The Official 2009 RVers Guide to Florida

RV Insurance: Who Needs it? Congratulations! You’ve just bought your first new motorhome. Now you need insurance coverage. Should you go to your local agent who handles just about everything? Do you need someone who specializes in recreational vehicle insurance? What type of insurance do you need? When do you need it? How much (or how little) insurance do you need? First of all, your auto insurance does not transfer to your motorhome. You must have a policy that matches your new investment and you need it now! If you go by price only, you will be in for some surprises. The cheapest policy you could buy is a liability-only policy which protects everyone from you. However, it will not protect any of your investment. If you are independently wealthy, this type of policy may be for you. insurance companies will continue PPG throughout the life of the policy. Other companies will extend PPG to the 10th model year, and the policy will turn into Actual Cash Value (ACV) in the 11th model year. Actual Cash Value (ACV) This policy covers only the current depreciated market value of your RV when you have a total loss. This is the coverage most neighborhood agents will write, and it should be used only as a last resort when TLR and PPG are not available. Vacation Liability Coverage (VLC) This coverage extends to you while your vehicle is parked and being used as a vacation residence. It provides coverage when a suit is brought against you relating to your campsite. Full-coverage policies I hear people say, “I have full coverage.” I hear it all the time, but that statement tells me nothing. It doesn’t tell me any coverage you may or may not have, nor does it tell the limits (how much coverage) the policy holds. Insurance policies vary from company to company, and the amount of coverage offered varies from agent to agent. There really is no standard for a full-coverage policy. There are some insurance companies that write a recreational vehicle-specific policy. These policies include coverages written specifically for motorhomes. No matter which company you decide to insure your vehicle with, make sure the following coverages are included: Full-Timer Coverage (FTC) If you are going to live in your RV, you will need this coverage. FTC works like a homeowner’s policy. Just because you choose to travel and live in your motorhome, it doesn’t mean you should expose yourself to liability suits without coverage. Diminishing Deductibles (DD) Diminishing Deductibles coverage works like this: For every year you do not have a claim, your deductible goes down by 25 percent. After four claim-free years, you have a zero deductible. The larger deductible you can afford, the bigger bang for your buck you get with this coverage. Total Loss Replacement (TLR), also called Replacement Cost Coverage TLR covers the unit in the first five model years. So, even while your investment depreciates, if you have a total loss, the insurance company will replace your unit with a new one. If that unit is no longer available, one of a like kind and quality will replace it. After the first five model years, some company TLR policies will turn into Actual Cash Value or Purchase Price Guarantee. The above coverages should be a part of every motorhome policy. In addition to these coverages, you can add personal effects, jewelry, golf cart, extended trailer and mini storage coverage through most RV insurance specialists. Always speak to an insurance agent. Never trust any third party to act in your best interest. Never allow information regarding your safety to come second-hand. Purchase Price Guarantee (PPG) If you have a total loss, this coverage will pay out the amount stated on the policy you paid for and help you buy another RV. How this coverage is applied varies by company. Some Alan Gilbert is president of Gilbert RV lnsurance Inc. in Orlando, Fla. Alan and Teresa Gilbert own Gilbert RV lnsurance and have been in business since 1992. If you have questions about RV insurance, call 888-784-6787. 110 2009 FRVTA RVers GUIDE TO FLORIDA

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of The Official 2009 RVers Guide to Florida

The Official 2009 RVers Guide to Florida Contents RV Friendly Logos Meet Roadie Behind the Wheel Region 1 - Southwest Florida Region 2 - Southeast Florida Region 3 - Tampa Bay Area Region 4 - Orlando & Space Coast RV Rentals Region 5 - Florida Panhandle Financing Your RV Region 6 - Northeast Florida Region 7 - North Central Florida Florida Regional Shows Region 10 - Out of State Members Indian Mounds in Florida Springs in Florida What’s Your Type? Lighthouse Tour Insurance, Who Needs It?

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.