I was sitting in a campground in Oregon when I opened the email notification on my phone: “Claim Denied – Policy Voided.” After a minor fender bender in a parking lot, the automated claims adjuster flagged my GPS history, noted I hadn’t been to my “home address” in six months, and categorized my usage as “Full-Time Residence” rather than “Recreational.” I was left with a wrecked bumper and a notice that I had been paying premiums for two years on a policy that effectively didn’t exist.
Key Takeaways
- The 30-Day Rule: Many standard auto policies attached to vans classify anything over 30 days of consecutive use as “residential,” not recreational.
- GPS Telematics are Snitches: In 2026, carriers use your app data and mileage logs to prove you aren’t just “vacamping” on weekends.
- “Full-Timer” is a Specific Product: You cannot just buy auto insurance for a van you live in; you need a dedicated Full-Timer endorsement or a specialized RV policy.
- Retroactive Denial: If they catch you, they don’t just deny the current claim; they can rescind the policy back to the start date, refund your premiums, and leave you legally uninsured for the accident.
The “Why” (The Trap)
The trap is the “Usage Definition” Clause.
When you buy a policy online from a major carrier, there is a checkbox asking if the vehicle is your “primary residence.” If you click “No” because you use your parents’ address for mail, but you actually sleep in the van 200 nights a year, you are committing what insurers call “Soft Fraud.”
Standard auto policies are priced based on the vehicle being parked at a house most of the time. Full-time RV living carries higher risks—more time on the road, cooking inside, and higher theft probability. If you exceed the “permissible use” days (often 30, 90, or 150 days depending on the carrier), your contract is null and void. The “150 Days” rule is common with carriers like Progressive on their recreational policies.
The Investigation (My Analysis of 3 Major Carriers)
I called three major carriers pretending to be a van-lifer looking to “go legit” after a near-miss with a usage limit. Here is the reality in 2026.
Progressive
Progressive is the most common insurer for vans, but they are strict.
- The Reality: They have two distinct products. “Recreational” limits you to using the RV for less than a specific number of days (usually 150). If you want to live in it, you must select the “Full-Timer” package.
- The Catch: The Full-Timer package requires a “Garaging Address” that isn’t a P.O. Box. If you can’t provide a physical address where the vehicle sits when not in use (even if that’s rare), their AI underwriting often rejects the application.
National General
National General (an Allstate company) feels like they actually understand the lifestyle.
- The Reality: They asked me point-blank: “Do you own another home?” When I said no, they immediately quoted me a Full-Timer policy. They didn’t try to shoehorn me into a recreational plan.
- The Catch: It is expensive. The premium was nearly 40% higher than the standard auto quote I got elsewhere, but that’s the price of actual coverage vs. fake coverage.
Good Sam (via Agency)
Good Sam isn’t a carrier; they are a broker. I called them, and they shopped my profile to multiple underwriters.
- The Reality: They found me a carrier that allowed “Full-Time” status without requiring me to own a stick-and-brick home.
- The Catch: The underwriter they found had a strict exclusion on “converted school buses” (Skoolies). Since I was quoting a Sprinter, I was fine, but Skoolie owners are often turned away here.
[IMAGE: Screenshot of a policy clause highlighting “Principal Residence” exclusion]
Comparison Table
| Feature | Progressive (Recreational) | Progressive (Full-Timer) | National General |
| Max Days Use/Year | ~150 Days | 365 Days | 365 Days |
| Primary Residence? | No | Yes | Yes |
| Personal Liability | No (Vacation only) | Yes (Like Homeowners) | Yes |
| Medical Payments | Auto limits only | Premises Liability included | Premises Liability included |
| Monthly Cost | ~$120 | ~$190 | ~$220 |
Step-by-Step Action Plan
- Check Your Declarations Page: Look for “Usage: Pleasure/Recreational.” If you live in your van and see this, you are exposed.
- Call an Agent, Not a Bot: Do not try to change this online. Call your carrier. Say: “My usage has changed. I am now using this vehicle as my primary residence. I need to switch to a Full-Timer policy.”
- Secure “Vacation Liability” Upgrade: If you can’t afford Full-Timer status or have a home base, at minimum add “Vacation Liability.” This covers you if someone gets hurt in your van while parked.
- Verify the “Days Limit”: Ask the agent specifically: “Is there a hard cap on how many days I can sleep in the vehicle per year?” Get that number in writing.
FAQ
What counts as “living” in the van?
Insurers look at where you sleep. If you sleep in the van more than at your “garaging address,” you are living in it.
Can I just lie about my usage?
In 2026, no. Claims adjusters pull metadata from photos, service records, and even toll transponders. If you crash in Texas but your policy says you live in Ohio and use the van “occasionally,” they will investigate why you’ve been in Texas for 3 months.
Is Full-Timer insurance just for RVs?
No. You can get Full-Timer policies for Class Bs (Sprinters/Promasters). However, DIY conversions make this harder. You usually need a professional conversion or a very tolerant carrier like Roamly.