Whereas most of us are familiar with auto insurance, camper insurance can be a little confusing. A lot of times, this means an RV owner or renter ends up with insufficient coverage or the wrong type of insurance entirely. As you might imagine, that can end up being a big problem.
If you’re a little uncertain about RV insurance, know that you are not alone. In fact, there are so many people looking for information on this very topic that we’ve decided to put together a brief synopsis of what RV insurance is, and when you need it.
What is RV Insurance?
We’ll start from the beginning. In essence, motorhome or travel trailer insurance is generally like auto insurance (or even homeowners insurance), in many ways.
Basically, RV insurance protects you and your RV should something go amiss while you’re on the road, out camping, or when your RV is in storage. That said, there are some key differences between RV insurance and auto insurance, mostly involving the events or different items that are being covered.
Is RV Insurance Required?
It depends. If you are going to be driving a motorhome or renting any type of RV, you absolutely need insurance.
The owners of motorhomes of all types must, at minimum, have liability insurance in order to legally drive their motorhome, just like with all the rest of the insurable vehicles on the road. Of course, if you have a loan out on your motorhome, you’re probably required to carry much more than just liability insurance, which is highly recommended anyway.
If you have a towable RV and you own it outright, you are not legally required to hold any kind of insurance policy on it. However, if you are paying off a loan on the trailer, the lender will most likely require you to keep a certain level of insurance until the loan is paid off in full. But if you’re just towing it, and have paid for it in full, it isn’t required. Just make sure the vehicle you’re towing it with has insurance, and you’re good to go.
It’s also important to note that some campgrounds do require campers to have insurance on their RVs, regardless. If this is the case, they will request to see valid proof of insurance before letting you stay. Before you head to a campground you’re not familiar with, it might be best to ask them about their insurance requirements before you head out.
Even if you don’t have a loan on your trailer and don’t visit campgrounds that require every camper to have insurance, we still really recommend having an insurance policy. Depending on the policy you choose, your insurance could protect you should someone be injured by your trailer. After all, you never know. It will also protect your rig and belongings should something happen to the camper.
