Your Auto Policy Doesn't Cover Your RV - Here's What You Need
Most people think their auto insurance covers their motor home or camper. It doesn't. Here's what makes RV insurance different and why you need specialized coverage.
Jon Parrack
We hear this all the time: "I've got full coverage on my auto policy — that covers my RV too, right?"
It doesn't. And finding that out after a loss is one of the most expensive surprises in insurance.
Your auto policy was designed for cars and trucks. An RV is a completely different animal — different risks, different values, different coverage needs. It doesn't matter if it's a Class A motor home, a fifth-wheel, or a pop-up camper.
What Makes an RV Different
Insurance companies care about how a vehicle is built, how it's used, and what can go wrong with it.
An RV isn't just transportation. It's a kitchen, a bedroom, a bathroom, and a living room — all on wheels. To even qualify for RV insurance, a motor home has to have permanently installed cooking facilities, refrigeration, sleeping quarters, plumbed bathroom, heating and/or AC, drinkable water supply, and a 110-125 volt electrical system. Travel trailers need at least cooking and sleeping facilities.
None of that exists on your car. And none of it is accounted for on your auto policy.
Where Auto Insurance Falls Short
Physical damage valuation. Auto insurance typically pays actual cash value — what your vehicle is worth after depreciation. For a car, that's usually manageable. But RVs depreciate differently, and many owners customize or upgrade their units over time. Specialized RV policies offer Total Loss Replacement, Agreed Value, and Purchase Price coverage that auto policies simply don't have.
No coverage for contents. Your auto policy doesn't cover the TV, bedding, kitchen gear, outdoor equipment, electronics, or any other personal belongings inside your RV. RV policies offer Replacement Cost Personal Effects coverage — up to $99,000 worth of protection for your stuff.
No liability while parked. When you park your RV at a campground for the weekend, your auto liability coverage doesn't protect you if someone trips on your steps or your campfire damages a neighbor's rig. RV policies include Vacation Liability coverage for exactly this situation.
No coverage for the roof. RV roofs are one of the most expensive components to maintain and replace. Auto insurance doesn't cover roof failures — because cars don't have the same type of roof issues. RV policies offer Roof Protection coverage that even covers normal wear and tear.
No pest damage coverage. Mice, squirrels, and insects cause thousands of dollars in damage to stored RVs every year. Auto comprehensive coverage typically excludes rodent damage. RV-specific Pest Damage coverage fills that gap.
No roadside assistance built for large vehicles. Your auto club card might send a tow truck for your sedan. It's not equipped to handle a 35-foot motor home towing a car. RV roadside assistance is built for the size and complexity of recreational vehicles.
What Types of RVs Need Specialized Coverage?
If it has living quarters, it needs RV insurance. That includes:
Motor homes:
- Class A (conventional and bus conversions)
- Class B (camper vans)
- Class C (mini motor homes)
- Toterhomes
Travel trailers:
- Conventional trailers
- Fifth-wheel trailers
- Destination trailers
- Toy haulers
- Pop-up and tent trailers
- Mounted truck campers
Specialty trailers:
- Horse trailers (with and without living quarters)
- Utility and cargo trailers
Each type has its own coverage considerations. A Class A motor home needs liability coverage just like a car (because it's self-propelled), while a travel trailer is typically covered for liability under the tow vehicle's auto policy. But both need specialized physical damage, personal effects, and RV-specific coverages.
What About My Tow Vehicle?
If you tow a travel trailer with your truck or SUV, that tow vehicle stays on your auto policy. The travel trailer gets its own RV policy. The two policies work together — your auto policy covers liability while driving, and the RV policy covers the trailer itself plus all the specialty coverages.
If you drive a motor home and tow a car behind it, the motor home policy can extend coverage to the towed vehicle and even to attached utility trailers — up to $2,500 automatically in some cases.
So What Do You Actually Need?
Your auto policy does its job for your car. It just wasn't built for something with a refrigerator, a toilet, and a rubber roof. RV insurance picks up where auto insurance stops — roof protection, personal effects, campground liability, pest damage, roadside assistance for large vehicles. None of that exists on a car policy.
If you've got an RV sitting in the driveway, or you're about to go buy one, call us before your next trip. We'd rather set you up right now than sort it out after something goes wrong.
Need RV or camper insurance?
We specialize in RV and camper coverage at our Point Pleasant office. Check out what we offer or give us a call.
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