Before You Drive Away,
Make Sure You're Covered

Most dealers require a binder or declarations page at pickup. Don't wait until you're at the dealership — get quoted and bound at least 48 hours before delivery.

Insure for agreed value or replacement cost, not just what you paid. RV values depreciate quickly, but total loss claims should reflect what it costs to replace your unit, not what a depreciated payout covers.

Your auto policy covers the tow vehicle, but not the trailer. Your RV policy covers the trailer, but make sure both policies are in force before you hook up and leave the lot.

Recreational use, part-time, and full-time living all require different coverage structures. Full-timers especially need coverage that acts more like a homeowner's policy — not just auto-style liability.

Check all appliances, slides, roof seams, and underbody. Note any pre-existing condition in writing on the delivery paperwork. Insurance covers new damage — not issues that existed at delivery.

Date-stamped photos of the interior, exterior, roof, and any accessories establish a clean baseline if you ever need to file a claim. Takes 10 minutes. Saves enormous headache later.

The RV itself is covered — but what about everything inside it? Clothing, electronics, camping gear, tools, and personal items in storage bays need either a rider or a separate floater on your homeowner's policy.

An RV breakdown isn't like a car breakdown. You need a policy that covers RV-specific roadside, tire and wheel coverage, and lodging if you're stranded — not just a tow to the nearest shop.

Pays your insured amount in full at total loss — not a depreciated figure. Essential for newer or higher-value coaches.

If the RV is your primary residence, you need liability coverage that mirrors what a homeowner's policy would provide.

For newer units: replaces your RV with a comparable new unit rather than paying current market value.

Covers you when parked and using the RV as a temporary residence — campsite liability, visitor injuries, and more.

Aftermarket upgrades — solar, satellite, awnings, generator, hitches — need to be scheduled separately or they may not be covered.

Covers lodging and meals if your RV becomes uninhabitable due to a covered loss — especially important for full-timers.

RVs need specialty coverage. A standard auto endorsement rarely covers agreed value, full-timer liability, vacation liability, or RV-specific roadside assistance.

Insuring a $250K coach for $150K saves you a few hundred dollars a year and costs you $100K at total loss. The math never works out.

Most homeowner's policies exclude vehicles. Even while sitting in your driveway, your RV needs its own coverage for fire, theft, and weather.

Added solar panels, a generator upgrade, a new hitch system, or a satellite dish? Your policy needs to know. Undisclosed upgrades may not be covered at claim time.