Recreational vehicles come in all different types and sizes, from multimillion-dollar motorhomes on one end of the spectrum to towable camping trailers on the other. If you don’t plan on living in your RV full-time but want to make your weekend camping trips more comfortable, a camper or travel trailer is a good alternative to consider. Before you hit the open road, however, you’ll want to consider camper insurance.

Questions to Consider When Shopping for Camper Insurance

Do you have a camper or RV?

The first consideration in insuring your camper is finding the right policy. Campers are insured differently from a motorhome or RV, so you’ll need to determine that you do in need have a camper, not an RV or motorhome, before speaking with an insurance agent.

For new travelers, this can be confusing. The simplest distinction is that motorhomes have a motor and are self-propelled while trailers or campers are not. Motorhomes may be permanently attached to a chassis or a van while travel trailers and campers are towed by a vehicle, such as a minivan or pickup truck.

Related: The Difference Between Insuring an RV, Motorhome or Camper

What classifies as a camper? Here is a breakdown of the different models of travel trailers, according to Progressive.

  • Conventional trailers range in length from 12 to 40 feet and are towed by a car or truck with a trailer hitch. They are designed for vacationing and camping and come equipped with a bathroom, kitchen and sleeping area.
  • Fifth-wheel trailers are similar to conventional trailers, but have a raised forward section above a fifth wheel coupling device. They range in length from 21 to 38 feet and are generally mounted to pickup beds. They contain a large living area, cooking appliances, a bathroom and sleeping areas.
  • Mounted truck campers are loaded onto the bed of a pickup truck and range from 18 to 21 feet in length. They sleep up to six people and are good for those who are new to RVing.
  • Pop-up tent trailers have collapsible sidewalls that fold or slide down, making them easy to tow with smaller vehicles. They’re typically less than 12 feet long closed and from 15 to 23 feet when opened. They contain very basic amenities.

Do campers need insurance?

The next item to consider is whether you need camper insurance in the first place. If you’re wondering whether a pop-up camper needs insurance or a small cheap camper needs insurance, the first thing to know is that unlike an RV or automobile, camper insurance is not a legal requirement, though if you’ve taken out a loan to purchase your camper, your lender may require it. Your auto insurance liability coverage will likely automatically extend to your camper while it’s being towed, but you’ll need a separate policy to cover any sort of theft or damage to your camper and its attached accessories, such as satellite dishes and awnings.

Your personal need for camper insurance depends on your risk tolerance. Your risk can depend on factors like how much you spent on your camper, the cost of repairs to a camper like yours and the personal belongings you keep in your camper. Although insurance isn’t required if you own your camper outright with no financing, according to About.com, it is likely one of your larger investments and worth protecting.

Most insurers will also offer a variety of optional coverages, such as campsite/vacation liability coverage for when your trailer is parked and being used as a residence, emergency expenses coverage to pay for lodging if your trailer is damaged far away from home, replacement cost coverage for destroyed or stolen personal belongings, and more

An insurance agent can help you with determining your financial risk and whether a camper or pop-up camper insurance policy would make sense for you. An agent can also walk you through the cost of insuring your camper and the different coverages available, as well as compare quotes for you.

Looking to compare camper insurance quotes? Let us help you! Give one of our insurance advisors a call today at (844) 824-2888.

Is there a difference between insuring a used camper vs. a new camper?

When it comes to insuring a new or used camper, the difference is in the details of your coverage. Since a brand-new camper will cost more, you’ll want higher coverage limits to ensure you’re protected should it be damaged by a covered cause. For a used camper, it may not make sense to even carry coverage for damage and repairs, since the value of the camper may not be much more than your policy deductible.

An insurance agent can help you determine which coverages and limits make sense for your camper and your situation.

How much is camper insurance?

When it comes to insuring your camper, cost is likely a big consideration. Like any type of insurance, the price of a policy can vary widely based on the type of camper you are looking to insure, the coverages your policy includes, your location and more. According to Consumer Affairs, on average a travel trailer policy will cost around $300 per year.

How to insure a camper during winter?

If you live in a place with an on-season and off-season for using your camper, you’ll want to consider how to insure your camper when it’s not in use. It may be tempting to cancel the coverage all together, but that can leave you on the hook for repairs out of pocket if your camper gets damaged while in storage.

There are ways to save when your camper is not in use, such as removing any optional coverages from your policy and raising your deductible. An insurance agent can help advise you on ways to save on camper insurance during the winter without compromising too much.

Wondering how to best scale back coverage for the winter? Call one of our insurance advisors today: (844) 824-2888.

The Bottom Line

If you have a camper or travel trailer, you’ll likely want to consider at least some coverage to help protect your investment in camping fun. As always, a licensed insurance agent is a great resource to help you find the policy that works best for your needs.

Considering insurance for your camper? Compare quotes with one of our expert insurance advisors by calling (844) 824-2888 and see how much we can help you save!

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