As with your home, health, and other vehicles, your RV needs insurance coverage, too. While no one plans to get into an accident—especially when mapping out a once-in-a-lifetime cross-country road trip—RV insurance will keep you covered if you do.
Because there are so many different types of RVs and travel trailers, there are a variety of RV insurance options. Therefore, knowing what type of RV insurance is key if you want you and your rig to be adequately protected.
Don’t choose just any RV insurance. Pick the right option for your rig.
Understanding RV Insurance
Like all other forms of insurance, RV insurance protects you if you are injured in an accident. RV insurance coverage also protects you in case you cause an accident where another vehicle or person is damaged or injured.
Outside of car accidents, RV insurance will also protect your camper in the event that it sustains damage while it’s parked at a campsite, your home, or in storage.
But what are the different types of RV insurance? Insurance needs will vary according to the type of RV.
Types of RVs
As we mentioned above, there are several different types of RV, each with unique features and unique insurance coverage requirements.
Class A, B, and C motorhomes, for example, are drivable and have engines, which means they require coverage that doubles as both auto and RV protection. As a result, motorhome insurance policies tend to be quite pricy, especially with newer Class A models.
On the other end of the spectrum, you have travel trailers and fifth-wheels. Because these types of RVs don’t have an engine and are considered tow-behind vehicles, they only require collision and comprehensive insurance, which makes them much cheaper to insure than motorhomes.
Required Coverages
Liability insurance
No matter what type of RV you have or where you live, everyone is required to have liability insurance. Liability insurance pays for injuries and damages in an accident for which you are deemed responsible. Driving or towing your rig without liability insurance is illegal, and you could face a substantial fine if you get caught doing it.
The caveat to this rule is that if you have a tow-behind RV, your towing vehicle’s liability insurance may cover the travel trailer as well. However, you should check with your insurance provider to verify that your policy does this before hitting the open road without RV liability insurance.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Additionally, most states, except for Virginia and New Hampshire, also require you to have uninsured/underinsured coverage. This type of coverage reimburses you for damages and medical bills if you get into an accident caused by someone who doesn’t have adequate insurance coverage or any at all.
Optional Special Coverages
Aside from liability and under-insured/uninsured motorist coverage, all other forms of RV insurance are optional, including the following.
- Comprehensive insurance – Protects your RV from external forces such as vandalism, fires, hale damage, etc.
- Collision insurance – covers your RV if you get into any type of collision.
- Replacement Cost Coverage – Helps you replace personal property such as furniture, appliances, and personal effects that are damaged or ruined in an accident.
- Roof Protection Coverage – Covers roof damage due to hail, fallen tree branches, and more.
While none of these additional coverages are required by law, they’re certainly a good investment if you use your RV frequently.
Full-Time Vs. Part-Time RV Insurance
In addition to the different forms of coverage you can receive, you can also choose between full-time RV insurance and part-time.
Full-Time RV Insurance
Full-time RV insurance is intended for people who live in their RV for at least 150 days out of the year.
Full-time insurance is very similar to homeowners insurance in that it covers everything from personal liability to medical payments to collisions and much more. It’s the most comprehensive coverage you can have for your RV or travel trailer.
Part-Time RV Insurance
Although similar to its full-time counterpart, part-time RV insurance is not the same thing. The biggest difference between the two is that you can add vacation liability insurance to a part-time policy, whereas you can’t with full-time coverage. Additionally, while the perk of vacation coverage is nice, part-time RV insurance isn’t as comprehensive as full-time insurance and typically doesn’t include the following coverages.
- Personal Liability Coverage
- Loss Assessment Coverage
- Medical Payments Insurance
While you can optionally add these additional coverages to your policy, it could drive up the cost significantly, and you might be better off choosing full-time RV insurance.
Factors Affecting RV Insurance Rates
Now that you have a better idea of the different types of RV insurance coverages, let’s examine how insurance companies will determine your rates.
Type and Age of RV
The type and age of your RV will usually have the biggest impact on your insurance rates. In general, the newer and more expensive your RV is, the more valuable it is, which means it will cost more to insure. Therefore, Class A and B motorhomes typically have the most expensive coverage, followed by high-end fifth-wheels and Class C motorhomes.
Travel trailers and small tow-behind campers are the cheapest RVs to insure because they don’t have an engine, which means they don’t require standard RV auto insurance. Instead, they only require liability and comprehensive insurance.
Driving History
As with auto insurance, your driving history will significantly affect your insurance rates. If you have a good driving record, insurance will be fairly affordable. However, your rates will skyrocket if you have a history of accidents or moving violations.
Location
Location is the third major factor that affects your RV insurance rates. Florida, Connecticut, Michigan, and New York have the highest RV insurance rates, while Texas, Oregon, Maine, and Ohio have the cheapest.
Tips for Finding the Right RV Insurance Policy
As responsible RV owners, it’s paramount that you do your due diligence and find RV insurance companies and policies that are right for you. Here are a few tips to help you find the right RV insurance policy.
- Shop around and get quotes from more than one RV insurance company before choosing your policy.
- Look for opportunities to save money by bundling RV insurance with other policies, such as home and auto.
- Choose coverage from an insurance company that allows you to customize your policy.
In Conclusion
Choosing the right RV insurance policy for your needs is paramount if you want to make the most of your travels. RV insurance will ensure that you and your rig are financially protected if you get into an accident or if something happens to your RV while it’s in storage or parked at a campground.
In addition to choosing the right insurance coverage for your needs, finding a safe place to store your RV when it’s not in use is also important. Consider using Neighbor, a peer-to-peer storage marketplace, to help you find the perfect RV storage space near you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is insurance on an RV expensive?
Depending on the type of RV you have, your annual premiums can be very expensive. Motorhomes typically have annual premiums of $800 to $1,200, whereas tow-behind campers cost as little as $100 to $400.
Is RV insurance different than auto?
RV insurance for motorhomes is similar to auto insurance, but it’s usually more comprehensive and expensive, since an RV is also a living space.
Is it a good idea to get RV insurance?
At a minimum, you must have liability insurance, and most states also require uninsured/underinsured insurance. Aside from these, other forms of RV insurance are optional but recommended.
What does liability insurance cover on an RV?
RV liability insurance covers damage and bodily injury that you cause to other people or their property while operating your RV.
What are the main types of RV insurance coverage?
RV insurance coverages typically include liability, comprehensive, collision, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
