insurance on travel trailers

wmoses wrote:
It appears I am paying too much for my full coverage based on the feedback in this thread. I know that risk varies from place to place but my $900 per year does not compare at all well with the <$200 per year reported by others above. Need to get a new quote.

That would be a smart move on your part.

Keep in mind in most states the only reason you really need a RV policy is if you have a loan out on the trailer. Your lender requires to have full coverage while the loan is outstanding.

After the loan is paid off the need for full coverage vanishes.

Why?

Even if you have full REPLACEMENT value coverage the trailer LOSES VALUE. Each year the "replacement" value will drop and over the years the insurance co will only give what it is worth at the current date. geiven enough time (10 yrs or more) you would be talking $2K-$3K if your trailer is stolen lost or damaged.

Not worth paying in $200 per year at that point.

As far os the OPs question..

Here is how it works in PA.

As as PADOT is concerned, if your trailer is under 3K GVWR no inspection required, no electric brakes required and your Auto policy generally will cover LIABILITIES coverage while towing.

If your trailer is OVER 3K, you will need to get annual PA Inspection, Trailer is required to have electric brakes (you will need a brake controller) and your insurance will still cover liabilities while towing.

Your PA inspection station will require your trailer registration (must be current and have current date sticker on the plate) AND YOUR AUTO INSURANCE Financial Responsibility ID card (must also be current).

Some auto policies will automatically cover repairs or replacement of your trailer while towing and some do not.

No further insurance is required and any other policy is strictly VOLUNTARY on your part (unless of course you have a outstanding loan).

Check with your auto insurance agent to get full details of YOUR policy. If you want additional coverage you might be able to add in a "rider" (which is nothing more than buying additional coverage) for a better deal than a RV policy.

When not towing, if you park your trailer at you home, your property insurance will generally cover loss or theft of your trailer.

It is a game of numbers and often a separate RV policy is duplicating other insurance you may already have.

My TT is insured along with my car, truck & home. I have State Farm and pay $248/year, inexpensive. They have already paid a $4500 claim without even a whimper. As stated before, liability coverage extends from your TV insurance. However, insurance is not required for TT's.

In Florida it is covered by auto insurance when connected but needs its own coverage when not. I chose to use the same carrier to avoid any conflicts. It is cheap and worth every penny IMO.


You may want to check on that. We had someone hit ours and total it. The insurance said if it hadn't been the other drivers fault it would not be covered without it's own policy. That could make for a REAL expensive lesson. I got off free.

I get a discount by keeping all my insurance with the same company.

Check with your ins co. My home insurance agent told me years ago that if the RV was on my property and it got damaged, it would be covered on my home owners policy. The company I had auto insurance with told me that if I was towing and I got into an accident that I would be covered for Liability only, unless I chose to add full coverage when I was camping, it would be covered for everything. Again, all insurance is different, check with your carrier.

wmoses wrote:
It appears I am paying too much for my full coverage based on the feedback in this thread. I know that risk varies from place to place but my $900 per year does not compare at all well with the <$200 per year reported by others above. Need to get a new quote.

Do shop around. Rates do vary. There are all kinds of variables so as others have said get advice from a pro and don't count on the internet ever to give you 100% reliable advice.

Sometimes rates can change depending on how you use or how you store your camper.

For instance my agent was interested in knowing about how much I actually camped in the camper as opposed to it being in storage, he was interested in where I stored the camper, if it was fenced, and so on. These answers might have at least some impact on the rate you are quoted. We also found a discount or two that helped us in our case.

It appears I am paying too much for my full coverage based on the feedback in this thread. I know that risk varies from place to place but my $900 per year does not compare at all well with the <$200 per year reported by others above. Need to get a new quote.

Just to throw some info in for Ontario Residents:

The trailer is covered for liability when hooked to your insured tow vehicle. It is not covered for theft, collision, or comprehensive either hooked or unhooked from your tow vehicle. An individual policy on the trailer is required for that coverage.

My coverage costs $142.00 per year with State Farm

Road Phantom wrote:
I think there's a little confusion between liability and property damage. The first is covered automatically when the trailer is hooked to the TV, but not physical damage to property. That is only covered if you have a full policy. Liability concerns any medical expenses and related costs incurred from an accident while pulling the trailer.

Additionally, as it pertains to liability, a separate policy often will have "vacation liability". This provides liability coverage should someone get hurt in you camp. As well it provides liability coverage while in storage, assuming you don't store it at home. In today's extremely litigious society, I want all the liability coverage I can afford.

I think there's a little confusion between liability and property damage. The first is covered automatically when the trailer is hooked to the TV, but not physical damage to property. That is only covered if you have a full policy. Liability concerns any medical expenses and related costs incurred from an accident while pulling the trailer.