You do not want to wait until you need to file a RV insurance claim to discover your auto insurance does not fully protect your RV.
Therefore, it is critical to know the difference between standard auto insurance, and specialty RV insurance.
Before we can begin, let us clarify two things:
(1) Mahar Insurance is an insurance brokerage agency. Meaning, we do not represent one brand for an insurance provider.
Instead, we offer a wide array of RV insurance policy options from different insurance providers.
This results in not only showing you the best prices, but, also, the most complete coverage options for your unique needs.
(2) In order to clearly recognize the major differences between traditional auto insurance and specialty RV insurance, we need to understand the basic definitions of both.
So, let’s get started …
What is auto insurance?
The Insurance Information Institute defines automotive insurance as follows:
Auto insurance protects you against financial loss if you have an accident. It is a contract between you and the insurance company. You agree to pay the premium and the insurance company agrees to pay your losses as defined in your policy. Auto insurance provides property, liability and medical coverage:
- Property coverage pays for damage to or theft of your car.
- Liability coverage pays for your legal responsibility to others for bodily injury or property damage.
- Medical coverage pays for the cost of treating injuries, rehabilitation and sometimes lost wages and funeral expenses.
An auto insurance policy is comprised of six different kinds of coverage. Most states require you to buy some, but not all, of these coverages. If you’re financing a car, your lender may also have requirements. Most auto policies are for six months to a year. Your insurance company should notify you by mail when it’s time to renew the policy and to pay your premium.
What is RV Insurance?
Unfortunately, as of this writing, the Insurance Information Institute does not offer a definition of RV insurance.
Therefore, will clarify …
Recreational vehicles, or RVs, include a vast array of motorhomes, from camper vans to bus conversions, organized by classes:
Class A – This class includes models such as the luxury coach, converted bus and motor coach. These vehicles can be up to 75 feet long.
Class B – This is the smallest class of recreational vehicles. These vehicles do not have a cab-over, and can also include cargo van type designs, travel trailers and camper vans.
Class C – This group includes vehicles that use a standard cargo van as the driving portion of the RV and the camper portion extends over the cab area. This class covers fifth wheel vehicles.
Your RV insurance will depend on the class of your vehicle, and how much you intend on using it, whether or not it is live in it full time, part-time, or simply used for business or personal cargo.
How Does Specialized RV Coverage Compare to “Ordinary” Car Coverage?
As you can clear see for the definition of both auto insurance and RV Insurance, most brand name auto insurance agents wish to fit your your recreational vehicle, fifth wheel, or cargo trailer into the same group as a big car, or truck, but the vehicle insurance plan you need should by specialized to cover your recreational vehicle.
Again, as an insurance brokerage agency, Mahar Insurance is able to offer several brands of insurance, so that your RV insurance protection is designed to specifically address your needs.
What RV Insurance Should Cover.
Your RV insurance policy covers should protect you for similar risks that auto insurance does.
For example:
- Collision
- Comprehensive
- Liability Coverage.
For a detailed definition of each of these term, read this.
In addition to this basic coverages, your RV Insurance should include extra protection for your personal on board belongings, equipment and attached accessories such as awnings, UltraHeat tank heaters and satellite dishes.
Depending on the insurance company you choose, your additional coverage options may include:
- Total loss replacement coverage
- Campsite and vacation coverage
- Emergency expenses
- Towing and roadside coverage
- Full-timer coverage if your RV is your full time residence
- Uninsured and underinsured motorists coverage
The cost of RV insurance cost versus auto insurance
There are many similarities between the factors that determine the final overall cost of auto insurance and RV insurance.
Each will greatly vary, depending on a few key things, mainly:
Similar things that determine cost of auto and RV insurance policies.
- Similar to auto insurance, the amount of time, and purpose for which you use your RV will impact the overall cost of your RV insurance.
- Again, similar to auto insurance your personal driving history, record of past claims, and accident archive will determine your qualification for discounts, which impact the overall cost of your RV insurance.
- As with auto insurance, the limits you set on your RV insurance policy, as well as, the deductible amounts you select have a main role in determining your final payment cost.
For instances, with either auot or RV insurance your overall costs will be lower if you choose a higher deductible. That said, we are hedging your bets on not needing to file a claim, because when and/or if you ever do you will be required to pay higher costs out of pocket.
- The finally similarity, is that you can add coverage for additional riders or added coverage to provide roadside assistance coverage, for example.
With RV insurance you can also add coverage protection for personal belongings.
As a point of reference, a Class A recreational vehicle typically will cost around $2,000 dollar a year or more to than your auto insurance policy, while a Class B may fall somewhere in between $1,000 to $2,000 dollars extra.
Click image for RV safety tips from Safeco Insurance, one of our RV Insurance Providers.
One major difference between the cost of auto and RV insurance policies.
There is of course, one major factor that comes into play with the overall cost of your RV insurance, which is not a relevant point in determining the cost of auto insurance
- What types of recreational vehicle is being covered; Class A, B or C model.
Among these options, Class A is the most expensive type coverage followed by Class C recreational vehicles.
Typically, a Class B recreational vehicle is going to be the least costly to insure.
In comparison, car do not have classes of this nature, and as a result, if you insure your RV with auto insurance you will not benefit for the extra coverage protections that RV insurance provides.
Please, do not wait until you need to file a claim to discover your auto insurance does not fully protect your RV.
Instead, contact Mahar Insurance.
As an insurance brokerage agency, we are on your side. We have many brands and have need franchise quotes to fulfill.
Talk to our RV Insurance specialist. Call or visit today!
210 W. Division Street
PO Box 388
Dowagiac, MI 49047
(269) 782-8646