You sold the house and bought a $150,000 Class-A Motorhome to travel the country. While parked at an RV resort in Florida, a neighbor slips on your wet RV steps, shatters their hip, and sues you for $200,000 in medical bills. You call your standard auto/RV insurance, expecting them to handle the liability.
The Brutal Truth: Why Standard Policies Deny This Claim
A standard RV policy is just an oversized auto policy. It covers liability when the vehicle is moving (e.g., you rear-end someone). It does not provide Premise Liability for when the RV is parked and functioning as a residence. Because you no longer have a homeowners policy to act as your primary personal liability, you are completely uninsured for slip-and-falls at your campsite.
How to Actually Protect Yourself (The Fix)
- Buy “Full-Timer” RV Coverage: You must buy a specialized Full-Timer policy. This acts like a hybrid, providing auto liability on the road and Homeowners-style Personal Liability when parked.
- Add “Attached Accessories” Limits: Standard policies don’t cover expensive custom awnings or satellite dishes. Add a specific endorsement for attached gear.
The Claims Adjuster’s Secret
We will ask for your primary legal address. If you use a mail-forwarding service in South Dakota but your loss happens while you are “permanently” parked in Florida for 8 months, we might dispute the garaging location and rate the risk differently.
The Verdict (TL;DR)
The Risk Level: High (Massive liability gap when parked). The Solution: Convert standard RV insurance to a Full-Timer Policy with Premise Liability. Estimated Cost: $1,500–$3,000 annually for comprehensive Full-Timer coverage.