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SPECIAL : NEW YEAR TIPS MAKE SURE YOUR CARAVAN IS SECURE About 1,400 caravans are stolen every year in the UK and very few make it back to their owners. Many disappear into an illicit network of buyers and sellers and even when they are found by the police, identifying marks have often been removed (it is not uncommon for thieves to grind out the VIN number from the windows). It’s not just new caravans that are targets – in fact, two or three-year-old vehicles are more likely to be stolen. You can avoid becoming another insurance statistic. Many caravan security devices are available on the market, from hitchlocks, steady locks and wheelclamps to alarms and sophisticated tracking systems. Caravan Club members can save up to £200 on TRACKER anti-theft device subscriptions when they buy a TRACKER Caravan Monitor (£309 + £153 installation). The unit is hidden in your caravan and allows police to track your vehicle if it is stolen. See caravanclub.co.uk/newyear for more information. STORE YOUR CARAVAN PROPERLY A comprehensive online leaflet entitled ‘Storage’ provides advice on preparing your caravan for winter. Topics covered include the water system, batteries, electrics and care of the exterior panels and upholstery. For a free download, see caravanclub.co.uk/ newyear. If you’re taking a break from touring during the cold season and don’t want to keep your caravan at home, you might like to consider a Club site that offers secure, members-only storage pitches. Visit caravanclub.co.uk and type ‘storage’ into the search bar to find out more. GET THE RIGHT INSURANCE If you already own, or are looking to buy, a caravan or motorhome it’s vital you get the right insurance. One in three members already insures with us – see January 2013 The Caravan Club Magazine 71 70 www.caravanclub.co.uk caravanclub.co.uk/newyear. We can send you a reminder close to your renewal date – simply sign in at caravanclub.co.uk and click on ‘My profile’ followed by ‘My insurance policies’ to take advantage of this service. ATTEND A TRAINING COURSE Whether you’re new to caravanning or want to brush up on your skills, there’s a course for you. The Club, which also provides motorhome manoeuvring courses, has 16 training centres across the country – to find out more call 01342 336666 or see caravanclub.co.uk/newyear. If you complete a Caravan Club towing course you can get a 5% discount on your insurance with us. STAY UP TO DATE AND PROTECT YOUR VEHICLE The Caravan Club provides a free ‘Theftcheck’ service. When you first join, your caravan’s unique identification number is logged against your membership record. Should your caravan ever be stolen, this information can help the police trace you as the legal owner – so don't forget to inform us if you change your caravan. We can also run a check to see if a caravan you’re thinking of buying is listed as stolen on the Theftcheck register. For more information, see caravanclub.co.uk/newyear. CHECK BEFORE YOU BUY If you are buying a used caravan, make sure you perform a CRiS (Caravan Registration and identification Scheme) check on it first. The CRiS Check will confirm the correct identity of the caravan and reveal whether it is recorded as being on finance, reported as stolen or an insurance write off. It will also verify whether the seller is recorded with CRiS as the current keeper. All caravans manufactured since 1992 by National Caravan Council members are recorded on the CRiS database along with their 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). To find out more see thencc.org.uk/ our_schemes/cris_scheme.aspx or call 020 3282 1000. Make sure you register any new purchases with CRiS – the registration document acts as proof of ownership and you’ll need it if you travel abroad. Don’t forget to check Caravan Club Classifieds if you are looking to buy or sell a caravan or motorhome. You can browse hundreds of adverts or place your own for free – it will automatically appear on the Caravan Selecta website as well. Simply visit caravanclub.co.uk/shop and click on ‘Caravan Club Classifieds’ on the left-hand side. FIND THE RIGHT TOWCAR Each year The Caravan Club invites manufacturers to enter vehicles in various Towcar of the Year Competition categories. Each undergoes rigorous testing and the results are published in the Club magazine and on our website. The Volkswagen Jetta Sport 2.0TDI DSG once again won its class and took overall honours in the 2013 competition. You can see all of the results in the supplement that accompanied the October issue or at Remember, if you’re thinking of buying a Volkswagen Jetta in 2013, you can get a 10% discount on car insurance through the Club. PREPARE BEFORE HEADING OVERSEAS When you are driving on the Continent, you need to make sure you comply with local laws and have the appropriate equipment on board. The Club’s Essential Motoring Pack for France (£34.95 + £2.50) comes in a durable, heavyweight black sling bag and includes a GB sticker, beam deflector set, two disposable alcohol testers, a warning triangle and two high-visibility vests. A Complete European Motoring Pack (£44.95 + £2.50 P&P) is also available. Visit caravanclub.co.uk/newyear. 1 6 4 2 5 8 3 7 TOP 10 TIPS FOR A HAPPY 2013 From getting the right insurance to preparing for an overseas break – here are a few things to consider as the new year approaches Attend a training course 13 TOWCAR OF THE YEAR 2 SUPPLEMENT SPONSORED BY BAILEY OF BRISTOL Jetta sets record! VW saloon is the first to secure back-to-back wins in the industry’s premier towcar competition on all the cars entered, starting on page 6 JUDGES’ COMMENTS EXAMINE YOUR CONTENTS COVER Do you know how much the contents of your house are worth? According to the Association of British Insurers, many households may be underinsured so it’s important check your documents to see what level of cover you have. Some policies also require that you list all valuable items so keep your policy up to date by recording any special Christmas presents! The Caravan Club provides contents, buildings and combined home insurance policies – see caravanclub.co.uk/ insurance- and-finance. JOIN IN THE DISCUSSION If you haven’t already registered with our online community, Club Together (caravanclub.co.uk/ community), you could be missing out on discussions and useful information provided by other members. Find out what other members think about insurance, storage, training courses and other ways to be safer when touring. 9 10
