Why Compare Equi-Trek Horsebox And Trailer Insurance?
Same Name, Different Weights
The Sonic and Equinox come at 3,500kg and 4,500kg, and providers rate each weight differently. Comparing helps you find cover for the version you actually own.
Value On A New Chassis
Equi-Trek builds its horseboxes on brand-new chassis and says they hold their value. Agreed value terms vary between providers, so it's worth seeing more than one quote.
One Short Form
Clean Green Cars introduces you to UK insurance providers that offer horsebox and trailer cover, so you can compare quotes for your Equi-Trek in one place without calling round.
Equi-Trek Insurance At A Glance
- Who Builds Them - Equi-Trek was founded in West Yorkshire in 1999 and is now based in Stocksbridge, Sheffield, as Equi-Trek Limited, part of Trek Group Limited. Equi-Trek describes itself as the largest horsebox manufacturer in the UK.
- Horseboxes And Trailers - Equi-Trek builds driven horseboxes, such as the Sonic, Equinox, Victory, IKONIK and Evolution, and towed trailers, such as the Apollo, Day-Treka, Night-Treka, Space-Treka III, Star-Treka and Multi-Treka. Each type is licensed and insured differently.
- Horseboxes From 3,500kg To 7,200kg - the 3,500kg Sonic, Equinox and IKONIK fit a car licence. The 4,500kg Sonic, Equinox and Victory and the 7,200kg Evolution need C1 and an HGV annual test.
- Always A Brand-New Chassis - Equi-Trek says its horseboxes are built only on brand-new chassis, with the Sonic, Equinox and Victory on Peugeot and the Evolution on Iveco. So the chassis and the body are usually the same age, which keeps the quote details simple.
- Warranty Depends On Servicing - a new Equi-Trek comes with a 2-year warranty, but an approved Equi-Trek dealer must service it at 3 months, 12 months and every year after. Keep the records, as they help show the box or trailer was looked after.
- Compare Quotes - see UK insurance providers that quote for your Equi-Trek horsebox or trailer, its weight, drivers and storage. More on the rules for every maker is on the horsebox insurance page.
Do You Need Insurance For An Equi-Trek Horsebox Or Trailer?
Yes for a horsebox, and not by law for a trailer. An Equi-Trek horsebox is a motor vehicle, so you need at least third party insurance to drive it on a road or other public place. An Equi-Trek trailer relies on the car towing it, and the law requires insurance for that car, not for the trailer.
- Horsebox Owners Need Third Party - GOV.UK says driving uninsured can mean a £300 fixed penalty and 6 penalty points, and police can seize the vehicle. Third party pays for harm you cause to others, not for your Sonic or Evolution
- A Laid-Up Box Can Go On SORN - a horsebox kept off the road and declared SORN doesn't need insurance by law, though fire and theft cover while it's parked up may still be worth keeping
- Trailer Owners Rely On The Car Policy - third-party liability while you tow normally comes from your car insurance, provided the policy covers towing, so check the wording before you hitch up
- The Trailer Itself Needs Its Own Cover - your car policy is unlikely to pay out if a Night-Treka or Star-Treka is stolen from the yard, so a separate horse trailer policy is the usual way to protect it and the kit inside
Licence Rules For Equi-Trek Horseboxes And Trailers
Welfare In Transport For Equi-Trek Owners
The welfare-in-transport rules work the same way whether you drive an Equi-Trek horsebox or tow an Equi-Trek trailer. The rules sit in The Welfare of Animals (Transport) (England) Order 2006 and Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005. Equi-Trek says its products carry full DEFRA approval, but whether the rules apply depends on who is moving the horse and why. Here are the three areas to check.
Leisure Trips Sit Outside The Rules
Taking your own horse out purely for leisure is outside these rules. They apply when you move horses more than 65km (about 40 miles) in connection with an economic activity, and GOV.UK counts professional horse riders as one. In scope, you need APHA transporter authorisation: type 1 for journeys up to 8 hours, type 2 for longer ones.
Competence And Vehicle Approval
For in-scope horse journeys over 65km, the driver and any attendant need a certificate of competence. A journey over 8 hours also needs a certificate of vehicle approval for the horsebox or trailer, on top of type 2 authorisation.
Registered Horses And Journey Logs
Journey logs are only needed for journeys over 8 hours from Great Britain to another country with unregistered horses. Registered horses are on an EU-recognised studbook or with a national branch of an international racing or competition body. They're spared journey logs and the limits on journey time, rest and feeding, though an in-scope transporter still needs authorisation and an animal transport certificate.
Equi-Trek Cover Levels Explained
Choose third party only on a new Evolution and a fire or theft leaves the whole loss with you. Here's what each level usually includes for an Equi-Trek horsebox.
| Feature | Comprehensive | Third Party, Fire & Theft | Third Party Only |
|---|---|---|---|
| Injury and damage to other people and property (legal minimum for the horsebox) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fire and theft of the Equi-Trek horsebox | Yes | Yes | No |
| Accidental damage to the body and chassis | Yes | No | No |
| Living area fittings (Equinox, Victory, Evolution) | Usually, if declared | Fire and theft only | No |
| Agreed value on a new or nearly new box | Often available on application | Provider-dependent | No |
| Tack and kit in the horse area and tack locker | Often included up to a set limit | Provider-dependent | No |
| Windscreen and glass | Often included | Provider-dependent | No |
| Lost or stolen keys and central locking | Often included | Provider-dependent | No |
| Minimum third-party cover in the EU | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Theft and damage cover on trips abroad | Often for a set number of days | Provider-dependent | No |
| Recovery for the box with horses on board | Often add-on | Add-on | Add-on |
Cover, limits and conditions differ from one provider to the next, so check the wording before you buy.
Cover Tip: A new Equi-Trek comes with a known build date, chassis date and spec, which makes an agreed value easier to set. List the living area, the extras you ordered and a five-seat cab if you have one. A towed Equi-Trek trailer sits on its own policy, so read its theft and contents terms separately.
What May Not Be Covered
The wrong weight on the policy or the wrong licence in the cab can leave a claim short. Here's what a standard Equi-Trek horsebox policy may not cover.
Standard Exclusions
- Driving A 4,500kg Box Without C1 - A claim may be refused if the driver only holds a car licence passed on or after 1 January 1997 and takes out a 4,500kg Sonic, Equinox or Victory, or the 7,200kg Evolution. Check each named driver's categories before they get behind the wheel.
- Running Over The Plated Weight - Equi-Trek says the IKONIK carries a genuine 900kg payload, but horses, water, tack and passengers soon add up on any box. Driving over the plated weight is a roadworthiness problem and may affect a claim, so weigh the box if you're unsure.
Important Limitations
- Changes Made After Delivery - A camera, an awning, a changed partition or extra living kit added after you collect the box all change its value and risk. Changes you haven't declared may not be paid for in full, so tell your insurer when you make them.
- Hire, Reward And Prize Money - Hiring the box out, carrying other people's horses for payment or competing for prize money is usually outside a private policy, and DVSA counts prize money as commercial use. Equi-Trek also runs a hire service, so if you hire one, check who insures it before you use it.
- Faults That Belong To The Warranty - An engine fault, a failed part or gradual wear on tyres, ramp springs and flooring isn't accidental damage. On a new Equi-Trek, faults usually go to the 2-year Equi-Trek warranty or the chassis maker's warranty, not to your insurance policy.
- An Unlocked Cab Or Coupling - Equi-Trek horseboxes come with central locking and lockable doors, and most of its trailers have a lockable coupling. A theft claim may be refused if the box was left unlocked, the keys were left nearby or the coupling lock wasn't used.
Extras Worth Considering
A breakdown on the motorway with two horses on board needs more than a tow truck. These optional extras may be worth adding to an Equi-Trek policy.
Breakdown help that can recover a loaded horsebox and get the horses home, not just a car. If you drive the 7,200kg Evolution, check the provider can recover a vehicle of that weight before you add it.
Covers your own things in the living area of an Equinox, Victory or Evolution, such as bedding, cooking kit and clothes. Standard contents limits can be low if you stay away at shows.
Raises the contents limit for saddles, bridles, rugs and show kit carried in the box or trailer. Useful if your tack is worth more than the standard limit on the policy.
More days of theft and damage cover for shows abroad than the policy default. If you tow an Equi-Trek trailer to most of Europe, GOV.UK says a trailer over 750kg must be registered with DVLA first, which costs £26 the first time.
What Affects An Equi-Trek Quote?
Plated weight, the drivers named and where the box sleeps at night move Equi-Trek quotes the most. These are the factors that tend to count.
| Key Factor | Impact on your price |
|---|---|
| Model and plated weight | A 3,500kg Sonic, a 4,500kg Victory and a 7,200kg Evolution sit in different licence and test groups, and insurers tend to rate each one differently. |
| New chassis and build year | Equi-Trek builds its horseboxes only on brand-new chassis, so the chassis year usually matches the build year. A newer box tends to carry a higher value and repair cost. |
| Agreed value and extras | A higher agreed value usually lifts the premium, but it's the figure you'd be paid after a total loss, so it should include every extra ordered at build. |
| Living area | Overnight living on an Equinox, Victory or Evolution adds fittings and value, and some providers treat the living area and your belongings separately. |
| Drivers and licences | Older, experienced drivers with clean licences tend to price better. Younger drivers, or anyone new to a 4,500kg or 7,200kg box, may price higher. |
| Cab seats | The five-seat Sonic and Victory carry more people, so say which version you have. It changes who may be in the cab if something goes wrong. |
| Overnight storage | A locked yard, barn or gated compound usually prices better than a roadside or open driveway. Insurers also look at the postcode, so give the one where the box or trailer is actually kept overnight. |
| Security fitted | Equi-Trek lists central locking and lockable doors on its horseboxes but no factory tracker, so any tracker or immobiliser you add is worth declaring. |
| Annual mileage | A private horsebox often covers fewer miles than a family car. An honest, realistic estimate tends to price fairly and avoids problems if you claim. |
| How the box is used | Private leisure use, competing for prize money and carrying other people's horses are priced differently, and some of them need business use on the policy. |
Your quotes will depend on your own details and the model you own.
Price Insight: A 3,500kg Sonic and a 4,500kg Sonic share a name but not a licence, a test or a risk profile. Quote the weight on the plate and the exact version, including whether it has five seats. An Equi-Trek trailer is priced on its own policy, mainly on value, storage and security.
Ways To Help Reduce Your Premium
Getting the details right at quote stage can help keep an Equi-Trek premium in check. A few habits that may help lower the price.
Quote The Exact Version And Weight
Read the plate before you quote, as the Sonic and Equinox come at 3,500kg and 4,500kg, and the Sonic and Victory both come with five seats. The right version from the start avoids a mid-term change.
Keep The Dealer Service Stamps
The 2-year warranty depends on approved dealer services at 3 months, 12 months and every year after. A full record also helps show the condition of the box if you ever claim.
Use The Locks It Came With
Lock the cab and doors every time on a horsebox, and use the lockable coupling on a trailer. A wheel clamp, offered as an extra on the Night-Treka, adds another layer worth declaring.
Store It Behind A Locked Gate
Secure storage, declared accurately, is one of the biggest factors on a newer horsebox or trailer. A gated yard, locked barn or compound tends to price better than the roadside.
Set The Agreed Value From The Invoice
A new Equi-Trek has a clear purchase price and spec. Use them to set an honest agreed value, rather than guessing low to shave the premium and risking a short payout.
Pay Annually If You Can
Paying for the year upfront avoids the interest often added to monthly payments, which can add a noticeable amount to a higher-value policy.
Saving Tip: On a new Equi-Trek, the invoice, the build spec and the dealer service stamps do a lot of work. They support the agreed value, back up the condition of the box and answer most questions an insurer may ask, so keep them together with your policy.
How To Compare Quotes
Comparing Equi-Trek horsebox insurance from UK insurance providers takes a few minutes. Get started above.
Share Your Details
Enter your Equi-Trek model, plated weight, build year, value and where it's kept. The form takes a few minutes.
Add Drivers And Licences
Add everyone who'll drive the box with the licence categories they hold, so the cover matches a 3,500kg, 4,500kg or 7,200kg model.
Compare Cover Levels
Put third party only, third party fire and theft and comprehensive side by side, then read the theft, living area and agreed value terms.
Weigh Add-Ons
Decide on horse-capable recovery, living area contents, tack cover and European cover based on how you use your Equi-Trek.
Choose A Start Date
Pick the day your Equi-Trek cover begins. The provider issues the certificate and policy documents after payment.
What Our Expert Says
Equi-Trek builds both driven horseboxes and towed trailers, so the first thing an insurer needs to know is which one you own. A Sonic is a horsebox and a Star-Treka is a trailer, and different licence, test and cover rules apply to each.
A common scenario is a family that buys a 4,500kg Victory for its overnight living and assumes anyone who drives the car can drive the box. A 4,500kg diesel horsebox needs C1, and a driver who passed on or after 1 January 1997 may only have a car licence. Put every driver on the quote with their licence categories, and check the plate rather than the brochure, because the Sonic and Equinox both come at 3,500kg and 4,500kg.
If yours is a trailer, the questions move to the car and the yard. Your car policy normally covers liability while you tow, provided it covers towing, but it's unlikely to pay if a Night-Treka is taken from the field. Equi-Trek fits a lockable coupling to the Day-Treka, Night-Treka, Space-Treka III, Star-Treka and Multi-Treka, and offers a wheel clamp as an extra on the Night-Treka. Use both, declare them, and keep the dealer service records that the 2-year warranty depends on.
Insurance Expert & Co-founder of Clean Green Cars
Equi-Trek Horsebox And Trailer Questions
Is An Equi-Trek A Horsebox Or A Horse Trailer?
It depends on the model, because Equi-Trek builds both. The Sonic, Equinox, Victory, IKONIK and Evolution are driven horseboxes that need their own motor insurance. The Apollo, Day-Treka, Night-Treka, Space-Treka III, Star-Treka and Multi-Treka are towed trailers that rely on your car. Older names you may see used, such as the Show-Treka and Trail-Treka, are trailers too.
Can I Drive An Equi-Trek Sonic On A Car Licence?
Only the 3,500kg version, unless you passed your test before 1997. Equi-Trek says the 3,500kg Sonic can be driven by anyone with a standard car licence. The Sonic also comes at 4,500kg, and anything over 3,500kg needs C1. Passed before 1 January 1997? Your licence usually includes C1, though it's worth confirming on your online licence record.
Do Equi-Trek Horseboxes Come On A New Chassis?
Yes. Equi-Trek says its horseboxes are only ever built on brand-new chassis, so you get the chassis maker's full warranty, for example 3 years or 100,000 miles on Peugeot and Iveco. For insurance, the chassis registration and the build year should line up, so there's one date to give rather than two.
Does Missing An Equi-Trek Service Affect My Insurance?
Not directly, but it can affect the warranty. Equi-Trek says an approved dealer must service a new trailer or horsebox at 3 months, 12 months and every year after, and that missing them may affect the warranty. Your insurance is separate, but a full service history helps show the condition of the box or trailer after a claim.
Is Agreed Value Worth It On A New Equi-Trek?
It can help. A new Equi-Trek has a clear invoice price and spec, so agreeing the payout at the start is straightforward. Without it, a payout after a total loss may be based on market value, which can fall short on a well-specced box. The premium may be a little higher, but you'll know the figure in advance.
Does Taking My Horse To A Show Need APHA Authorisation?
Not if the trip is purely for leisure, in a horsebox or a trailer. The rules apply to journeys over 65km (about 40 miles) linked to an economic activity, and GOV.UK lists professional horse riders as one. If you ride professionally or move other people's horses for money, you'll usually need type 1 authorisation for journeys up to 8 hours.
What Changes If My Equi-Trek Is A Trailer?
The licence, the test and the insurance all change. Since 16 December 2021, a full car licence lets you tow a trailer up to 3,500kg MAM, which covers every current Equi-Trek trailer, as long as your car is rated for it. A car-towed trailer with overrun brakes needs no MOT and carries the car's number plate. Liability while towing normally comes from your car policy, provided it covers towing, so a trailer policy is mainly there for theft, damage and contents.
What Happens After I Submit My Details?
Clean Green Cars introduces you to UK insurance providers or regulated brokers that quote for Equi-Trek horseboxes and trailers, based on your model, weight, drivers and storage. Quotes usually show within minutes, and you can compare cover, price and add-ons before picking a policy for your box or trailer.
Search & Compare Quotes From UK Equi-Trek Horsebox Insurance Providers
Useful Resources
- GOV.UK - Driving Licence Categories - what categories B, BE and C1 let you drive and tow, set by maximum authorised mass.
- GOV.UK - Towing With A Car - the trailer weight limits, the gross train weight check and towing mirrors for an Equi-Trek trailer behind your car.
- GOV.UK - HGV Annual Test - when a horsebox over 3,500kg, such as a 4,500kg Equi-Trek, needs its annual test.
- GOV.UK - Guidance For Horsebox And Trailer Owners - DVSA guidance on licences, operator licences, tachographs and what counts as commercial use.
- GOV.UK - Transporting Animals In Great Britain - the welfare rules for moving horses, from transporter authorisation to vehicle approval.
- Equi-Trek - Warranty - the maker's 2-year warranty terms, the dealer service schedule and the chassis-maker warranties.
