A pop-up camper or pop-up is considered a recreational vehicle, which is often towed when traveling. These vehicles are designed to provide you with a comfortable living quarter while reducing the amount of drag you face when towing. Pop-up camper insurance is a way of protecting these vehicles from potential damage. However, the question remains, does a pop up camper need insurance?
Essentially, insurance for your pop-up camper is not a must. It is something that could protect you, but when leasing or financing your pop-up camper, you will be required to provide some form of insurance. Having insurance will keep you protected from potential damage and any issues outside of your control that could harm the vehicle.
If you have been worrying about insurance for your pop-up trailer and how it works, you have come to the right place. This article aims to educate you on insurance for pop-up campers. We will break down some of the fundamentals. Once done, you should know all about do you need to insure your pop up camper.
Is There Any Need Of Pop Up Camper Insurance?
If you don’t want to insure your pop-up camper, you don’t need to. However, it is best if you consider adding insurance for issues outside of your control. The costs of repairing damage to these vehicles can be very expensive. Additionally, weather damage is not an uncommon issue when dealing with a pop-up camper.
There are a few situations that will force you to invest in some insurance. If you are leasing the pop-up camper, you will need to insure the vehicle for the time you are using it. However, this is only temporary. You might also need insurance for financing the pop-up trailer and this is to protect the financiers from any issues.
As a rule of thumb, it is always best to make sure you do insure your vehicle, especially when taking on tough and treacherous conditions. The weather can play a huge part in damaging or causing some issues for your pop-up trailer.
Why Would You Need To Insure A Pop Up Camper?
Aside from the obvious reasons we have mentioned like obtaining insurance and making sure you comply with a lease agreement, you need to worry about damage. Repairing the pop-up camper might not be as expensive, but certain situations can make the damage severe.
Unless you always have the fund available to fix the pop-up camper if something breaks or if something goes wrong, you will need to have insurance. Insurance is a great way to give you peace of mind and if something breaks, you don’t have to bear the brunt of the costs.
Essentially, it boils down to how much risk you are willing to take. Let’s be honest, if you have just spent a lot of money to buy the pop-up trailer, you don’t want to be bogged down with any issues. It is best if you can make the investment and have some peace of mind.
Insurance Cost For Pop Up Campers:
It is hard to specifically determine what the costs would be to insure your pop-up camper. Companies will have to consider a few things and these things could vary from person to person. Some of them might even be reliant on the situation. Before you apply for insurance, you should know that these are the most important factors:
- Brand
- Size
- How often it is used
- Where it is used
- Where it is stored when not in use
- Value
If you can securely store your pop-up camper when it is not in use, you will probably get the best possible insurance deal. Other factors like the number of policies you have with an insurance company can also reduce the price. It is for this reason that most people decide to insure all their vehicles with the same insurer.
What Are The Best Companies For RV Insurance?
Before selecting RV insurance, you should have a look at some of the top insurers. Each insurer will have different requirements and help you when it comes to making the best decisions. We have identified some of the leading companies and brands that you can trust with your RV insurance. These should offer you the best deals:
- Good Sam:
Good Sam is already in the RV market and they already have a huge following that helps give them credibility. When buying your RV, many companies will already refer you to them. Good Sam provides different covers for different situations. They also have a variety of add-ons like chassis coverage and tire protection.
You might even get a discount if you adhere to some of their conditions. If you are the self-driver of the RV, you could get a better insurance quote. Good storage and having a great driving record will also give you boosts.
- National General:
National General is one of the top brands if you want full replacement costs. They might be a bit more expensive than some of the others, but they cover specialized gear and equipment you might add to your RV. Once your RV is in storage, you can essentially pause the coverage and only retake it once you travel.
One of their best benefits is that if you run into issues and your RV needs to be replaced, they have experts to assist. These experts will help ensure you get all the same features you need for replacement.
- Nationwide:
Nationwide is probably the most popular option on the list and they have a variety of different cover options for your vehicle. There are numerous coverage options and these might give you potential discounts that you could be eligible for. They don’t have excessive prices and you should find one that fits your needs.
One of the downsides is the lack of online quotes. It might be hard for some people to find the right quote online. However, their customer support offers great service, ensuring you get the best value for your money.
- Progressive:
If discounts and disappearing deductibles are something you are looking for, Progressive might be the ideal company for you. With extensive coverage, they will cover almost everything and the horse trailer coverage can go up to $50k. Pet insurance is also a great addition and the add-on coverage for roof malfunction could help.
While Progressive certainly stands out as one of the top options, the discounts are not available in all states. Insurance will also vary depending on whether you buy online or through an agent. They have some excellent discounts, but there are a few unfortunate drawbacks to take into consideration.
- Auto-Owners Insurance:
Finally, you might also want to have a look at the Auto-Owners Insurance companies. One of their best feat features is customer service and they are known for providing extensive coverage for all situations. The additional roadside assistance will also give you coverage, which covers all 50 states, including Canada.
You can use their mobile app if you want to find more information and it will also keep you up to date with the world of insurance. The only downside is that you might have a hard time finding online quotes. You might need to pay a little extra and have an agent give you the assessment and insurance.
Does Car Insurance Cover The Tent Trailer?
In many cases, car insurance should cover your tent trailer. However, this is not mandatory by law. In many states, you might find that tent insurance is separate from your trailer and you will need to make sure that you have insurance for the tent trailer. You might need to inform your insurance of your tent trailer first.
Once you inform them of your tent trailer, they will let you know whether you are covered or not. Many people simply take out other insurance to separately cover their tent trailer, but the vehicle should cover it in most cases. One of the downsides is that even though liability coverage will be included, you might not have comprehensive coverage.
If you don’t want your premium to go up, you need to call your insurance company and ask them “do you have to insure a pop-up camper?” In many cases, you will find that they will insure the vehicle for sporadic camping or only on weekends. Those who constantly travel with these trailers might need to invest in some additional insurance.
Key Factors That Decide The Insurance Cost:
Much like the cost of your life insurance, there are a couple of important factors to keep in mind. These decisive factors will estimate the cost of your insurance and make it easier for you to get the best possible coverage. Before looking for insurance, the following things are important for you to keep in mind:
Brand & Model:
One of the first things insurers will look at is the brand and the model of the pop-up camper. If the model is one of the luxurious options, you will find that you are paying more for insurance. The base models with fewer features might be much cheaper to insure.
Age Of The Camper:
Another important factor to keep in mind is the age of the camper. The newer models tend to be more expensive to insure and this is because they have a higher market value. If you buy an older model, you might find that insurance is cheaper and the risk for the company to insure you will significantly drop.
Size & Dimensions:
Another thing people often miss is the size and the dimensions of their pop-up camper. Yes, the insurance company will take this into account, as large travel trailers can be more at risk. If you buy a smaller pop-up camper, you might find that the price is significantly lower and it should be much easier for you to insure.
Driver History:
Insurance companies always try to encourage people to be better rivers. When applying for RV insurance, you will notice that they look at your driving record. Someone with a clean driving record will not pay as much for driving insurance. The history of driving and the age of the driver are two of the main focal points.
Multiple Policies:
You could find yourself getting big discounts when you have numerous policies at the same insurance companies. The more policies you have, the better and safer it will be for you to insure your vehicle and you will already have a record. Insurance companies always try to build long-term relationships with their clients.
Location:
Finally, the location is another important factor and when you are living in an area that is known for crime, you might pay more. Keep in mind that the more risk the insurance company needs to take to insure you, the more you will have to pay.
Understanding The RV Insurance Coverage:
You must have a general understanding of what your insurance will cover. Keep in mind that not all insurance setups are the same and you could find that some only cover a few basic things. Here are a few things that your insurance company might cover:
- Collision Coverage: Collision coverage is self-explanatory and you will be covered if you get into an accident. This is also the main form of coverage you want to be safe and protected on the road.
- Comprehensive Coverage: if you think you won’t be able to repair the travel trailer after an incident, you might want comprehensive coverage. This coverage will keep you protected from everything and even pay for the repairs of the RV after an accident.
- Roadside Assistance: If you tend to break down on the side of the road, you might need someone to assist you. Fortunately, roadside assistance is an option with many insurance companies to keep you safe.
- Coverage for items inside: While many people skip this form of coverage, it could be helpful in the case of damage and theft. Keep in mind that internal coverage will be much more expensive, but will ensure you get everything back.
Is It Similar For All Towable RVs?
Whether you have a traditional travel trailer or you have a fifth wheel, these forms of insurance will apply. However, insurance is not mandatory in all states, but it is better to make sure that you have some coverage for additional peace of mind.
You should be able to get a similar set of packages for all your towable RVs. Some of the larger and more expensive models might be slightly more expensive, but should still give you all the value you need for peace of mind.
Saving On RV Insurance Cost:
If you don’t want to spend as much on your RV insurance, there are a couple of things you can do. These might not make a massive difference, but they will certainly reduce the cost. Some of them could lead to significant discounts with your insurance:
- Use car insurance to cover your pop-up camper if possible
- Combine insurance of different RVs that you own
- Look for specialized deals at certain times of the year like during school holidays
- Negotiate with the insurer to see if there are any additional benefits you could get
- Increase the safety of your pop-up camper and make sure you have a secure storage area when you are not using it
- Customize your coverage to reduce any needless coverage and make sure only the things you are worried about are covered
Frequently Asked Questions:
There are plenty of questions related to pop-up campers, but we have identified some of them related to the insurance of RVs and trailer tents. If you are still a bit hesitant on whether you should get some insurance, these questions could help you:
- Is Insurance Mandatory For A Pop-Up Camper?
Insurance for your pop-up camper is not mandatory in the United States. However, it will vary from state to state and some states will require you to have insurance. You might also need insurance if you are to get financing for your vehicle.
- Should I Take Standard Or Comprehensive Coverage?
While most insurers will encourage you to take comprehensive insurance for your travel trailer, it is not always needed. It all depends on your driving ability and whether you can keep the travel trailer safe.
Wrap-Up:
Do you have to insure a pop-up camper is a common question among those unfamiliar with the world of insurance and laws. However, you can determine whether you need it by looking at state laws. We would recommend having some form of insurance as an accident can happen at any time. Let us know in the comment section if you have insured your pop-up camper.
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