Insurance Blog

By Darrin Sanger
May 28, 2010

Thousands of RV owners across the state are gearing up for Memorial Day weekend and a summer of traveling and camping trips.

If you own an RV or you're looking to buy one, make sure it's properly insured before you hit the road. This simple step could save you from a summer's worth of headaches and financial burdens.

"The main point of a vacation is to get away from it all," said Karl Newman, NW Insurance Council president. "The last thing you want is the double whammy of having an accident and then finding out you don't have the right insurance on your RV."

Your RV is more than a car and insurance for your RV should reflect that. Usually, RV Insurance will cover more than what your car insurance covers.

The NW Insurance Council offers the following tips to help you be sure you've properly insured your recreational vehicle:

• Consider insuring your RV on its own policy, rather than adding it to your auto policy. You keep many items in your RV that you wouldn't normally keep in your car such as furnishings, jewelry, laptops, video recorders and clothing.
• Coverage is available in the event of loss or damage to certain items outside the RV up to 25 percent of the replacement cost.
• If parked at a campsite, you could be liable if someone is injured in the surrounding area.
• If your RV is damaged while you're traveling, you'll need a place to stay and a way to get there. A standard auto policy may not cover these losses or RV towing, which could cost you thousands of dollars.
• The high value of many RVs and the potential for extensive physical damage from an accident may mean you'll need additional coverage. Evaluate coverage available through your auto insurance company. If the coverage is not adequate to meet your needs, explore coverage with a company or agent who writes policies specifically designed for RVs.

You can get more information on insuring your RV by visiting NW Insurance Council or calling at (800) 664-4942.