I’m looking for opinions on Fulltime RV Insurance from those of you who have had opportunity to use it and have been satisfied with the performance and, by elimination, those who have had poor experiences and would recommend staying away from certain companies. I’m not just looking for the cheapest premium. I want to feel reasonably confident that if I had to file a claim, they would not start the game playing.We had been with USAA who I feel is THE best there is, however, they do not cover RV’s Fulltime. They sub-out Fulltimers coverage to Progressive, whom we’ve been with going on three years-they’ve left me wanting to look around. .Firstly, we have had two occasions to need road assistance for our 35 foot 5th wheel and even though stressing this, both times help showed up and had no idea. The first time, he couldn’t handle us and left - we just took care of it ourselves.Secondly, so far every renewal, our premiums have gone up – no tickets, accidents or claims in years.I have copied names as I have come across them but I’ve never heard of any of them. How ‘bout you.National Interstate Bancorp South American NationalFarm and City Miller RV GMACGilbert RV Ins. RV America Ins. Foremost Ins. Grp.We’re pulling a 2008 Heartland Bighorn 3055rl with a 2004 GMC Sierra 2500 HD Turbo Diesel, 98,000 miles. We’re based in Texas and been fulltiming since March 2011. Currently docked in San Antonio area while my wife receives cancer treatment.Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Roadside assistance and fulltimers insurance are 2 separate policies. I started out with National Interstate for my fulltimers insurance but switched due to non-responsiveness from an insurance agency. I'm now using GMAC through Good Sam, filed one claim, no problems.For roadside assistance, I've had Good Sam ERS for the last 7 yrs with no complaints. I've used that policy 3 times. Whichever company you use for roadside assistance keep in mind that they all basically use the same local companies to respond. Your experience may just depend on time of day or how busy they are.

We've had Foremost fulltimer's insurance with roadside assistance for about 20 years. We've been completely satisfied. During that time we've filed several minor claims and one total replacement claim. We've also been towed twice and had a new starting battery delivered to our campsite. The claims were all settled fairly fast. Roadside assistance was quick and competent. Our premiums haven't gone up much over the years, in fact we actually got a reduction one year. Best wishes to your wife with her treatment.

The following companies from your list are Agency/Brokers. They handle National Interstate (and other ins. companies)Bancorp South Farm and City Miller RVGilbert RV Ins. RV America Ins. We have been with National Interstate for 6 yrs.Have filed two claims...minor one in 2009 and major one 2012.Both claims were handled quickly, directly and no hassles. Couldn't have asked for better.We have 'towing' but don't know how good/bad as we have never had to use it.Premiums (truck/5'vr---FT on 5'vr) went down 2nd year, held steady 3rd,4th,5th yrs. and a minor increase 6th yr. due to address change.With a TX address your costs will be higher........we checked into change of address from SD to TX and 5'vr would have doubled/truck 50% increase.

You might also call this brokerage company and ask for Mike Mercer. We recently changed from Progressive to Blue Sky RV Ins and saved over $600 a year.http://www.iigins.com/

I have been with National Interstate through Farm & City for 7 years. Farm & City also handled the policy on my airplane back when I had one, so they are familiar with coverage for things other than autos and homes.The agent has always been response when I had questions and only had one claim to replace a windshield early on. While the coverage is not cheap, it seems competitive for full-time. I also like having "replacement coverage" and disappearing deductible. If this thing was ever totaled, payoff would be far more than it is worth, but it would enable me to get a pretty decent rig.In SD, their rates did recently jump - first increase since I have been with them.

YOUR opinion on Fulltime insurance, PLEASE | Good Sam Community

20 Replies

rockportrocket
Explorer
Jul 28, 2013
waltfire, if they find out you are fulltime, they just flat wont pay a dime and I don't blame em.
waltfire
Explorer
Jul 28, 2013
I believe you guys are right. My policy covers the fiver and contents I placed a dollar amount on, but I don't think it will cover someone slipping and falling in or around the camper. I still will check though, thanks.
Medico
Explorer II
Jul 28, 2013
waltfire wrote:
Do you really need to claim you are full time? I am about to go full time my 5er is under farm bureau insurance with my truck. I don't want to rock the boat with rates, they are good right now. Not sure why it would matter, with some of the posts I read seems like full time means it is stationary and living in it full time, that's just not the case for us we travel..

Do you stop traveling at night? Do you sometimes stop for a few days or a week or month, etc.?

FT Insurance is liability insurance similar to homeowners insurance. As a FTer, you most likely do NOT have homeowners insurance any more. Whether you are traveling or sitting, you need the liability coverage and the contents coverage provided by FTers insurance. Our agent explained it this way, "If you could pick up your RV and shake it, anything that is not attached and would fall out are the contents covered by FTers Insurance. And to cover those clumsy people that come to your site and hurt themselves while you are sitting at a site (even if only for one day) you need FTers Insurance. Your normal liability Insurance covers you while moving, but you have to stop at night, FTers Insurance covers you during these stops, whether for one night or 6 months.

My $250K FTers Liability only added $78 per year to my policy. If your present company does not offer specific FTers coverage (My original company, Allstate, did not)then you NEED FT coverage.

I hope this helps with your confusion.
stickdog
Explorer
Jul 28, 2013
waltfire wrote:
Do you really need to claim you are full time? I am about to go full time my 5er is under farm bureau insurance with my truck. I don't want to rock the boat with rates, they are good right now. Not sure why it would matter, with some of the posts I read seems like full time means it is stationary and living in it full time, that's just not the case for us we travel.

Fulltimers insurance is more akin to homeowners insurance. If you have a total loss such as fire everything you own is gone, if you have ample fulltimers insurance it gets replaced. If a guest slips on your stairs leaving after a rummy game and breaks a hip does your present farm bureau ins cover the medical care and possible law suit?
As my daddy always said if you don't have enough in the bank to cover cover an unforeseen event you better have insurance and the right kind.
Roads_Less_Trav
Explorer II
Jul 28, 2013
National Interstate

$14k claim

Paid, no questions asked
daytona7
Explorer
Jul 28, 2013
rambotheshark...I wonder if taking the RV out for a weekend spin once or twice a year would be the same as a resident who has their POV registered in another state, spends 360 days in Florida and drives to his state of registeration for 5 days just to reregister his POV?
Waltfire...Full-time RV'ing had meant those living in their RV year round and traveling from area to area. Now adays with the economy and home foreclousers, lot of RV owners have no other choice but to live full time in them while staying in one location.
What the insurance companies do not see, is that a full-time RV'er, IF, the RV is on it's wheels and can be moved, can move his RV/Home out of the way of possible damage from an impending Hurricane like Charlie or Katrina. I saw more RV's in the rest stops on the interstates than cars or Tractor Trailers combined.
missourijan
Explorer
Jul 27, 2013
We had National Interstate insurance for 6 years, then we had a claim, $2,700 damage claim of which I paid $500 of that for deductible. At the time of renewal my premium went up 30%. We switched to Blue Sky at about half the price. I posted on this site for info on Blue Sky, others had positive reviews even if they had a claim. Hopefully, we won't have any more claims.
waltfire
Explorer
Jul 27, 2013
Do you really need to claim you are full time? I am about to go full time my 5er is under farm bureau insurance with my truck. I don't want to rock the boat with rates, they are good right now. Not sure why it would matter, with some of the posts I read seems like full time means it is stationary and living in it full time, that's just not the case for us we travel.
rambotheshark
Explorer
Jul 27, 2013
Here is some more information that may be helpful to people wondering about full-timer insurance.

This is what a letter from Progressive that you are supposed to sign and return. I will give it to you exactly word for word.

--------------------------------------------

Stationary Travel Trailer Acknowledgment

I hereby acknowldege that "Stationary travel trailers" are an unacceptable risk in our travel trailer program. I understand that coverage is excluded if a travel trailer is used as a "stationary travel trailer". "Stationary travel trailer" means a covered vehicle if it remains permantly parked and is not used for travel. A covered vehicle is permanently parked if:

a. the wheels have been removed
b. the trailer is sitting on blocks
c. a permanently installed utility connection exists; or
d. a porch, deck, trailer skirting or other permanent structure is attached to the covered vehicle.

------------------------------------------------------

Then they ask you to sign and date it.

Hope that may help some of you.
kakampers
Explorer
Jul 27, 2013
I second Blue Sky...cut our premium in half saving us over $700 over GMAC, and gave us considerably better coverages.