If you’re one of the thousands of Albertans who enjoys RV and motorhome road trips, it’s essential to find the right insurance coverage to protect yourself and your property. Motorhome insurance in Alberta is fairly straightforward and very similar to regular automobile coverage, but there are several important and unique factors to take into account. In particular, it’s necessary to consider the value of the items you’re going to store in your RV or motorhome while you travel, and be sure they’re protected by one or more insurance policies.
Alberta Motorhome and RV Insurance: The Basics
Standard motorhome insurance in Alberta covers the same perils and liabilities that your regular car insurance covers. In addition, it provides protection for your personal property, but the default limits for personal property coverage generally max out around $5,000 or $10,000. In other words, if you store valuables worth more than your policy’s limit in your RV and they are damaged, destroyed or stolen, you will be forced to cover the difference between their actual value and your policy limit out of pocket.
It’s important to note the elements that are covered, regardless of how much personal property coverage your policy provides. Appliances, furnishings, cabinets and other essential built-in equipment is all covered, and is not considered “personal property” for the purposes of policy definitions.
Where you need to be careful is with your home insurance coverage limits for special items. In other words, you need to be sure that everything you’re carrying with you will be covered by your home insurance policy. Items of particularly high value should be individually identified on your homeowners insurance so your limits and premiums can be adjusted accordingly. If you’ve recently acquired a new item of particular value, you should always report it to your insurance provider.
There are still a couple of other factors to consider as well:
- Extended coverage is available for RVs and motorhomes, which provide enhanced protection for a greater range of perils and scenarios
- Travel insurance is strongly recommended, especially if your trip is going to take you to another province or another country
- Carefully consider the relative merits of replacement coverage and actual cash value (ACV) coverage
- You may need additional coverage for accessories and other recreational vehicles or equipment, such as classic cars and watercraft, if you’re bringing them on your trip
Frequently Asked Questions About Motorhome Insurance in Alberta
What is defined as a motorhome?
Insurers generally define motorhomes as vehicles with permanently attached living quarters and equipment in the interior.
What exactly does a motorhome insurance policy cover?
Your motorhome insurance policy is designed to offer the following protections:
- Accident benefits and liability coverage
- Property damage, specified perils and comprehensive protection (optional)
- Personal property stored in the vehicle during use (within the limits stated on your home and RV insurance policies)
Do standard policies cover one driver, or multiple drivers?
In order for multiple drivers to be covered, they must be named when you take out the policy, or they must be added to an updated policy before they can drive the motorhome. Otherwise, the only legally covered driver is the person who purchased the original policy.
Are there coverage restrictions to worry about?
Most responsible drivers will have no problems qualifying for motorhome insurance in Alberta. However, individual insurance companies maintain their own limits and restrictions. Speak to your insurance broker for more details.
Motorhome Insurance Alberta: Get the Coverage You Need at a Price You Can Afford
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For a fast, free quote on your vehicle insurance needs, please visit Lane’s Insurance online.
