One of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to RV insurance is, “Why can’t I just use the company I’ve been with for years?” It’s a good question. There is definitely something to say for loyalty and history with a company. Good past experiences may lead you to believe that continuing to deal with them is the best choice. But before you make the final decision consider the fact that RVs are a different animal that automobiles. Make sure you know what is available in terms of RV insurance before you opt to go with your general auto insurance policy’s suggested additional coverage. It’s easy to get online and access online RV insurance quotes in order to have a bit of knowledge before you jump in without any idea where you might land.

One of the best things about getting online RV insurance quote is that they’re fast. Many online RV insurance companies can offer you a valid quote in minutes. Which is great because once you’ve got your new RV you’ll want to get it on the road…and not have to wait around to hear back about your RV insurance quotes!

Another great thing (although the speed of the quote delivery is DEFINITELY the best) is the ease with which you can use the online quotes you receive to compare policy and coverage specifics. Most RV Insurance companies will quote you using a variety of coverage options (from a truck camper to the elite Class A’s). You’ll be able to pick and choose which suits your needs and provides the coverages you’re looking for.

If you’re still leaning towards building on the history and loyalty you have with your current auto insurance provider you now have quotes and coverage details to have on hand when you discuss the possibilities with them. You’ll know if their recommended coverage is comparable (in coverage and cost) to those recommended by the RV insurance companies you accessed online. Make sure to pay attention to what is covered by their recommended policies because more often than not there are some important aspects of the RV that are overlooked by general insurance company policies (like the awnings and the slideouts). And make sure that you ask about personal injury claims coverage for visitors to your RV. Also consider how much time you’ll be spending in your RV. The more time you spend in your RV the more important it is that you get an actual RV insurance policy.

Another great thing (probably even better than the speed of the quote) is that the online quotes are free. You can access as many different RV insurance companies as you’d like and get a wide array of applicable information for absolutely no money. You don’t have to receive any phone calls. You don’t have to discuss the details or the quotes with an agent. And you don’t have to accept their quotes and sign up for a policy. Although…signing up for a policy online is almost as easy as requesting a quote!

When you purchase an RV you should immediately be considering a couple other purchases as well: RV insurance and an extended warranty. Neither is required with the purchase of a recreational vehicle, but both are smart moves that go a long way toward protecting what is typically a pretty big investment. When considering purchasing RV insurance to protect the investment you’ve made in your new RV there are always a lot of questions. Some of the most obvious (and frequently asked) questions are:

1.    Where do I get RV insurance? Some general insurance companies offer RV coverage, but working with a company that deals specifically in RV insurance means you’ll be able to work with plans and coverages specific to RVs. Reputable dealerships will be able to refer you to a insurance company you can work with or you can easily find and request a quote online from a variety of RV insurance companies. You’ll need to provide basic vehicular information (i.e. make, model and year as well as purchase price). Most online quotes are processed immediately.

2.    Why can’t I just add the RV to my auto insurance policy? The answer to this one is a bit dicey…you can, but it’s not typically recommended. A motorized RV can be added to regular automobile insurance (towables and campers are not eligible for traditional auto insurance coverage), but any parts of the RV that are exclusive to the recreational vehicle won’t be covered (for instance slideouts and awnings). Working with a reputable RV insurance company means you’ll have insurance coverage that actually covers the whole deal; your entire RV from front to back. It also provides the necessary coverage that takes care of the necessities if there is an injury involving your RV.

3.    How long does it take to get RV insurance set up? It depends who you work with, but online applications (as mentioned previously) are very fast. Quotes are typically received in less than a minute and full applications can easily be processed in minutes.

4.    How do I know how much and what kind of coverage to purchase? We recommend working with a company that offers full coverage; that way you’re covered no matter what occurs. Also look into the cost of adding total replacement coverage. With total replacement coverage new RVs (less than 5 years old and still in the hands of the original owner) are replaced with another new, comparable RV. Total replacement coverage also works with used RV purchases depending upon an agreed upon value to be used for coverage in the case of a total loss.

5.    Which types of RV are insurable? RV insurance companies will ensure your RV…no matter what type of RV you own.

6.    What’s the difference between RV insurance and an extended warranty? Extended warranties cover mechanical problems, issues with included appliances and such…things that aren’t covered by insurance. Time periods for extended warranties can range from 1 to 7 years. Extended warranties work in tandem with RV insurance to ensure that your vehicle is fully covered and you won’t have to deal with any crushing, surprise expenses.

The state of the general economy has everyone looking for ways to cut back. But when it comes to insurance coverage for your RV, ensure you have the coverage that you need. One way to save on RV insurance cost is to compare costs online. There are definitely reputable RV insurance companies that offer discounted rates without compromising on the coverage. Just know what you’re looking at in terms of your coverage so you’ll notice when something important is missing from a proposed package. Just remember; letting the additional cost of RV insurance scare you away from signing up for a policy to protect your investment is one of the worst moves you can make as a new (or old) RVer!

Get online to compare rates. You can get in touch with several different companies in a short amount of time. You’ll have prices, and coverage details listed out clearly so you can compare and contrast what each company is changing and which coverage is actually giving you the best protection for your money. Select your top few RV insurance companies, but don’t actually buy anything yet!

In many cases, consumers looking at RV insurance haven’t yet made their purchase. This is the perfect time to consider buying RV insurance (it’s the perfect time to consider purchasing an extended warranty as well). It’s the perfect time because you haven’t yet locked in a payment for your RV. Take the cost of your insurance and the cost of your extended warranty and include it in the proposed cost of the RV you are looking to buy. That way you’ll be able to control your spending so that it fits nicely within your budget. Too often people purchase as MUCH RV as they can at the outset and don’t take into account the additional costs of owning an RV and they end up overextended. And it’s far more fun to enjoy your new RV is you’re not stressed out about the additional costs.

If you find yourself questioning the additional cost of RV insurance and wondering if you can do without…stop! All you need to do is consider just how much money you are investing in your purchase and consider losing it to one bad move on the road or one bad tire or one bad weather anomaly that was out of your control. People often feel more comfortable adding their new RV to their current auto insurance plan. And fairly often…this is a possibility open to RV owners. But it’s not the best possibility. RV insurance offers more thorough coverage in comparison to auto insurance coverage when it comes to recreational vehicles for obvious reasons. It was designed with your vehicle in mind rather than using coverage designed for a different type of vehicle altogether. Costs are generally close when comparing auto insurance and RV insurance coverages on your RV so going with the one that provides more comprehensive coverage for your vehicle is the obvious way to go!

When deciding between full coverage or liability there are a few things to consider. Full coverage obviously provides a much more extensive coverage for your vehicle. It can even include a full replacement of a totaled vehicle. Full coverage through RV insurance will cover damage that might occur to your awnings (sadly…it happens fairly often), your slideouts or anything else on your RV. You’re even covered against injury to visitors that occur involving your recreational vehicle. It’s like a combination auto/home insurance coverage.

Nobody likes wasting money; especially when money is tight. But RV insurance just isn’t one of the things that you can cut out of your budget. It’s not a movie membership that you can cancel and not experience any negative consequences. To make it more palatable to your budget carefully research the best rates and best coverages online before you make your final decision. If you know what’s available and how much it costs before you talk to anyone or sign any paperwork you’ll be able to feel comfortable that you’re getting the best deal out there. And you’ll be covered!

You’ve made the investment. You’ve signed on the dotted line. The RV is your’s. You are an RV owner. Not only have you made a monetary investment, but you’ve just made an investment of time. Because RV maintenance is something that needs to be performed on a regular basis in order to keep your RV in good shape and functioning properly. You’ll need to conduct preventive maintenance (checking for wear and tear, etc.), scheduled maintenance (oil changes and more) and emergency maintenance (repairs, etc.) Performing all the necessary maintenance will ensure that heading out on the open road in your RV is always a pleasant experience.

Preventive maintenance is one of the most thankless forms of maintenance. It’s performing upkeep before anything is wrong. It seems a bit unnecessary until you ignore the need for it and realize just how many things preventive maintenance actually prevents! You’ll need to check your fluids, check for leaks, check your tires for unusual wear and tire pressure, and simply keep your vehicle orderly and clean. In hot climates particularly you’ll want to frequently look at hoses and belts to make sure the heat hasn’t resulted in any cracks. If performing these simple duties enables you to avoid one tire blow out or one fire caused by a gas leak…it’s worth it.

Now…your RV isn’t just a regular car. It’s a home on wheels. So you need to perform preventive maintenance on the interior as well. Make sure you check the appliances. Regularly look into the plumbing and electrical systems to make sure everything is functioning smoothly. It could very well avoid big dollar repairs down the road.

Scheduled maintenance is a different animal altogether. You’ll find that most manufacturers provide a guideline or list of suggested scheduled maintenance for their vehicles in order for it perform at top levels and to avoid voiding the warranty. Scheduled maintenance includes: oil changes, air filter changes, fuel filter changes, transmission checks, tune-ups, tire alignment, tire rotation, etc.

Emergency maintenance is just that. It’s maintenance that is performed out of immediate necessity or emergency. This could be in regards to a blowout or a broken belt, etc. Regardless of how carefully regulated you are in performing your preventive and scheduled maintenance on your vehicle eventually you’ll need to perform maintenance out of dire need. It’s the nature of the beast. No machine runs perfectly all the time. There are bound to be mishaps on the road. Make sure that any emergency maintenance is performed by a professional. If someone attempts to perform repairs without the proper knowledge further problems could result and your vehicle’s situation could worsen.

Many RVers are part time or seasonal. If this is the case don’t let “storage periods” disturb your maintenance schedule. Run through a checklist of items that should be checked before storing and then run through a similar list when it’s time to pull it out of storage. Maintenance needs still occur when vehicles are in storage.

But whether you’re a part timer or a full timer…you’ll enjoy your RV more if you keep the maintenance in hand. And you’ll save a lot of money by keeping it running smoothly. Emergency maintenance needs are drastically lowered by actually fulfilling the scheduled maintenance on time and by doing your part with preventive maintenance.

When you own an RV it’s only smart to also have RV insurance coverage. By getting RV insurance you are protecting yourself from a potential loss if something were to happen to your recreational vehicle without coverage (think of it as protection on your investment). RVers in the know prefer RV insurance coverage over traditional automobile coverage on their recreational vehicle for a few obvious reasons. Most general auto insurance companies don’t provide coverage for these items that are specific to recreational vehicles; their coverages are designed for the every day car and just don’t extend to covering the RV to its full extent. So RVers who opt for coverage through their general auto insurance company almost always end up with out of pocket costs. Consider some of the more typical claims that are made on RV insurance by RVers just like you before you decide which coverage you want protecting your investment.

1.    Fire: fires in RVs are usually due to gas leaks. RVs (in general) have a gas tank (propane or LP) for running appliances and providing heated water, etc. Even a small leak in the tank or hose creates immediate fire danger. It’s one of the most vital maintenance tasks RVers should never avoid; check for leaks at least once a year.

2.    Tires: blown tires are a common problem for both RVs and automobiles. But RVs are larger than automobiles and carry a higher risk of problems resulting from a blowout like skidding or rolling. It’s a big reason supporting the need for proper insurance coverage, but more than that…it’s a big reason to check your tires for wear and tear that could lead to a blowout on a regular basis. Don’t use up your tires before replacing them. Stay safe by replacing tires before they become a hazard on the road.

3.    Pests: Pests become a problem mostly when RVs are in storage. RV insurance coverage can be accessed to cover any damage that has been done by pests (mice, etc.) while your RV was in storage, but to avoid the problem altogether…make sure that any openings are securely closed, fastened or covered and clean the RV thoroughly before vacating. (Pests are looking for food when they enter your stored RV…if there are no crumbs or remains to be found they’ll venture somewhere else).

4.    Awnings: Awnings are a popular feature for many RVers. Partly due to their high usage awnings are also damaged fairly often. Their position on the side of the vehicle leaves them vulnerable to damage by direct contact with obstacles (trees, etc.) A general rule of thumb to avoid damage as much as possible is to put the awning away when it’s not in use. Always put them away when wind is high and during rain set the awning up with one corner lower than the rest so that water can drain instead of collecting on top and creating a massive weight for the awning to carry.

Most experienced RVers suggest having specialized RV insurance. It’s quick and easy to get quotes from several different companies (because we all want the very best deal) and you can also easily compare coverage options. That way you’ll know that you purchased your peace of mind at the best price on the market! And that makes RVing even more fun! Enjoy your next trip!