Motor Home / RV Insurance

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Motorhome vs. travel trailer: how the insurance differs

A motorhome (Class A, B or C) has its own engine, so it needs road liability just like a car, plus coverage for the coach and everything living in it. A travel trailer or fifth-wheel has no engine. While it is hitched, liability for a crash generally comes from the policy on the truck pulling it, but the trailer’s own damage, contents and campsite liability need a trailer or RV policy. Telling us exactly which one you own is the first step to the right form.

What motorhome and RV insurance covers

• Liability on the road — for motorhomes, the same bodily injury and property damage protection as an auto policy.
• Collision and comprehensive — crashes, a low bridge or carport, hail, falling branches at a campground, fire and theft.
• Vacation or campsite liability — injury to someone at your parked rig, like a guest who trips on your steps.
• Personal effects — clothes, cookware, bikes and electronics you carry inside.
• Emergency expenses — lodging and transportation when a covered loss leaves the RV unusable far from home.
• Roadside and towing — heavy rigs need a heavy tow, which ordinary auto roadside plans may not cover.
• Full-timer coverage — if the RV is your home, coverage closer to a homeowners policy, including liability that follows you.

What RV policies commonly exclude

Mechanical breakdown and wear, slow leaks and roof rot, mold, and damage while the RV is rented to others through a peer-to-peer platform unless the policy specifically allows it. Living in the RV full time on a policy written for weekend use is a common gap. Tell us how many months a year you are on the road.

What license do I need to drive an RV in California?

The California DMV says a basic Class C license lets you tow a trailer coach or fifth-wheel travel trailer under 10,000 lbs. GVWR, when the towing is not for compensation and the towing vehicle weighs 4,000 lbs. or more unladen. A fifth-wheel over 10,000 lbs. but under 15,000 lbs. GVWR needs an endorsement on the Class C. A noncommercial Class A is required for a fifth-wheel over 15,000 lbs. GVWR or a trailer coach over 10,000 lbs., and a housecar or motorhome over 40 feet (up to 45 feet) needs a noncommercial Class B with endorsement. Source: California DMV, Driver’s Licenses. Carriers ask for length and GVWR, so the class you hold should match the rig.

How much does RV insurance cost?

Motorhomes, travel trailers and fifth-wheels are priced differently, and full-time living is priced differently from weekend use. The main inputs are the RV type, value and length, how many months a year it is on the road, whether you live in it, where it is stored, the drivers and their records, the liability limits on a motorhome, and the deductible. For a towable, the tow vehicle’s auto policy is part of the cost picture too. We quote the rig and the tow setup together.

What we need for an RV quote

• Type (Class A, B or C motorhome, travel trailer, fifth-wheel or toy hauler), year, make, model and VIN.
• Length and GVWR, and the tow vehicle if it is a trailer.
• Purchase price, and whether it is financed or paid off.
• How it is used: weekend trips, seasonal travel, or living in it full time.
• Where it is stored between trips and the ZIP code.
• Every driver, their license class, and their driving record.

Insurance City is an independent brokerage in Stockton. We compare RV and trailer policies from the carriers we represent and check that your tow vehicle’s auto policy and the RV policy fit together without gaps. Call (209) 670-1556 or start below.