Having an RV, or Recreational Vehicle, comes with a lot of opportunities for travel, but also a lot of responsibilities. One of those responsibilities is insurance.
Depending on where you live, what you need, and your driving and vehicle records, the laws and costs can differ in regards to insurance.
Is RV insurance required in Florida? Florida state law requires that you have RV insurance if you are driving your RV vehicle. But if you tow it behind your car or van, insurance is not required. It is still suggested you pruchase sufficient coverage in case there’s an accident.
Florida requires RV insurance because large vehicles can cause a significant amount of bodily injuries and property damage in an accident. It does have some minimum requirements, but it also leaves most insurance choices up to you so you can find what fits best.
As far as getting the right coverage for you and your vehicle, there are multiple factors that should be considered before you make your decision.
Table of Contents
Florida State Laws for RV Insurance
Knowing that you need RV insurance is only scratching the surface of RV insurance laws. There are multiple things you need to know before buying RV insurance, including:
- How to Register your RV for insurance
- How much it costs
- What type of insurance you need for certain types of vehicles
- What each type of insurance covers
1. How to Register Your RV For Insurance in Florida
Before you purchase insurance for your RV or motorhome, you must have it registered with your state. Registering your RV is similar to registering a regular car or van.
The registering process is fairly similar across the United States. Firstly, the time frame to secure your RV registered is 30 days from when you purchase it.
You’ll probably need a signed bill of sale and title so you can register with the DMV. You should always obtain the paperwork from the seller in person, as it will save you from having to track them down to acquire the proper documentation.
Once you have the paperwork, going to the DMV to register is the best option. You can call ahead to make an appointment so you can go through the process faster.
After you get your RV registered, it’s a good idea to keep the paperwork, one copy in the RV or motorhome and one in your personal files.
To register your RV in the state of Florida specifically, you’ll need a few more documents. These include:
- Vehicle identification number
- Completed application/Certificate of Title with or without registration
- Original title or loan information
- If your vehicle is Registered in an LLC or Corporation and not your name, you will have to call the DMV to discuss other options for registration.
If you have any additional questions before you register your RV, it’s best to contact your most local DMV to get them answered.
2. How Much it Costs
The cost of insurance varies depending on the limits set by an insurance company to pay for any damages in an accident. But the minimum required liability costs per accident are:
- $10,000 for property damages
- $10,000 for bodily injury for one person
- $20,000 for bodily injury for all persons involved
This is the minimum state required amounts of liability costs, and they can vary depending on how many people were injured and how much property damage there was.
It will most likely be necessary for you to get additional coverage on top of these. But don’t worry, you can make monthly payments to make them a little more affordable.
The average amount of RV insurance in Florida is $125 dollars a month, which adds up to $1,500 dollars a year. It can cost a lot, but it’s an investment in your safety and the safety of your vehicle.
3. What Type of Insurance You Need for Certain Types of Vehicles
Many insurance firms cover most if not all types of RVs and motorhomes. And there usually aren’t many differences between insurance for these vehicles. You should be able to find adequate coverage for vehicles like:
- Travel Trailers
- Truck Campers
- Fifth wheelers (RVs you tow)
- Sport Utility RVs
The main types of vehicles that will have slight differences in insurance coverage are class A, B, and C RVs.
- Class A RVs- These are the largest type of mobile homes. It usually has most of the comforts of home, including a:
-
- Washer and dryer
- Fridge
- King-size bed
And many more features and amenities. Being the largest, they also have the largest price tag, ranging between $50,000 and $500,000.
The average price of insurance adds onto that already luxury purchase, at $1,000 to $4,000 a year.
Since this type of motorhome will usually double as your home and your car, it’s like bundling both home and auto insurance into one. It’s also nationally required to have insurance if you own this type of RV.
- Class B RVs– Considered to be very similar to family vans, class B RVs are the smallest of the vehicle types. They still offer a number of conveniences that you would find at home, such as a:
- Kitchen
- Bed
- Storage space
They are meant for short camping trips or road trips across the country, but not as a double of your stationary home.
Since you will be using this motorhome less, insurance and overall costs are not nearly as expensive. It usually ranges from $60,000 dollars to about $125,000. Insurance only costs between $500 to $1,000.
- Class C RVs– Class C motorhomes are like a mix of class A and class B vehicles. They offer many of the luxuries of a class A, but also provide a little more space than class B. These vehicles usually cost between $43,000 and $200,000. The major factors that determine the cost are the interior and exterior designs.
Class C homes can be as luxurious as class A or closer to feeling like a van like class B. Cheaper models can cost between $800 and $1,000 per year to insure.
But, if you prefer more of a luxury model, but without as big of a price tag, class C vehicles can cost up to $3,000 per year to insure.
But the major plus of this vehicle is that insurance isn’t required in most states. But double checking to be sure if you need it or not can save you some time and stress.
Doing some research to find which RV is right for you will help you make the right decision for insuring it.
Related reading: How Much Does Class A RV Insurance Cost? The Complete Buyers’ Guide
4. What Each Type of Insurance Covers
Rv Insurance is somewhat of a broad term. In addition to knowing what types of insurance are needed for which vehicles, it’s important to know what types of insurance cover what in the event of an accident.
- Campsite and Vacation Coverage- This can help you pay for any property damages or injuries that occur while your RV is parked in a location such as:
- A resort
- A campsite
- A park
The costs vary, but they are usually similar to how much comprehensive coverage and collision coverage cost.
- Permanent Attachments Coverage- This coverage helps to protect the parts of your RV that can be attached or detached. These include accessories like:
- Awnings
- Water filters
- Towers
- Anything else that didn’t come with the RV when you first purchased it.
- Collision Coverage- This is to help pay for the repairs of your vehicle if it sustains any damages from the accident. It doesn’t matter if you or someone else caused the damages. The amount of collision coverage that is provided varies from state to state. But experts recommend having between $100,000 and $300,000 in collision coverage costs.
- Comprehensive coverage- This will help pay for the repairs if your vehicle receives damage that isn’t from an accident. This can include:
-
- Weather damage
- Fires
- Vandalism
- Theft
- Liability Coverage- This is meant to help you pay for any property damages, personal injuries, or injuries to other people that may have occurred during an accident.
It can also assist with paying for legal and court fees in the event that someone sues you for causing them injury or damaging their property. It can cost up to $20,000 per accident, with most insurance companies stopping it at a $500,000 maximum.
- Full-Timer Coverage– This insurance coverage is for those that use their RV year-round. It can be equated to home insurance, only the home being covered is also on the road. This makes it susceptible to road accidents as well as home accidents, so the risk is doubled, same as the price. The average cost is $2000 per year, which can really add up over time. This type of insurance coverage should only be purchased if your RV serves as your home and your car. Having this insurance while also owning a home is not the best or most cost efficient way to go.
Places You Can Go to Purchase RV Insurance
Finding somewhere to buy RV insurance can be a daunting task. There are so many firms and businesses to choose from, and they each offer different rates, amount of services and quality of services.
But the good news is that there are plenty of different places to get RV insurance. Some are in person and some are online,
Below is a list of top-rated insurance companies that are worth looking into.
- Progressive
- Good Sam
- RVinsurance.com
- National General
1. Progressive
Possibly the most well-known of the listed companies, Progressive is a household name known for bundling together home and auto insurance to help you save money.
But they are also great for getting RV insurance. They have plenty of options, discounts, rates, and offers for insuring your motorhome.
Specific RV coverage from Progressive covers the standard liability insurance to collision coverage. They also offer lots of add-ons and extra benefits, including coverage for:
- Total Loss Replacement
- Personal Effects
- Roadside Assistance
- Pet Injury Coverage
- Vacation Liability
Progressive also covers a variety of RVs, trailers, and motorhomes. The vehicles they cover include:
- Horse Trailer
- Class A, B and C motorhomes
- Travel trailer
- Truck campers
- Fifth wheel trailers
- Pop-up trailers
- Utility trailers
The best thing about progressive though, is the number of discounts they offer. The amount of discounts you can get will depend on a few factors, such as the:
- Make
- Model
- Class
- Age
- Driving History
The only negative thing about Progressive is that the customer service isn’t the best. There are some positive reviews, but most customers said that the service they received was unprofessional and that the person they were speaking to was not knowledgeable about the policies.
If that’s the deal breaker for you, then Progressive shouldn’t be your first choice.
2. Good Sam (Top Choice!)
Good Sam is also a fairly well-known insurance company. Aside from the basic coverage that most insurance companies should offer, Good Sam has the widest range of policies and extra benefits to make sure your RV is fully covered.
In addition to the basic liability to collision coverages, Good Sam also offers Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Protection and Personal Injury Protection.
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Protection- Uninsured protection provides coverage for you if you’re in an accident caused by someone with no liability insurance. Underinsured protection gives you coverage in an accident with an at-fault driver whose liability insurance limits are too low to fully cover the accident costs.
- Personal Injury Protection- This is for covering the costs of medical expenses regardless of whose fault the accident is, whether it’s you or another driver. It’s an option to add in some states but required in other states. Good Sam can help you with making that decision.
The best thing about Good Sam is how many extra benefits it offers. These offers include:
- Emergency Expense Coverage
- Roadside Assistance
- Storage options
- Coverage outside of the United States
- Personal Effects Coverage
- Full replacement costs coverage
- Emergency medical and travel assistance
The only thing they don’t offer is pet injury coverage, but the other things they do cover will save you more money in the long run.
But again, the only bad thing about Good Sam is its customer support. Most people did not have a good experience with it, but it’s a little easier to look past it than with Progressive because of the broader selection of extra benefits.
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
Despite it’s somewhat generic name, RVinsurance.com is a broker that can shop around for the best rates for RV and motorhome specific insurance. It also offers to search for RV insurance and auto insurance bundles to save you time and money, and to help you get even better rates.
Aside from specializing in RV insurance, they also shop for insurance for other possessions, including:
- Homes
- Boats
- Motorcycles
But, as the name suggests, they are best known for choosing the best RV insurance rates. They look for everything that should be included in a standard insurance policy, including:
- Hitch Coverage
- RV Roadside Assistance
- Permanent Attachments
- Mexico Insurance
- Full-Timer Insurance
- Total Loss Replacement
What makes this insurance broker stand out from the rest is that it has outstanding customer service. It has over 170 positive reviews from customers and an A+ rating in customer service.
So, if customer service is the most important factor in deciding on an insurance company for you, then this one takes the cake.
4. National General
National general insurance is the only other provider on this list that specifically has insurance for RV owners. They inform you about all of the options for coverage you have in their learning center.
This allows you to speak to someone face-to-face about what the best choices are for you and your vehicle.
Since it’s the only company that offers RV specific insurance, it offers more coverage than that standard RV and motorhome coverage.
- Specialized Equipment Coverage- If you’ve altered your RV to make it more custom and personalized, this coverage will pay for the replacement costs if those personal additions get damaged.
- Personal Belongings Coverage- Similar to the specialized equipment coverage, this is used to cover the costs of stolen or damaged belongings that aren’t attached to your RV. This can include phones, computers, and other personal valuables.
- Mechanical Breakdown Coverage- This coverage is meant to pay for towing an RV to a repair facility in case it breaks down on the road. It will also pay for up to one hour of on-site labor to fix your RV if a tow truck isn’t an option.
Unlike companies like Progressive and Good Sam, it doesn’t provide other expenses like:
- Pet injury coverage
- Vacation liability
- Coverage outside of the United States
It can also be time consuming to go to the learning center to get more information, as their website doesn’t provide detailed information.
Even though Florida requires it, you should want to purchse your RV insurance anyway.
It will save you a lot of time, money, and stress in the long run and is an investment in your vehicle. It will also save you some of the stress that comes with taking care of an RV or motorhome.
Recommended reading
How Much Does Class B RV Insurance Cost? Complete Buyer’s Guide
How Much is it to Buy Back a Totaled RV From Insurance?
The 4 Best RV Insurance for Full-Timers: A Dollar-Saving Guide
Is RV Insurance Required in California? [Read This First]
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