Cancellation service n°1 in United Kingdom
The Caravan and Motorhome Club, formerly known as the Caravan Club until its rebrand in 2017, is the UK's longest-established organisation for touring caravan, motorhome and trailer tent enthusiasts. Founded in 1907, this membership-based club serves over one million members across the United Kingdom, making it one of the largest clubs of its kind in Europe.
The Club operates an extensive network of over 200 Club Sites and provides access to more than 2,500 certificated locations throughout the UK. Members benefit from comprehensive services including roadside assistance, insurance products, travel services, and expert advice on all aspects of caravanning and motorhoming. The organisation publishes a monthly magazine, offers training courses for drivers, and provides technical support for vehicle-related queries.
Most importantly, membership isn't just about site access. The Club has historically campaigned on behalf of caravanners and motorhomers on issues affecting the leisure vehicle community, from road regulations to planning permissions. They've built a reputation as a trusted voice in the industry, which is precisely why many people initially join.
However, circumstances change. Perhaps you've sold your caravan or motorhome, your travel plans have shifted, or you've found alternative camping arrangements that better suit your needs. Whatever your reason for considering cancellation, understanding the proper process will save you considerable hassle down the line.
The Caravan and Motorhome Club offers several membership tiers designed to accommodate different types of members. Understanding what you're currently paying for is the first step before cancelling, as it affects your notice period and any potential refunds.
| Membership Type | Annual Cost | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Full Membership | £59 | Two adults at same address, full site access, magazine, discounts |
| Joint Plus | £78 | Full membership benefits plus Mayday breakdown cover |
| Single Membership | £49 | One adult, all standard benefits included |
| Affiliate | £20 | Family members at different addresses, limited benefits |
Additionally, many members have added optional extras to their core membership. These include Red Pennant overseas travel cover, which provides European breakdown assistance and extends from around £89 for short trips to over £200 for annual coverage. Some members also subscribe to premium insurance products for their caravans, motorhomes, or holiday homes, which are separate contracts that may require individual cancellation.
Full members receive access to the Club's network of certificated locations and Club Sites, with discounts on pitch fees during off-peak periods. The monthly magazine arrives by post, and members can access online resources including route planning tools and site reviews. Technical advice lines operate during business hours, and members receive discounts at participating retailers and service centres.
Keep in mind that some benefits, particularly Mayday breakdown cover and Red Pennant travel insurance, are actually underwritten by separate insurance companies. This means cancelling your Club membership doesn't automatically terminate these services—they require separate cancellation procedures, which I'll address later in this guide.
After processing thousands of membership terminations, I've noticed several recurring patterns. Many members cancel after selling their touring caravan or motorhome, particularly when they've transitioned to static caravans or traditional holidays. The Club's sites and services simply become irrelevant without a touring vehicle.
Financial considerations drive another significant portion of cancellations. When membership fees increase annually, some members reassess whether they're getting sufficient value, especially if they only tour once or twice yearly. Others discover that non-member pitch fees at the sites they prefer work out cheaper than maintaining year-round membership.
Health issues and age-related concerns feature prominently too. Towing becomes more challenging as members age, and some reluctantly accept they can no longer safely drive motorhomes or manage caravan setups. Additionally, some members find alternative organisations or commercial sites that better match their specific touring preferences.
Understanding the Club's terms and conditions is absolutely crucial before you initiate cancellation. The Caravan and Motorhome Club operates under specific contractual terms that govern how and when you can terminate your membership, and getting this wrong can cost you money.
Your membership operates on an annual basis with automatic renewal unless you provide notice to cancel. This is the critical point that catches many members off guard—the Club doesn't simply let your membership lapse when the year ends. Instead, it automatically renews, and you'll be charged for another year unless you've formally cancelled within the required notice period.
The standard notice period is 30 days before your renewal date. This means if your membership renews on 15th March, you must submit your cancellation notice by 13th February at the latest. Missing this deadline by even a single day typically means you're committed to another full year of membership, or at minimum, you'll face charges for the renewal period.
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and the Consumer Contracts Regulations, membership organisations must provide clear information about cancellation rights. The Caravan and Motorhome Club's terms comply with these requirements, but understanding your rights helps ensure smooth processing.
Most importantly, if you purchased or renewed your membership remotely (online, by phone, or by post), you have a 14-day cooling-off period from the date you joined or renewed. During this window, you can cancel without providing any reason and receive a full refund. After the cooling-off period expires, the Club's standard terms apply, including the 30-day notice requirement.
The Club's refund policy operates on a pro-rata basis in certain circumstances. If you cancel mid-term due to specific qualifying reasons—such as selling your caravan or motorhome, serious health issues, or bereavement—you may receive a partial refund for the unused portion of your membership. However, this isn't automatic; you must request it and provide supporting documentation.
Keep in mind that the Club retains discretion over refund decisions. They're generally reasonable when presented with genuine circumstances and proper evidence, but they're under no legal obligation to refund memberships cancelled outside the cooling-off period unless you can demonstrate breach of contract on their part.
Here's where many members encounter unexpected complications. If you've added Mayday breakdown cover or Red Pennant insurance to your membership, these require separate cancellation notices. Simply cancelling your core membership doesn't automatically terminate these services, and you could continue being charged for them.
Insurance products typically have their own renewal dates and notice periods, which may differ from your membership renewal date. Check all your documentation carefully to identify every service you're subscribed to, and note down each renewal date and required notice period separately.
Now we reach the most reliable method for cancelling your Caravan and Motorhome Club membership—postal cancellation sent via Recorded Delivery. After years of processing membership terminations, I can tell you with absolute certainty that postal cancellation provides the strongest evidence trail and the highest success rate.
Postal cancellation creates an indisputable paper trail that protects you legally. When you send cancellation via Recorded Delivery, you receive proof of posting and confirmation of delivery. This becomes invaluable if any dispute arises about whether you provided adequate notice or if the Club claims they never received your cancellation.
Additionally, written cancellation forces you to include all necessary information in one place. You can't forget to mention your membership number or renewal date because you're composing everything deliberately. Phone calls rely on the staff member accurately recording your request, and details can be missed or misunderstood. Email seems convenient, but many organisations claim they never received emails, and proving otherwise becomes difficult.
Most importantly, UK consumer law recognises postal communication as legally binding once posted, provided you've used the correct address. The moment you post your Recorded Delivery cancellation, you've fulfilled your legal obligation to provide notice, regardless of any postal delays.
Your cancellation letter must contain specific details to ensure proper processing. First and foremost, include your full membership number exactly as it appears on your membership card or correspondence. This is typically a combination of letters and numbers that uniquely identifies your account.
Next, state clearly and unambiguously that you wish to cancel your membership. Use direct language such as \