Does my Auto Insurance Cover My RV?

The Recreational Vehicle Industry Association says that over 350,000 recreational vehicles are sold every year to the tune of about $15 billion. It won’t take long to spot one when traveling as there are about 9 million such vehicles on the road. Recreational Vehicles, or RV’s, come in a variety of shapes and sizes including fifth-wheel campers, motorhomes, pop-up campers, truck campers and more. RV’s that are motorized come in three classes, A, B, and C Class. The basic definition of an RV is a vehicle that includes sleeping quarters.

If you are considering the purchase of a new or used RV, you may wonder if your automobile insurance will cover your home on wheels. The answer is, it depends. As usual, it is always best to check your policy to verify coverage, but here are some general guidelines.

For towable RV’s that are pulled behind an insured vehicle, most auto insurance policies will cover the RV for liability. You would likely be covered for any damage caused by your vehicle or trailer to another vehicle or other property in an at-fault accident. You would not be covered for the physical damage to your trailer, unless you specifically add it to your policy with comprehensive and collision coverage.

Now, if you have a Class A or B recreational vehicle you will want to acquire separate RV insurance. Of course, if you borrowed money to purchase your RV, your lender will require coverage as well. There are some other instances when you will want to purchase separate RV insurance. One is if you rent an RV and the other is if you leave your RV on a leased site in an RV park.

Separate RV insurance can also cover your belongings stowed in your RV. This becomes more and more critical, especially if you tend to go “glamping” with a lot of the amenities of home. In fact, due to the size and weight of some RV’s, specific coverage is needed to properly insure the RV. Quite often a separate RV policy is needed. The best advice is to check with your local independent insurance agent prior to purchasing the RV.

There is good news when it comes to RV insurance. It can usually be acquired for far less than that of auto insurance. Many RV’ers find their premiums are only about 20% of that of their auto insurance. That makes it worth checking into.

If you would like to explore the possibility of RV insurance, please feel free to contact us. We make it our business to protect all of your assets and manage liability risks including those related to recreational vehicles. Camping or glamping, enjoy it safely and with the protection you deserve.