If you love going on road trips, then you might be interested in purchasing a travel trailer - or perhaps you already have one! Either way, you should protect one of your most prized possessions through travel trailer insurance.
There is a common misconception that travel trailers are automatically covered by your auto insurance policy, but this isn’t always the case. Therefore, to safeguard your travel trailer against the risks that come with the road, from theft and vandalism to collisions, trailer insurance is a must.
BrokerLink has auto insurance experts, which means we can help you choose a policy that’s right for you.
Keep reading to learn more about travel trailer insurance, including the types of trailers that can be covered and the specific risks your trailer will be protected against.
What is travel trailer insurance?
Travel trailer insurance is a type of specialty auto insurance. The coverage it provides is very similar to standard car insurance policies, however, it is designed to protect non-motorized travel trailers, such as fifth-wheels, stationary travel trailers, park model travel trailers, truck-mounted campers, and pop-up campers.
Does standard car insurance cover travel trailers?
Many drivers are quick to assume that their standard car insurance policy extends to their travel trailers. The reality is that in most circumstances, your basic car insurance policy offers little to no protection for your travel trailer.
The third party liability coverage included in your auto insurance plan will cover your travel trailer in specific instances, only when it is hooked up to the tow vehicle. However, anytime your travel trailer is parked, it will not be protected.
So if it were to be damaged while in your driveway, your insurance provider would not compensate you for the cost of repairs. Instead, you would have to pay repair costs entirely out of pocket.
Furthermore, if anything else happened to your travel trailer, such as it being stolen or vandalized, your car insurance policy also wouldn’t cover the costs of repairing or replacing it (even if you have comprehensive coverage or collision coverage included in your policy). Therefore, the only way to truly protect your travel trailer is to purchase a separate insurance policy or add an endorsement to your existing policy.
Ultimately, if you regularly hook a travel trailer to the back of your vehicle or have one parked in your driveway throughout the year, you should buy separate insurance for it.
To learn more about travel trailers and auto insurance policies, contact BrokerLink. One of our representatives will be pleased to review your policy terms and provide their professional opinion on whether you could benefit from travel trailer insurance.
Is travel trailer insurance required by law?
No, travel trailer insurance is not required by law in Canada. Since a travel trailer is non-motorized, it does not have the same insurance needs. Therefore, you are legally allowed to use your travel trailer without an insurance policy, so long as it is being towed by an insured and registered vehicle.
Please note that auto insurance is mandatory for all drivers in Canada and the penalties for driving without insurance can be hefty, ranging from tens of thousands of dollars in fines, license suspensions, and even jail time depending on the province.
While not mandatory, it is always recommended that you purchase a specialty policy or endorsement aimed at protecting your travel trailer. Without it, you open yourself up to several unnecessary risks.
To ensure you receive coverage on your travel trailer, no matter how it is being used or what happens, purchase travel trailer insurance.
Types of travel trailers
Many types of travel trailers can be insured. These include:
- Fifth-wheels.
- Pop-up campers.
- Stationary travel trailers.
- Park model travel trailers.
- Truck-mounted campers.
- Hybrid travel trailers.
- Tent trailers.
Depending on the type of travel trailer you own, you may be able to add it to your current home or auto insurance policies. Please note that motorized travel trailers, such as recreational vehicles (RVs) and motorhomes have different insurance needs. Since they are motorized and can be driven to your desired destination, they are considered individual vehicles and need to have their own insurance policies.
The cost of your recreational vehicle car insurance will largely depend on how often you use it, your insurance claims history, and how new and expensive it is.
Why do I need travel trailer insurance?
Without a travel trailer insurance policy or an endorsement added to your current auto insurance policy, your travel trailer will not be protected in a wide range of circumstances. For example, it stops being protected the moment it’s unhooked from the tow vehicle. So if it is damaged or vandalized while parked in the driveway of your home or at a campsite, your car insurance company would not be responsible for any of the associated costs.
In contrast, when you purchase insurance for your travel trailer, you are effectively safeguarding your investment from risk. As you may know, the financial losses that come with vehicle damage can be extensive unless insured. Therefore, drivers need travel trailer insurance to protect themselves from financial ruin.
What are the benefits of travel trailer insurance?
The main benefit of travel trailer insurance is the peace of mind it provides. When you purchase travel trailer insurance, you can rest easy knowing you are protected against a wide range of losses. A few benefits drivers derive from purchasing quality travel trailer insurance are as follows:
- You can feel comfortable storing valuable items in your travel trailer that you would not keep in your cars, such as jewellery, electronics (computers, televisions), or outdoor camping equipment.
- When parked at a campsite, you can rest easy knowing that if someone is injured due to your trailer, you're protected.
- If you have an accident while travelling and your travel trailer is damaged, your insurance provider may be able to provide you with a temporary place to stay while the trailer is being repaired.
What does travel trailer insurance cover?
One of the main reasons to purchase travel trailer insurance is so that you and your trailer will be covered in the event of property damage, bodily injury, theft, vandalism, and more. Just like standard auto insurance, as the policyholder, you get to decide how much coverage and which types of coverage to include with your policy.
The following types of coverage are commonly included in travel trailer insurance policies:
Collision coverage
Collision coverage protects the policyholder should they get into an accident with another vehicle or object on the road. No matter who is at fault for the accident, you can be reimbursed for the cost of repairing a damaged travel trailer.
Comprehensive coverage
Comprehensive coverage, as the name suggests, aims to provide comprehensive coverage to drivers. This type of coverage is useful for protecting your travel trailer from a wide range of unforeseen circumstances beyond accidents (collision coverage protects against accidents).
For example, if you include comprehensive coverage with your travel trailer policy, you and your trailer may be protected against theft, vandalism, water damage, fire, and more.
All perils coverage
All perils coverage combines elements of comprehensive coverage and collision coverage to protect your travel trailer against a wide range of risks. You can also choose specific perils coverage, which will protect your travel trailer against the specific risks listed in your policy.
Examples of perils covered may include theft, fires, water damage, and damage caused by severe weather (lightning, wind, hail, etc.).
Third party liability coverage for travel trailers
In Canada, standard auto insurance must legally include third party liability coverage, no matter which province or territory you live in. The third party liability portion of your policy will protect your travel trailer when hooked up to your tow vehicle on the road. However, it will not protect it when parked. For this reason, we recommend investing in separate liability coverage for your travel trailer.
Accidents happen all the time, and if your trailer resulted in bodily injury or property damage to a third party (someone not listed on your policy), they could file a claim against you. But with third party liability coverage included in your travel trailer insurance policy, you will be protected if a lawsuit is filed against you.
More specifically, this type of coverage can help pay for medical expenses associated with bodily injuries, repairs of damaged property, and any applicable legal fees and settlements up to the coverage limit.
Endorsements
Beyond the coverage types listed above, there are additional endorsements you may wish to include for greater protection. Some of the most relevant endorsement options include:
- Campsite/Vacation Liability: This provides coverage when your travel trailer is parked in a trailer park or campsite.
- Accessories Endorsement: This provides coverage for items attached to your trailer, like satellite dishes, antennas, and awnings.
- Emergency Expenses: This provides coverage in case of an unexpected breakdown or damage to your travel trailer.
- Low Branch Collision: This provides protection against damage caused to your trailer, air conditioning units, or awnings from low-hanging branches.
- Unit in Storage: This provides coverage for trailers, fifth wheels, tent trailers, and campers while in storage.
- Full-Timer Trailer Coverage: This provides coverage for policyholders who live in their travel trailers for most of the year.
- Towing and roadside assistance: This provides coverage if your travel trailer breaks down, for a number of reasons, and you need rescuing.
- Total loss replacement: This provides coverage in the event that your travel trailer needs to be replaced due to a covered total loss.
Are the contents of my travel trailer covered?
No, the contents of your travel trailer are not covered by your insurance policy, just as the contents of your vehicle are not covered by standard car insurance. Similarly, the contents of your travel trailer are usually not covered by your home insurance policy, even if it is parked in the driveway at the time of the incident.
To be sure, we recommend speaking with an insurance expert at BrokerLink. Our advisors are well-versed in both home and auto insurance and can help you understand the coverage your policies include as they pertain to your travel trailer.
Saving time and money on travel trailer insurance
As with other types of insurance, including car insurance, there are several ways to save on your travel trailer policy.
As car insurance experts, BrokerLink can help ensure you never pay more than you have to for travel trailer insurance. We will obtain quotes from Canada’s top insurance providers, unlock discounts on your behalf, and let you in on the industry’s secrets for saving money on car insurance.
For example, you may wish to consider raising your deductible to lower your premium or bundling multiple insurance policies together. Plus, when you work with a BrokerLink insurance broker, we do all the work for you. Not only can we save you money but we can also save you time.
We’ll be working behind the scenes to find a travel trailer insurance policy that’s right for you.
Contact BrokerLink to learn more about travel trailer insurance and receive a free quote
Are you ready to take the plunge and purchase insurance for your travel trailer? BrokerLink has auto insurance experts that will ensure you find the right policy for your needs and budget. We can walk you through your coverage options, explain complicated industry jargon, and most importantly, find the best policy at an affordable rate.
Get in touch by phone or email and one of our insurance advisors will get back to you. You can even visit us in person at one of our many locations throughout Canada. Lastly, we offer free quotes to all Canadian drivers.
Use our online quote tool to request your free travel trailer insurance quote today!
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