Did you know that a typical auto insurance policy is not sufficient to protect your recreational vehicle from accidental losses? Damage to your RV or camper and liability for motorhome accidents are best covered by RV insurance, which is designed for these large, customized vehicles.
RV insurance is designed to cover:
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Motorhomes
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Trailers
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Fifth wheels
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Camper vans
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Pop-up campers
Rates are calculated based on the type and age of the RV, its storage location, where you will travel, how often you will use it, any upgrades you make, and the driving record of the people who will operate the motorhome or the tow vehicle. If you need gap insurance to cover the difference between the insured value of the vehicle and what’s still owed to a lender, that is another coverage consideration.
Liability Insurance
Because motorhomes are self-propelled, they always need to have their own insurance policy. Property coverage for the motorhome against theft, collision, or non-collision damage is often required by lenders but becomes optional when the loan is paid in full. Liability insurance, however, is governed by the state where you live and is always required in some form. Each state has its own laws about the minimum liability insurance that must be carried, and some states operate under a no-fault system, where personal injury protection (PIP) insurance is the norm. Your agent will help you assess and comply with your state’s insurance requirements.
Other kinds of RVs, such as campers and fifth wheels, are treated differently from motorhomes. Your personal auto insurance policy’s liability section will typically cover your financial responsibilities for damage and injuries to others caused while you’re towing a trailer, even if the trailer is the sole cause of the harm.
However, your personal auto insurance won’t cover damages caused by your trailer while it’s not attached to your insured vehicle or while not in the process of being towed — for example, parked at a campsite. That being the case, it’s best to get RV or trailer liability insurance.
Trailers: What to Watch
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If the trailer is judged as not street-worthy — bald tires, defective doors or impaired hitch, for instance — an insurer may deny coverage.
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If the trailer is being hauled by a vehicle that isn’t geared for towing such a load, accident or liability coverage could be denied.
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If your parked trailer has a fire that injures someone outside your household or damages their property, you would likely need trailer insurance in order to receive help paying the bills. Most auto insurance requires the trailer to be “in use,” meaning being towed, for its liability coverage to respond.
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If your trailer rolls away and injures someone or damages their property, trailer liability insurance is the only recourse for coverage.
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Some jurisdictions also require trailers to be registered, so talk to your agent about local requirements that could affect coverage.
Another common source of loss is from hit-and-runs. Ask your insurance agent about these incidents. It’s likely you will need uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (known as UM/UIM coverage), which typically carries a lower deductible than collision and comprehensive coverage and may include protections for damage to your RV as well as expenses related to injuries you suffer. Uninsured motorist coverage also responds if an at-fault driver damages your vehicle and stays on the scene.
If you have a personal umbrella insurance policy, make sure that your RV’s liability limits satisfy the minimum limits of your personal umbrella policy. Your agent can help you determine whether your RV limits are in alignment with the amount your personal umbrella requires.
Property Insurance
Beyond coverage for harm caused to others, you most likely will want to ensure your motorhome or trailer for damage it sustains. An auto insurance policy is not written to cover that. For protection against losses to the trailer or motorhome itself, you need trailer or RV insurance. This insurance can cover both collision and non-collision damage.
Collision damage ensures the trailer or motorhome for repairs or total losses caused by accidents while you are moving. For example:
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As you are traveling, your trailer sways and strikes another vehicle. Liability insurance covers their costs; collision covers repairs to your trailer.
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You switch lanes and hit someone in your blind spot. Liability insurance covers their costs; collision covers repairs to your RV.
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You take a turn at too high a speed and roll the trailer. Collision covers repairs or a total loss.
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A deer jumps in your path, and you hit it with your motorhome. Collision covers repairs.
Collision insurance on a trailer policy doesn’t insure the tow vehicle, however. If your pickup is damaged by your trailer, you would need to look to the collision or comprehensive section of your auto insurance policy. So, make sure your car insurance is aligned with your trailer usage.
Non-collision trailer or RV insurance, often called “comprehensive insurance,” covers damage to the towed vehicle while it is stationary. That can include fire, theft, vandalism, flood or being struck by a falling tree limb or flying debris.
Towing and roadside assistance may be added to most policies, so you have specialized help if you get stuck or if your motorhome or trailer is rendered undrivable by an accident.
Are the Contents Insured?
An RV insurance policy may cover the motorhome or camper’s built-in contents as well as the possessions you packed. The limits of contents coverage are often tied to the type of RV, with Class A motorhomes having substantially higher limits of coverage for contents than a fifth wheel. Coverage typically extends to clothing, camping gear, fishing or other sports equipment, kitchenware, furniture and (often) electronics.
When dealing with towed vehicles, work closely with your insurance agent to make sure you have enough contents coverage between the trailer insurance policy and your home insurance. And read your policy carefully regarding unoccupied RVs, as the time left empty may reduce or eliminate contents coverage.
After-market modifications to an RV can be insured using an endorsement, or an additional section of an RV policy. It can cover solar panels, specialty electronics or satellite connections, and upgraded amenities, such as high-end kitchen equipment or awning add-ons.
Motorhomes as a Residence
If you are using a motorhome as a residence, you may need “full-timer” coverage, which is tailored to reflect use for more than six months a year. Full-time RV insurance can provide extended liability coverage that resembles a home insurance policy. For example, it would cover injuries sustained by visitors to your motorhome, liability you may incur for injuries or damage to others while your RV is parked, or assessments an RV park might levy upon residents for disaster damages to the park’s common grounds.
A full-timer’s RV insurance policy can also cover additional living expenses, which include hotels and restaurant meals while your motorhome is being repaired or replaced due to a covered loss.
RV Owner Responsibilities
When you own an RV or trailer, you must carry the minimum liability coverage required by your state and maintain your RV. Insurance will not pay for wear and tear, and coverage may be denied if it is discovered your failure to keep the vehicle road-worthy led to harm.
An insurance agent who specializes in insurance for motorhomes, campers, trailers and fifth wheels can guide you in selecting coverage for your needs. Note that travel across U.S. borders may necessitate special insurance. Find an agent near you who can advise you on RV insurance tailored to your needs and budget.