How much does Class B RV insurance cost?

Van life (or #vanlife if you will) can mean countless different things for different people. It can be a Sambabus with a minimalist west coast style, a Sprinter van with wood paneling and a full kitchen, or anything in between. Class B motorhomes don’t just offer you the freedom to travel the country and live where you want to live, doing what you want to do; they let you express yourself and discover yourself. 

For many, a campervan is a great weekend activity or a way to enjoy a road trip at your own pace without having to worry about finding a hotel to stay in for the night. But with the rise of remote work, it is becoming increasingly feasible to live full time in a van if you want to. But wherever your campervan takes you, you will need insurance to keep it on the road. 

Luckily, Class B motorhome insurance is not the most expensive you can get, with the average policy costing between $500-$1,000 per year. This is cheaper than most Class A or Class C motorhomes, and, in many cases, is even cheaper than car insurance. 

Factors that affect Class B insurance costs

While the easiest way to see exactly how much it will cost to insure a Class B RV is to get a free quote online from Roamly, we’ll go over some of the factors that will impact the cost to insure your campervan.

Factor #1: Your level of coverage

The biggest factor in the price of your insurance policy is the type of coverage that you choose to buy for your campervan. While you’ll need to meet your state’s requirements for liability coverage, the rest is largely up to you.

Liability coverage

Since a campervan is essentially just a car with some added creature comforts, you will have to purchase liability protection to drive your Class B motorhome. 

The only exceptions to this are residents of Virginia and New Hampshire, though Virginia drivers must pay the state a fee if they drive uninsured, and New Hampshire drivers must show that they can meet New Hampshire Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Requirements to pay for damages caused on the roads, typically with a cash bond. 

Liability protection does not cover damages to you or your vehicle; instead, it is there to pay for damages inflicted on other parties in a collision where you are at fault. So, if you cause a crash and the victim has to go to the hospital or their car is totaled, your liability protection will pay for the repairs and medical bills. 

You can also buy different amounts of liability protection. A $100,000 policy will cost you more than a $25,000 policy, so you should check your state’s minimum liability protection requirements when shopping for insurance.

Comprehensive and collision coverage

Adding comprehensive coverage on top of liability protection will likely cause the biggest jump in price to your insurance policy. Comprehensive coverage protects your Class B motorhome from any damage caused to your RV outside of collisions. This means you are protected in the event of fire, hail, fallen trees, theft, vandalism, etc. 

And as the name implies, collision coverage protects your campervan in the case of a collision— regardless of who is at fault. While not required by law, these two coverages are often required by a lender if you are financing your RV.

Medical payments coverage

In the event of an accident, you and your passengers’ medical bills will be covered under this protection. This is very useful if you currently don’t have medical insurance or, in the event of serious injury, if you are taken via ambulance to a hospital outside of your coverage network. This coverage applies regardless of who is at fault for the collision.

Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage

If another driver causes a collision with you but they don’t have liability insurance, or their policy doesn’t have enough coverage to pay your expenses, this policy will help cover your damages. This is also useful to have if you are involved in a hit and run accident where the other driver does not give you their insurance information.

Roadside assistance

Though routine maintenance can prevent many breakdowns, they still happen from time to time. So if you’re driving your Class B motorhome and a tire pops, the battery dies, the engine gives out, or even if you just run out of gas, roadside assistance is there to help you out. Like all insurance, you hope you’ll never have to use it, but if you need it, you’ll be glad you have it.

Contents coverage

In the case of an accident, robbery, or vandalism, content coverage will pay to replace or repair the stuff you keep in your campervan. This can be very useful if you keep big-ticket items in your motorhome such as laptops, cell phones, televisions, and more.

Image via Unsplash

ACCIDENTS HAPPEN

It’s not always smooth sailing on the open road. Learn what you should do if you get in an accident while traveling in an RV.

Factor #2: The value of your campervan

Do you have a top-of-the-line Mercedes-Benz sprinter with all of the bells and whistles or an older model Ram? The value of your vehicle affects how much an insurance company may have to pay out in the event of an accident, therefore it will affect your rates.

Factor #3: How much you use your campervan

This can impact your price in a couple of ways. First off, as a motor vehicle, the more miles you drive your campervan annually, the higher your insurance costs. In the eyes of an insurance adjuster, each mile is another opportunity for an accident to occur that you will file a claim for. So if your campervan is only used occasionally, your rates should stay lower.

On the other end of the spectrum, it’s wise to buy a full-time RV insurance policy if your motorhome serves as your primary residence for six or more months out of the year. This type of policy works similarly to a home insurance policy on top of the other coverage options listed earlier. Full-time RV insurance covers personal liability, medical payments, loss assessment, and emergency expense coverage. It can add to the price of your insurance significantly, but it is worth it if your Class B motorhome truly is your home.

EXPLORE FULL-TIME RV COVERAGE

Are you a full-time RVer wanting to protect you and your home on wheels? We have everything you need to know about the coverage you need in our nifty full-time RV insurance guide. Ready for a quote? We can help you with a full-timer RV insurance quote. 

Factor #4: Where you live

Where you live and keep your RV can have an impact on your insurance costs. Even if you only want liability coverage, different states have different minimum coverage requirements. And within a state, prices can vary depending on the city or neighborhood you live in.

If your area is prone to natural disasters such as floods, wildfires, tornadoes, hurricanes, etc. then you can expect to pay more for comprehensive coverage. Similarly, you can expect to pay more if property crimes such as theft, vandalism, or arson are more common where you live.

Image via Unsplash

GET A PERSONALIZED QUOTE

No two RVs are alike— and neither is the insurance to go with it! Get a quote from Roamly based on your location, your RV, and more. 

Other personal factors

Like car insurance, you can expect to pay higher insurance rates if you have a history of car accidents or a low credit score. Insurance companies see this as an indicator that you are more likely to be in a collision in your motorhome and file a claim for damages. 

Some insurance companies will also charge you more or drop your coverage altogether if you intend to rent out your RV on sites like Outdoorsy. So if you want to make money off of your RV in your downtime, look for a policy from Roamly that always allows you to rent out your RV, and can still save you 25% compared to other options.

Get insured with Roamly

Class B RVs are a great way to explore all of the beauty that the country has to offer, whether you’re going out for the weekend or for the rest of the year. 

Make sure you and your home on the road are protected by insuring your RV. Looking for a great deal on your campervan insurance? Look no further than Roamly. We have policies to fit your needs and your budget, so you can focus on hitting the road!

Cover image via Unsplash