Recreational Vehicle Insurance

Recreational vehicle insurance is one of those things you're happy to have and hope you never use. So, why is it important to get insurance coverage that is specific to recreational vehicles? Since motorhomes have more features than cars, ordinary insurance cannot cover all the possible occurrences that can happen to the RVs, so it's important to get the right kind of insurance for your RVs.

Recreational vehicle insurance is usually obtained in one of two ways: as an add-on to your auto insurance or via a separate, specialized RV insurance coverage. Specialized RV insurance is a unique blend of auto and homeowner’s insurance coverage, yet you might be surprised to learn that the price is typically comparable or less expensive than standard auto insurance.

To maximize the insurance plan that you will invest in, here are some things to consider:

Specialty RV Insurance Coverages
By Mark Polk

There are a number of specialty coverages available, designed to protect you and your property. Specialty RV coverages are what differentiates RV policies from auto policies. Adding your RV to your auto policy is inadequate because it fails to cover many of the things included in a specialty RV policy. For example, most RV insurance provides coverage for awnings, furniture, permanently installed items and fixtures, and plumbing and electrical systems unique to RVs.

Typical RV policies also provide unlimited towing and roadside labor coverage. Auto policy towing coverage is often inadequate for RV expenses. With most auto policies, the towing reimbursement is usually on a per occurrence basis. Because the fees to tow an RV or to change an RV tire are much higher than the same for an auto, these fees often exceed the per occurrence limits on an auto policy.

Another consideration for RV owners is that they get the benefit of specialized claims service when they choose to insure their RVs with specialty RV insurance as opposed to having RVs put on auto policies. The adjusters assigned to claims by insurance companies with specialty RV products usually have expertise with RVs, losses to RVs, and settling the value of the loss. Let’s take a look at some more of these specialty RV coverages available to you.

Diminishing Deductible – Under this coverage your physical damage deductibles could be reduced 25% for each claim free year you have with the company. After four claims free years, your deductibles would be $0. Any comprehensive or collision losses would reset the deductible.

Emergency Vacation Expense coverage- is also unique for specialty RV policies. This provides coverage to pay for temporary living expenses if your RV is inoperable due to a covered loss and you are more than 50 miles from your home.

Vacation Liability – Provides campsite liability for you while you are using your recreation vehicle as a vacation residence. For example Vacation Liability could cover damage caused by your campfire if it gets out of control or if you accidentally hit someone with a horseshoe.

Fulltimer’s Coverage’s- This is very important coverage to insured’s who use their RVs year round as their residence.

There are three Fulltimer Coverage’s available:

Fulltimer’s Personal Liability- This provides personal liability type coverage to fulltime users of RVs, which usually equates to five or more months of use per year. This coverage is even available to individuals who do not own their own home, and is similar to the personal liability coverage on a homeowner’s policy.
Fulltimer’s Secured Storage Personal Effects- Many fulltime RVers keep some of their personal property in storage. With this option, the insured can get coverage for these items in storage. Typically, the insured will have to create a schedule of these items, and the insurance company will have specified limits for the value of this personal property.
Fulltimer’s Medical Payments- This option provides coverage of medical expenses resulting from an accident that occurs while the vehicle is used as a permanent or primary residence. Insurance companies will likely require that the insured also has Fulltimer’s Personal Liability coverage in order to qualify for medical payments coverage.

Note: Many insurance policies contain exclusions for using your RV as a permanent or primary residence. Often the Fulltimer’s Liability endorsement removes these exclusions from the policy. In other words if you are a fulltimer and do not carry Fulltimer’s Liability you may be subject to policy exclusions.

Personal Effects – provides coverage for loss to personal belongings used in conjunction with the RV.

Mexico Physical Damage Coverage– Provides comprehensive and collision coverage for the insured vehicle while traveling in Mexico. The insured is required to purchase Mexican liability coverage too.

Mexican Liability Coverage- While most RV insurance provides physical damage coverage while traveling in Mexico, it does not provide Mexican Liability Coverage. When traveling in Mexico by auto or RV, you must have Mexican Liability Coverage from a Mexican Insurance Company, which you can buy from US-based brokers or at the border. Type this link into your Internet web browser to read a very informative article by Jim Labelle, about properly insuring yourself to travel south of the border. http://es1.mexicaninsuranceonline.com/press/mre_tm2003.html

Schedule Personal Effects Coverage- Provides coverage for the loss of expensive personal belongings used in conjunction with the RV. The insured must have appraisals for these items.

Adjacent Structure coverage may be available for storage sheds, screened rooms, or carports on owned or rented lots.

In addition, you may be able to get coverage for roadside assistance, a utility trailer, a golf cart, or scooter.

Your RV insurance can and should fit your RV. To get a free RV insurance quote with absolutely no obligation, I recommend Explorer RV Insurance Agency, Inc. you can call 1-888-774-6778.

Happy Camping,

Copyright 2006 by Mark J. Polk owner of RV Education 101

About the Author:

RV Expert Mark Polk, seen on TV, is the producer & host of America's most highly regarded series of DVD's, videos, books, and e-books. http://www.rveducation101.com/

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For information on which insurance companies to consider for your RV coverage, see our page on RV insurance companies

Synonyms: Motorhome, recreation vehicle, caravan, camper and RV are used synonymously.

Nsurance, nisurance, isurance, isnurance, inurance, inusrance, insrance, insruance, insuance, insuarnce, insurnce, insurnace, insurace, insuracne, insurane, insuranec, and insuranc are typos for "insurance."