Going on vacation and taking our beloved Recreational Vehicle (also known as just RV) across the country is the best time of the year for those of us who own one. However, Recreational Vehicle Insurance can be a broad term. For insurance purposes, the term Recreational Vehicle encompasses a wide range of different vehicles. Among the most popular one, we can find motorhomes, fifth-wheelers, boats, motorcycles, and personal watercrafts.
In this article, though, we will focus on RVs considered motorhomes and travel trailers. As experts estimate, there are 9 million RVs in the country, and just like you would with any kind of vehicle, RVs also have minimum insurance requirement we must meet before hitting the road. In order to understand these needs more, we will go over what Recreational Vehicle Insurance is, what it covers, and whether we really need insurance or not.
What Is Recreational Vehicle Insurance?
Recreational Vehicle Insurance is a coverage plan that can help you protect your motorhome and your travel trailers in case of damage or total loss. Depending on the size of your RV and how much time you spend on it, is the insurance plan you should get.
These vehicles get divided into three different categories, according to their size. The three categories are Class A, Class B, and Class C. Motorhomes up to 75 feet long usually qualify as Class A vehicles. Class B vehicles, however, are smaller vehicles that do not have a cabin or motor, such as travel trailers. Larger vehicles like fifth wheelers often qualify as Class C vehicles.
What does Recreational Vehicle Insurance Cover?
Recreational Vehicle insurances work quite similar to car insurance. Just like with other vehicles, this can protect you in different scenarios. The most common types of RV coverage include collision, comprehensible, and liability coverage. This means that if you damage or destroy someone else’s with your RV, the insurance company might take care of the expenses for you. Also, if your RV gets damaged or destroyed, they will cover you, too.
Besides the basic coverage you should get for your RV, there are more specialized options that you should consider. These options include total loss replacement, custom equipment, roadside assistance, vacation liability, and personal effects.
Do I Really Need Recreational Vehicle Insurance?
This is a question that we can ask ourselves for any type of insurance, really. How much you need or if you need this insurance a lot depends on several situations. The first one we need to consider is that, depending on its class, your recreational vehicle insurance might be compulsory. Most states will require a liability insurance plan at least if we can drive our RV by itself. When we can attach our RV to the back of our main vehicle, our car insurance should cover it.
If you live in a state that does not require an RV insurance, but the one you’re using is rental or are still in the process of purchasing it, you will still need to get insurance for it. The only case on which RV insurance is not completely necessary is if you live in a state that doesn’t require insurance, you have paid it off completely, and is not a motorhome. However, we always recommend getting Recreational Vehicle insurance regardless. Being ready for a rainy day is always a good idea.
