Flux offer policies for instructors with 4x4s and larger cars as driving instructors cash in on the rise in demand for towing instruction
Staycations are becoming increasingly popular as more people choose to holiday at home rather than face the hassle and expense of travelling abroad.
One of the fastest-growing sections of the staycation industry is camping and caravanning as holidaymakers look for fun-filled breaks without a huge financial outlay.
The Camping and Caravanning Club recently reported a 50 per cent rise in campers visiting its club sites and credit the upsurge to the new levels of luxury that modern caravans – and campsites – can offer.
Far from the bleak, windswept fields of yesteryear, modern-day “glamping” has seen caravan owners enjoying previously unheard-of luxuries such as satellite TV hook-ups, great facilities for families and wireless internet connections.
But what many drivers don’t realise is that they are restricted to the weight they can tow behind their car depending on when they passed their driving test.
Any infringement of the law could not only cause an accident, but could also see the driver taken to court and their insurance declared invalid.
The UK driving licence law changed in 1997 to reflect the fact that caravans – and often the vehicles towing them – are getting bigger and heavier.
This means that drivers may well need to take an extra driving test in order to be legally able to tow a large caravan.
The law states that if someone passed their driving test before January 1, 1997 they can drive a car and a caravan or trailer weighing a combined weight of 8,250kg, a motorhome or minibus weighing up to 7,500kg and a motorhome with a trailer weighing up to 8,250kg.
Drivers who passed their test after January 1997 are further restricted.
They can drive a car and caravan or trailer weighing up to 3,500kg, a motorhome up to 3,500kg and a motorhome and trailer up to 4,250kg, where the trailer weighs up to 750kg.
Many driving instructors now offer training days, lessons and support through the Category B and E test which helps drivers obtain the trailer licence they need to tow a reasonable-sized caravan.
Training involves checking the trailer or caravan, hitching-up correctly and ensuring that the rear lights, stop lights and indicators are working, reversing and controlled stopping, positioning on the road and correct use of mirrors.
During the test, drivers will be asked to complete vehicle safety lessons, an off-road reverse manoeuvre, a controlled stop, uncoupling and coupling of the trailer and driving on the road.
Adrian Flux’s Driving Tuition insurance policy is designed to offer competitive premiums with outstanding levels of cover, including insurance for the larger cars or 4×4 vehicles needed to help instructors’ customers pass their trailer licence.
The policies are not only loaded with all the benefits and extras that you want, but also offer a referral scheme which can earn you a generous commission payment for every pupil who takes out a policy.
Flux offers comprehensive instructor insurance cover while driving other cars under tuition, cover pupil’s cars and offers specialist cover for teaching towing in addition to a host of other features.
Because the specialist broker’s staff are highly-trained underwriters, they are used to finding policies to suit unusual and completely unique cars and situations and know which insurers offer the best policies and prices for driving instructors.
*For a simple, swift and highly competitive quote for driving instructor insurance, contact Adrian Flux at www.adrianflux.co.uk/di/ or call 0800 089 0809