Visualize in your mind that you and your lovely family are standing at a picturesque view point overlooking a gorgeous blue lake surrounded by snow capped mountains. You’ve been traveling across the country in your shiny new motor home. You’ve been planning this trip for over a year. Suddenly, thieves break into your motor home and steal your family’s personal belongings; you no longer have your insulin shots and the baby has no diapers. Then, when you try to drive away, the cursed thing won’t start. Now the baby is crying and your kids are whining and your spouse is developing a migraine.
What do you do? Do you really have the coverage you need to replace your stolen valuables and tow a massive RV to a service station? What about meals and lodging expenses if your motor home is in the shop for several days? What if you are traveling through Mexico or Canada?
You may think that adding your RV to your auto insurance policy will do the trick, but there are specific circumstances you will encounter as the owner of a recreational vehicle that a regular auto insurance policy will not adequately cover. Recreational vehicle insurance is designed for those circumstances. This type of coverage is especially important if you are what the industry refers to as a “full-timer,” meaning you live and/or travel in your RV full time. You’ll need the kind of coverage for personal belongings and personal liability that is normally covered in a homeowner’s policy, and only real recreational vehicle insurance will do that for you.
A good, comprehensive recreational vehicle insurance policy will contain the following features and options:
- Total Loss Replacement. A typical policy will replace your RV with a new one of similar make and quality if it becomes a total loss within the first five years. After that, coverage usually falls in the category of Purchase Price Coverage.
- Purchase Price Coverage. You recover the amount your RV would have sold for before it became a total loss.
- Agreed Value Coverage. This is the option for RVs that are older (classic) or have had custom features added. In this instance, your vehicle is insured for an amount determined by an experienced appraiser.
- Full-Timer Coverage. This is similar to a homeowner’s insurance policy, and will cover you for loss or damage to personal belongings or expenses stemming from personal liability.
- Personal Contents. This covers any personal items you may bring with you while you are traveling, such as clothing, dishes, or cameras. You have the option of selecting Replacement Cost Coverage, which will replace your lost old items with brand new ones.
- Attached accessories. This covers such things as awnings and satellite dishes.
- Campsite Liability. This will cover your expenses if an accident (for which you are liable) occurs while you are camping.
- Emergency Expenses. Your recreational vehicle insurance will cover your travel and lodging expenses in case of an emergency.
- RV Towing. Your automobile insurance policy will not cover the extra expense of towing something as large and awkward as a recreational vehicle. RV Towing coverage will have your RV taken to a qualified RV repair shop.
- Roadside assistance. Do not leave home without this one!
- Out-of-Country Coverage. Some policies may not cover problems or accidents outside of the United States. If you intend to travel in Canada or Mexico, be certain that your insurance company offers this coverage option.
- Disappearing Deductible. Enough companies offer this that you should not work with one who doesn’t. Disappearing deductible means your comprehensive and collision deductible actually reduces by a certain percentage each year that you do not have a claim, until it is eventually gone altogether.
- Seasonal Coverage. This is smart if you just use your RV during certain times of the year. This allows you to reduce your insurance premium for those months when your RV is just sitting in your driveway.
Of course, recreational vehicle insurance is not just for motor homes. You can also get special coverage for snowmobiles, jet skis, dirt bikes, truck campers, and boats.
A recreational vehicle is a tremendous investment. You do not want to set out on vacation with only “bare bones” coverage. Contact an RV insurance agent and give yourself the peace of mind you need, so that you do not end up needing a vacation from your vacation.
By Alisa Elizabeth King Terry