in storage

Recent Met Office data reinforces the importance of preparing for wet and severe winter weather. Winter 2025/26 was 13% wetter than the UK’s long-term average, while England experienced its eighth-wettest winter on record and received 42% more rain than its seasonal average. This does not prove that weather caused the pattern in the claims data, but it provides important context for the risks caravans can face during the winter months.

Storm claims can also have a significant financial impact

Storm damage represented 2% of reported claims, but it was among the costliest claim types on average.

A serious storm can cause damage to the following:

• Roof

• Windows

• Panels and exterior

• Fixed structures

• Decking or verandas

• Contents and equipment

Falling trees, branches and airborne debris may cause extensive damage, while prolonged rain and flooding can affect caravans and holiday homes in vulnerable locations.

The Met Office advises property owners to secure or remove loose outdoor items before high winds, check roofs and nearby trees, clear guttering and understand their local flood risk.

Theft was the costliest claim type

Theft accounted for only 4% of reported claims, but it was the costliest claim type on average.

A caravan is a valuable and relatively portable asset. Its contents, equipment and accessories may also be attractive to thieves.

Police-backed crime-prevention initiative Secured by Design recommends using several layers of protection, including a hitch lock, wheel clamp and ground anchor. It also recommends alarms, tracking systems, security marking and registering caravan details with a recognised asset-registration scheme.

To help deter thieves:

• Use both a hitch lock and wheel clamp

• Consider a ground anchor or security post

• Install an alarm and approved tracking device

• Close and lock doors, windows, rooflights and external lockers

• Remove valuables and important documents

• Security-mark the caravan and its contents

• Record serial, chassis and registration numbers

• Keep clear photographs of the caravan and identifying features

• Choose secure storage with controlled access and CCTV

West Yorkshire Police also advises owners not to leave registration documents inside their caravan, as these may make it easier for a thief to sell it. It recommends keeping identifying information and photographs safely at home.

Insurance policies also may contain specific security conditions. A theft claim could be affected if required devices were not fitted or in use, so owners should check the terms applying to their own caravan.

Contents claims increased in 2026

When Ripe compared claims reported between 1st January and 27th July 2025 with the same period in 2026, total claim notifications had fallen by 32%.

Contents claims, however, moved in the opposite direction, with a rise of 52%, while their share of total claims more than doubled.

Contents claims were also more costly on average during the comparable 2026 period.

The 2026 data remains incomplete, with some claims still open or under assessment. Nevertheless, the findings provide a reminder to:

• Avoid leaving high-value items in an unattended caravan

• Keep belongings out of sight

• Check the total value of contents kept inside

• Understand overall contents and individual-item limits

• Keep receipts, serial numbers and photographs

• Check whether possessions taken outside the caravan require separate cover

Could you afford to repair or replace your caravan?

Ripe’s Caravan Insurance claims data shows that caravan owners can face a wide range of risks throughout the year, from accidental damage during periods of frequent use to theft, storms and other potentially costly incidents.

Some claims happen more often than others, while less common events can have a much greater financial impact. The key question is whether you would be able to pay to repair or replace your caravan and any insured belongings inside it, if something unexpected happened.

Can caravan insurance cover these risks?

Caravan insurance is not a legal requirement, but it may help financially protect owners if their caravan or insured contents are stolen or damaged.

Depending on the type of caravan, policy selected and relevant terms, Caravan insurance through Ripe can provide cover for risks such as:

• Theft

• Accidental damage

• Malicious damage

• Storm or fire damage

• Damage to insured contents

• Third-party liability

Cover, limits and optional extras differ between touring caravans, static caravans, lodges, cabins and chalets.

Owners should read the relevant policy documents to understand what is and is not covered. Find out more about caravan insurance through Ripe.

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About the Ripe Caravan Claims Index

The Ripe Caravan Claims Index is based on 807 claims and claim notifications reported to Ripe’s claims handlers between 1st January 2025 and 27th July 2026.

Figures include accepted, rejected, withdrawn and ongoing cases unless otherwise stated. They show the types of incidents reported by customers, but do not indicate that every incident resulted in an accepted or paid claim.

Statements about the costliest seasons or claim types are based only on claims with a recorded cost. No specific customer claim values or payout amounts have been published.

The 2026 figures are year-to-date and include open and pending claims. Claim outcomes and cost rankings may change as these cases develop.

The information in this article is provided for general information and should not be treated as personal insurance advice. Cover is subject to the relevant policy terms, conditions, limits and exclusions.