Who doesn’t love a fun family road trip? Gathering your belongings with the necessities, mapping out your destinations, and pulling out of the driveway are exciting moments for any family vacation. Whether a seasoned traveler or heading out on your first trip, if you’re looking into an recreational vehicle, make sure to include RV insurance with the purchasing process.
RV insurance can be as complex as a homeowners policy so that why if you’re confused and wondering where to start, relax and read the basics of rv insurance:
Liability or Bodily Injury and Property Damage (BIPD)
This coverage is similar to the Liability coverage that your state or local government requires you to carry for your car. Liability covers damages for bodily injury or property damage caused by an accident, for which the insured is responsible. This does not generally cover punitive damages.
Uninsured Motorists and Underinsured Motorists (UM/UIM)
Uninsured motorists coverage reimburses an insured for the amount of bodily injury damages sustained when the at-fault party does not have insurance. This is identical to the kind of coverage that you would have on your auto. Underinsured motorists coverage reimburses an insured for the difference between actual bodily injury damages sustained and the amount of coverage the at-fault party carries up to policy limit’s. This is coverage worth having.
Uninsured Motorists Property Damage (UMPD)
This is similar to UM or UIM coverage, but deals solely with damage to property, rather than bodily injury. This coverage deals with property damage sustained by an insured when the at-fault party does not carry insurance.
Medical Payments
This is insurance for you and your passengers or occupants. It covers the insured, as well as the insured’s passengers, for medical expenses incurred in an accident, regardless of fault. This is additional protection in the case of an accident in which severe injuries are sustained.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
This insurance may be required by your state. It provides medical expense coverage regardless of who is at fault. Some states require that this coverage provide medical benefit’s, work loss benefit’s, death benefit’s and funeral benefit’s in addition to medical expense coverage. If you are unsure whether your state requires this kind of coverage, check your state’s website or speak with a local insurance broker.
Comprehensive or Other Than Collision
This is another type of coverage that is identical to the options available on an auto insurance policy. It provides coverage for damages to an insured vehicle by means other than collision, which can include such things as theft, glass breakage, hail, wind or fire.
Collision
Generally, you shouldn’t carry collision on an older vehicle. However, you might want to carry it on your RV due to the cost of repairs. This coverage also protects you in an at-fault accident. It provides coverage for damages to an insured vehicle caused by a collision with another object.
Vacation (Campsite) Liability
If you are making use of a variety of campsites, you might want to consider this coverage. It provides protection up to your policy limit’s for your legal liability resulting from lawsuit’s if you are negligent while using your RV as a vacation residence.
Hopefully this basic outline of RV insurance assists you in whatever means possible. Enjoy the open road this summer and experience all that is great about America the Beautiful.
