An RV is an exciting investment that lends itself to a lifetime of unforgettable memories. Whether you take a trip every summer or plan to drive into a life of full-time RVing, you must protect your investment so that you can make the most of the RV life. RV insurance is different than auto insurance because there’s an aspect of home and living to it. Likewise, it differs from homeowner’s insurance because you can travel with your RV. That’s why you need a unique policy that covers the specific needs of RV life. To qualify for RV insurance, your vehicle must run on a motor and contain certain features, such as a bathroom and cooking appliances. Make sure your life of adventure has the coverage it needs with these factors to consider when buying RV insurance.
Let’s Talk Liability
Like auto insurance, a big part of your RV insurance policy will revolve around liability coverage. This insurance pays for damages to other people if they get hurt in, around, or by your RV. Liability coverage can also pay for environmental damages you might cause, such as a chemical or holding tank spill. Liability expenses add up quickly, but liability coverage can help you pay for the cost of a mistake so that you can keep enjoying life in your RV.
Your RV insurance will need to meet the minimum liability requirements of your state. These requirements list the minimum coverage necessary for injury to a single person, injury to multiple people, and property damage. When shopping for RV insurance, keep in mind that state minimum requirements won’t necessarily cover the cost of an accident. RVs are bigger, clunkier, and harder to maneuver than most vehicles, so they can cause a lot more damage than your average car. Always look into the rates for higher liability coverage to see if a more extensive policy would be right for you.
Protecting Your Property
Liability coverage protects other people and their property if something goes wrong, but it does nothing to pay for your personal expenses. You’ll need additional coverages to cover your belongings, your passengers, and yourself. There are a few different ways to add personal and property protection to your RV insurance policy. Make sure you understand all the options available to you so that you can make the wisest and most cost-effective decisions as you build your policy.
Personal Effects Coverage
Unlike with other vehicles, you’re going to keep a lot of belongings in your RV. Although you won’t have as many possessions as you do in a full-size home, you’ll still travel with dishes, furniture, electronics, and more. If you live in your RV full-time, the list of valuable possessions you have with you only grows. Personal effects coverage pays for the replacement cost of any belongings that become lost, damaged, or stolen throughout your travels. It’s easy to underestimate the value of the things you keep in your RV. It’s also easy to think that your small motorhome isn’t at risk of fire, theft, or other disasters that might endanger your belongings. If push comes to shove, though, you’ll be grateful for a high payout from your personal effects coverage. Take stock of all the valuables you keep in and around your RV, including jewelry, furniture, electronics, and equipment like repair kits and generators.
Underinsured and Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Theoretically, if someone hurts you or your property in an accident they cause, their insurance will cover the cost of the damages. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Someone might be driving without insurance, or their insurance might not cover the full cost of the incident. While uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage isn’t a requirement in every state, it’s always a good idea to add it to your policy. If someone hits your RV and doesn’t have the insurance or the pocket money to pay for the damages to you, your passengers, and your vehicle, you’ll have to pay for these expenses yourself. Not only is this unfair, but it also takes a huge toll on your finances. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage protects you when other drivers don’t.
Comprehensive and Collision Coverage
When you get into an accident in your RV, liability insurance covers the other guy. If you want to cover yourself, you need collisions coverage. Adding collision to your RV insurance policy helps you pay for damages to your vehicle no matter who caused the accident. Collision coverage also protects you after accidents that don’t involve another vehicle, such as crashing into a utility pole.
In addition to collision coverage, many RVers add comprehensive coverage to their policy. Comprehensive coverage pays for damage to your RV outside of an accident. If you hit a deer in the road, drive through a hailstorm, or return to your RV to find your windows broken and your valuables stolen, comprehensive coverage will cover it.
Medical Payments and Personal Injury Protection
Medical payments coverage and Personal Injury Protection both cover medical expenses for you, your family, and any passengers in your vehicle after an accident. A medical payments policy covers you no matter who caused the accident. Some states have a minimum requirement for this type of coverage, while others don’t require it at all. However, medical payments coverage is incredibly useful after an accident, especially if you have a high deductible health insurance policy that would cause you to pay a lot of out-of-pocket expenses after an accident.
Personal Injury Protection goes beyond medical payments coverage. In addition to covering medical care for you and your passengers after an accident, Personal Injury Protection helps pay for lost income, funeral costs, and other expenses.
Is Roadside Assistance Worth It?
One of the most important factors to consider when buying RV insurance is whether you want roadside assistance. This optional coverage provides towing services and roadside labor if you break down on the road. If you run out of gas, get a flat tire, or otherwise run into mechanical troubles during your travels, roadside assistance coverage provides the help you need to get back on the road. While roadside assistance coverage isn’t necessary, it can make life a lot easier if something goes wrong in the middle of your trip.
Do You Need Emergency Expenses Coverage?
If something happens to your RV and you can’t fix it quickly, you’ll need to find alternative transportation and lodging while you figure out what to do next. Renting a car and staying at a hotel can result in a lot of unexpected expenses. That’s why many RVers—especially full-time RVers—opt for emergency expenses coverage. Adding this to your policy means your insurance provider will pay for temporary living and transportation if something happens to your RV. If you’re a part-time RVer, your provider will also pay to return your RV to you once it’s fixed.
When building an RV insurance policy, there are many details and coverages to sort through. A mobile home insurance agency can help you pick and choose the right coverages to make the most of your RV. There’s nothing like the freedom and adventure of traveling in an RV. Here at Saferoad Insurance, we help you protect that experience by working with you to build a policy that covers you and the things you love most.
