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10 Insurance, What You Need and Why

Sat, 09/27/2008 - 02:43 — Nicole
Insurance, What You Need and Why
 
Much like your regular automobile, you must have insurance for your RV. Luckily, I was pleasantly surprised by the rates, as they weren’t as high as I expected them to be.  Since an RV isn’t driven as often as a daily automobile, the rate is much lower.  However, that is only the case for RV owners who use their RV’s on an infrequent basis, not for full-timers.  Because I was borrowing the RV, and that was such an enormous gift in itself, I insisted that I pay for the insurance.  Also, since I was paying, I wanted to make sure that we had the best and highest coverage possible, just in case.  Obviously this will depend on the value of your RV.  You also will want uninsured/under insured motorist coverage, for the same reason you want it for your car.  If your RV gets hit by someone who is uninsured, your policy will kick in and cover your loss.  Trust me, this coverage is something you want!

There are many companies that offer RV insurance, including many that also offer auto insurance.  Check first with your auto insurance carrier as often you can get a discount with multiple policies.  RV insurance is also different in that it meets the special needs of those who live the RV lifestyle.  For example, RV insurance can include liability insurance to cover anyone getting hurt in your RV, and/or anyone getting hurt at any RV campsite that you visit.  It can also include personal contents coverage, which is basically similar to a homeowners policy.  It covers the contents of your RV against loss and/or damage.  Again, there are a myriad of limitations, so be sure to discuss any concerns with your insurance agent.  Also, check into your homeowners policy, as often they do cover the theft or destruction of certain items away from home.

If you are traveling outside the U.S., be sure to determine what your policy will cover.  Normally, Canada is not subject to any extra requirements.  However, Mexico is, and most policies have serious limitations about traveling in and around Mexico.  Some policies give you some basic coverage, for example, 5 days of coverage.  For any longer travel though, be sure to obtain a rider from your insurance agent.  If something bad is going to happen, it’s going to happen in Mexico!  Trust me, it is NOT the place you want to get into an accident.  The roads can be scary, the government and police are often corrupt, and you most likely will not get the help you would need if you were in an accident.  So, should you decide to take your RV to Mexico, be sure to discuss all the ramifications and options with your insurance agent, and leave no stone unturned.

One benefit that almost all RV insurance policies do come with is emergency roadside assistance.  However, be sure to read clearly what exactly their definition of roadside assistance is.  I wanted to make sure I was totally covered, so I bought roadside assistance through Good Sam ERS, http://www.goodsamers.com, and it really is worth the money.  Good Sam offers unlimited distance towing, which is a good thing to have when you are traveling the barren roads of northern Canada!  And yes, it covers you in Canada, and Mexico as well.  It also applies for your other vehicles as well, not just the RV.  Truly, this is an excellent investment, and one that I would strongly suggest you get.  Think about it, if you get just one flat tire, then you will have already paid for your membership!  You can never be too safe, and since this outstanding service is so affordable, it really is an easy decision to make.  In addition to Good Sam, I was told that CoachNet, http://www.coach-net.com, is also an excellent provider of emergency roadside assistance.

I cannot stress enough how important it is to be prepared for your RV trip, especially for an extended one like ours.  As the old saying goes, if something can go wrong, it will.  Perhaps that is Murphy’s Law?  Anyway, ensuring that your RV is completely covered is an essential part of your trip, and is a small action to take to guarantee a vacation that is as stress-free as possible.  Hopefully, you will take your RV vacation, and you will never need to even think about your insurance coverage, and never need to utilize your emergency roadside assistance.  However, since I am using a lot of cliché’s today, I will leave you with this…”An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”.  Enough said!

Please come back on Monday, September 29th for our eleventh installment, “Who Will Take Care of the Home While We Are Gone (and the Bills!)?“.  See you there!