Does Car Insurance Cover Your Travel Trailer? What It Does and Doesn’t Do

You’ve got the truck, the hitch and a travel trailer the kids can’t stop talking about. Then somebody at the campground asks, “Is that thing insured?” and you think, “Sure, it’s on my car insurance. Right?”

Maybe. Partly. Your auto policy often does one important job for a trailer you tow, and usually leaves a few other jobs undone. We’ll walk through what it tends to do, what it usually doesn’t, and what to ask before your next trip. John Kaufman covers the same question in the short video below.

What your auto policy often does for a towed trailer

On many personal auto policies, the liability coverage on your truck or SUV extends to a trailer while it’s hooked up and being towed. If the trailer swings into another car on the highway and you’re at fault, your auto liability may respond the same way it would if your truck caused the damage.

That’s a big deal. It’s also where a lot of families stop reading. Policy wording varies from company to company, so please check your own policy or ask us to look at it with you.

What it usually doesn’t do

Liability pays for damage you cause to other people and their stuff. It usually doesn’t pay to fix or replace your own trailer. So ask yourself a few questions:

• If a tree limb falls on the trailer in a storm, who pays?
• If the trailer is stolen from your driveway, who pays?
• If you jackknife on a wet ramp and the trailer is the only thing damaged, who pays?

With auto liability alone, the answer is often you. Physical damage coverage for the trailer itself is usually something you add or buy separately.

The same goes for what’s inside. Bedding, cookware, bikes, the grill and the camp chairs add up fast. Some RV policies offer coverage for personal belongings, and your homeowners policy may cover some items away from home, but limits and rules differ. Don’t assume. Ask.

Once you unhook, the picture changes

When the trailer is parked at the campsite and unhooked, it’s no longer being towed by your car. Your auto policy usually does very little for it at that point.

That matters because the campsite is where you actually live for the week. A guest trips on your steps. A campfire gets away from you. A neighbor’s kid gets hurt near your awning. Some RV policies include campsite or vacation liability for situations like these. Your auto policy usually won’t.

“But John, my trailer is small. Do I really need more?”

Fair question. The size of the trailer doesn’t change what liability does and doesn’t pay for. What changes is how much you’d be out of pocket if it was damaged or stolen. If paying for that yourself would hurt, it’s worth a short conversation.

What families should ask before the next trip

1. Does my auto policy extend liability to my trailer while I’m towing it?
2. Do I have physical damage coverage for the trailer itself?
3. Are my belongings inside the trailer covered, and up to what limit?
4. Am I covered for liability at the campsite once I unhook?
5. Can I bundle the trailer with my auto or home policy?

Bring those questions to us and we’ll go through them with you, one at a time.

Where we come in

If you’re newer to RVs, our RV insurance page covers the basics, and How Much Does RV Insurance Cost? walks through what drives the price. For the truck or SUV doing the towing, see our auto insurance page.

We’re Kaufman Insurance Group, an independent agency in Twinsburg, Ohio. For RVs and trailers, companies we work with include Progressive, National General, an Allstate company, and Foremost, a Farmers company. Which ones fit you depends on your trailer, how you use it and where you live, so we’ll compare what’s available for you rather than guess.

Our agency is licensed in Ohio and North Carolina, and many of our agents are licensed in the 48 contiguous states.

Already own the rig and planning a trip? Our sister site has a step by step look at where RV coverage gaps show up between your driveway and the campsite.

Want a second set of eyes on your policy before you hitch up? Get multiple quotes or call 330-486-8404. Which works better for you, a quick call today or a quote request you can fill out tonight?

This article is general information, not insurance advice. Coverage, availability and eligibility vary by insurer, policy, location and situation, and all quotes are subject to underwriting review. Check your own policy for exact terms. Kaufman Insurance Group may be paid a commission by companies mentioned.