What's Inside Counts: Personal Effects Coverage for RVers

You've outfitted your RV with everything you need — a good TV, comfortable bedding, kitchen gear, outdoor equipment, maybe some fishing rods or cameras. If you're a full-timer, add clothing, electronics, documents, and everything else that makes your RV feel like home.

Now picture a fire, a break-in, or a bad hailstorm. How would you replace all of it?

Personal effects coverage handles exactly this — and on an RV policy, it works a bit differently than most people assume.

This is the coverage most RV owners should consider. It covers your belongings inside the RV at replacement cost — meaning what it would cost to buy the item new today, not what it's worth after years of use.

That makes a real difference. A five-year-old laptop might be "worth" $150 after depreciation, but replacing it costs $800. Replacement cost coverage pays the $800.

Coverage highlights:

• Available up to $99,000 in total coverage
• $100 deductible per claim
• Items temporarily outside the RV are covered up to 25% of your personal effects limit
• Non-owned personal effects (borrowed items) covered up to $500 per loss
• This coverage is primary — it pays before any other insurance you might have

One thing to watch for: if you don't have Pest Damage coverage, rodent or insect damage to your belongings inside the RV may not be covered under personal effects either. The two coverages work together.

Even with a generous personal effects limit, certain categories of items have built-in caps:

If you own items in these categories that exceed the sublimits, you have two options: accept the cap or schedule the items individually for their full value.

For high-value items, scheduled coverage is the way to go. You declare specific items and their values, supported by an appraisal, and each item is covered at its declared value.

How it works:

• Each item is listed individually on your policy
• An appraisal is required for each scheduled item
• In the event of a loss, you receive the lowest of: repair cost, replacement cost, or the declared value
• Items without a valid appraisal are treated as unscheduled personal effects and subject to the standard sublimits

Items worth scheduling:

• Expensive jewelry or watches
• Firearms collections
• High-end camera equipment
• Musical instruments
• Antique or collectible items

If you're a full-timer who stores belongings outside the RV — in a rented storage unit or shed — this coverage extends your protection with additional sublimits:

• Household furnishings (furniture, lamps, paintings, rugs): $3,000
• Appliances and maintenance equipment: $3,000
• Lawn and garden equipment: $3,000

This stacks with your Replacement Cost Personal Effects and the Full Timer's Shed/Storage Contents coverage (from the Full Timer's Package we covered in the previous post).

Document everything. Walk through your RV with your phone and record a video. Open every cabinet, drawer, and storage compartment. This takes 15 minutes and is the single best thing you can do for a future claim.

Keep receipts for expensive items. If you bought a $2,000 generator or a $1,500 TV, keep the receipt in cloud storage or email it to yourself.

Get appraisals for high-value items. If it's worth scheduling, it's worth appraising. Many jewelers and specialty dealers offer appraisals at low or no cost.

Review your limits annually. If you've added gear or upgraded equipment, make sure your coverage has kept up.

Check your sublimits. If you travel with firearms, jewelry, or tools that exceed $2,500 in value, you'll want to schedule those items individually.

Walk through your RV with your phone right now. Record a video. Open every cabinet, every drawer, every storage compartment. Email the video to yourself. That's the single best thing you can do to protect your claim if something happens.

Then take a look at your policy limits. If the stuff inside your RV is worth more than what you're covered for, let's fix that.

Bring us your inventory or just give us a call. We'd rather adjust your coverage now than deliver bad news after a claim.