The 4 Best RV Insurance for Full-Timers: A Dollar-Saving Guide

Looking for the best RV insurance for full-timers out there?

Purchasing a new RV and planning to live in it full-time is a significant investment. However, an RV resembles a home, and a vehicle all packed into one concept. Because of that, many people wonder how to insure their RVs.

When it comes to both auto and home insurance, you know that you already have separate policies for each. So, how do you handle an RV?

What is the best RV insurance for full-timers? The best RV insurance for full-timers is Good Sam. However 3 other main Insurance agencies are aslo providing good service:

• Progressive
• RVInsurance.com
• Good Sam
• National General

This guide to RV insurance is designed to cover all the basics, including our top 4 companies, pricing, ways to save, insurance requirements, and, of course, the insight and knowledge you need to find the best policy for your needs.

The Top 4 Best RV Insurance Options for Full-Timers

We start our guide with the top four choices for RV insurance, covering their options, extras, discounts, and anything else you can expect.

1.    Progressive

Progressive is a well-known auto insurance company that’s been around for over seventy-five years. They insure a bevy of different items, including:

Progressive’s affordable rates and excellent customer service has helped it to grow to the fifth-largest insurance company in the world today.  They also offer plenty of RV-specific options that should cover all of your needs. Also, if you already have other things that you insure with Progressive, you can save by bundling your other items together.

Coverage Options	Extra Coverage	Discounts
Collision	Pet injury	Pay in full and receive a discount on your policy.
Comprehensive	Total loss replacement	You’ll get a discount if you are the original owner of the RV.
Liability	Roadside assistance	Multi-policy discounts if you bundle and save.
Medical payments	Replacement of personal belongings cost	Disappearing deductibles
Uninsured and underinsured motorist	Full-timer’s liability	Small accident forgiveness
	Emergency expense	Large accident forgiveness
	Loss assessment	Responsible driver discounts
		Continuous insurance discounts
		Prompt payment discounts
		Claim free renewal.

2.    Good Sam (Top Choice!)

One auto insurance provider that’s known for offering excellent RV insurance is Good Sam Insurance Agency.  Good Sam has many auto insurance products as well as RV insurance.

Good Sam’s RV insurance coverage has many standard policy coverages to pick from. On top of this, they also offer some innovative premium insurance options for a very secure level of protection with your RV.

I recently wrote an article on this site about the customer services and the RV insurance coverage of Good Sam. Check it out:

Type of Motorhome	Standard Coverage options	Premium coverage options	Discounts
Class A motorhomes	Comprehensive	Full-timers insurance	Multi-vehicle discount
Class B motorhomes	Personal liability	Personal effects insurance	Paid-in full discount
Class C motorhomes	Property damage liability	Optional full replacement of items cost	Storage discount
Airstreams	Collision	Emergency expense cost
Truck campers	Personal injury protection
Fifth-wheel trailers	Uninsured and underinsured motorist protection
Travel trailers	Bodily injury liability

Good Sam Contact Information

If you have questions about insurance policies, the Good Sam Club, Good Sam roadside assistance, or if you need to file a claim with them, you can contact them directly. 

Good Sam insurance phone number: 1-888-514-1116 

Good Sam insurance mailing address:
64 Inverness Dr. E, Englewood, CO, 80112

If you want to learn more about their insurance options, visit their website.

3. RVInsurance.com

RVInsurance.com sounds like a new company, but it isn’t. National General owns this website, and that company is well-known for working with other insurance companies on the market. So, you are still getting a company that has decades worth of experience in the RV market.

RVInsurance.com offers excellent customer service and also provides users with an easy-to-use interface.

That means it will be simple to file a claim or change your policy. You’ll get the precise coverage you require with this insurance provider. Just about any type of RV coverage you can think of is offered by this insurance company.

Since RVInsurance.com is National General’s RV coverage unit, you’ll get excellent coverage if you opt for this company. RVInsurance.com has a lot of coverage options that go well beyond standard coverage.

Plus, this company is well-known for providing excellent customer service to its coverage.

Types of RVs	Coverage Options	Additional Savings
Class A Motorhomes	Emergency peace of mind	No charge for new parts after an accident
Class B Motorhomes	Full replacement cost	Theft reward if your RV is stolen
Class C Motorhomes	Permanent attachment	Storage savings
Airstreams	Specialized equipment	Multi-vehicle coverage
Truck campers	Full-timers	Low mileage discounts
Fifth-wheel trailers	Mechanical breakdown
Travel trailers

4.    National General

Another excellent RV insurance provider is National General Insurance Company. This company has operated as a property and casualty insurance provider since 1920, when they first began in Winston Salem, North Carolina.

Currently, National General is one of the most massive automobile insurance companies you’ll find in the country.

As such, this company offers many different insurance options. Some of the insurance you can obtain with this company includes:

National General also provides a 24-hour claims processing system, and they have some of the best rated customer support around the insurance world.

National General’s main claim to fame is their excellent customer service, and the fact that they really seem to care about their drivers. This company works hard to give the best to its customers to ensure they are protected while also saving their clients a lot of money in the process.

Most of the RV insurance options provided by National Insurance is standard compared to the other insurance companies.

However, they also offer customization options for their RV packages so that they can meet the needs required by their different drivers. Some of the discounts you can qualify for with National General is unbeatable, as their plans are extremely affordable.

For instance, if you obtain your insurance through National General Insurance Company, you may receive up to $250 off your deductible if you report to them that you aren’t satisfied with the way your claim was processed.

To demonstrate how good their customer service is, National General is accredited by the Better Business Bureau, and the rating they have is an A+. That’s because National General has a 66% score for its positive customer reviews.

Most customers of National General say they are very fast with their claims process. The representatives seem very knowledgeable, which only helps make their customer service experience better.

Type of RV	Standard Coverage	RV specific coverage	Discounts
Class A motorhomes	Bodily injury liability	Total loss replacement	Bundled policy
Class B motorhomes	Property damage liability	Full timer	Safe/responsible driver
Fifth wheel trailers	Collision	Belongings and personal effects	Low mileage
Mounted truck camper	Comprehensive	Permanent attachments	Paid-in-full
	Personal injury	Emergency expense allowance	Storage option
	Medical payments	Mexico insurance
	Uninsured and underinsured motorist

How Much Does RV Insurance Cost: The Average Costs of RV Insurance

RV insurance costs range depending on several factors. Most insurance companies will base the costs of your RV insurance policy, depending on the factors covered below. The average RV insurance cost should total between $200 to $2,000 even with added extras.

The following table shows the average RV Insurance Rates across 6 States:

States	Insurance rates per year (USD)
North Carolina	$875
Oregon	$895
Massachusetts	$1,135
Michigan	$4,485
California	$4,085
Texas	$1,435

Your RV’s Class

Depending on your RV’s class, meaning whether it is a class A, B, or C RV, that can affect the price of your RV insurance coverage. Typically, a Class A RV is the most expensive type of RV to cover.

The second most expensive type of RV insurance coverage is Class C insurance. The cheapest types of RVs to insure are Class B RVs.

Related reading: How Much Does Class A RV Insurance Cost? The Complete Buyers’ Guide

Your Driving Record

Your driving record and history can also affect the cost of your RV insurance policy. Your RV insurance company will consider things when insuring your RV like

So, if you have an outstanding driving record, then it’ll be less costly for you to purchase your RV insured. On the other hand, if you have a poor driving record, it will cost you substantially more to insure your RV.

Your Policy’s Limits

When you first set-up your RV insurance policy, you’ll be able to choose the different limits on your policy. Policy limits on an RV insurance policy include things like:

If you decide to sign-up for an RV insurance policy that features a high deductible, then your monthly payment cost for your insurance will be much lower.

However, if you run into an accident or you need to file a claim, then you’ll have to pay a lot more out of your pocket. On the other hand, a policy with a low deductible amount will cost you more monthly. But if you get into an accident or file a claim, you’ll wind up paying far less out of your pocket.

Any Additions You Make to Your Policy

You may cover additional items in your policy, and this can also make the price of your insurance increase. For instance, if you want to cover things like

The Estimated Cost of Insurance

So, as you can see, the price of your insurance policy coverage for your RV can vary dramatically. However, to give you a few reference points, we have some estimations to help you below.

Available Options and How to Save

It’s very standard for RV insurance companies to provide additional coverage options, which can help you save some money if you encounter any major mishaps.  Some of those additional coverage options can feature things like:

Depending on how much you are willing to pay, and what you want to cover inside and around your RV, you can insure pretty much everything associated with the RV, depending on the insurance provider you choose.

That way, if you encounter any major accidents or theft, you’ll wind up getting reimbursed for those incidents, saving you a lot of money.

If you seek out an agreed-upon value when you get your RV insurance policy, then you’ll know what you’ll be awarded if you experience a total loss.

Also, once you know what the agreed-upon value is, ask the insurance agent about the next lower threshold and what that value premium is. Let’s say your RV is worth $80,000, and you agree to the next lowest threshold of $74,000, then you may be able to bring down your monthly premium extensively.

Who Has The Cheapest Full-timer RV Insurance?

Who has the cheapest Full-timer RV insurance? Progressive is one of the top picks of insurance providers for full-time RV travelers. Progressive provides a specialized liability cover specifically for those who live in their RVs full time.

Progressive allows full-timers broader liability coverage options to cover medical costs, personal and loss coverage.

With progressive’s full timer’s liability protection, you are covered to a specified limit if you are responsible for injuries both in and around your RV.

Progressive often offers discounts that vary from state to state, which RV owners may take advantage of, and progressive coverage starts at as little as $125 a year.

Under standard coverage, Progressive cover includes:

• Comprehensive cover
• Collison 
• Liability
• Uninsured or underinsured motorist
• Payment of medical expenses

According to Trusted Choice, the least expensive motorhome insurance can be found in North Carolina, with an average annual premium of $860.

Close behind is Oregan, which has the second-lowest median premiums. Massachusetts holds a $1,128 median in third place.

The amount you will pay in insurance premiums depends on multiple factors, which will dictate how cheap or expensive your insurance will be.

These include:

• The type of motorhome you drive
• The age and condition of your RV
• Your RV driving experience
• Your driving history, including accidents and violations
• Where you live
• Where you will travel
• The amount of time you spend on the road
• How many insurance claims you have submitted
• The type of insurance you choose.

Should You Get RV Insurance?

RV insurance is a must if you are planning on purchasing an RV or already own one.

RVs are a reasonably large investment that can span from 30,000 dollars to 300,000 dollars and upwards.

If your RV were to be totaled or suffer significant damages, the cost of replacement and repair could be substantial.

Insurance protects you from unforeseen events and covers your RV value, as well as the potential damages should you be responsible for an accident.

Beyond the practicalities of protecting your investment and property, most states in the USA legally require RV owners to have the same minimum liability coverage as auto insurance.

You will need RV insurance if:

• Your RV is a Class A or Class B motorhome.
• Your RV is financed, and you do not own the RV outright
• The RV is a rental vehicle.

Insurance is not compulsory if :

• Your RV is towable and not drivable such as a Class C
• Your state does not require insurance, and you have full ownership of your RV without liens of financing.

Insurance is optional in instances of towable RVs such as fifth wheels, pop-ups, and travel trailers.

You may extend your auto insurance policy to cover your RV when you are towing it in such cases.

RV insurance works much like auto insurance and includes collision, comprehensive, and liability coverage in accidents.

RV insurance also provides additional coverages such as protection for your belongings, onboard equipment, and attached accessories such as awnings and satellite dishes.

Full-timers should ensure that their RV insurance has complete personal liability coverage, which will protect from the legal liability of accidents in your RV, the property around your RV.

Full-timers should also prioritize ensuring that they have personal property coverage to protect the valuable items inside your RV.

When considering RV insurance, you should always weigh up the costs of potential loss, theft, or totaling your RV with the monthly insurance premiums.

How to Shop Around for RV Insurance

When you start shopping around for RV insurance, there is more than one place you should check out when trying to get the best deal on your RV insurance.

Make Sure Your Insurance Provider Knows Your RV

When you find the insurance provider you want to utilize, ensure that you and your insurance company assess the value of your RV similarly before purchasing the policy.

If some terrible accident occurred and you lost your RV, the insurance company will give you the company’s idea of your RV’s actual cash value. The insurance company dictates what the value of your RV is, and sometimes that isn’t the same amount as what the owner sees in the RV.

Ask About Coverage Limits

Make sure you talk about coverage limits and any additional coverage you want to add. Review the policy, so you know what is covered in case you do experience a loss.

For instance, you may have more electronics on your RV than what your policy wants to cover. If that’s the case, you can include a scheduled article policy if you exceed the standard limits. Let’s talk about what standard RV insurance usually covers.

What Does RV Insurance Cover

RV insurance offers shares similar features that are usually found in an auto insurance policy. Some of those features include things like:

• Collision insurance
• Comprehensive coverage
• Liability coverage

Within RV insurance policies, you can also add other protection features to cover other items, like:

• Your items that are on the RV
• Any equipment you use for the RV
• RV accessories that you’ve added on, like satellite dishes or awning covers

Personal Liability Coverage for Full-Timers

For those that decide to make their RVs their permanent residences, considering personal liability coverage will provide you with an extra layer of protection.

As a homeowner, personal liability coverage comes standard with a homeowner’s insurance policy. A homeowner’s liability coverage covers you when some loss or accident occurs in the house, and you are legally responsible for the accident.

After you sell your home and become a permanent resident on your RV, you no longer have the personal liability coverage that covered you with your homeowner’s insurance policy.

That means you are left unprotected. However, you can fill in this gap by applying for a Full-time RV personal liability coverage policy. That way, no matter where you travel in the United States, you still have this protection.

You can usually option personal liability coverage as a full-time RV resident by obtaining a specialty RV insurance policy.

Several specialty insurance companies that cover RVs insist that those living on an RV full-time more than five months a year must have this personal liability coverage in place while operating their RVs.

Medical Payment Coverage for Full-timers

Obtaining a medical payment coverage for full-timers is another important part of a specialty insurance policy you’ll need to seek out when becoming a permanent RV resident.

As a homeowner, getting medical payment coverage, which means coverage for your medical bills when an accident occurs in your home, you typically get this with your homeowner’s insurance policy. However, once you sell your home and become a full-time RV resident, you’ll lose this policy.

So, before you become a full-time RV resident, obtain a medical payment coverage insurance policy for full-timers.

Getting a full-timers’ medical payment coverage means you are filling that gap, and you’ll still get coverage for medical bills when things happen inside of your RV, and you are using your RV as a permanent residence.

Scheduled Valuable Personal Property Coverage for Full-timers

Another gap in your homeowner’s insurance policy you’ll have to fill after you sell your home and start using your RV as a permanent residence is scheduled valuable personal property coverage.

When it comes to a homeowner’s insurance policy, once you insure your home, you can include valuable personal items you own so that you receive payment in case anything happens to those items. The types of items that are usually covered by this in a homeowner’s policy include things like

• Expensive jewelry
• Antiques
• Stamp collections
• Coin collections
• Any rare, valuable art

Once you sell your home and move into your RV as a permanent resident, you’ll most likely want to take those items with you on your RV. However, since you sold your home, those items are no longer covered by your homeowner’s insurance policy.

So, you’ll need to cover that gap by purchasing a scheduled valuable personal property coverage for your RV. Once you add that to your policy, you’ll have up to $99,000 in coverage for anything valuable you want to protect, like:

• Particular items
• Collections
• Groups of similar items

Secured Storage Personal Effects Coverage for Full-timers

Another essential part of your homeowner’s insurance coverage you’ll lose once you sell your home and become a full-timer on your RV is secured storage personal effects coverage.

It’s likely that after you sell your home, you won’t be able to fit all of your extra items into your RV, even if you have a very large RV. Most people that move into their RVs full-time rent secured storage facilities and store their items there.

However, once you move your items into a storage facility and out of your home, your items now won’t be protected from potential damages and accidents, like fires or thefts.

That can be nerve-wracking to consider while you are out on the road. So, consider adding secured storage personal effects coverage to your RV policy. By doing that, your insurance will cover up to $99,000 in personal items that you have in your storage.

So, while it’s exciting to sell your home and pursue your dream of living free as a full-time RV resident on the road, you will need to consider what to do to keep yourself, your RV, and your items fully covered.

While you make a move to becoming a full-time resident on your RV, make sure you protect everything correctly by pursuing proper insurance coverage.

We’ll help you understand more about how RV insurance works below.

Does My Auto Insurance Cover My RV?

Does my auto insurance cover my RV? Yes, your auto insurance cover your RV, If you have a towable RV that is not drivable (Class C), such as a fifth wheel, travel trailer, or pop up. You will generally receive liability coverage under your auto insurance policy when you tow it.

For example, if you have an accident such as your trailer becoming unhitched and causing property damage, your liability coverage would cover the cost.

Generally, your trailer is considered eligible for your auto insurance liability cover if:

• It is a personal trailer designed to be towed by a vehicle
• It is owned in the same name as that on the auto insurance policy
• It is attached to the towing vehicle listed in the insurance policy.

Recreational vehicles that are not towed behind a personal car or truck do not receive the liability coverage extension.

Because these are Class A and B motorhomes, they will need their own specific RV insurance.

RV owners should be aware that this protection from auto insurance covers liability insurance, which means it will not cover protection for belongings, equipment, or accessories such as awnings or satellite dishes.

For full protection for your RV and belongings, you would need to take out a separate RV insurance to ensure that your investment is adequately protected

RV Insurance vs.Auto Insurance: Is RV Insurance Cheaper Than Car Insurance?

Is my RV insurance cheaper than car insurance? Depending on the make, model, value, and type of motorhome you insure, you may end up paying up to 2000 dollars a year more than your car insurance in the case of a Class A Motorhome.

There are many similar factors to insuring an RV to auto insurance to determine the overall insurance premiums.

Although an average RV insurance would cost you less than auto insurance, certain factors will influence how high your insurance payments might be.

These factors include:

• The amount of time you intend to spend in your RV and the purpose that you intend to use your RV
• Your driving history recorded insurance claims and accident archive
• Your chosen insurance limits and deductible amounts 
• Whether you wish to add coverage for your possessions, equipment, and accessories.

Does AAA Plus Cover RV Towing?

Does AAA Plus cover TV towing? Yes, AAA Plus RV coverage tows up to four 100 mile tows per year for each member while the Premier RV offers:

• One tow up to 200 miles
• Three tows of up to 100 miles per year

Plus RV coverage includes four 100 mile tows per year. Premier and Plus RV coverage extends coverage to include travel trailers with sleeping quarters used for camping.

AAA Plus will not tow RVs that have been modified and present safety hazards on safety and liability grounds. The AAA is not liable for damages incurred to the RV that was not caused by operator negligence.

Is There a Better Service Than AAA?

Is there a better service than AAA? Yes, Good Sam provides a more RV specific coverage than the general AAA’a added RV roadside insurance options. Good Sam offers lower prices, covers more types of vehicles, and includes coverage for RV owners’ family members.

Although the AAA still offers the top towing and winching services available, the added features of Good Sam make it a better option for RV owners, particularly full-time RV users.

#1: Good Sam is also more versatile and covers more RVs, including leased, rented, borrowed vehicles, and multiple RVs. Good Sam covers your spouse and dependent children as part of their RV plan.

#2: AAA Plus RV only covers RVs up to 32,’ and above that, you need to purchase a Premier RV membership. You will also have to buy additional coverage for your spouse and children.

#3: AAA Plus RV offers four 100 mile tows in their coverage, and the Premier RV coverage covers one 200 mile tow, and three 100 mile tows a year. Good Sam provides unlimited towing but only to the nearest service center and not to a chosen destination.

#4: Like AAA Plus RV, Good Sam offers battery service, flat tire service, and locksmiths. While AAA plus only provides $100-$150 locksmith cover, Good Sam is unlimited.

#5: Good Sam also offers unlimited call-outs, while the AAA Plus RV only allows four free call-outs a year. Good Sam has specialized RV mechanics to provide service to its customers. 

#6: Good Sam offers trip-interruption services with car rental, food, and accommodation costs covered by the insurance.

Can I Write off an RV on Taxes?

Can I write off an RV on taxes, Yes, you may write off the interest of your RV if you count it as a second home. The IRS Publication 936 states that a “home” includes both houses and mobile homes as long as they have sleeping, cooking, and toilets with the mobile home.

 So if you fulfill the criteria, you have a good chance of declaring your RV as your second home and claim the interest of the loan on your RV.

Full-timers may also benefit from a home loan interest deduction when living in an RV as long as it fits the IRS publication criteria 936 above.

If you are a full-timer and work from your RV, you may write off many of the business expenses associated with your taxes.

If you use your RV solely for business purposes, you may even qualify the whole RV as a business deduction. But this would entail you never use your RV for personal use, which may be tricky for full-timers. 

Living and working in your RV may qualify you for specific business-related deductions, depending on what they are and used solely for business expenses.

However, it is never a given that you will be eligible, and one should always consult a qualified tax consultant for your individual application.

How RV Insurance Works

To give you some instances of how RV insurance works to protect you while you are on the road, we’ll cover some potential accidents or issues you might encounter while riding or living in your motorhome, whether full-time or part-time.

So, if something terrible happened, the RV insurance coverage you purchased would most likely cover you if one of the examples below occurred.

An uninsured or underinsured motorist crashes into you.

By opting for the right type of standard RV insurance, you’ll be covered if another driver hits your RV and doesn’t have insurance, much like you would with car insurance.

In this case, your insurance company will still cover any damages you incur. How much compensation you get in this case depends on:

• How much damage your RV suffered
• Your policy’s deductible
• Any limits that may be on your policy

If you are at fault for an accident

Also similar to standard car insurance, if you wind up in an accident and you are considered at fault, then the other driver will make a claim with your insurance company.

After that, your insurance company will pay the claim depending on the limits of your original policy. Based on the limits set on your policy, and especially if you only pay for liability coverage, you may have to pay for things like

• Costs of damages
• Legal fees
• Judgments
• Injuries

However, if you have full comprehensive coverage insurance on your RV, you’ll only need to pay your deductible if you are at fault for an accident. All of that will depend on the insurance company you pick.

If your RV needs to be towed after a crash

If you experience an accident and your RV can no longer be safely driven, you’ll need to have it towed. Most standard comprehensive RV insurance policies will pay for part of, or sometimes all, of the towing costs, like car insurance.  

If your RV is stolen or damaged by an animal or hail

By purchasing comprehensive RV insurance, you’ll get compensation for any losses you incur after your deductible and up to the limits in your policy when things like the following occur:

• Your RV is stolen
• Hail causes damage to your RV
• An animal damages your RV

Now that you know what types of incidents comprehensive and specialty RV insurance policies can cover, we’ll cover how much RV insurance may cost you.

Related reading: Do You Need Collision Insurance on a Travel Trailer?

How to Figure Out What You Need in RV Coverage

Figuring out exactly what you need when it comes to RV insurance will depend on several things. These factors include:

So, depending on the items listed above, you may want to do a little research so that you comprehend the requirements in your state. Also, assess things like

Conclusion

When it comes to starting a new adventure in your life as a full-time RV traveler, you’ll need to make sure you insure your RV for peace of mind.

Selecting an insurance company and knowing the ins and outs of RV insurance then becomes essential so that you can get the best rates, save money, and still protect your RV and personal items.

If you pick from one of the top four insurance companies, you should get everything you need, even if you have to personalize your monthly insurance plan. The four best RV insurance companies are:

• Progressive
• RVInsurance.com
• Good Sam
• National General

If you don’t know where to start with your RV insurance, then calling up those four companies will kick start you on the right path.

References:

https://www.irs.gov/publications/p936

https://autoclubsouth.aaa.com/membership/rv_faq.aspx#

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