Trailer Insurance?

[wohlers2]

Hi all,

We've decided camping (particularly pop-up camping!) is a great plan for our family - rented two different pop-ups first to make sure it would work out, and now we're ready to jump into ownership.

We found a very gently used '05 Starcraft 3606 (I really wanted a 2007 Niagara, but the Starcraft is costing us roughly half the price of a new Niagara), which we'll be picking up next week.

My auto/homeowner's insurance company says they can add the pop-up to our auto policy for somewhere between $30 and $60/year depending on our deductible. My question is, is that the best plan? For our boat (which we're selling to fund the pop-up purchase), we had specialized boat insurance through BOAT/US. Is there an RV/camper equivalent that would provide better, more specialized coverage than just an auto insurance company that really doesn't know anything about campers?

What do you folks do for trailer insurance?

Thanks!

[fritz_monroe]

We have insurance on our pup through Progressive.  Don't get the policy directly from them.  When we bought the insurance, we got a price from them, then I went to one of the insurance brokers and their price was less than half the price.

It will be more expensive than putting it on your auto insurance.  But my policy covers other things that the auto policy or home owners policy don't cover.  Like full replacement coverage in event of accident.

[AustinBoston]

While I largely agree with fritz_monroe, you want the same insurance company (not necessarily the same policy) to cover both.  Insurance companies will sometimes refuse to pay legitemate claims, saying it is covered by the other company's policy.  If they are the other company, there's no point in them trying that.

Depending on the need, our trailer is covered by our auto policy, it's own policy, and our homeowner's policy.  They are all through the same company.  (This also gets us a significant discount on our homeowner's policy).

But as far as price is concerend, it is impossible to compare notes on the internet and have it mean anything.  There are many variables in vehicle insurance, including things like driving records, zip code, and age of vehicle.  There's just no way to compare.

Austin

[cyclone]

Separate policy for the camper here - same agent as the auto and home insurance is with.

[naganthunter]

Insurance companies will sometimes refuse to pay legitemate claims, saying it is covered by the other company's policy.  If they are the other company, there's no point in them trying that.

Austin

Sorry, but I will have to respectfully disagree with that.  Any reputable insurance company would do nothing of the sort.  What often does happen is that people have inappropriate coverage for the RV (ie on an auto policy) or think that the policy should cover items that break due to negligent maintenance on the part of the owner.  I'm not sure what your specific problem was with the claim that you filed, but it sounds like yours is the exception, rather than the rule.

Anyways, do NOT, do NOT, do NOT add your trailer to your auto policy - unless they provide a SPECIFIC endorsement for RV's that covers things such as:
- Vacation Liability: This will protect you in the event some moron falls in your
                           campfire or something similar and tries to sue you.  It's
                           cheap, so go for the sky on it.
- Emergency Expense: God forbid you're stuck in the middle of no where getting
                               your camper fixed - this will cover your temporary
                               living expenses
- Personal Effects Coverage: This is a biggie most auto policies will never cover.
                                        In most auto policies, if it ain't bolted to the car,
                                        it ain't covered.  Personal Effects coverage will
                                        pay you back for all that stuff you went to
                                        WalMart and the .99cent store to outfit your
                                        camper.
- Comprehensive and Collision with Total Loss REPLACEMENT
   - this is a good thing to have!  For the first few years (I think my policy is
      for 5) if your camper gets totalled due to an accident, fire, theft, or other
      covered loss, you will get a new camper.  After that time, the policy reverts
      back to a standard "actual cash value" type of replacement.

I'm sure that there are others I'm missing, but that's what I can remember off of the top of my head.

Your best bet is to find a company with a policy that is SPECIFIC to RV's.  This shows you that they understand the industry, and more importantly they have a good working knowledge of how to handle the things that are unique to an RV claim.

I have my policy with Progressive (a specific RV policy) and maxed out all of the coverages with $500 comp/collision deductibles and came out with a $177 yr policy.  That's pretty darn cheap.

Shop it around online, or find an RV magazine (there are often ads in those for insurance agents that write with many companies who can give you great advice).

Good luck, and happy shopping!

[AustinBoston]

Sorry, but I will have to respectfully disagree with that.  Any reputable insurance company would do nothing of the sort.

Then there are no reputable insurance companies, because they all do it.  While the auto insurance industry is one of the best at paying claims, they still will occasionally refuse to pay just to see if they can get away with it, or get someone else to pay.

The medical insurance field is downright evil in this regard.  I had a client that produced medical devices designed for implant (think pacemakers), and would cover any unreimbursed expenses related to device replacement.  They had documented thousands of situations where patients who should have paid a $50 copay were being billed $50,000-$200,000 because the insurance company simply refused to pay.  In virtually every case, a review of the insured's policy showed the insurance company was liable.  In the majority of these cases, the insurance company was eventually forced to pay.  Based on the number of patients having their devices replaced, the company estimated that as an industry, medical insurance rejected between 6% and 7% of all legit. claims in the first round.

In the auto insurance world, it is probably less than 1%, but it still happens.

Austin

[dcampbell1969]

We went with Progressive, separate policy and separate company from our auto insurance.  Like Fritz says, lots of extra coverages that our regular company wouldn't provide and its a lot cheaper, belive it or not.

[smoecamping]

I would recommend/advise that you carry your pu insurance with the same company as your vehicle. This is just a precaution as some car policies may extend from point A to B, and your pu policy may extend from D to E. Usually carrying these with the same company insures point c is covered.
Depending on the company you are with, your liability from your car will extend to the pu while attached to the vehicle. PU policy provides physical coverage's to the pu.
As far as claims, there are so many "odd stories" that you hear that photos, ect are you best defense in taking care of any kind of claim. 98% of well established companies will handle 60% of all pu claims on the spot. The other 40% of claims are usually the ones you read about in the "Darwin Awards". (Stupid acts that result in studip deaths/injury)
Also, many companies offer multi-line discounts for having more than one type of policy with them. This may save you money on other policies if you keep everything with one company. Also, knowing your agent helps in filing claims as they will know you and know that you aren't "shady".
Good luck with your new camper...
Sara

[bud121156]

http://www.foremost.com

[dcampbell1969]

I would recommend/advise that you carry your pu insurance with the same company as your vehicle. This is just a precaution as some car policies may extend from point A to B, and your pu policy may extend from D to E. Usually carrying these with the same company insures point c is covered.
Depending on the company you are with, your liability from your car will extend to the pu while attached to the vehicle. PU policy provides physical coverage's to the pu.
As far as claims, there are so many "odd stories" that you hear that photos, ect are you best defense in taking care of any kind of claim. 98% of well established companies will handle 60% of all pu claims on the spot. The other 40% of claims are usually the ones you read about in the "Darwin Awards". (Stupid acts that result in studip deaths/injury)
Also, many companies offer multi-line discounts for having more than one type of policy with them. This may save you money on other policies if you keep everything with one company. Also, knowing your agent helps in filing claims as they will know you and know that you aren't "shady".
Good luck with your new camper...
Sara

ACtually it would have been quite a bit more for me to stay with my primary insurance provider and the coverage would have been less.

[naganthunter]

The medical insurance field is downright evil in this regard.Austin

That I'm not going to disagree with - I will say though that comparing medical insurance companies to auto insurance companies simply isn't an apples to apples comparison!