- Year-round RV insurance can help protect you from theft, weather damage and liability risks, even when your RV is parked or in storage.
- If your RV is financed, your lender may require you to keep coverage in place all year.
- Canceling coverage during the offseason may create costly gaps and may not save as much as you expect.
- Your coverage needs can vary based on how you use your RV, where you store it and what other insurance policies you already have.
Do You Need RV Insurance All Year?
The average RV owner uses their home-on-wheels for just 30 days a year, according to the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association. And for most RV owners, those 30 days usually happen around the same time every year.
Key Takeaways
Given such limited use, many owners understandably eye the price they pay every month to insure their RV. They consider limiting coverage to the season in which they’re actually using their camper. Here’s how owners attempt to make their insurance seasonal: If they usually drive their RV in the summer but put it in storage for the winter, or the other way around, they consider dropping coverage for the months it’s not in use.
But that strategy can be problematic. For instance, it probably isn’t an option if you financed your RV with a loan, since your lender likely requires you to maintain coverage year-round. And even if you own your vehicle outright, covering it for only part of the year can leave you vulnerable (during your insurance offseason) to loss or liability you won’t be able to claim on your policy. You also may not save as much as you expect.
Need more info? See “RV & Trailer Insurance Policies” for more details on this insurance and how it works.
How RV insurance differs from auto and home insurance
Since an RV serves as home for at least part of the year, insuring one is a little like covering a vehicle and a second home in a single policy. Here’s how RV coverage compares with auto insurance and homeowners insurance:
- Auto insurance: RV insurance includes similar coverages as auto policies. As when insuring a car, you’ll need to buy at least the mandated state coverage for liability, medical costs and more. And you may want to add collision and comprehensive coverage, and perhaps other options such as roadside assistance.
- Homeowners insurance: Like a homeowners policy, RV insurance protects interior components, including appliances and furnishings. Unlike a home policy, RV insurance does not cover personal property. But these items – say, computers or clothing left inside the vehicle – may be covered under your homeowners, condos or renters policy. Check the fine print to confirm the limits and exclusions when it comes to covering your RV.
Depending on your situation, you may need a combination of homeowners, condos, renters, RV and auto insurance to avoid coverage gaps. For example, if you own a home and tow a camper with your SUV, you should have all three types of coverage to provide adequate protection for your vehicles, property and belongings.
| Coverage type | What it may help protect | What to double-check |
|---|---|---|
| RV insurance | Your RV or trailer when it’s on the road, at a campsite or stored away for the season | Whether your unit is a motor home or travel trailer and what coverages apply |
| Auto insurance | Liability and other coverages tied to your vehicle | How towing affects coverage for a camper or trailer |
| Homeowners, condo or renters insurance | Personal belongings, subject to policy terms | Limits and exclusions for items kept inside the RV |
Related: Buying an RV for the First Time
Why year-round RV insurance makes sense
Many RV owners think about canceling their policies during the offseason. But what looks like a money-saving move can actually be a big financial gamble.
What can go wrong in the offseason
Even if your RV is parked at home or a storage facility, there are still risks of property damage or losses. For example:
- Theft and vandalism: RVs and their parts, such as catalytic converters and electrical systems, are frequent targets for thieves and vandals.
- Weather damage: If your RV is parked outside, it's at risk of damage from weather-related perils such as hail, fire or fallen branches.
- Liability claims: If someone is injured while on or near your parked RV, you could be legally liable for their injuries.
Without an active RV insurance policy, you could be responsible for those damages, injuries or losses entirely on your own.
Quick takeaway: If your RV is financed, your lender may require year-round coverage. Even if it isn’t financed, canceling coverage during storage season can create a gap at the exact time theft, weather or vandalism happens.
| If your RV is stored for the offseason | What can still happen | Why coverage may matter |
|---|---|---|
| Parked at home | Storm damage, fire, falling branches, theft or vandalism | You may still need protection even when the RV isn’t moving |
| Stored at a facility | Break-ins, fire, weather exposure or damage while parked | Storage reduces use, but it doesn’t remove every risk |
| Not driven during winter | Liability or physical damage issues can still arise | Gaps in coverage may leave you paying out of pocket |
Do you need camper insurance in the winter? Often yes. Even when you’re not traveling, your RV may still face weather, theft or storage-related risks.
Financial benefits of continuous coverage
Insurance providers often give better rates, on a per-month calculation, to policyholders who maintain continuous coverage. Canceling and reinstating your policy – causing coverage gaps or lapses in coverage – can potentially raise your insurance premiums. And, if you bundle RV insurance with other forms of insurance, such as auto or homeowners insurance policies, you may qualify for multipolicy discounts that lower your insurance costs.
Deciding whether you need to insure your RV all year? It may help to compare the possible savings from canceling coverage with the cost of replacing or repairing the RV after an uncovered loss. For more, explore “RV & Trailer Insurance Policies”.
Factors that affect your RV policy
When deciding what RV insurance you need, consider the following factors:
- Intended use: Do you plan to be a part-time RV user, or will you live in your RV full time? Your usage affects the type of coverage you need.
- RV type: A small travel trailer has different risks and replacement costs than a luxury motor home, so ensuring the right level of coverage is critical.
- Storage: If you use your RV for only part of the year, where you store your RV plays a role in your coverage needs. Covered storage in a locked storage facility will typically have a lower risk of theft or damage, so you may qualify for discounts.
- Typical driving distance: If you intend to drive steadily in your RV, rather than mostly parking it, you may be at a higher risk of accidents. As a result, much like car insurance, you may pay more for coverage.
- Contents: What you store in your RV may affect what coverage you need. If your home insurance doesn’t cover items kept in the vehicle, you may end up needing to add a personal belongings endorsement to your RV policy. Review your policy or ask your insurance provider to confirm the policy limits and exclusions when it comes to covering your RV and personal property.
Storing your camper for months at a time? Ask how storage, location and seasonal use affect your options. Those details can shape both the protection you need and what you pay.
Does year-round RV insurance make sense for you?
Although canceling your RV insurance during the offseason might seem like a good way to save on your insurance costs, it’s a risky move. Year-round RV insurance can often be a better choice because it provides critical protection for your investment and closes costly coverage gaps. It protects you against theft, weather damage and liability claims. Also, because some insurers may reward year-round RV coverage, a six-month policy may cost you more than half the premium for a full year of protection.
Shop around for your RV insurance. Choose an insurance company with expertise in RV policies so you can shop coverage options tailored to your preferences when it comes to premiums, deductibles, coverage limits and riders. If those insurers include the ones that provide your home or auto insurance, check on whether you may qualify for a bundling discount if you add RV insurance to your bundle.
Get an RV and trailer insurance quote today
FAQs about insuring your RV all year
In many cases, keeping RV insurance year-round makes sense. Your RV can still be exposed to theft, vandalism, weather damage and liability risks when it’s parked or in storage. If your RV is financed, your lender may also require continuous coverage.
Often, yes. Even if you don’t use your camper during the winter, it may still be at risk while stored. Winter weather, falling branches, break-ins and other problems can happen during the offseason, so canceling coverage may leave you with a gap when you need protection most.
Not necessarily. Storing your RV may reduce how often you use it, but it doesn’t remove every risk. Covered or secure storage may help lower risk, but theft, weather and other losses can still happen.
It may, but you’ll want to review your policy carefully. Personal property may be covered under your homeowners, condo or renters policy, subject to limits and exclusions. It’s a good idea to confirm what applies to items left in your RV.
It might lower your short-term cost, but it can also create a lapse in coverage. In some situations, canceling and reinstating a policy may affect premiums later, and it could leave you paying more out of pocket after an uncovered loss.
Your Policy, Policy Declarations or Amended Declarations in effect on the date of loss is the primary source of reference for your coverage, coverage limits and deductible amounts.
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