Avoiding a trail of woe, should you be considering trailer insurance this year
Agricultural trailers and horseboxes are now used by farms and businesses in a wide range of ways. You may be relying on yours to get stock to market, get the hay in, or to operate your mobile pizza oven from, but either way it is essential to your business – which is why having the right trailer insurance is just as important.
So how would your business be affected if your trailer was stolen, vandalised or damaged? How many days would it set back harvest? How many events would you have to miss? How long would it take you to sort out a replacement?
We shine a spotlight on trailer insurance and answer some frequently asked questions about how separate cover for this often-overlooked workhorse, might be the best insurance decision you make.
How big a problem is trailer theft?
Rural crime is a significant cause of concern and unfortunately, it is growing. At the launch of its Rural Crime survey in October 2024, the Countryside Alliance quoted research from the House of Commons Library showing a 32% increase in rural crime since 2011.
Equipment theft is then a significant part of that rural crime. The Equipment Register(TER), is Europe’s largest database of plant and equipment. They keep accurate records of plant ownership and they estimate that 10% of checks on their database, match stolen items. Of the 1.6 million items listed in the TER database 850,000 are trailers – so an estimated 85,000 trailers, on which checks are run, could be stolen.
Whilst theft is perhaps the worst-case scenario, your business could also be affected if your trailer is vandalised, accidentally damaged or has locks broken and hence why insurance could be your fastest route to being back in business.
Doesn’t my motor policy cover my trailer too?
Trailed agricultural equipment may be covered to the same level as the towing vehicle, but you should not assume it is and trailers are often not covered by standard vehicle insurance policies. So, unless your trailer is specifically covered by your insurance, you can’t rely on it if the worst happens.
What sort of trailers are covered, is it just for farm trailers?
Our specialist trailer policy covers a large range of trailer types from catering trailers to tippers. Even essential equipment which you may not necessarily think of as being a trailer, like fuel bowsers, and drills are included by our specialist trailer insurance. You can see the full list of trailer types covered, on our website.
What additional things does a specialist trailer insurance policy cover?
MS Amlin’s specialist trailer policy covers your trailer when it is both attached and in use, as well as detached or in storage. It also covers factory fitted accessories and fitting of replacement locks. To see what your policy could include, visit our trailer product information.
Won’t it take ages to process a claim?
We know our customers are hard at work running their businesses and time in front of a computer is in short supply. That’s why we are constantly working to make our processes easier and faster for our customers so you can focus on the day job. But you don’t just have to take our word for it! MS Amlin won Most Innovative Insurer at The British Insurance Technology Awards 2024. We believe innovation is essential to provide you with the best products and customer experience if you need to make a claim.
With over 100 years of collective experience, MS Amlin Insurance understands the impact of trailer theft, vandalism and damage on farmers and businesses. Our team of expert underwriters offers tailored solutions, so get in touch today and let’s make sure you have the cover you need.
