RV Insurance

Nothing better than hitting the open road, right? Packing up the house, getting your best belongings in order, outfitting the camper and taking a trip … forever. Well, some go forever, literally sell their homes and move into an RV (recreational vehicle), never to be seen or heard of again except at Christmas. Others splurge on an RV and it sits in their driveway the majority of the time. Whatever your case may be, if the RV has been purchased then you better have RV insurance to go along with it.

An RV is simply a larger car. It’s got wheels, an engine, a steering wheel and a transmission. It’s a giant automobile and requires an even bigger insurance policy. Yes and no. Auto insurance protects the owner of the car against financial loss should an accident occur. It’s a contract between you and the insurance company, and in exchange for the premium you pay, the insurance company will cover the agreed level of loss. In general, auto policies are comprised of six distinct types of coverage and most states will require you purchase at least some if not close to all of these coverage levels.

RV insurance however is a bit more vague. An RV can be classified as anything from a camper van to a bus conversion to a full-scale motorhome. Class A RVs are vehicles stretching up to 75 feet long. These are the big daddies of the bunch. Class B RVs are the smallest class, camper vans, travel trailers and similar sized vehicles. Class C RVs are those that use a cargo van as the driving portion of the vehicle and then the camper portion will sit in or above the cab. RV insurance is therefore clearly not one size fits all.

Depending on the company, but most companies without a doubt, RV coverage will touch on liability coverage, comprehensive coverage and collision. Additionally, one can secure additional coverage for personal belongings, and things that most RVs are equipped with like awnings or satellite dishes and tank heaters. Speaking of additional coverage, make sure to seriously consider total loss replacement coverage, campsite and vacation coverage, emergency expenses, towing and roadside coverage and overall full-timer coverage in the event your RV is now your principal home.

We saved the best (slap in your face irony) for the last – the cost. Like auto insurance, the amount of time and the purpose of your RV will impact the overall price. Personal driving history, past claims records and accident history all factor in as well. No way of getting out of this. To give you an idea, a Class A recreational vehicle will cost roughly $2,000 per year. Class B vehicles will run between $1,000 and $2,000. So do the math. What are you paying now on your car, and if the goal is completely replacing your car and physical home with the RV, then this whole RV lifestyle might be worth it.

Careful however, the one thing we didn’t talk about here was gas prices. It’s an RV insurance post so no need to mention fuel costs, but just because the insurance part might be cheaper than your regular car and the mortgage or rent on your home, you are going to be paying a TON in gas. Just sayin …