Money Research Collective’s editorial team solely created this content. Opinions are their own, but compensation and in-depth research determine where and how companies may appear. Many featured companies advertise with us. How we make money.
What Does RV Insurance Cover?
By Joan Pabón MONEY RESEARCH COLLECTIVE
Whether you’re thinking about renting a recreational vehicle for an extended family vacation or plan to live in one full time, you’ll quickly find that RV insurance isn’t only a requirement — it’s also a smart investment. After all, RVs are expensive to repair or replace, and there are many other risks associated with traveling in your RV or parking it in a campground.
That said, financial protection for your RV isn’t simple to buy. There are many RV insurance policy options out there. The coverage you select should depend, among other factors, on the type of vehicle you own, how much you drive and whether you plan to use your RV as a primary residence.
This guide aims to help you understand how RV insurance protects your investment and the different types of coverage available — to help you to buy the best RV insurance for your needs.
What RV insurance covers
Like car insurance, RV insurance provides financial coverage against collisions and other perils common to traveling in a motorized vehicle. It also includes coverage for emergency expenses and some other risks unique to RVers.
While RV insurance policies may vary by insurer and state, they generally include the following.
Property damage liability coverage
This type of coverage is usually sold in conjunction with bodily injury liability and is required in most states. It will cover damages you cause to another person’s vehicle or property — including fences and mailboxes — if you are in an accident.
You don’t need to purchase liability coverage if you own a travel trailer, as the car insurance on your tow vehicle generally extends to the trailer.
Bodily injury liability coverage
Like property damage liability, bodily injury liability covers costs related to an at-fault accident involving another driver. That includes legal fees, medical expenses, loss of income and even funeral expenses for the other party. As the at-fault driver, bodily injury liability coverage will only pay for your legal fees; the rest of the benefits extend only to the other driver and their passengers.
You will see two amounts listed under bodily injury liability when purchasing RV insurance. These amounts are the maximum the insurance company will cover per person and per incident. However, the per-person component will not cover more than the per-accident limit.
Collision coverage
Collision coverage will pay for damages to your vehicle if you are involved in a collision — no matter who is at fault. That also includes damages caused by collisions with stationary objects such as utility poles or trees.
If you’re planning to finance or lease an RV, your lender may require you to carry full coverage, which refers to both collision and comprehensive coverage (explained below). Collision coverage is optional if you own your vehicle outright. Still, you may not be able to get certain additional coverage provisions — such as replacement cost coverage for personal effects — if your RV isn’t fully insured.
Collision coverage generally carries a deductible.
Comprehensive coverage
Comprehensive coverage will pay for damages to your vehicle caused by perils other than collisions, including falling objects (such as tree limbs), hail, vandalism, theft, natural disasters, fires, broken or cracked windshields due to road hazards and accidents involving animals.
Again, if you are financing or leasing your RV, the lender may require you to carry full coverage, but collision and comprehensive coverage are not required in any other scenario. You must also meet a deductible before comprehensive coverage kicks in.
Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage
If you are in an accident with a driver that doesn’t have much liability coverage — or any coverage at all — you could end up having to pay for any damages to your vehicle and cover medical expenses for yourself and your passengers. Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage protects you against the potential financial losses resulting from an accident with this kind of driver, including a hit-and-run.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, about 20 states and D.C. now require uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Even if it is not a requirement in your state, this type of coverage can be essential if you drive a lot.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
The liability component of your RV insurance can cover some of the medical expenses and lost wages of motorists injured in an accident in which you are at fault. But if you want the same benefits for yourself and your passengers, you must purchase personal injury protection coverage.
PIP coverage is also known as no-fault insurance because states that have no-fault laws require motorists to file a claim with their insurer in the event of an accident, regardless of who’s deemed to be at fault for the accident. This coverage is required in about a dozen states.
Campsite/vacation liability coverage
Campsite or vacation liability coverage is a common RV insurance add-on that will protect you against bodily injury or property damage lawsuits resulting from accidents or mishaps while your RV is parked at a designated campsite.
If an accident befalls one of your guests, your dog bites a neighbor or you accidentally damage another person’s property, campsite/vacation liability can help you cover medical bills, repair expenses and legal fees.
Roadside Assistance
Roadside assistance is another common add-on or insurance rider available with both car insurance and RV insurance. Should you experience a breakdown on the road, these policies generally cover the cost of flat tire changes, fuel delivery, locksmith services or tow truck services.
The insurance company generally doesn’t provide these services itself. Rather, it typically subcontracts with local tow trucks or locksmiths, which are dispatched to your location when you request these services.
Common additional coverage in comprehensive policies
If you’re a full-time RVer, you may need additional coverage to be fully protected against many eventualities common to RV life.
Most insurance companies offer the following additional RV coverage options:
Personal property coverage
Personal property coverage, also known as personal property replacement or personal effects coverage, can help you replace the belongings you store in your vehicle if they are damaged, lost or stolen.
Covered items may include electronics, clothing, sports equipment and more, but up to a specified amount. Additionally, this type of coverage generally carries a deductible.
Total loss replacement
If your RV is totaled in a covered accident, total loss replacement will cover the cost of a brand new RV (of the same model year or newer) or reimburse you for its original purchase price. If you opt to replace your RV with a new one, this policy may even cover vehicles that exceed the price you paid for your totaled vehicle.
Note, however, that most insurance companies will only cover the replacement cost of your RV provided it doesn’t exceed five model years in age. If your vehicle is over five years old, the policy will cover up to the limits stated in your policy. Additionally, these policies generally have a deductible.
Full-time RV liability coverage
Full-time RVers, commonly defined as those who live in their recreational vehicle six or more months out of the year, should consider purchasing full-time RV coverage — especially if they’re staying at an RV park, whether short- or long-term.
Full-time policies generally include personal liability and medical payments coverage if someone is injured in or near your RV or their property is damaged. Full-time RV policies may also include loss assessment coverage, which will pay for fees a property or homeowners association charges if common areas are damaged and you’re found to be at fault.
Emergency expense allowance
Emergency expense allowance, also called additional living expenses coverage, can pay you up to a certain amount — typically between $750 and $1,000 — for emergency accommodations and transportation if your RV is disabled in a covered accident.
Many insurers include emergency expense allowance with comprehensive and collision coverage. You may also purchase higher coverage limits for an added fee.
Other specialized coverage
Depending on the insurance company you do business with, you may find some additional coverage options for RV owners, including:
- Roof protection: Will cover the repair or replacement of your roof if it is defective due to damage or wear and tear. Coverage may also extend to other parts of the RV that are damaged due to the roof defect. This option generally carries a deductible.
- Personalized equipment or permanent attachments: Insurers specializing in RV coverage may offer protection for custom RV equipment or permanent attachments such as awnings and satellite dishes.
- Pest damage protection: These policies offer protection against damage caused by vermin, rodents, insects and birds. Pest damage protection may not be available for older RVs and typically carries a deductible.
Types of RVs covered
National insurers generally offer RV coverage for the vast majority of recreational vehicles. The exception to this might be school bus conversions (or “skoolies”), but some large insurers will cover them — provided they have been registered as motorhomes with the DMV and have all the required facilities.
The following are some of the different types of recreational vehicles.
Class A motorhomes
The largest and often most luxurious of all RV types, Class A motorhomes are built on a commercial truck chassis, can have either a diesel or gas engine, and feature many amenities you can find in a conventional home.
- Length: 26 to 45 feet
- Sleeps: Up to 10 people
- Possible amenities: Dishwasher, washer/dryers, full kitchen, more than one bathroom, master bedroom and additional sleeping spaces, underbelly storage, larger fresh, gray and black water tanks, sleeper sofa
Class B motorhomes
Class B motorhomes (or campervans) are built on a van platform, so they are compact and easier to drive yet still have some amenities that make them great for both vacations and full-time living.
- Length: 20 to 25 feet
- Sleeps: Comfortably, up to two people
- Possible amenities: Galley kitchen, convertible sofa/bed, wet bath, some storage
Class B+ or B Plus motorhomes
Class B+ motorhomes are not an official classification, but this term refers to larger Class B campervans. These, too, are built on a van chassis, yet are larger than conventional Class B motorhomes and more compact than class C motorhomes.
- Length: Up to 28 feet, sometimes longer
- Sleeps: Up to four people
- Possible amenities: Larger kitchen area, larger bathroom (full dry bath), a bunk over the cab, sofa or dinette separate from the sleeping area
Class C motorhomes
Built over a van or light-duty truck platform but featuring a larger box and possibly slide-out panels, class C motorhomes are more spacious than Class B camper vans and typically feature an overhead cab. These RVs can have ample underbelly storage and home-like amenities but less towing capacity than Class As.
- Length: 24 to over 40 feet
- Sleeps: Six to eight people
- Possible amenities: Spacious kitchen, full dry bath, bunk or storage space over the cab, sleeper sofa, separate sleeping area
Towable RVs
This category encompasses many different types of non-motorized RVs, including:
- Fifth wheels: Fifth wheels, also known as fivers, connect to the bed of your tow truck through a protruding fifth-wheel hitch. As they can be the largest of all trailers, they require a powerful tow vehicle. Fifth wheels can have all of the amenities of Class A motorhomes, making them great for families with kids.
- Travel trailers: The hitch of these trailers connects to the rear bumper of your tow vehicle, so you don’t necessarily need a pickup truck. Travel trailers also come in various sizes, and amenities will depend on the model.
- Toy haulers: These can be either fifth wheels or conventional trailers and, as they generally feature a large cargo or garage area, can be used for multiple purposes. Generally, however, toy haulers are used for transporting sports equipment and other smaller vehicles, including dirt bikes, ATVs and golf carts. Toy haulers also come in a variety of sizes, and larger, more luxurious models may feature sliding panels.
- Pop-up campers: These travel trailers are compact and lightweight, making them easy to transport by most vehicles. When the trailer is stationary, you can raise the roof and sides to create a more spacious interior. Besides a sleeping and cooking area, pop-up trailers may also have a compact toilet and shower.
- Truck campers: These are technically not trailers, as they sit on the bed of a pickup truck, but still fall under the category of non-motorized RVs. Truck campers also come in many different sizes and can have home-like amenities like a kitchen, separate sleeping area and full dry bathroom.
Bottom Line to RV Insurance Coverage
- RV insurance can protect you from liability lawsuits that stem from at-fault accidents as well as other risks common to RV life.
- The types and amount of RV coverage you purchase should depend on the type of RV you own, how much you drive and whether you plan to live in your vehicle full time.
- Liability coverage (including both bodily injury and property damage liability) is required in most states, while full coverage (collision and comprehensive) is optional.
- You may have to carry full coverage to access additional options such as personal property coverage.
- Specialized RV insurers sell coverage for full-time RVers, those who live in their recreational vehicle six or more months out of the year.
- Full-timer coverage – for those who live permanently in their RV – includes extended personal liability limits, medical payments coverage and loss assessment coverage.
- Other optional insurance for RVs includes coverage for additional living expenses, total loss replacement and personal property coverage.
- National insurance carriers cover most types of RVs, although insuring a school bus conversion may require additional steps.
- The major RV classifications are Class A, B and C motorhomes and towable trailers, but these encompass a wide range of recreational vehicles.
Joan is a professional translator, writer and editor with a special interest in personal finance and insurance topics. She has been a contributing author and independent researcher at ConsumersAdvocate.org since 2017 and an editor at Money since 2019. Her work has been featured in MSN Money and Apple News.