RV Insurance (Recreational Vehicle Insurance) Tips Review

If you are what is known in the RV world as full timers (meaning you most likely have sold your house and are on the road much of the time or are parked and live in your RV) then you want what is called full timers insurance which includes the liability insurance that you would have if you owned a home and had homeowner's insurance.

Some companies will not insure you if you live in your Recreational Vehicle for more than 6 months at a time. This is where a company that offers insurance to full timers will be really important. Standard policies probably don't cover full timers so make sure you ask and ask again.

Some policies will insure your RV but only while you are driving it or towing it. They won't insure it while it is in a campground. That would fall under your homeowner's policy; however, full timers often don't own a home so again check and re check.

The Options

1. Your own auto insurance: We use Liberty Mutual, www. libertymutual.com. They insure our house, automobiles and travel trailer. We have never had to use the insurance for our travel trailer; however it seems comprehensive. After writing this I do think we may have to do own own checking! It offers us "above and beyond what we have chosen for our automobiles 'Protection for liability for accidents caused by any recreational vehicle you operate, or by a boat, camp, home, or utility trailer you use, in excess of your underlying policies.'" You have to check with your insurance company since each they may differ.

2. Good Sam: For $30 if you are an RV owner I recommend that you join Good Sam because it will give you discounts at some places. I think we should have Good Sam's insurance because RVs are their business but so far I've lost that particular discussion. The underwriter for Good Sam is GMAC. This insurance will insure your automobile as well if you have one. They offer the option to stop your coverage when your RV is not in use. They cover items that are permanently attached and a variety of other benefits which can be found at https://www.goodsamclub.com/join/.

3. KOA: Koa offers insurance for Motor homes also through GMAC. At their website we are told that we may be underinsured if we are covered by an auto insurance company. They offer a quiz to find out and a free 15-piece toolkit for requesting a quote. Don't hold me to this- it comes from www.koa.com. Some of the questions to ask yourself iabout your current insurance or one you are looking at nclude coverage for your RV's contents; towing and roadside assistance for your RV; and an emergency expense allowance for let's say lodging while your RV is being fixed. http://www.koa.com/gmac/

4. AARP: AARP advertises full time RV insurance; however, I have heard that what they advertise may not be totally accurate. I called them to have this accurate. They do insure full timers without a home in some states. Massachusetts is one that they don't; Florida is one that they do.

They have two categories of insurance depending on the type of RV you have. You'll be using The Hartford Company if you go with the American Association of Retired Persons. AARP Auto Insurance Program from The Hartford offers specialized protection for the two main categories of RVs: Motor Homes (including van campers and conversion vehicles) and Towables, which include fifth wheel travel trailers, folding camping trailers, conventional travel trailers and truck campers. The direct link to AARP is http://aarp.thehartford.com/ucp/ucpServlet/learn_rvmotorhome_default.

• Some of the insurance companies offer (which are good features to look for) a 24/7 hotline and a lifetime repair guarantee.
• Please do your homework. The above is based on my research and own knowledge having owned a travel trailer for many years.
• You can find insurance if you live in Canada through most of these options.
• A comment from a reviewer, BayouBengal, "You will want full coverage if you have taken out a loan for your travel trailer. Your finance company will make this a requirement."