Whether you’re riding in a motor home, fifth wheeler or travel trailer, owing a camper is a real treat. You can literally take a vacation anytime you want, anywhere you want. It’s a great way to travel for families, couples and camping is a fabulous experience for anyone who wishes to give it a try. The only concern camper owners should have is making sure the vehicle is properly covered by the right camper insurance.
Most recreational vehicle (RV) insurance includes:
- Total replacement for the camper should an accident occur
- Roadside assistance available 24 hours a day
- Coverage for accessories
- Coverage for emergencies
- Liability limits that are substantial
- What is known as ‘full-timer’ coverage (covers property in and around camper)
- Theft, flood and fire
- Coverage for collision
- Coverage for damages from low branches
- Coverage for any personal items that are lost or stolen
There are variations on policy coverage depending on the RV you own as well as the amount of camper trailer insurance coverage you wish to purchase. Other considerations include prior claims you may have made for a collision, theft or other damages to your camper. Of course, the value of the recreational vehicle also plays a big role in the amount you will pay for a policy. Where you live is also a deciding factor, as is the number of individuals who will be driving the vehicle. Obviously, if you’re driving a brand new motor home with full size appliances, etc., you will want coverage that will take care of the vehicle as well as the contents, as opposed to a small camper van that doesn’t have extravagant accessories. The Internet is a great way to receive several, free quotes on RV camper insurance. There are many online RV insurance companies that will gather information and offer a quote, or they may have a live customer service operator that you can chat with. Any free quotes gathered are valuable resources when you are looking for good coverage at an economical price.
Additional Information
Other information that will prove valuable to know when speaking with an agent is if you are driving a fifth wheeler, the vehicle used to tow the fifth wheeler must have insurance as well. In many states there is a minimum of $8,000 on the towing vehicle, but this does vary state by state.
Also, if you purchase a used camper, it’s very difficult to get the replacement cost coverage fully insured. This is usually a benefit to purchasing a new vehicle. The best advice is to speak to several insurance agents and see if replacement coverage on a used vehicle is an option. Make sure you know the contents of your vehicle, so you have a general idea of the value. If you have a computer, stored cameras, cell phones and other electronic gear, this is important to note. Ask each company that you contact what coverage they are offering for the contents you have. There are some companies that offer lower premiums but will only insure contents for 20% of what you paid for the items. Sometimes paying a bit more of a premium will offer you much more content coverage.
If you only use your camping vehicle part time, many camper insurance agencies offer the option to suspend liability and collision when you are not using the vehicle for a month or two at a time. You should, however, keep the comprehensive portion of the coverage in case of other damages like fire, theft or wind. When you suspend coverage for a period of time, the savings can be as great as 65% of total premium. Make sure to check out the RV insurance rates before you decide which insurance plan to go with.
