RV Insurance: What Coverage You Need and What You Can Skip

RV insurance differs from automotive insurance in ways that significantly affect the coverage you need and what you should pay for. An RV is simultaneously a vehicle (when moving) and a home (when parked and in use as living quarters) — and standard auto insurance policies typically don’t cover the personal belongings, the vacation interruption costs, or the full replacement value of a unit that is a primary or secondary living space. Understanding the coverage types specific to RV insurance allows you to buy what you need without over-paying for what you don’t.

The Coverage Types Specific to RVs

Total loss replacement: standard auto insurance depreciated value payouts can be significantly less than the replacement cost of a newer RV. Total loss replacement coverage pays the actual cost of replacing the RV with a comparable unit rather than the depreciated value at time of loss. For newer RVs in their first few years, this is coverage worth paying for. Full-timer coverage: if the RV is used as a primary residence for more than six months per year, standard RV policies may not provide adequate coverage for the personal property inside or the liability associated with the RV as a home. Full-timer policies extend coverage to include these situations and are required by some campgrounds for long-term stays. Emergency expense coverage: pays for lodging and transportation if the RV is damaged and uninhabitable during a trip — the coverage that prevents being stranded with accommodation costs after an accident far from home.