Are you thinking of purchasing an RV? You’re not alone. In 2020, the RV industry shipped more than 430,000 vehicles. Interest in recreational vehicles is growing as customers aim to travel affordably, enjoy the outdoors, and spend more time with family. In Florida, a state with beautiful scenery and nice weather year-round, RVing is especially common.
Traveling by RV can be a really relaxing and rewarding experience. It’s often more affordable than staying in a hotel, and it leaves you in control of your itinerary and location. However, RVing is not without its risks. Sometimes accidents do happen when you’re out on the road. You may bump into a guard rail while parking, or another driver may accidentally collide with your RV. Even if the accident is not serious, repairing a damaged RV can be expensive. That’s one of many reasons why RV insurance is so important.
What Does Standard RV Insurance Cover?
You can think of RV insurance as being similar to auto insurance, but with extra coverage that applies to the unique experience that is RVing. To some extent, you can work with your insurance agent to determine which types of coverage you want to include in your RV insurance policy. Here are the standard coverages that are typically recommended.
Collision
Collision insurance for your RV is about the same as collision coverage for any other vehicle. If your RV is involved in a collision with another automobile, this coverage pays to repair the damage to your RV. All RV owners should carry collision insurance. If your RV is financed, your lender will require it.
Comprehensive
This type of insurance covers any damage to your RV that occurs when you are not actively driving it, but are on public property. Perhaps a tree limb falls on your RV while you’re pulled off on the side of the road. The damage would be covered by your comprehensive policy. Maybe someone vandalizes your RV in a gas station parking lot. This would also be covered under comprehensive insurance.
Property Damage Liability
Most states require all drivers to carry liability coverage, regardless of the type of vehicle they drive. This type of coverage will pay for damage caused to other people’s vehicles and property in the event of a collision. Even the most experienced drivers occasionally bump into trees or other vehicles when backing or parking their RV. Having property damage liability coverage can be a real life-saver in an incident like this.
Bodily Injury Coverage
The last thing you want to happen on any RV trip is for someone to get hurt. But unfortunately, there is always a risk of injury for those driving or riding in an RV. If an accident should occur and someone were to become injured, you deserve the peace of mind that comes with knowing the medical bills will be covered. That’s where bodily injury coverage comes in handy.
An RV insurance policy should include two types of bodily injury coverage. The first applies to the driver of the vehicle. The second applies to passengers, and to anyone else who might become injured in a crash with the RV. For instance, if you collide with another vehicle and are found to be at fault for the collision, your RV insurance policy will pay for the other driver’s medical bills.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage
While you would hope all drivers would be responsible and purchase their own auto insurance, this is not always the case. Uninsured drivers do sometimes take to the roads, and if you should happen to collide with one when driving your RV, you could find yourself in a tight spot — that is, if you don’t have uninsured motorist coverage. This coverage will pay for damage to your RV if you’re in an accident caused by someone who doesn’t carry insurance.
What Other Coverage Should You Add?
While the coverage discussed above is a good starting point, there are a few other coverages that are often wise to include in your RV insurance package. These types of coverage not only protect you financially but can make traveling in your RV less stressful overall.
Personal Item Replacement
Most people bring quite a few things along when they go RVing. If any of these items are stolen from your RV or damaged in an accident, personal item replacement coverage will pay to replace them. This coverage is especially important if you travel with valuable electronics or jewelry.
Emergency Expense Coverage
Sometimes, the unexpected happens when you’re out on the road, and it might not have anything to do with the fact that you’re RVing. You may become ill and need to travel home suddenly for medical care. A loved one might pass away, making it necessary for you to travel home by plane. Emergency expense coverage will reimburse you for any surprise expenses that you incur due to these types of emergencies while you’re traveling in your RV.
Vacation Liability Coverage
This type of insurance applies when your RV is not on the road but is instead parked at an RV park or other off-road location. In other words, it covers losses you may incur while you’re at a campsite. For example, if a visitor slips off your RV steps and twists their ankle, this coverage will pay for their medical bills. Most of the accidents that happen when an RV is parked are minor, but medical bills can still be extensive, which makes this type of coverage a smart buy. Some RV parks require that you carry vacation liability coverage in order to park your vehicle.
Total Loss Replacement
In the case that an accident “totals” your RV, a typical collision policy will give you a sum equal to the estimated value of your RV at the time of the collision. While this is better than nothing, it is not always enough to go out and replace your RV with an identical model — especially if your RV was relatively new when the accident occurred. Due to depreciation, this approach could leave you without an RV, but still paying off your loan.
Total loss replacement insurance comes in really handy in incidents like this. Instead of being reimbursed for the vehicle’s value at the time of the crash, you’ll receive the full amount you need to buy another RV of the same make and model. If you crash and total a 2018 RV Model X and another 2018 RV Model X costs $80,000, your insurance company will give you $80,000.
If you plan on purchasing an RV and heading for the open road, make sure you buy good RV insurance to go along with it. Work with a local insurer who takes a personalized approach to ensure you receive coverage that suits your needs. If you’re looking for an insurance broker in Florida, Flagler County Insurance Agency would be happy to help. Contact us to start discussing your needs and comparing policies.