On the Road: Roadside Assistance, Emergency Expenses, and Travel Protections

Breaking down in a car is inconvenient. Breaking down in a 35-foot motor home towing a vehicle, 200 miles from home, is a whole different situation. You can't just call any tow truck. You can't just walk to the nearest hotel. And if your RV is your campsite for the week, a breakdown means your vacation — and your shelter — are both on hold.

RV policies include travel-specific coverages built for these situations.

RV roadside assistance is built for the realities of large vehicle travel. It's not the same as the auto club card in your wallet.

What's covered:

• Towing to the nearest qualified repair facility
• Necessary labor at the time and place of disablement
• Mechanical or electrical breakdown
• Battery failure
• Running out of fuel, oil, water, or other fluids
• Flat tire service
• Lockout assistance
• Entrapment in snow, mud, water, or sand within 100 feet of the roadway

What makes RV roadside assistance different:

• Coverage extends to trailers and vehicles being towed by your motor home
• It also covers vehicles towing your travel trailer — even if that tow vehicle is insured with a different company
• "Sign and Drive" service means no out-of-pocket expenses at the time of service
• Available 24/7 anywhere in the U.S. or Canada

Limitations to know:

• Limited to 3 covered emergencies per vehicle per 12-month period
• Does not cover purchase of parts, fluids, or keys
• Does not cover labor at a repair shop or storage charges
• Does not cover tire repair (only flat tire service to get you moving)
• Does not cover jacks, levelers, airbags, or awnings

Most people skip right past this one on their policy. Then their transmission fails 300 miles from home and suddenly it's the most important coverage they have.

Emergency Expense coverage triggers when a covered loss or non-covered breakdown occurs more than 50 miles from your primary residence. For full-timers, it triggers at any distance.

What it reimburses:

• Temporary living facilities (hotel, campground)
• Transportation expenses
• Food and fuel
• Cost of returning the RV to you after repairs
• Rental car while repairs are completed

It also triggers if an evacuation forces you out of your RV.

Coverage levels:

• $750 included automatically with Comprehensive and/or Collision
• Buy-up options to $2,000 for recreational users
• Buy-up options to $7,500 for full-timers

Picture this: your RV's transmission fails 300 miles from home. Repairs take two weeks. Without this coverage, you're paying for a hotel, meals, and a rental car out of pocket — on top of the repair bill. With it, those expenses are reimbursed.

When you park your RV at a campground for the weekend, it becomes a temporary residence. Someone could trip on your steps, your campfire could damage a neighbor's property, or your dog could cause trouble.

Vacation Liability covers bodily injury and property damage you're legally responsible for while your RV is parked and used as a temporary vacation residence or stored at a campsite or storage facility.

Key details:

• $10,000 included automatically with Comprehensive and/or Collision (one program)
• Available up to $500,000 combined single limit
• Excess over other applicable insurance
• Available for recreational users only (full-timers have the Full Timer's Personal Liability instead)

Your dog or cat travels with you — and this coverage recognizes that.

Pet Injury coverage is included automatically with Comprehensive and Collision at no extra cost. If your dog or cat is injured in a covered loss while riding in the insured RV:

• Up to $1,000 for veterinary fees
• $1,000 death benefit if the pet dies as a result of a covered loss (reduced by any vet fees already paid)
• If the pet is inside the vehicle when it's stolen and isn't recovered, the death benefit applies
• No deductible

It's not a lot, but it takes some of the sting out of an already bad situation.

If you tow a utility trailer or tow dolly behind your motor home, this coverage protects it.

• $2,500 of physical damage coverage included automatically with Comprehensive and Collision
• One program allows you to purchase additional coverage up to $20,000 total
• Motor home policies only

A lot of motor home owners don't even realize this is on their policy until we point it out.

Most people think of RV insurance as protecting the vehicle. But these coverages protect your trip — your time and your wallet when something goes wrong far from home.

Heading out this season? Spend five minutes on the phone with us before you leave. A quick policy check now beats scrambling after a breakdown.