Travel trailer insurance is a special type of insurance coverage designed to cover damage to a recreational trailer you tow behind your car or truck. Pop-up campers, fifth-wheels, and slide-on campers — basically anything without its own motor is considered a travel trailer.
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Depending on your insurance company, travel trailer insurance can either be an add-on (or endorsem*nt) to your existing car insurance policy, a standalone policy, or a separate type of RV policy.
Key takeaways
Pop-up campers, fifth-wheels, and slide-on campers are all examples of travel trailers.
When you are hauling your travel trailer, it is usually automatically covered by the liability coverage in your regular car insurance policy.
But the liability coverage in your regular policy doesn’t cover damage to your travel trailer or its contents.
Drivers who want coverage for the travel trailer itself will need to get additional coverage, either as an endorsem*nt or a separate policy.
Do you need travel trailer insurance?
Yes, you probably do. As long as you tell your car insurance company about your travel trailer and it is listed on the declarations page of your policy, your travel trailer is covered under your liability coverage whenever you’re towing it.
But liability coverage is only one part of an insurance policy, which means if you have a travel trailer, you will need to purchase additional insurance to protect the trailer itself from damage that can happen in a car accident or while it’s parked.
That’s where travel trailer insurance comes in. It’s a special kind of coverage for trailers you tow, and will cover things like fire, vandalism, damage from things like bumping another car in traffic or rolling into a tree.
If you financed your travel trailer you may be required to have travel trailer insurance under the terms of your loan. Since travel trailer and RV loans typically have extended loans of 10 to 20 years, you’ll need to be prepared to have travel trailer insurance for a while, possibly even longer than you need to have full coverage on the car or truck you use to tow it.
Is travel trailer insurance different from RV insurance?
Yes, it can be — travel trailer insurance is meant to cover trailers you have to hook up to your vehicle to tow, while RV insurance usually covers drivable motor homes, which have the same state-by-state minimum insurance requirements as other vehicles. Some insurance carriers may list RV and travel trailer insurance as one product, and then ask you to specify whether your RV is a motorhome or a towable travel trailer when you’re applying.
➞ Learn more about the best insurance for RVs
What does travel trailer insurance cover?
Like with auto insurance, travel trailer insurance breaks down into different types of coverage.
But unlike your regular auto insurance policy, travel trailer insurance often covers things like replacing items that were damaged or stolen from your trailer, as well as liability coverage specifically for damage to a campsite or another location where you’ve parked your trailer.
Liability coverage
When it is being towed, your travel trailer is covered under your liability coverage on your auto insurance policy for any damage you cause to another driver or their vehicle.
Comprehensive coverage
Comprehensive insurance covers damage to your travel trailer that can happen while it’s not being towed, like damage from fire, wind, theft, vandalism, hail, flood, and other extreme weather. Also covers impact with an animal.
Collision coverage
Collision insurance covers damage to your travel trailer from a collision or accident, no matter who was at fault, so if you misjudge the size of your trailer and accidentally back it into a tree, collision coverage will pay to repair the dents and scrapes.
Emergency expense coverage
Pays for lodging and transportation for you if your travel trailer is damaged and becomes unusable more than a certain distance from your home, so you’re not stuck paying for a motel room after an accident.
Campsite/vacation liability
Covers up to a certain amount for bodily injury and property damage that occurs in and around your travel trailer when you’re using it on a vacation.
Roadside assistance
Just like with regular car insurance, this covers services for when you’re stuck on the side of the road, like towing, tire changes, fuel delivery, jumpstarts, and locksmiths.
Replacement cost coverage
Covers the loss — up to a certain limit — if personal items in your travel trailer are stolen or damaged. So if a kitchen fire destroys your appliances or someone sneaks in while you’re out and steals a television, you’ll be reimbursed by insurance.
Total loss replacement coverage
If your travel trailer is totaled, this coverage pays to replace it with a brand new one. This may be an important coverage for families with newer or expensive campers and trailers.
Full-timer coverage
If you use your travel trailer as your permanent home, this gives you coverage similar to what you would get from a homeowner’s policy.
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What’s a car insurance endorsem*nt?
A car insurance endorsem*nt is an addition to your car insurance policy that changes your coverage. An insurance endorsem*nt can add extra coverage, make changes to your policy, or widen the scope of your coverage. Endorsem*nts may also be referred to as riders.
How much does travel trailer insurance cost?
Just like standard car insurance, the cost of travel trailer insurance will vary based on a number of factors, including your driving record, the type of travel trailer you purchase, and which insurance company you choose.
USAA offers insurance for a pop-up campers for as little as $125 per year (though the cost can be significantly higher for something bigger and more expensive) while the average cost for travel trailer insurance through Progressive in 2020 was $502 per year.
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How to save money on travel trailer insurance
Just like any insurance coverage, the cost for travel trailer insurance varies significantly from one company to the next. There are multiple ways to save money on your travel trailer insurance, including:
Comparing quotes: The best and easiest way to save money on your travel trailer insurance is to compare quotes from multiple companies to make sure you are getting the best rate.
Getting discounts: You can also save money by taking advantage of any available discounts. For example, you may also be eligible for other discounts, like employer group discounts, customer loyalty discounts, and good driver discounts.
Bundle your policies: You may be eligible for a bundling discount if you purchase multiple coverages (like home, auto, and travel trailer coverage) from the same insurance company.
Which companies offer travel trailer insurance?
Most car insurance companies offer coverage for a variety of vehicles, from regular cars and trucks to recreational vehicles like boats, ATVs, RVs, and travel trailers, but each insurance company approaches travel trailer insurance in a different way.
Here are some of the top insurance companies that offer travel trailer insurance:
Company | Travel trailer coverage | |
Allstate | Covers travel trailers under RV coverage; breaks benefit down into towable RVs and motorized RVs | |
GEICO | Offers travel trailer insurance for conventional travel trailers, fifth wheel travel trailers, folding camper trailers, and truck campers | |
Farmers | Separates travel trailer insurance from similar coverage, like fifth wheel insurance and motorhome coverage | |
Nationwide | Covers travel trailers, fifth wheels, and motorhomes under RV coverage | |
Progressive | Covers travel trailers, destination trailers, and campers under RV coverage | |
State Farm | Covers travel trailers separate from RV insurance for motorhomes that can be driven | |
Travelers | Does not offer coverage for travel trailers or RVs | |
USAA | Offers coverage for travel trailers under their RV policy, with different categories for travel trailers, motor homes, pop-up campers, slide-on campers, and fifth wheel trailers |
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Frequently asked questions
What kind of insurance do you need for a camper?
A camper or trailer being towed by your vehicle is covered under your liability insurance, but you will need to purchase separate comprehensive and collision coverage through a rider specifically designed for campers. This may include additional coverage, such as campsite liability coverage or full-timer coverage, in addition to standard full coverage benefits.
Is a camper covered under homeowners insurance?
Homeowners insurance would only cover a camper or trailer if it is parked inside your garage and damaged by a covered peril. Homeowners insurance won’t offer any coverage for your trailer when it is off the property, so you’ll need to purchase auto insurance with a rider to cover your travel trailer.
Is water damage covered by travel trailer insurance?
Yes, water damage is covered if you buy comprehensive coverage for your travel trailer.
What is the average insurance on a travel trailer?
While comprehensive and collision coverage are standard benefits on almost every travel trailer policy, every insurance company has its own unique approach to insuring a camper or trailer. You may find different benefits available at different companies, so it is important to compare quotes on multiple policies to make sure you are getting the right coverage for your needs.
