Mary Van Keuren

Last updated on Dec 02, 2021

Reviews Report

• American Family, Progressive and National General offer some of the best RV insurance according to our study, earning at least 4 out of 5 Reviews.com score.
• The best RV insurance companies include coverage options that insure personal belongings and customized RV features.
• According to our research, the best RV insurance company for retired RVers may be The Hartford.

Owning an RV means experiencing life on the road or vacation trips across the country. However, like standard cars, RVs still need insurance. RV insurance and car insurance are two different things, and if you own both, you will need two separate policies to be adequately covered. 

To find the best RV insurance companies, we looked at coverage options as well as discounts, financial stability, and customer satisfaction rankings to rate and compare RV insurance companies and help drivers find the best RV insurance rates.

The 5 Best RV Insurance Companies

• American Family: Best RV Insurance for Digital Policy Management
• Progressive: Best RV Insurance for Full-Time RVers
• National General: Best RV Insurance for Coverage Options
• The Hartford: Best RV Insurance for Retired RVers
• Good Sam: Best RV Insurance for Membership Benefits

Information accurate as of July 2021

*J.D. Power 2021 Auto Insurance Satisfaction Study average rating across all regions. Based on a 1,000-point scale.

*J.D. Power 2021 Auto Insurance Satisfaction Study average rating across all regions. Based on a 1,000-point scale.

What Is RV Insurance? 

Just as auto insurance is legally required in most states in the U.S., recreational vehicle (RV) insurance is also required for RV owners to legally operate a vehicle. RV insurance costs tend to be a bit higher than car insurance costs, primarily because of the total worth of the vehicle. However, there are a number of insurers who offer it, and it is possible to find low-cost RV insurance by comparing quotes from multiple providers or leveraging discounts. 

Finding the best RV insurance is similar in many ways to finding the best car insurance. It will require comparing quotes for your coverage requirements, which may include collision and comprehensive coverage, as well as uninsured motorist coverage, and taking into account customer service ratings and policy management options. 

RV insurance may also include Personal injury protection (PIP) or medical payments coverage, depending on whether or not your state requires it, or based on your own level of personal preference. Vacation liability, which is optional, offers financial protection if an accident happens when the RV is being used as a residence. People who live in their RV full time may also need more comprehensive supplemental coverage such as water damage coverage, for example, if there are plumbing issues in the RV’s kitchen.

What Does RV Insurance Cover? 

Although an RV is a cross between a vehicle and a house, RV insurance looks more like auto insurance than homeowner insurance. Your RV insurance coverage will need to include all the required insurance for the state in which the vehicle is registered. This will include liability coverage, and possibly more — such as PIP or uninsured motorist coverage. 

A licensed insurance agent can go over optional coverages and help you customize your policy to suit your situation. If your RV is separate from your towing vehicle, you may need two separate policies for each vehicle. 

Some policies offer a reduced coverage option for when the RV is garaged. For example, if you travel only during the summer months, you may be able to save significantly by switching to lower-cost garaged coverage during the winter. 

If you live full-time in your RV, you may need coverage that looks a little more like homeowners insurance. The best RV insurance companies will likely have coverage that provides protection for the home systems in your RV, such as water and electrical systems. 

Other optional coverages available from your insurer may include coverage for attached accessories such as awnings or satellite dishes, and campsite coverage. You may also want to investigate additional coverage if you routinely travel outside the U.S.

What RV insurance doesn’t cover 

A basic RV insurance policy — with no add-ons, or endorsements — will not always cover things like roadside assistance or safety glass replacement. It may not offer replacement cost coverage, which pays out on claims without considering depreciation. It also typically will not provide vacation liability, which is protection for the premises when the RV is being used as a residence. All of these, however, are usually available as optional add-ons to your policy. 

Your RV policy may not cover alterations and customizations you’ve made on your RV, and you will also need to talk to an agent if your RV formerly was used for another purpose — for example, if you bought a used school bus and renovated it to be used as a mobile residence. 

How to File an RV Insurance Claim 

1. To start an RV insurance claim, you will typically first need to take pictures of any and all damage related to the collision or event. If a police report is filed, obtain a copy, and save any other paperwork related to the event to provide to your insurer if necessary. 
2. Contact your RV insurance company as soon as possible with all relevant information. The more information you can supply, the easier it will be for the insurer to process the claim and reimburse you for repairs and replacements. With some insurance companies, this process can be done on an app, but if not, claims are commonly handled over the phone, or online through the insurer’s website. 
3. Next, a claims representative will be assigned to your case and will serve as your point of contact during the claims process. A damage inspection may be scheduled or an appointment at a recommended repair shop will be made. 
4. Once the claim is approved, the insurance company will either pay the repair shop directly or write a check to you in order to pay the bill. If personal belongings were damaged in the incident, a check or direct deposit into your bank account may be provided, up to policy limits, to replace the items.

RV Insurance FAQ

Methodology 

We evaluated RV insurance companies based on discounts, coverage, online resources, financial strength and customer satisfaction to determine Reviews.com scores and create our best car insurance reviews. To compare car insurance companies with other providers across the board, we calculate each Reviews.com score based on the following:

• Discounts: Auto insurance companies that advertised more discounts received higher scores in our methodology.
• Financial Stability: Reviews.com utilized AM Best ratings to assign a score based on each car insurance company’s financial stability.
• Customer Satisfaction: J.D. Power ranks car insurance companies by customer satisfaction, so we used its 2021 Auto Insurance Satisfaction Study to compare the average rating of insurers across all regions.
• Coverage: Car insurance companies were awarded higher scores for advertised coverages beyond the body liability, property liability, collision and personal injury protection.
• Online Resources: We reviewed the digital resources of each car insurance company and awarded higher scores to insurers with mobile claim estimates, digital insurance cards, and more.

About the Authors

Mary Van Keuren Contributor

Mary Van Keuren has been covering auto and home insurance for Reviews.com for nearly five years, and has published numerous reviews of state-specific insurance trends and how to find the best insurance deals for your money. She earned B.S. and M.A. degrees from Nazareth College in Rochester, N.Y. and has been writing professionally, both in print and online, for 30+ years.

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