Caravan park approved contractor rules: what they actually mean for your removal
One owner told us their farm site had ordered the caravan off the pitch, then refused to let a scrap merchant through the gate to take it. A caravan park approved contractor rule like that can leave you stuck between two instructions that cancel each other out. Some owners have even described a truck turning up on the agreed day only to be stopped at the barrier because the site hadn't cleared it. If your park has said the same thing to you, this is what the rule usually means, what it doesn't, and what to check before you book anyone.
Why parks restrict who's allowed on site
Parks usually give two reasons, and both are worth taking at face value. The stated one is safety. A caravan pitch sits close to shared gas, electric and water connections, and a contractor who doesn't know the site layout can damage a neighbour's supply while disconnecting yours. The other reason is commercial. Many parks charge their own disconnection fee before anyone is allowed to touch a caravan, and keeping a short list of approved names makes that fee easier to collect.
Neither reason means only the park's own list can ever work. Your pitch licence agreement is what actually decides this, not general practice. Read it, or ask the park directly what "approved" requires in writing, before you assume you have no choice.
What "approved contractor only" really costs you
The practical effect is that you lose the ability to shop around. If a park insists on its own shortlist, or on approving anyone you bring in, you can end up paying two separate bills. One is the park's disconnection charge. The other is the cost of actually scrapping the caravan. Reports from owners going through this describe park disconnection fees running anywhere from a few hundred pounds up into the thousands. That's before a removal firm charges anything to take the caravan away.
Those two costs are not the same thing and it's worth keeping them separate in your head. We can only quote for taking the caravan away and scrapping it. We can't quote for, or influence, whatever the park charges to disconnect it first.
The catch-22: told to go, then stopped at the gate
This is the part that catches people out. The park tells you the caravan has to go, often with a deadline attached, and then won't let the firm you've booked past the entrance to collect it. Sometimes it's because that firm isn't on an approved list. Sometimes it's because the park says money is owed on the pitch and nobody's cleared it. Either way, you're the one stuck holding a deadline you can't meet through no fault of your own.
The fix isn't to argue at the gate on collection day. It's to sort permission out in writing before you book a firm at all.
What to get in writing before you book anyone
Before you arrange a collection date with anyone, get these confirmed on paper or in an email from the park:
- Written confirmation that a named contractor (or "any contractor with valid insurance") is allowed on site.
- A firm date and arrival window the site has agreed to.
- Confirmation there's no outstanding balance on the pitch that could block access on the day.
- Whether the park or the contractor is responsible for the disconnection itself.
- What documents the park wants to see from your contractor, usually proof of insurance.
- A named contact at the park who can vouch for the booking if there's any confusion at the gate.
Skipping this step is how a booked, paid-for collection turns into a wasted trip.
What we ask a park for before we turn up
We ask for the same things, because it protects both sides. Before we confirm a date, we'll want written access permission from the site and a contact who can confirm it on the day if needed. Where the park has said a balance applies, we'll also want confirmation that it's been settled. We're happy to provide proof of insurance if a park asks for it. What we can't do is promise to meet a requirement we've never been told about. If your park has a specific process, tell us before the day, not after the van's already turned around.
If the park says no
If a park refuses access outright, start by checking your pitch licence agreement for what it actually says about contractor approval, not what someone in the office told you verbally. Some owners in this situation have put their objection in writing and asked the park to justify the refusal against the licence terms. A few have escalated unresolved disputes to Trading Standards or a trade body when a park wouldn't engage. We can't tell you what your park is legally required to allow, since that depends on your specific agreement, but a written request usually gets further than a phone call.
What it costs to scrap a caravan, static or touring
The price depends on the type of caravan and whether it can still be towed. Static or touring, it's confirmed properly once we've seen clear photos and, where access is an issue, once we know what a park will and won't allow.
| Caravan type | What happens | Price |
| Touring, still towable | Collected on its own wheels | £350–£450 |
| Touring, not towable | Broken up on site, or moved on a tow bed for breaking | £500–£850 |
| Static | Broken up on site and the waste cleared away | £1,800–£3,980 |
A few notes on those figures. For a touring caravan that's not towable, the skip isn't included in the price. You'll need to arrange your own, usually 6–8 yards. For a static caravan, if we're able to burn the wood on site rather than cart it away, the price usually drops by a few hundred pounds. These are the cheapest rates we've come across for this kind of static or touring caravan work. The exact figure always depends on condition and how easy the site is to get into.
Clear photos before anything's confirmed
We ask for clear photos before we confirm any quote, and it matters more than people expect. We regularly get told a caravan is "towable". Then the photos arrive and show the wheels are missing, the walls have gone soft, or the base floor won't survive being lifted. Send photos of the whole caravan and close-up photos of anything damaged. It's the only way a quote holds up once we're actually on site. It also avoids a wasted trip if access has already been agreed with the park for a specific date.
Book quickly once permission's sorted
Once a park has confirmed access and you've got a quote you're happy with, book within 24 hours. We're always busy, and a delay of even a week or two can mean losing the collection slot the park agreed to. That leaves you back at square one with a deadline and no van booked to meet it.
Frequently asked questions
Can a park really force me to use their own contractor?
Not automatically. A park can restrict who it lets on site for safety and liability reasons. Whether it can insist on one named contractor at one fixed price depends on what your pitch licence agreement actually says. Check the agreement, or ask the park in writing what "approved" requires. Don't take a verbal instruction at face value.
What if the park won't confirm my outstanding balance?
Ask in writing and keep a record of the request. A park that won't confirm a balance in writing before your collection date is a common reason trucks get turned away on arrival. It's worth chasing this before you book anyone, not after.
Do I need the park's written permission before booking a collection?
Yes. Verbal agreement from someone in the office isn't enough if a different member of staff is on the gate on the day. Get access, the date and any balance confirmed in writing, then book.
What happens if my contractor is refused access on the day?
The collection can't go ahead, and depending on the firm, you may still be charged for the wasted visit. This is exactly why the written confirmations above matter more than the quote itself. A good price is worthless if the van never gets off site.
If your park has already confirmed access, or you're still working out what "approved contractor" means for your situation, get a quote and send us clear photos of the caravan. We'll tell you plainly what it'll cost and what we'll need from the park before we can collect.
For more on parks pushing owners toward a deadline, see what to do when your park is closing. For a wider look at static caravan pricing, read the real cost of static caravan removal. You can also read more generally about caravan disposal or why removal quotes vary so much.