Once the touring season winds down, many caravans spend weeks or months parked at home or in storage.
Autumn is a good time to review your caravan security. The best approach is to combine physical locks with tracking, identification and a secure place to keep your caravan, rather than relying on one security measure alone.
If you’re still planning trips this winter, our guide to winter caravan touring covers getting your caravan ready for the road.
Caravan Security UK Owners Should Prioritise
Good security makes a caravan harder to move, easier to trace and less appealing to thieves in the first place.
Caravan Security UK Essentials: Hitch Locks and Wheel Locks
A hitch lock stops someone coupling your caravan to another vehicle. A wheel lock or clamp stops the wheel from turning. Using both gives you two separate physical barriers.
Quality matters. Look at the strength of the device itself and the lock that secures it. Check your insurance policy too, as some insurers specify particular devices or standards.
If you remove the wheels for long-term storage and use winter wheels or stands, check with your insurer first. Swapping out a required wheel lock could affect your cover.
Trackers and Alarms
Locks aim to stop the caravan being taken. A tracker helps find it if they fail.
Modern trackers monitor location and, depending on the system, alert you if the caravan moves.
For 2027, every Acadia, VIP, Laser and Lusso comes with a Thatcham-approved Scorpion S7 tracker, including a 12-month subscription. Where an alarm is factory-fitted, it uses PIR and tilt sensors.
The Scorpion S7 requires an active subscription to provide tracking, so remember to renew it once the included 12-month subscription ends.
Security Marking and CRiS Registration
CRiS is the national registration scheme for UK touring caravans.
Caravans built by NCC members have a unique 17-digit VIN, and VIN Chip systems add visible markings and hidden electronic identification. All four 2027 Coachman caravan ranges include a CRiS ID number and concealed security data ID chips.
Keep your registered keeper details up to date and store a record of the VIN somewhere safe, away from the caravan.
Choosing Where to Keep Your Caravan
Keeping your caravan at home is convenient and makes regular checks easy.
If you can, park so the hitch is hard to reach from the road, keep security devices visible and consider extra driveway security such as a properly installed post or barrier. Motion-activated lighting and a visible security camera can also act as a deterrent.
If you use a storage site, look for CaSSOA accreditation. Sites are rated Silver, Gold or Platinum and are independently assessed on perimeter protection, access control, CCTV, alarms and fire protection.
Wherever you keep it, remove valuables and anything visible that might attract attention.
What Your Insurer Expects
Every insurer is different.
One may require a hitch lock and wheel lock whenever the caravan is left unattended. Another may specify approved products, an active tracker or particular storage conditions.
Read your policy rather than assuming the security fitted to your caravan meets its requirements. If you change your storage site, security devices or tracker subscription, check whether you need to tell your insurer. Keep receipts and certificates for any security products you fit, as your insurer may ask for them if you need to make a claim.
Security Features on Coachman Caravans
All four 2027 caravan ranges come with:
• High-security locking systems
• CRiS identification and concealed security data chips
• A Scorpion S7 Thatcham-approved tracker with 12 months’ subscription
Wheel locks vary by range:
• VIP models include an AL-KO Secure wheel lock as standard
• Laser models include AL-KO Secure wheel locking equipment
• Lusso models include one or two AL-KO Secure wheel locks, depending on layout
• Acadia models have a receiver fitted, with the AL-KO Secure wheel lock available as an option
That’s a strong starting point, but you should still match your setup to your insurer’s requirements and where you store the caravan.
A Simple Winter Security Checklist
Before leaving your caravan for a long period:
• Fit your hitch lock and wheel lock
• Check the tracker is active and test any alarm
• Check the leisure battery
• Remove valuables
• Close and secure all windows, doors and lockers
• Make sure your CRiS details are current
• Keep keys away from the caravan
• Check your insurance requirements
• Visit the caravan regularly if your storage allows
If you use a storage site, make sure the operator has your current contact details. The Coachman Owners Club is also a good place to swap security tips with other owners.
Winter is a sensible time to book your annual service too, so any issues are sorted well before spring.
Frequently Asked Questions
What caravan security does insurance require?
It depends on your insurer and policy. Many specify approved hitch locks, wheel locks or storage arrangements, so check your own policy.
Are caravan trackers worth it?
A tracker adds another layer of protection by helping locate a caravan after it’s been moved or stolen. Use it alongside physical security, not instead of it.
What is a CaSSOA Gold storage site?
Gold is one of CaSSOA’s three accreditation levels, alongside Silver and Platinum. Accredited sites are independently assessed on access, perimeter protection and surveillance.
For advice on security accessories or the equipment fitted to your Coachman, speak to your local Coachman dealer.
