Road trip: RV Insurance can be key to surviving camping trips, long hauls

SEATTLE -In spite of high gas prices, many RV owners across the Northwest are gearing up for a long, fun-filled summer on the road. That fun, however, could be short-lived if you experience a loss and do not have the proper RV Insurance.

If you own an RV, NW Insurance Council urges you to take a minute to talk with your agent or company and make sure you are adequately insured before hitting the road. This simple step could save you from a summer's worth of headaches and financial burdens.

"The point of a vacation is to get away from it all," said Karl Newman, NW Insurance Council president. "The last thing you want is the double whammy of having an accident and then finding out you don't have the right insurance on your RV."

Your RV is more than a car and insurance for your RV should reflect that. Usually, RV Insurance will cover more than what your Auto Insurance covers.

NW Insurance Council offers the following tips to help you be sure you have properly insured your recreational vehicle:

• Consider insuring your RV on its own policy, rather than adding it to your auto policy. You keep many items in your RV that you wouldn't normally keep in your car such as furnishings, jewelry, laptops, video recorders and clothing.
• Coverage is available in the event of loss or damage to certain items outside the RV up to 25 percent of the replacement cost.
• You may be liable if someone is injured inside your RV or at your campsite.
• If your RV is damaged while you're traveling, you'll need a place to stay and a way to get there. A standard auto policy may not cover these losses or RV towing, which could cost you thousands of dollars.
• The high value of many RVs and the potential for extensive physical damage from an accident may mean you will need additional coverage. Evaluate the coverage available through your Auto Insurance company. If the coverage is not adequate to meet your needs, explore coverage with a company or agent who writes policies specifically designed for RVs.

For more information on insuring your RV, contact NW Insurance Council at (800) 664-4942 or visit www.nwinsurance.org.

NW Insurance Council is a nonprofit, public-education organization funded by member insurance companies serving Washington, Oregon and Idaho.

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