You've Chosen the RV. Now Choose the Right Specialized RV Insurance to Protect it.

The lure of the open road—it's as American as the Bald Eagle, and the Thanksgiving turkey. Think Route 66, Florida's Alligator Alley, the Great River Road along the mighty Mississippi. They're calling ... and now that you're retired, you've got the time listen. You want to join the ranks of the more than 400,000 modern nomads on the highways of North America. So you got an RV (or you're dreaming of one). Adventure is in your future.

So is specialized RV insurance. Or it should be

With your RV, you're not just buying a vehicle. You're buying a lifestyle. A recreational vehicle is a symbol of freedom. But it's also a major investment. You need specialized recreational vehicle insurance to protect both the investment and the freedom.

Specialized RV insurance policies are available for any kind of recreational vehicle you want to travel in, from a top-of-the-line luxury diesel pusher to an extended van, from a fifth wheel towed by a semi, to a truck camper, a toy hauler or even a teardrop trailer.

Were you thinking you'd just put your RV or motor home on your auto insurance policy? That's a mistake that could cost you serious money. An RV is not a car; it's a home on wheels, whether you're a full-timer or an occasional road warrior. Specialized RV insurance is a blend of auto and homeowner's insurance that gives you coverage far beyond what your auto insurance policy can do.

Bigger vehicles need bigger protection. But that doesn't have to mean more expensive. By shopping around and getting quotes from several companies, it's possible to find cheap RV insurance or travel trailer insurance that will still let you sleep at night—even on the open road.

Why You Need Specialized Insurance

An RV is usually a much larger investment than you car. A "mid-priced" home-on-wheels RV today sells for about $200,000. It also has different exposures to danger. There are more components to be damaged or stolen. You probably don't routinely carry a TV, DVD player, computer, microwave, refrigerator, stove, or satellite dish in your car. An auto insurance policy won't replace these if you lose them. RV insurance will. And if you're involved in an accident that shuts you down, you haven't just lost your transportation; you've lost your home. You're going to need a place to live until yours is repaired or replaced. With motor home insurance, you're covered.

There's a long laundry list of benefits and options you can choose to add to your recreational vehicle insurance policy. What you need depends on what you've got and how you plan to use it. Are you going to be full-timers, saying "home is wherever we park it?" Do you just want to be able to take a weekend trip now and then? Are you snow-birds, escaping to the sun every winter but “dry-docking” your RV come warmer weather? You can find just the options you need to suit your lifestyle.

What to Look For in a Recreational Vehicle Insurance Policy

When you insure our RV, motor home or trailer, you'll need the standard liability, comprehensive and collision insurance you'd put on your car. But depending on your personal situation, what kind of rig you drive, and what features you've got on it, here are some other features for motorhome insurance you should ask your agent about:

• Total Loss Replacement or Agreed Value Coverage
• Purchase Price Guarantee
• Personal Contents Coverage
• Custom Equipment Coverage
• Full-Timers' Coverage
• Vacation/Campsite Liability
• Towing and Roadside Assistance
• Disappearing Deductibles

Let's take a quick look at some of those options and discover what they mean.

You probably know that a new car loses thousands of dollars of value the minute it leaves the showroom. So does an RV, but since the cost is probably greater, so is the potential loss. With Total Loss Replacement, you'll get a new, comparable RV if yours is stolen or totaled within the first five model years. After five years—or if you've bought a used RV—the Purchase Price Guarantee gives you what you paid when you bought it. Agreed Value Coverage is designed for specialized RVs like converted buses and heavily customized rigs that are hard to put a value on. You and your insurer agree on your RV's value and you’ll be paid up to this amount in the event of a loss.

When you travel in an RV, you've got stuff; it's part of the fun of being a road warrior. But all that stuff would be expensive to replace if your rig is stolen or totaled. How much to buy a new microwave, replace all your clothes, replace that fancy digital camera you just got, or the telescope, or the camping table, or the snowboard, or the computer, or, or, or...? Personal Contents Coverage covers your stuff. And since many RVers end up adding some special equipment or customization to their rigs, ask about covering that as well. If you've added solar panels, a satellite dish or antennas, electric awnings, special seats, heated floors... all that costs money to replace. Don't let it be your money. Cover it.

Full-Timers' Coverage is important if your RV is your only home. Some insurance policies won't pay for losses if you're living in your RV with no other residence. Make sure the company knows and writes the proper policy.

Towing and Roadside Assistance is nice for any vehicle, but it's crucial for an RV. Remember that little blips along the road, like a flat tire or a dead battery, minor annoyances in a car, can be major upheavals in a motor home. A single tow could cost as much as $500. Having a tire changed is even more. Cover yourself.

When that nice couple from Wisconsin you invite over for a drink trip and fall on your steps, you might be held liable for the ER bill. That's when Vacation/Campsite Liability has your back.

Disappearing Deductible Coverage rewards you for good driving. For every year you have no claims, you insurance company may give you a discount, often 25%, on your deductible. After a few good years, you'll pay no deductible on a claim.

Finally, if you're not a full-timer, ask about Suspension of Coverage. Why pay for RV insurance when your rig is locked up in a secure storage facility for maybe six months at a time? With this coverage, you could save as much as 65% of your premium for six months of storage.

Get the Right RV Coverage

Don't get your specialized RV insurance from a company that deals only with cars. Finding the right policy is easy when you shop around, compare quotes on the Internet, and know what questions to ask. And then... hit the highway. The Great American Road Trip is waiting!