Insurance for a fixed location trailer

ramsaymike wrote:
We have a 'destination' trailer that is parked on our owned lot in the RGV. We have no plans to move it. I have been forced to purchased regular travel trailer insurance as I have been told that it can only be insured as a mobile home if it meets certain requirements - generally tied down and skirted. This is not allowed on our community so I end up paying for things that I will never use like collision. Has anyone come across a way around this? Or a company that will insure it as a mobile home which is what it really is? Thanks.

Do you have a loan on the trailer?

If no, then no reason to have insurance.

A RV is a depreciating "asset" and as time goes on, you will get less and less "coverage" if it burned down, was stolen or broken in to.

You could check with your vehicle insurance and have a "rider" coverage added for the trailer.. That way there is no redundant "collision" or "liabilities" coverage that you would be paying for in a separate RV policy.

No need for collision on a trailer! That is covered by the vehicle insurance. All you need is comprehensive for things like fire, flood, theft, vandalism. I would imaging either insurance is going to cost about the same?

Call Formost and ask about "homeowners" policy on vacation homes or RV's. We also had "true replacement value" (that's costs to much IMO) but had contents and "outbuildings" which was a shed also covered. But we had have to call the day before we used it on the road to get regular road insurance. As in towed it 30 miles to have a re-roof done. Wife remembers paying $55.00.

True replacement value coverage was our choice because one year in our park four RV's got smashed by falling trees. One couple had a older RV and got a new one. Others that didn't have "true replacement value" only got "replacement value at time of occurrence".

We declined other options such as the "sewer flood back up option" Our RV was had it's own little septic system and no chance of the park system getting plugged up and back filling into ours.

Reason why we choose Formost...On New Years eve the neighbor next to us had a tree fall on his TT. Tree was still hanging over RV and we didn't know if we should cut it off the RV or wait till a claim estimator to look at it. But he wanted proof what happened. We called so at least he would have proof he called on his phone bill. Somebody, yes a real live person answered the phone and gave him a clam number. That event sold us on them. Been with them ever since.

ramsaymike wrote:
Or a company that will insure it as a mobile home which is what it really is? Thanks.

It is not a mobile home, it is a recreational vehicle. Regardless of how you use it, it is how it was build. It does not meet HUD's standards but meets RVIA standards.

dodge guy wrote:
No need for collision on a trailer! That is covered by the vehicle insurance. All you need is comprehensive for things like fire, flood, theft, vandalism. I would imaging either insurance is going to cost about the same?

I suspect the OP has a separate "policy" for RV which has nothing to do with auto insurance.

When a separate "policy" is written for a RV it will most likely include "collision", required auto liabilities, ect.. sort of like you would get with a Motor Home.

In some respects it is a "win- win" for the insurance companies since they are "stacking" and duplicating parts of the insurance and charging extra along the way..

Several auto insurance companies quite a few years ago got into a lot of hot water over issuing completely separate policies for the same owner when they had several vehicles without the insured realizing they were being double billed for their vehicles..

OP just needs to check with their auto insurance company and get a quote to have the trailer added to their vehicle policy (aka "rider")and not a separate standalone RV policy (IE consolidate to one policy).

But in some respects if the trailer is older than say 5-10 yrs AND no loans against it, what IS the "point" of paying insurance on it.. Not much "value" left in that age group.. Perhaps $6K-$10K at best and the insurance co will do their best to pay very little out on a claim..

I financed a park trailer and had to have full coverage on it while the lien was active even though it was not going to be moved. I notified my insurance company (Erie) when I sold it and dropped collision and adjusted the coverage. In order to insure it as a travel trailer and not a mobile home, I had to put tags on it and confirm that it was moveable - not tied down, wheels and axles in place. This basically covers everything I need and saves me money. I do not have any sort of coverage on people visiting my site, though - that would have been included in the more expensive mobile home coverage.

It is owned with no loan. I have thought about having no insurance but am concerned about liability issues. There is also the matter of the 'coach house' -essentially a 12x20' house with residential plumbing/electrical fixtures on the lot. I did cancel insurance on it so would have none if I had no trailer insurance. It just seems pointless paying for things that can't be used. The agent told me that there was no option - had to have collision - and that any other insurance would be more expensive. Also, we are Canadian and I don't see anyway to add a 40' US registered trailer to our Canadian car insurance....

I purchased a Cedar Creek Cottage TT a year ago and insured it with Progressive. The Cottage has holding tanks water tanks and everything saying it's an RV TT. However after a month I got a cancellation notice saying the won't insure that type of trailer.

I switched to Good SAMs, they consider my unit a destination trailer and had no problem providing insurance staying on our lot. As with rjf7g it must be registered, not tied down (except temporary tie downs as required during hurricane season in Key West) and wheels on ground.

dodge guy wrote:
No need for collision on a trailer! That is covered by the vehicle insurance. All you need is comprehensive for things like fire, flood, theft, vandalism. I would imaging either insurance is going to cost about the same?

Collision is not passed along from your truck to your trailer, only liability insurance. If your trailer hits something, damage to what you hit is covered by your truck's liability coverage and damage to your trailer is covered by your trailer policy. I suggest you have a talk with your insurance agent.

lbrjet wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
No need for collision on a trailer! That is covered by the vehicle insurance. All you need is comprehensive for things like fire, flood, theft, vandalism. I would imaging either insurance is going to cost about the same?

Collision is not passed along from your truck to your trailer, only liability insurance. If your trailer hits something, damage to what you hit is covered by your truck's liability coverage and damage to your trailer is covered by your trailer policy. I suggest you have a talk with your insurance agent.

Thanks, I miss typed. yes liability is passed along. the trailer has its own comprehensive policy!