How to Find Storage for Your Caravan

Caravanning is becoming more popular in the UK with each passing year. The thought of hitching up a caravan and taking to the open road is one that keeps people coming back for more. If you’re considering getting involved yourself and touring the country, there’s one thing you need to think about; where are you going to keep your new caravan?

For the majority of the year, you’ll need to find somewhere safe, accessible and affordable to store your new home-on-wheels. Thankfully, we’ve created this helpful guide to help you learn everything you need to look out for when choosing a storage space for your caravan.

Types of caravan storage

Caravans come in a range of shapes and sizes and, depending on where you live, they can be more difficult to store for some people. Thankfully, there are many different storage options available:

1. Home storage

The most obvious solution — and the easiest — is to simply store your caravan at home. If your property features a spacious garage or a large driveway, you may prefer to leave your caravan or motorhome closeby. The benefit of home storage is that you can keep a close eye on your caravan and won’t need to worry about paying for a dedicated storage facility.

The problem, however, is that not everyone has the option to park a caravan outside their home, and those who do risk paying higher insurance premiums. They also take up a lot of room, making it problematic to move in the event that you need some extra space — such as visitors needing a park outside.

2. Seasonal pitching

If you have a favourite caravan site that you frequently visit, seasonal pitching may be the right choice for you. Rather than towing your caravan to and from the same locations, seasonal pitching gives you the option of leaving your caravan pitched at the site.This frees up a lot of space that would otherwise be occupied on your property and leaves your home in the hands of professionals.

Seasonal pitching is a flexible option that allows you to choose exactly how long you’d like to store your caravan, with prices starting from less than £20 per night in many locations. Make sure you check with the owner before making your decision about seasonal pitching, as they may only let you leave your caravan on-site during certain periods.

3. Storage facilities

Storage facilities are some of the most secure locations for caravans and motorhomes. Whether it’s an outdoor yard or indoor storage inside a warehouse, you’ll find that these facilities offer much higher levels of security to make sure your caravan remains safe.

This does, however, mean that your caravan won’t be waiting for you on-site and that you’ll need to factor in the additional travel you’ll need to make on your journeys. Plus, as they offer greater peace of mind than most other options, dedicated caravan storage facilities can often be the most expensive option. This is because most sites require you to pay for a minimum of six months storage — this can vary from site to site, with prices roughly starting around £200.

4. Unregistered locations

Another possible option is to keep your caravan parked in an unregistered location. Areas such as a farmer’s field or business premises — with permission, of course — could be a way to cheaply store your caravan with someone you trust.

The biggest problem with this option is that there will be virtually no safety measures in place to protect your caravan from theft or vandalism. It’s also worth noting that insurers may not be willing to set up a policy for you if your caravan or motorhome isn’t stored in a more secure location.

Caravan storage security

Caravans and motorhomes are investments, often costing a considerable amount of money. It’s only natural then, that you’d want to do everything you can to keep your caravan as safe and secure as possible when it’s not in use.

Here you’ll find a list of situations you should be aware of to ensure nothing happens to your home away from home.

Potential threats

• Theft — The most common security risk for unsecured caravans is theft. If parked in a location without deterrents like fences and CCTV, your caravan will be more at risk of being stolen.

• Criminal damage — Vandalism is another common risk that is more likely to occur to vehicles that are left in unprotected areas. Most cases of criminal damage to caravans occur to those left in urban areas.

• Fire — As they are flammable, fire damage is a constant risk for caravans, even when in storage. This can be aggravated if stored in a location that stores combustible materials.

• Floods — Storage facilities that are located in low-lying areas or close to waterways are a greater risk for flooding.

• Storm damage — Caravans that are kept in insecure buildings or out in the open face the risk of damage from severe weather conditions.

• Vermin — Pests are attracted to areas that provide shelter, particularly if a site does not maintain an appropriate level of hygiene and cleanliness.

What to look for in a caravan site

Although there are a number of dangers to be aware of when choosing where to store your caravan or motorhome, there are many telltale signs that a storage facility is suitable. Here are some security measures that you should look for when deciding which location is right for you:

1. Perimeter protection — This can come in a variety of forms, from fences and palisades to barbed wire and welded mesh. It doesn’t matter which your potential site has, as long as it has a way of preventing would-be thieves from easily accessing the property to steal or vandalise your caravan.

2. Access control — The more difficult a site makes it for thieves to physically remove your caravan from a location, the better. Security gates — both manned and automatic — and road spikes are two excellent solutions to prevent unauthorised individuals from entering or leaving a site.

3. CCTV — Ensuring a storage site has adequate CCTV is essential. As a minimum, you should make sure that any possible storage sites have security cameras covering at least the entrances and exits. As well as acting as a strong deterrent, quality CCTV means that if a crime were to take place, the perpetrators are much more likely to be caught by the authorities.

4. Security lighting — A well-lit storage facility is always going to be a safer place to store your caravan. If caravan thieves are looking for a new target, they’re likely to stick to the shadows and avoid a site that has installed floodlights. It also allows CCTV cameras to take much more accurate footage when an area is properly lit.

Caravan storage costs

Keeping your caravan secure should be your number one priority, however, there are also the costs to think about. For those who don’t want to leave their caravan or motorhome on their property will need to make sure they can find an affordable storage option.

The cost of hiring a storage facility can differ for a number of reasons. The location of the site, the size of your caravan and the duration of the storage will all play an impact on how much your total bill will amount to.

Below, you will find a list of secure caravan storage facilities across the country, including how much they charge:

South of England

 *Plus £5 for every metre over 7 metres long

North of England

The Midlands

Scotland

Wales

Prices can vary between each storage facility, with some locations charging different rates for larger caravans whereas others care only about the duration of your stay.

It’s important you discuss prices with the owner of a facility that you’re thinking of using to make sure you fully understand what you’re paying for and whether you could find a better deal elsewhere.

Caravan insurance

Whenever you store your caravan in a new location for an extended period of time, it’s vital that you inform your insurer. Depending on where you leave your caravan, it could affect your caravan insurance rate or even invalidate your policy.

For your caravan insurance, speak to our team at Safeguard. We work to find suitable deals for our customers to make sure you find a policy that’s right for you.