Owning a motorhome can be a thrilling and inexpensive way to travel across the country with your family or your friends as opposed to spending tons of money taking flights or staying in costly hotels. Traveling in a motorhome can drastically cut vacation expenses. In one estimate, it is shown that a family of four can cut their costs by as high as 60% each day by going on vacation via a motorhome compared to other options.
Buying a motorhome can definitely save you tons of money a year down the road, but it is going to be a major upfront investment for which you need to research all of the facts concerning the additional costs, particularly the insurance aspect before you make the ultimate commitment.
What Is Motorhome Insurance?
As with any personal vehicle, a motorhome is legally required to hold liability coverage. If you finance the motorhome, it will most likely be a condition that you prove full coverage prior to your ability to take it off the lot.
Motorhome insurance works pretty closely to how personal auto insurance works. You are protected if you are found to be at fault in the instance of an accident that brings bodily injury or any type of property damage. Coverage is also provided for damages incurred by being involved in an accident with an underinsured or uninsured motorist.
These policies can be options in some states, but there are reasons why you want to take out a comprehensive motorhome plan.
- A lawsuit could be brought against you from an accident
- If you reside in your motorhome on a full-time basis and you have a visitor who gets injured -liability/premises claim will be brought to you
- If you are the victim of vandalism
- Storm damage
- Thieves
You don’t want to have to be responsible out-of-pocket for money that can be reimbursed simply by having the proper coverage on your motorhome.
What Are The Different Types Of Travel Vehicles
Before you can understand the type of insurance coverage that you may need to have, you need to know what category your motorhome comes under. Motorhomes are sorted by classes – A, B or C – which vary by size and utility. The type of insurance that your motorhome is going to require along with the cost is going to be based on what kind of motorhome you have.
Class A
This is the largest of the classes and can be upwards of 75 feet in length including motor coaches, luxury coaches as well as converted buses. They can weight as much as 40,000 pounds and can sleep up to 8 people.
Class B
These motorhomes are the smallest of the bunch weighing up to 8,000 pounds and upwards of 19 feet in length, having generally a roof that is raised and floors that are lowered, allowing for a more comfortable journey. They have a four-person sleep capacity and are the easiest to drive making them very popular.
Class C
This would be your medium-sized motorhome coming in at upwards of 31 feet in length and weighing as much as 12,000 pounds with a sleeping capacity of six people. These are usually towable behind a truck.
When Is Motorhome Insurance Mandatory
- You need to have at least liability coverage if you have a Class A or Class B motorhome.
- Typically, full coverage is necessary if you are financing your motorhome.
- If you are intending to drive a rental motorhome, insurance is a requirement.
When Is Motorhome Insurance Optional
- A separate insurance plan for your motorhome could be optional when your motorhome is Class C which is towable and not drivable.
- You are not intending on financing the motorhome. There is no loan, and you are in a state where motorhome insurance is not a requirement. To find out the requirements, visit the DMV site for your state.
Cost Of Motorhome Insurance
There are many variables that go into the actual cost of motorhome insurance, not to mention that it varies from state to state and carrier to carrier. Things the providers will take into account:
- Your driver’s history including any DUI’s, accidents, past insurance claims, traffic citations, etc.
- Credit score
- The age of the motorhome
- Your intended use of the motorhome whether it be for full-time or part-time residence or just short trips
- If you need added coverage to include contents or any riders
- If you intend to do bundles with homeowners, auto, etc.
- If you have had any classes in motorhome driving
The thought of traveling the country in a motorhome is exciting, but there is also a great deal of responsibility that goes with it. You want to make sure that you and everyone traveling around you will be safe. Getting the proper insurance lined out will give some sense of peace of mind.
