Best RV Insurance
Based on In-Depth Reviews

FOR BABY BOOMERS AND MILLENNIALS ALIKE

The World As Your Workstation

Tech-savvy consumers have probably heard of or have been inspired by the “digital nomad” lifestyle, where people have been ditching their office cubicles to work remotely. Social media strategists, photographers, and web designers can all work from the comfort of home, as long as there’s a stable internet connection. Hit TV shows such as HGTV’s Tiny House Hunters and Travel Channel’s Going RV are shining a light on younger couples and families that save money by downsizing to a motorhome for a non-traditional life on the road.

“We’re seeing a lot more young people coming into the market,” states Greg Gerber, owner and editor of RV Daily Report. “When I first started in January 2000, the average age of ownership was 55. That is now approaching the mid to upper 30s. The new trend is to be working and living on the road full-time.” 

If you’re drawn to the minimalist and tiny home movement, or simply enjoy traveling for a living, you’re probably interested in buying an RV. Travel trailers are still the most popular and common RVs, with many families opting for the larger, bus-sized motorhomes. Whichever you decide, it’s beneficial to analyze your family’s individual needs and weigh the pros and cons. 

Jonathan and Ashley Longnecker, full-time RVers and bloggers of TinyShinyHome.com, sold their new and oversized 5th-wheel trailer for a much smaller, compact vintage Airstream. Although a family of six, their original RV was very heavy, long, and tall, which made it more difficult to travel long distances without worrying about parking, turning, and hitting low overpasses. The family decided they’d sacrifice the extra space in order to travel lighter and with greater peace of mind. 

On the Road Again

Traditionally, motorhomes have been very popular among baby boomers who take advantage of their retirement to travel and vacation. The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association estimates that 750,000 to one million retirees consider an RV their home. For many of these older RVers, their love of the outdoors stems from childhood camping and family trips.  

“My first RV was a pop-up which I used to go camping with my daughters up in Wisconsin,” said Gerber. “When they got too old to go camping with dad, we sold that and got a motorhome.” Gerber lived in the larger motorhome full-time, worked remotely, and traveled. 

Many baby boomers are doing the same: spending their retirement visiting national parks, historic landmarks, and exploring the country. Empty nesters and the 55+ crowd find that RV living offers both freedom and a strong sense of community. Contrary to the popular belief that RVers are constantly on the move, RV and manufactured home parks also serve as seasonal homes, with plenty of things to do to keep an active lifestyle.

Budget For Your Insurance

Whether it’s your first time buying an RV or you’re thinking of switching models, always consider your budget and how much you’re willing to pay for insurance. One option is purchasing and refurbishing a used RV, but this may make obtaining an affordable policy difficult.

Jonathan Longnecker and Greg Gerber both experienced mechanical issues with their brand new RVs, requiring frequent repairs. As a result, both bloggers suggest buying used or vintage RVs and renovating them, learning your machine’s ins and outs during the process. This way, owners can take care of repairs themselves instead of losing travel time waiting for overbooked RV service shops under their insurance policy.

The less mechanically inclined may prefer to purchase a newer model. While this may entail a larger upfront investment, getting good insurance coverage will likely be easier.

Regardless of which you choose, an RV is a big decision for your future, lifestyle, and pocket. Protect it.

WHAT QUALIFIES AS AN RV, AND DO I REALLY NEED SPECIAL INSURANCE FOR IT?

As we’ve mentioned, an RV is an investment, so it’s a good idea to have some sort of safety net to keep that investment safe and minimize risk in case the unexpected happens.
 
The amount of coverage you’ll need will be based on several factors, including the type of RV you own, the state you live in or plan on visiting, and whether you’ll be using your RV as primary residence or for vacationing purposes.
 
If you own a towable RV such as a toy hauler or teardrop trailer, coverage may be optional since some states won’t require them to have an insurance policy of their own, and, if properly attached, most insurance carriers will cover them as part of your standard auto policy.
 
However, there are some circumstances where RV insurance is always required, even if it’s a towable model. For example, if you’re renting or financing your RV, both renters and lenders will want to make sure that they’ll be properly reimbursed in case of an accident or loss, and will require you to acquire an insurance policy before allowing you to take them on the road.
 
Additionally, if you own a motorhome, an insurance policy that covers your state’s minimum liability requirements is absolutely necessary, just like with any other motor vehicle.

Still, regardless of whether your state requires you to have an RV insurance policy, it’s always best to have one if you plan on living in your RV full-time to protect yourself and your vehicle against any damages and covered losses. On the other hand, if you plan on using your RV seasonally or for short trips, then liability coverage might be enough.

Types of RVs

Usually, when people think of RVs, the first thing that comes to mind are the typical campervans packed with small appliances and elevated roofs, or the spacious and luxurious Class A motorhomes that cruise America’s Interstate Highways. While these are amongst the most popular RV models, RVs come in many shapes and sizes, and some are even designed just to store belongings, with no sleeping quarters or mini fridges in sight. However, RVs oftentimes include amenities such as cooking equipment and storage space. They can be self-motorized or towed behind a vehicle.

Other specialty RV models include: the fifth wheel trailer, toy hauler, horse trailer, and cargo or utility trailer.
 
Fifth-wheel trailers offer similar accommodations and amenities to those of Class A or Class C motorhomes, but are towed behind a vehicle, so you don’t have to take them everywhere you go. Toy haulers are basically mobile garages, they can be used to store things like cars, motorcycles, and snowmobiles. Horse trailers, just as the name suggests, are towable trailers used to carry horses or other animals. Cargo or utility trailers are towable metal boxes that are strictly used to store your belongings.

Regulations by State

According to the Insurance Information Institute’s table of Automobile Financial Responsibility Laws by State, 49 out of all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, require you to have some sort of liability coverage for all vehicles on the road, including RVs. The only exception to this rule is the state of New Hampshire, which has no mandatory insurance law, and only requires financial responsibility from the person at fault in a car accident.
 
Liability insurance, also known as “third-party insurance,” is designed to protect you against any financial liabilities if you’re at fault in an accident.
 
Liability insurance usually includes bodily injury coverage and property damage coverage. Bodily injury coverage is designed to cover all of the other party’s medical expenses resulting from any injuries received in an accident for which you’re at fault, while property damage coverage helps cover the costs of any damage to another person’s property, such as vehicle repairs, replacements, or damaged structures resulting from said accident.
 
The minimum liability requirements and coverage amounts vary from one state to another—for example—the state of South Dakota requires you to have bodily injury and property damage coverage as well as uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, while the state of Ohio only requires bodily injury and property damage coverage.

For more information on what each state’s minimum liability requirements are, check out our map below:

I’ll Just Buy Regular Car Insurance Instead

Although you might be tempted by either the simplicity or savings to purchase or use your current auto insurance for your RV, it’s important to know there are critical distinctions between car and RV insurance, and buying the former to protect your RV can put you at considerable financial risk. 

Most car insurance providers will offer to include your RV as part of your auto insurance policy, as such you will get traditional car insurance coverage. This will include bodily injury and property damage liability coverage, personal injury protection, collision, comprehensive, medical payments, and uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, which essentially protects you against accidents and physical damage while on the road. (For a more detailed explanation of coverage see below.)  
 
But what happens when you leave your RV unattended to go hiking and someone steals your camera, laptop, or other precious equipment? Or what if someone slips and gets injured while stepping out of your RV?
 
Sure, your auto policy’s comprehensive coverage will protect you in case your car gets stolen, but it won’t reimburse you for or replace the items inside. Similarly, your medical payments coverage can help defray the costs of other’s medical expenses in an accident, but it won’t cover you if the incident happened while the RV was parked.
 
According to Greg Gerber, “Most car insurance firms don’t have a clue of what can go wrong with an RV and don’t provide the coverage to get it fixed adequately,” which is why he advises consumers to get a separate policy for their RVs instead of bundling, to “avoid the hassle that can come if the RV itself is broken and they’re trying to get their car insurance company to fix it.” 

He also points out that standard car insurance policies tend to offer lower coverage amounts than those offered by RV insurance policies, which can ultimately take a big financial toll on your wallet in case of an accident.

A BREAKDOWN OF RV INSURANCE COVERAGE

So now that we understand the difference between auto and RV coverage, let’s take a look at the specifics of what you get under an RV policy. Essentially, RV insurance acts as a hybrid between car and home insurance, offering additional protection for home and living essentials through specialized coverage plans. Depending on the policy you choose, it may include:

• Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage - covers you in case of an accident in which the driver at-fault doesn’t carry liability insurance or have enough to cover your medical expenses
• Collision and comprehensive coverage - covers damage to your vehicle caused by collision with another vehicle as well as non-collision related events (theft, natural disasters, vandalism, etc.)
• Campsite and vacation coverage - liability when stationed at your campsite or vacation area in case of injury or property damage at the location
• Personal Property coverage - Replacement of damaged or stolen personal valuables and items kept inside the RV such as laptops, TVs, clothing, jewelry, and furniture
• Towing and roadside assistance - coverage of costs in cases such as mechanical breakdown, flat tire, fuel deficiency, and battery failure of your RV or vehicle pulling the RV
• Total loss replacement - complete value coverage in case your RV is stolen or totaled
• Specialized coverage - Additional protection specifically for things that aren’t covered in standard policies, such as custom equipment replacement of parts and appliances (water pump, solar panels, etc.), storage option (for when you use your RV seasonally), and coverage of pets
• Emergency expense allowance - coverage for temporary living and travel expenses (rental car, food, lodging, etc.) when involved in an accident over 100 miles from home
• Full-time RV coverage - additional liability, medical, and secured storage coverage for policyholders using their RV as a residence for five months or more per year

When choosing the right policy, it is important to consider whether you’ll be using your RV on a full-time or part-time basis.

If you’re planning to use your RV as primary residence, then a full-timer's policy is your best option, since it will protect you against liabilities and losses when your RV is stationary for extended periods of time, as well as cover the costs of medical expenses or emergencies for those injured inside or near your RV.

However, if you’re planning on using your RV seasonally, then a campsite or vacation liability coverage, combined with a storage option, might be your best choice since it will save you money while protecting you against any liabilities, whether the RV is parked or on the road.

Bus-conversion homes are a popular and fast-growing trend within the RV lifestyle. City buses, Greyhounds, and even school buses are highly sought after and, once renovated, become non-traditional RVs that fall into the Class A category. While bus renovation projects are becoming mainstream, they can be difficult to insure. Buses, especially school bus-converted homes or “Skoolies,” are considered more of a risk due to their weight and balance limitations. Vehicles originally built for mass transportation do not have the same axle and weight distribution as traditional RVs, which are designed for sleeping and carrying additional living necessities.

RV Insurance companies take these type of risk factors into account, which makes it more difficult for bus-conversion homeowners to find the best coverage. Also, buses first need to be registered as RVs with the department of motor vehicles beforehand. If not, they’re still considered commercial vehicles instead of personal, and will not qualify for RV insurance. Different states have different requirements as to what qualifies as an RV, many of which include repainting the bus a different color, having a potable water supply, installing a toilet, and having cooking appliances onboard.

What to Watch Out for When Buying RV Insurance

Universal Vehicle Insurance Companies

While not all large insurance companies are the same, some of them might be selling insurance policies for vehicles that they do not have much experience covering. RV insurance in particular is offered by many auto insurance companies who may not be well prepared for handling the intricacies of an RV insurance claim. When choosing who is going to insure your vehicle, make sure it is a provider who specializes in RV insurance—regardless of its size—or that at least has a good track record of dealing with RV insurance policies and claims.

Agreed Value

An insurance provider and you might not consider your RV to be worth the same. By settling on an agreed value with your potential RV insurance provider, you are ensuring that both you and your insurance company have the same value of your RV in mind if you face a worst-case scenario—the total loss of your RV. It’s also important to ask about the next lower threshold for an agreed value premium. By agreeing to a slightly lower level of coverage, you might be able to save plenty on your premiums.

Always Get 3 Quotes Before Buying A Policy

Even if you’ve made up your mind about which RV insurance provider to go with, it’s never a bad idea to take a few steps back and compare quotes. This way, you can make sure that the policy you are getting is the most affordable for what it offers. 
 
A good number of quotes to compare is three. If you already know three companies whose RV insurance you are interested in, go through each of their quoting applications. Then, compare the final estimated premiums and the features of its policy: maybe company A’s policy is cheaper overall, but company B’s offers greater coverage for a slightly more expensive price.

Make Sure You Lock in Your Rate for At Least 5 Years

Your premiums might change dramatically each cycle due to actions such as filing claims. Because of this, securing a rate before you purchase an RV insurance policy is extremely important.
 
Securing a rate for at least five years of time is a good way to make sure you aren’t paying different premiums on a yearly basis. However, some companies are open to negotiating for even longer rate-locking periods. 
 
Take Jonathan Longnecker, for example, who managed to secure a rate for his vintage Airstream for a whole ten years when making his purchase for RV policy through Progressive Insurance. How long an insurance provider is willing to extend the period that your rate is locked at will depend on a host of factors, just like when asking for a quote.