The Ultimate RV Insurance Guide

Posted on May 25, 2021January 23, 2025 by Shield Insurance Agency

The Ultimate RV Insurance Guide

One of the first things a person must consider after purchasing an RV is RV insurance. That said, camper insurance can be a bit confusing and overwhelming. Often, this means an RV owner ends up with insufficient coverage or the wrong type of insurance altogether. This is something that can backfire terribly in the long run.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all there is to know about motorhome insurance, know that you are not alone. In fact, there are so many people looking for information on this very topic that we’ve decided to put together a guide to make things as clear-cut as possible.

What is RV Insurance?

We’ll start at the very beginning by talking a bit about what RV insurance is. As you might imagine, motorhome or travel trailer insurance is a lot like auto insurance (or even homeowners insurance) in a lot of ways.

Essentially, this insurance protects you and your RV should something go wrong while you’re out camping, or when the rig is in storage. That said, there are some key differences between RV insurance and auto insurance or homeowners insurance. Most of these involve the items and events that are covered.

Is this Insurance Required?

You may be wondering if you really need camper insurance at all. The answer? It depends.

The owners of motorhomes of all shapes and sizes must, at the very least, hold liability insurance in order to drive their motorhomes legally. Of course, if you have a loan out on your motorhome, you will probably need to carry much more than just liability insurance—and honestly, this is what we recommend anyway.

If you have a towable RV and you own it outright, you are not legally required to hold any kind of travel trailer insurance policy. However, if you are paying off a loan on the trailer, the lender will likely require you to keep a certain level of insurance until the loan is paid off in full.

It’s also important to note that some campgrounds require campers to have insurance on their RVs. If this is the case, they will request to see valid proof of insurance before allowing you to stay.

Even if you don’t have a loan on your trailer and don’t visit campgrounds that require every camper to have insurance, we still highly recommend holding an insurance policy. Depending on the policy you choose, your insurance could protect you should a person be injured by your trailer. It will also protect your investment should something happen to the camper.

Types of RV Insurance

There are many different types of insurance coverage for RVers. There are policies for motorhomes, which usually include the things you might see on a car policy—bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured motorist, personal injury protection, and so on.

Motorhome policies may be liability only, or they may include collision and comprehensive insurance, so be sure you know what you’re getting before you purchase anything.

Additionally, there is insurance specifically for travel trailers and fifth wheels. These policies can also be full coverage policies or liability only. However, they will not include coverages that involve on-the-road incidents, as these things should be covered by the insurance you carry on your tow vehicle

Finally, we must mention full-time RV insurance. These policies protect those who live in their RVs full-time by covering the possessions in their RV and helping them find a place to stay should their RV be totaled.

As you might’ve guessed, full-time RV insurance is more expensive than typical RV insurance, so you will want to be prepared to pay a pretty penny for such coverage.

What Does the Insurance Include?

Click here for the rest of the story…

5 Road Trip Safety Tips

Posted on June 18, 2020January 31, 2025 by Shield Insurance Agency

5 road trip safety tips for your family

Your family has packed its bags, your gear is in the trunk and you’ve filled a cooler will all the best snacks. But being prepared for a family road trip is more than just what you bring with you – keep these five family road trip safety tips in mind the next time you’re planning a family trip:

1. Schedule a tune up.

Before you hit the road, perform a basic safety check by checking your vehicle’s tire pressure, wiper blades, fluid levels, lights and air conditioning. Scheduling regular maintenance for your vehicle is also important – not only will it help prevent breakdowns, but it can offer peace of mind the next time your family is ready for a road trip adventure.

2. Prepare for a roadside emergency.

A long stretch of highway can lead to the unexpected. If you experience a breakdown during your family trip, make sure you’re prepared to handle a roadside emergency. Have an emergency kit in your vehicle, as well as important phone numbers saved in your contact list. Include your insurance company in case you need to make a claim and check with your auto insurance carrier or car manufacturer to see if they offer on-demand roadside assistance.

3. Buckle up for the road trip!

Safety first – always make sure you and your passengers are buckled up properly, including using child safety seats and booster seats when needed, and that they remain buckled in whenever the vehicle is moving. Children under 13 should always ride in the back seat of a vehicle. Never leave a child or pet unattended in a vehicle, and remember that if the weather is warm, a car can heat up quickly putting your child or pet in grave danger.

4. Share the road.

Warm weather also means different types of vehicles are out on the roads. Remember when you’re driving to watch out for motorcycles and bicycles, too. While they have the same rights to the road as you do, their smaller size makes them much more vulnerable. Remember to allow extra following distance and check your surroundings carefully before turning.

5. Don’t drive distracted.

Lead by example for your family – never drive distracted. In 2017 alone, 3,166 lost their lives to accidents related to distracted driving.

Unfortunately, a family road trip can increase the chances for distraction, so it’s extra important to take precautions and keep your eyes on the road. If you need to check your phone for any reason, pull over to a safe shoulder. Remind passengers of the importance of not distracting the driver while the driver is operating the vehicle. Take time to learn how to break common distracted driving habits.

This also goes for driving drowsy, which can be dangerous. Get a good night’s sleep before a road trip, and make sure to switch driving responsibilities with another driver, if possible, or to stop and rest every few hours.

Road trips are a wonderful way to spend time with family, explore the world and experience new things with those you love. Keep these safety tips in mind the next time you plan a family trip to help your travels run safely and smoothly.

Check out some other blogs about taking road trips!

Is Your Motorcycle Coverage a Perfect Fit?

Posted on September 18, 2019January 23, 2025 by Shield Insurance Agency

Shield Insurance Blog | Motorcycle Coverage | Contact Shield

Not all bikes are the same. Motorcycle Coverage isn’t all the same, either.

Picking good motorcycle insurance is more than just choosing between comp and collision or liability-only. Here are four questions to ask yourself about coverages and options before you switch to a new policy or renew your current one.

1) What is your health insurance Motorcycle Coverage like?

An odd question? Not really, given the big changes we’ve all experienced in the last few years with health care. If you have a high-deductible policy, and need an x-ray or go to urgent care, you’ll likely pay out-of-pocket.

Medical payments coverage (often called “Med Pay”) might be worth considering. The typical $500 limit should be enough to cover smaller medical bills and it does not cost much to bump up to a higher limit.

While you’re at it, you might want to consider uninsured and under-insured motorist (UM/UIM) protection, too. That covers larger medical costs as well as repairs or bike replacement — if you’re left with the bill from an at-fault driver without sufficient insurance.

2) Are you into long road trips?

Whether it’s that bucket-list ride to Sturgis, or just a long-weekend cruise, you’ll want to consider:

Rental coverage – If you can’t ride your bike due to physical damage, your trip isn’t over. This endorsement covers the cost of a rental to finish the trip or get you home.
Travel loss reimbursement – This could coverour room, dinner, and a ride-share after an accident.
Towing and emergency assistance – Coverage for the reimbursement of some of these costs, too.
Trailer coverage – Separate coverage can be added for damage to your bike trailer.

3) Does your wingman have a fuzzy face?

No, we don’t mean your uncle Earl. Coverage for injury to your dog or cat is a newer option you can add.

4) Do you ride year-round?

In much of the country, riding is a seasonal sport. It’s tempting to save a few bucks by canceling your policy when you put your bike under wraps for the winter. But it can still be stolen, vandalized, or damaged. Consider year-round coverage for your bike.