Whether you live in your RV or use it for vacations, it’s important to make sure you have the right insurance. Whether you’re worried about accidents, theft, or other mishaps, RV/camper insurance gives you the peace of mind that you need.
What is RV/Camper Insurance?
RV/camper insurance protects your recreational vehicle and its contents. It also gives you liability protection in case you cause an accident.
Do You Have to Buy RV/Camper Insurance?
Wisconsin and most other states require that you buy the same minimum insurance coverage that you’d need to drive any other vehicle on a public road. Some RV parks may also require you to show proof of insurance to enter.
What Happens if You Don’t Have RV/Camper Insurance?
If you don’t buy RV/camper insurance, you won’t have protection if something happens. If you paid $50,000 for an RV and it got destroyed by a tornado, could you afford to replace it, and would you feel comfortable losing that much money? If you cause an accident and get sued for $1 million, are you prepared to sell your home, dip into your savings, and have your future wages garnished until you can pay off the judgment? If not, you need to carry insurance to protect yourself.
What Coverage Do You Need for a Motorized RV?
If you have a motorized RV or motor home, you need to get coverage for both when you’re driving and when you’re parked at your destination. These are some of the standard options.
- Accident liability if you injure someone or damage their property in an accident while driving.
- Collision coverage to protect your RV if you get into an accident.
- Comprehensive coverage for non-accident damage and theft.
- Total loss replacement coverage to cover the cost of a new RV.
- Personal property coverage to protect the items inside of your RV. You can add replacement cost coverage to be able to buy brand new items instead of getting reimbursed for only part of their value.
- Medical payments to cover things that your health insurance doesn’t as well as your health insurance deductible.
- Emergency expenses in case you have to pay extra money for lodging, food, or transportation home if something happens to your RV.
- Vacation liability to protect yourself from lawsuits if you injure someone at your campsite.
What Coverage Do You Need for a Camper Trailer or Travel Trailer?
Figuring out what coverage you need for a trailer requires a careful review of your auto insurance policy. You may already have coverage for accidents through your auto insurance. However, this coverage is not always enough to cover the full value of your trailer and its contents. You may also not have coverage for your trailer while it’s parked at a campsite.
You may also need camper trailer insurance to add special protections, such as vacation liability, that you can’t obtain through a standard auto insurance policy.
What if You Financed Your RV or Trailer?
Some people choose not to insure the value of their RV or trailer. If you own a less expensive model outright, you may decide it’s a risk you’re comfortable taking. However, if you’ve taken a loan that’s secured by your RV or trailer, your lender will almost always require you to carry insurance. If you’ve used an unsecured personal loan, remember that you’ll need to repay that loan even if you lose your RV or trailer.
Doesn’t Your Homeowner’s Insurance Protect Your Belongings?
You might expect your homeowner’s insurance to protect your belongings. Homeowner’s insurance sometimes does cover theft or damage of items you bring with you away from home, but there are restrictions. One of the most important is things that you permanently leave in your RV or camper and never actually bring inside of your home may not be covered. You may also have to worry about meeting a high deductible or having your home insurance rates go up if you rely on homeowner’s insurance.
Is International Travel Covered?
Check your policy to see if it covers international travel. Canadian travel is more likely to be covered. Due to higher crime and other risks of traveling to Mexico, travel often requires special coverage. You may need to purchase additional coverage for theft and damage in Mexico. You also often need to purchase liability coverage from a licensed Mexican insurance company to be able to drive in Mexico legally.
Does Your Driver’s License Type Affect Your RV Insurance?
Some states require a special driver’s license to drive larger RVs, while others allow you to drive a personal RV on a standard driver’s license. The main thing from an insurance standpoint is that you’re driving legally. If you don’t have a required license, your claim may not be covered. Always check local laws, including how they apply to out-of-state drivers, before heading to a new location.
Even if you don’t need a special license, taking a safety course may still qualify you for a discount on your insurance.
What Else Goes Into Your RV/Camper Insurance Rates?
Like car insurance, your RV/camper insurance rates depend on the type of RV or camper you have, your driving record, your claims history, where you live, and many other factors. Standard discounts, such as safe driving and bundling with other insurance policies, can also apply to RV/camper insurance.
Request a Quote
Your local insurance agent can help you figure out what coverage you need and get quotes from multiple companies. To learn more or get started, call now and ask for Tammy.