If you love long road trips ending in a destination somewhere surrounded by trees and under the stars, an RV or travel trailer is a worthwhile investment. A travel trailer (sometimes called a caravan) is a towed road vehicle that’s incapable of moving on its own. Know that your car insurance typically doesn’t extend to your travel trailer, so finding the best travel trailer insurance is important for protecting your investment.
If you have a trailer and you’ve been using it without insurance, you may be putting your family’s financial stability at risk. Use our guide to travel trailer coverage to compare companies and providers before your next big adventure.
The 3 Best Travel Trailor Insurance Companies:
- Progressive
- Farmers Insurance
- Nationwide
What’s Travel Trailer Insurance?
Travel trailer and RV insurance are similar to car insurance policies in that they protect you against financial liability if your travel trailer causes an accident or becomes damaged during a collision. Trailer-specific coverage may provide compensation if your trailer is damaged in an accident, fire or act of vandalism.
Like car insurance, there are a number of different types of travel trailer coverages. You’ll need to compare policies and assess your individual risk before you choose a policy provider. Not every policy provider offers the same level of coverage, so it’s worth the time to gather a number of quotes and policy offerings before you choose a provider.
How is It Different than Car Insurance?
The main difference between car coverage and travel trailer coverage is that travel trailer insurance is not required by law like auto insurance. Some states, like Michigan, do have laws around owning a travel trailer, but do not set insurance requirements.
As long as your travel trailer does not have a motor and is towable only (class C), you’re not legally required to carry any kind of insurance on your trailer unless you live in it full time. If your trailer or RV is drivable and does have a motor, you’ll need insurance just like you need insurance for your car.
What Travel Trailer Insurance Covers
Just like your auto insurance policy provider offers multiple protection and coverage options, your travel trailer coverage provider will extend a number of optional protections for specific situations.
Some of the most common components of travel trailer policies include:
Liability Coverage
If your travel trailer cannot move on its own and doesn’t have a motor, your auto liability insurance will extend to the trailer. However, if you live in your trailer or you use it for camping often, you may want to expand your liability insurance with an additional policy.
Extended liability policies for travel trailers that double as a second home are often akin to homeowners insurance and provide protection against lawsuits if a guest or contractor is injured in your travel trailer.
Liability coverage also covers medical and auto repair bills for third parties whom you injure as a result of an accident or collision involving your trailer. It doesn’t extend any coverage for you or your trailer.
Collision Coverage
Collision coverage policies provide compensation if your travel trailer is damaged during an accident.
Comprehensive Coverage
Comprehensive coverage policies provide compensation if your trailer is damaged in a way other than an accident. Some of the most common comprehensive coverage claims are for damage from fires, vandalism, animals and severe weather.
Travel trailer policies usually don’t cover damage from normal wear and tear, intentional acts and using your trailer in a way that’s illegal or not suggested by the manufacturer (like in a race).
Travel Trailer Insurance Costs
On average, you can expect to pay anywhere from $180 to $1500 per year for your RV or trailer insurance. While this may seem like a wide range, it makes sense when you consider the following.
The specific amount you’ll pay for RV or travel trailer coverage depends upon a number of factors, including but not limited to:
- How much it would cost to repair or replace your recreational vehicle
- How often you will use your trailer
- Where you live
- The type of coverage you choose
Depending on your plan, you may also have to pay a deductible when making a claim (a set amount of money you'll pay toward repair or replacement costs before your coverage kicks in.)
Travel Trailer and RV Insurance Requirements
As long as your travel trailer is not self-powered and doesn’t have a motor, you aren’t legally required to carry insurance on it.
Your auto insurance’s liability coverage extends to your travel trailer as long as it cannot be driven independently. However, if your RV is driven on the road and is self-powered, you are at least subject to the same minimum liability laws in your state that apply to driving a car.
This means that your auto insurance provider usually covers accidents caused by your travel trailer as long as there isn’t an explicit clause in your contract against coverage for hitched vehicles.
For instance, let’s say that you have your travel trailer hitched to your car, you make a turn too quickly and your trailer jackknifes, rolls over and causes a collision. Under most policies, your liability insurance would compensate the driver who crashed into your trailer for medical bills and damage to his or her car, but it won't pay for the repair or replacement of your trailer.
In sum, the most important thing to keep in mind that though auto liability insurance usually extends to travel trailers, collision coverage doesn’t. If you want any form of compensation for damage to your trailer that occurs during an accident, you’ll usually have to purchase a separate policy.
How to Compare Providers
Choosing a reliable travel trailer coverage company doesn’t have to be difficult. A few qualities you should look for in your insurance provider include:
- Coverage for what you need. Do you need full-time travel trailer coverage or only a comprehensive package? What about roadside assistance, emergency expense coverage or replacement coverage for essentials you keep inside your trailer? The best travel trailer policy providers offer a wide range of packages so you don’t pay for extra insurance you don’t need.
- Bundling deals. If you have a travel trailer, chances are you also own a car, SUV or truck. Look for insurance providers that offer bundling discounts to save more on both your auto and travel trailer insurance.
- Additional discounts. No one wants to overpay for their insurance, no matter what type it is. The best insurance providers offer customers options to lower how much they pay in monthly premiums, including choosing a higher deductible or taking a defensive driving course.
Travel Trailer Coverage Provider Reviews
Farmers Insurance: Best Overall
Whether you use your travel trailer every day or you only take it out on an occasional summer weekend, Farmers Insurance could be an option. In addition to collision and comprehensive coverage, Farmers Insurance also offers a stationary travel trailer program which provides more extensive coverage for campers who live in their travel trailer full time.
The program affords full-time trailer residents protections similar to homeowners insurance, including comprehensive, liability and medical payment coverage for guests who are injured in the trailer. You can even purchase packages that increase protections on a seasonal basis, which can help trailer owners who only live in their travel trailers part-time avoid paying for excessive insurance.
Farmers Insurance also offers a wide range of add-on protections to complement its comprehensive and collision packages. From total loss replacement coverage that provides a brand new replacement if the trailer is destroyed within five years of the policy start date to emergency expense coverage that pays for lodging if the trailer is damaged more than 50 miles from your home, the agents at Farmers Insurance have created a protection for every type of travel trailer owner.
Progressive Insurance
Want to insure an unconventionally shaped travel trailer but don’t want to pay for the excess coverage that’s usually included with residential travel trailer coverage?
Progressive offers a complete selection of custom packages that allow you to only pay for coverage that you need for your model of travel trailer. For example, Progressive offers unique packages specifically for horse trailers and pop-up tent trailers that cut full-time residential liability protections.
Progressive insures both trailers and motorized RVs along with a host of other essential insurance packages so you can save by bundling your travel trailer, RV, homeowners, auto or other type of insurance together.
Bundling isn’t the only way to save. Progressive also offers a complete menu of discounts that extend beyond additional protection purchases. Through Progressive, you can get a discount on your insurance by getting a quote at least one day before your policy begins, maintaining a safe driving record and even going paperless and opting for online statements and claims documents.
Progressive also offers a unique disappearing deductible policy that subtracts 25% from your deductible for every claim-free period on your policy, all the way down to $0.
Read Benzinga's full Progressive Auto Insurance Review
Nationwide
Nationwide is one of the largest insurance providers in the United States and offers customers a complete range of additional discounts. You’ll probably be eligible for at least one even if you don’t have a current Nationwide policy.
Some ways you can secure a trailer policy discount include staying accident-free for at least 36 months, coming to Nationwide with a claims-free record, attending an approved RV safety course and being a member of an RV club like the National RV Association.
Nationwide’s basic RV protections are complete and comprehensive and can be customized to suit travel trailer owners and those who live in their trailers seasonally with add-ons. Though Nationwide does not currently offer insurance services to residents of every state, its large network and expansive coverage options have earned Nationwide a spot among the best travel trailer coverage providers.
Get Coverage Today
Though insuring your trailer is important, the insurance company you choose will dictate how much protection you receive. Before you choose an insurance provider, take time to speak with a few competing agents and shop around for quotes.
Most insurers allow you to get a quote for your home, auto or travel trailer policy online, and collecting multiple quotes is the best way to make sure you get the most affordable coverage possible.
Do I have to have insurance for my trailer?
Typically, no, you’re not required by law to carry a separate policy for your travel trailer unless it is self-powered and you can drive it on the road. That being said, having coverage is a wise move — it will help protect your investment and keep you and your family on the open road.
Does my auto insurance cover my trailer?
Yes, but with some caveats: your trailer has liability coverage through your standard auto policy while it’s hitched to your car. But theft, repairs and damage aren’t covered. For that type of coverage, you’ll need a standalone or bundled policy.
About Sarah Horvath
Sarah Horvath is a highly respected freelance senior copywriter specializing in insurance content. With a wealth of experience, she is recognized as one of the top insurance copywriters in the industry. Sarah’s expertise encompasses various aspects of insurance, including home warranties, life insurance, health insurance, and more. Her insightful articles and guides are regularly featured on major finance sites, providing invaluable information to readers seeking to navigate the complexities of insurance policies. Known for her clear, concise writing style and comprehensive understanding of insurance products, Sarah is dedicated to empowering individuals with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their insurance coverage.