Insurance question

[rfloyd99]

Am buying my 1st RV,a new 26 ft TT, and started calling for insurance quotes today - what a headache!

I called Good Sam, State Farm (my long time company for car and home), GEICO (who won't insure an RV unless you also have the TV insured with them), and an agency that specializes in RVs.

Won't have the State Farm quote until tomorrow, but the two quotes are more than I was hoping they would be. I don't have a loan, so I have no lender requirements to meet. Of course, I can raise the deductibles to lower the cost, but does anyone have any suggestions of carriers to check, or tips on saving some money while still getting decent coverage?

Thanks?

[beemerphile1]

Gdetrailer wrote:

...In reality there IS no "set in stone" NEED to insure EVERYTHING you own, in fact over insuring COSTS you much more than what the item is worth OR will ever hope to get back out of it.

True, but full coverage insurance offers a lot more than vehicle replacement. What happens when someone falls on your entry step and sues you? Since you aren't towing, you have no liability insurance.

Gdetrailer wrote:
Mine IS covered when towing by my vehicle insurance AND it is covered by my home owners insurance when parked at my home.

Possible, but highly doubtful. Most homeowner's insurance policies will not cover a "vehicle" at any time because a "vehicle" should have its own insurance. Your homeowner's insurance will cover your personal possessions inside the trailer.

You also should realize that all that camping gear you use is likely NOT covered as personal possessions because they are specific to the trailer use.

Gdetrailer wrote:

...Just good fiscal sensibility to EVALUATE your REAL insurance coverage "needs" instead of blindly over paying for unneeded insurance.

Absolutely true. I have discussed this with my insurance carriers. For the couple hundred dollars each of my trailers cost to insure, I consider it cheap protection. Replacement cost of the trailer is probably the smallest risk in not having insurance. The cost to replace other's property and cover other's medical bills are a far greater risk than replacing my trailers.

[capsfloyd]

nineoaks2004 wrote:
We had been with GEICO for years, and the premiums kept sneaking up,
When we bought the new TT we checked with insurance thru them and saved over $100.00 a month on all vehicles combined. and got a better policy. We also had the Class A dropped when we are not using it and GEICO would not even consider this option.

we had evberything insured with Geico , home , 3 autos , TT, harley, honda scooter. every yr they would inch up on rates . this past august i had my 12 ft utility trailer and had a small accident . they triple my auto tt policy .

[rfloyd99]

OP here. After getting several quotes, went with my car/home insurer, State Farm. Got a separate policy which covers my new $24,000 trailer for all risks, whether towing or sitting, for $350/yr.

A separate policy from Good Sam or Progressive would have been $$550-585.

Thanks to all for the great info and advice! I'm done with thinking about this, getting ready for my first long weekend trip - a much more enjoyable use of my time and brain power, such as it is!

[DB_Family]

When we purchased our Outback 301BQ in 2012 I learned if you want liability coverage when your trailer is not connected to you tow vehicle your better off with a separate RV policy. RV policies varies in coverage and cost. EOD it is your decision which risks to insure vs self-insure.

[Gdetrailer]

beemerphile1 wrote:
Progressive will give a quote online in only moments.

To those talking about their auto insurance extending to the trailer. ONLY the LIABILITY extends to the trailer and only WHILE TOWING. You need coverage on the trailer itself or in reality you are self insuring.

So, my 30 yr old TT is only worth $700, if I followed YOUR "advice" over the last ten years I have owned said trailer I would have paid $1500 on said trailer!

Guess how much the insurance company would have paid if my trailer was stolen lost or burnt..

LESS than the $700 it WAS WORTH.

In reality there IS no "set in stone" NEED to insure EVERYTHING you own, in fact over insuring COSTS you much more than what the item is worth OR will ever hope to get back out of it.

Mine IS covered when towing by my vehicle insurance AND it is covered by my home owners insurance when parked at my home.

THE ONLY TIME IT IS NOT COVERED IS WHEN IT IS IN A CAMPGROUND AND NOT CONNECTED TO MY VEHICLE WHEN CAMPING.

For the $700 that it is worth I am fine with that risk.

If you can't stand a little "risk" there is a pretty good chance you should not be owning ANYTHING.. Every policy HAS A DEDUCTIBLE ($250, $500, $1000 or more).

Even having insurance YOU ARE ASSUMING SOME RISK..

Even my vehicles, as they age, I DROP "comprehensive" and only carry the mandated liability coverage.. You see, there is a point in time that YOU are PAYING the insurance co MORE than what the insurance company will pay out.

Just good fiscal sensibility to EVALUATE your REAL insurance coverage "needs" instead of blindly over paying for unneeded insurance.

[seaeagle2]

We went with Progressive with declared value. We had some friends have a one model year old trailer stolen from a storage lot. There was a lot of back and forth about the value (remember here on the West Coast there's about 4,000 of transport cost added to a trailer), the adjuster was using prices from Elkhart area dealers.

[beemerphile1]

Progressive will give a quote online in only moments.

To those talking about their auto insurance extending to the trailer. ONLY the LIABILITY extends to the trailer and only WHILE TOWING. You need coverage on the trailer itself or in reality you are self insuring.

[phenrichs]

I have Progressive. My TT is covered by my vehicle policy while connected. I have a secondary policy that covers the TT while not connected for damages and replacements. Rate is $157 annual.

[Community Alumni]

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[Community Alumni]

WyoTraveler wrote:
If I understand the question correctly you are trying to insure the TT with a company different than your TV is insured with. Not sure that is going to work. Suspect all insurance companies require both TV and TT be insured with them.

That's not correct everywhere. I've never had a problem with insuring a trailer by itself with a separate company from my truck. It's not often that I have the truck and trailer with the same company. Often times I can find better deals with the two separate companies, even when you add in multi-policy discounts.

OP: Your best bet is going to be working with an independent insurance agent and let them do the leg work for you. Often times they work with carriers that you're not aware of. They're not tied to a specific company so they work for you to get the best deal out there.

[mjmaddox]

Wyotraveler, this is not true in all cases, it depends upon the company.

I travel with a friend. He owns and insures the tow vehicle and I own and insure the trailer. Tow vehicle insured by Travelers, trailer insured by Progressive. Just filed a claim for roof damage while towing and Progressive paid in full without issues.

[Hiking_Hunter]

DustyR wrote:

sch911 wrote:
Blue Sky RV insurance

x-2

Blue Sky isn't available in Florida

[DustyR]

sch911 wrote:
Blue Sky RV insurance

x-2

[fla-gypsy]

gmw photos wrote:
I believe the policy on my truck only extends it's liability coverage to the trailer, while it's being towed.
My trailer policy covers the loss of the trailer itself, whether hooked to the truck or not.

State Farm for me. About $300 year for the trailer.

Check with your agent on yours to know what is and is not covered.

This is the correct answer. I use State Farm for both vehicle and trailer which have seperate policies and the TT policy is very reasonable. That way there is never any question as to which insurer has the responsibiity for repairs regardless of whether it is hooked to the TV or not. My cost was about the same.