What is the need of Travel Trailer Insurance?
If, unlike many people, your dreamland fantasies about a home also include a mandatory set of wheels, then you are most likely thinking travel trailers. But to avoid those dreams turning into rust & debris nightmares, you must consider insurance. Generally, people think that travel trailer insurance is the same as car insurance, but only in few areas of the world is this actually true. Travel trailer insurance has its own particularities which will be explored in detail next.
Of course, a travel trailer is an annex to your car, and will be treated as such by the insurance companies. All factors that weigh in when it comes to car insurance, such as your yearly average mileage, your traffic history and previous offenses, damage claims, and all the rest. Be mindful of these factors as well before you sign an insurance contract.
Probably the first things that you will be asked when you request a quote is what you intend to do with the travel trailer. Will you take it along in trips? Do you intend to live in it? Have you bought it for pleasure or do you intend to make full use of it and, perhaps, drive it along on trips and hikes? The amount of wear & tear that your travel trailer is estimated to go through on average during the insurance period will weigh heavily in your insurance rate.
But do not think for a second that if you only have it in order to live in it within a trailer park is going to get you an exemption. Indeed, if you say you want it or already have it parked in a trailer park, the company will immediately inquire about that park. Well-known trailer parks are always better than small, quasi-unknown parks. The crime rate in the area is another thing to take into consideration, as is the utility accessibility factor. Naturally, well-lit parks, in good and stable areas, with easy access to roads and utility posts, police and ambulance service, as well as factors of desirability (schools, institutional buildings, heavy commercial or entertainment centers) will get your insurance rate far below those accessible to high-risk parks (such as those prone to natural disasters, close to industrial centers or with a high crime rate). Balancing all these factors correctly might not get you an overall advantage when it comes to payment (since areas designated for lower insurance rates typically have higher costs). You will most likely end up paying the same amount of money per month, but always think that this will result in you having a better and more enjoyable life with the same or perhaps a slightly higher amount of money.
Never forget that your trailer’s insurance should not cover only the vehicle itself. Everything that’s in or on it, fixtures, furniture, outlets and fittings and so on, will also have to be covered. True, the bulk of the insurance is basically the vehicle itself, but think that such an insurance will only cover you in case of natural disaster. Otherwise, in case of burglary or theft, consider that the rate of occurrence for these categories of insurance liabilities is one hundred and fifty to one compared to natural disasters. And if you think about it, it’s also quite obvious: it is far easier for a burglar to jock his way in and take a jewel box, a stereo system, an expensive light fixture or even some visible plumbing than to haul the whole trailer away.
To get the maximum out of your policy, also check the following terms: distance coverage – many insurance contracts have a distance clause, meaning insurance rates will go up if the trailer is stationed further away from your home; fixtures coverage – in case you have made additions, or you plan on doing so later, check whether you can include them in the policy as well, it is usually far better than to leave them as it is; furthermore think that some fixtures might actually decrease the willingness of insurance companies to give you a lower rate, having them complain about structural issues or theft desirability; emergency expenses – never sign a contract that does not have a possibility of covering them as well, you never know when you just might be forced to spend the night in the middle of the forest or desert, with only the wolves or coyotes as your neighbors.
Apart from that, never forget to check the small print and the miscellaneous clauses in your insurance contract. They may make the difference is truly unforeseen circumstances.
With these being said, the only thing you need to do now is go and hunt for the best quote than you can find. This is not necessarily the cheapest, but the one that will make you feel safest and best in your home on two/four (or occasionally more) wheels. After all, you will want to be able to call it “Home, sweet home” for good reason.