Buying a used RV is exciting, maybe you’ve found a great deal on a Class C motorhome or scored a vintage travel trailer that’s ready for Colorado adventures. But before you hit the open road, there’s one crucial step you can’t skip: getting the right insurance coverage.
Insuring a used RV in Aurora isn’t quite the same as insuring a car. RVs come with unique considerations, from their size and value to how you plan to use them. Whether you’re a weekend warrior heading to the mountains or planning extended trips across the country, we’re here to walk you through everything you need to know about protecting your investment. At Affordable Insurance, we’ve been helping Aurora drivers find the right coverage since 1995, and we’ve seen just about every RV situation you can imagine.
Understanding RV Insurance Requirements in Colorado
Let’s start with the basics: what does Colorado law actually require?
If your RV is motorized, think Class A, B, or C motorhomes, it’s treated similarly to a regular vehicle under Colorado law. That means you’ll need to carry minimum liability insurance before you can legally drive it on public roads. Colorado’s current minimum requirements are:
- $25,000 for bodily injury per person
- $50,000 for bodily injury per accident
- $15,000 for property damage
These minimums apply whether your motorhome is brand new or twenty years old. But, we should mention that these state minimums are exactly that, minimums. Given the size and weight of most RVs, the potential for serious damage in an accident is higher than with a standard sedan. Many Aurora RV owners choose to carry higher limits for better protection.
Now, here’s where it gets a bit different: towable RVs like fifth wheels, travel trailers, and pop-up campers don’t require their own separate liability policy in Colorado. They’re typically covered under the liability portion of your tow vehicle’s auto insurance while in transit. But that doesn’t mean you should skip dedicated RV coverage entirely. Your auto policy probably won’t cover damage to the trailer itself, theft, or incidents that occur while it’s parked at a campsite.
Colorado doesn’t require uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage for RVs, but it’s something we strongly recommend considering. With the number of uninsured drivers on the road, having this protection can save you from significant out-of-pocket expenses.
Types of RV Insurance Coverage to Consider
When it comes to insuring your used RV, you’ve got options, probably more than you realized. Let’s break down the main types of coverage and what each one actually does for you.
Liability Coverage
Liability coverage is the foundation of any RV insurance policy for motorized units. This coverage kicks in when you’re at fault in an accident and pays for the other party’s injuries and property damage. It also covers your legal defense costs if you’re sued.
For used RV owners in Aurora, we typically recommend liability limits higher than the state minimum. A motorhome can weigh anywhere from 10,000 to 30,000 pounds, hitting another vehicle at highway speeds can cause catastrophic damage that quickly exceeds $15,000 in property damage. Bumping up to 100/300/100 coverage doesn’t cost as much as you might think, and it provides substantially better protection.
Collision and Comprehensive Coverage
Collision coverage pays for damage to your RV when you hit another vehicle or object, whether that’s a guardrail, a tree at the campground, or another car. Comprehensive coverage handles everything else: theft, vandalism, hail damage, fire, falling objects, and animal strikes.
With a used RV, you’ll need to weigh the cost of these coverages against your rig’s actual cash value. If you’ve got a $5,000 travel trailer and your annual comprehensive premium is $400, it might make sense to carry it. But if the trailer’s only worth $2,000, you might decide to skip it and self-insure for those risks instead. We can help you run the numbers based on your specific situation.
One thing to keep in mind: if you financed your used RV purchase, your lender will almost certainly require both collision and comprehensive coverage until the loan is paid off.
Specialized RV Coverage Options
Here’s where RV insurance really differs from standard auto coverage. There are several specialty options designed specifically for recreational vehicle owners:
Full-Timer Coverage: If you’re living in your RV full-time or for extended periods, standard RV policies won’t cut it. Full-timer coverage works more like homeowners insurance, protecting your personal belongings and providing liability coverage similar to what you’d have in a traditional home.
Personal Effects Coverage: This protects the stuff inside your RV, camping gear, electronics, clothing, and other personal items. Standard policies often have low limits for personal belongings, so adding this coverage can be worthwhile if you travel with expensive equipment.
Vacation Liability: This covers incidents that happen around your RV while you’re camped, like if someone trips over your power cord and gets injured.
Emergency Expense Coverage: If your RV breaks down far from home, this helps pay for lodging, meals, and transportation while your rig is being repaired.
Roadside Assistance: Given the complexity of RV repairs and the difficulty of towing a large motorhome, specialized RV roadside assistance is worth serious consideration. Regular auto club coverage often doesn’t handle vehicles over a certain weight.
Factors That Affect Used RV Insurance Rates
Insurance companies look at a lot of variables when calculating your premium. Understanding these factors can help you anticipate costs and potentially find ways to lower your rates.
Age and Value of Your RV: Generally speaking, used RVs cost less to insure than new ones because they’re worth less. But, very old RVs can sometimes be trickier to insure because parts are harder to find, which drives up repair costs. The sweet spot is often RVs that are 5-15 years old, depreciated enough to be affordable to insure, but modern enough to have readily available parts.
Type and Class: A 40-foot Class A diesel pusher is going to cost significantly more to insure than a 20-foot travel trailer. Size matters because larger RVs cause more damage in accidents and cost more to repair or replace.
How You Use It: Do you take your RV out a few weekends a year, or is it your full-time residence? Insurance companies charge more for RVs that are used frequently because more time on the road means more exposure to risk.
Where You Store It: An RV stored in a secured facility with surveillance cameras is less likely to be stolen or vandalized than one parked on the street. Storage location definitely impacts your premium.
Your Driving Record: Just like with auto insurance, your personal driving history matters. If you’ve got a clean record, you’ll pay less. Multiple tickets, accidents, or DUIs will increase your rates, though at Affordable Insurance, we work with drivers of all backgrounds and can still find coverage even if you’ve been turned down elsewhere.
Your Location: Insurance rates vary by geography. Living in Aurora means you’re dealing with Colorado-specific factors like hail damage risk and highway accident statistics.
Deductible Amount: Choosing a higher deductible lowers your premium but means you’ll pay more out of pocket if you file a claim. We can help you find the right balance for your budget.
Credit History (in most cases): Many insurers use credit-based insurance scores to help set rates. But, not all companies weigh this factor equally. At Affordable Insurance, we don’t run credit checks, which is good news if your credit isn’t perfect.
Steps to Get Insurance for Your Used RV
Ready to get your used RV insured? Here’s the process we recommend:
Step 1: Gather Your RV Information
Before you start getting quotes, collect the following details about your RV:
- Year, make, and model
- VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)
- Purchase price or current value
- Any modifications or upgrades
- Where you plan to store it
- How often you’ll use it and typical trip distances
Step 2: Review Your Current Auto Policy
If you have a towable RV, check your existing auto insurance policy to see what coverage already extends to trailers. This will help you understand what gaps you need to fill with a separate RV policy.
Step 3: Get Multiple Quotes
Don’t just go with the first price you see. RV insurance rates can vary significantly between companies. As independent insurance agents, we at Affordable Insurance work with multiple carriers, including Progressive, The General, and Dairyland Insurance, so we can shop around on your behalf and present you with options.
Step 4: Compare Coverage, Not Just Price
The cheapest policy isn’t always the best deal. Make sure you’re comparing equivalent coverage levels. A policy that’s 0 cheaper but has a ,500 deductible instead of 0 might not actually save you money if you ever need to file a claim.
Step 5: Ask About Discounts
Most insurers offer various discounts. Ask about savings for:
- Bundling with your auto or homeowners insurance
- Safety features (anti-theft devices, backup cameras)
- Completing an RV safety course
- Being claims-free for multiple years
- Paying your premium in full upfront
Step 6: Purchase Your Policy
Once you’ve found the right coverage at the right price, you can typically get your policy activated quickly. At Affordable Insurance, we offer same-day coverage, we can have your insurance documents and ID card emailed to you right away so you’re ready to roll.
Tips for Lowering Your Used RV Insurance Premiums
Nobody wants to pay more than necessary for insurance. Here are practical strategies to keep your used RV insurance costs manageable:
Bundle Your Policies: If you have auto, home, or motorcycle insurance, bundling your RV coverage with the same carrier often triggers a multi-policy discount. We can look at your entire insurance picture and find the combination that makes the most sense financially.
Increase Your Deductible: If you have some savings set aside for emergencies, opting for a higher deductible can lower your monthly premium. Just make sure you can actually afford the deductible if something happens.
Pay Annually If Possible: Many insurers charge fees for monthly payments. Paying your annual premium in one lump sum can save you money over the course of the year. But, if that’s not feasible, we offer low down payments and competitive monthly rates to work with your budget.
Take an RV Safety Course: Some insurance companies offer discounts to policyholders who complete accredited RV driving courses. Plus, learning to handle your rig safely reduces your chances of having an accident in the first place.
Install Safety and Security Devices: Anti-theft systems, GPS tracking, smoke detectors, and backup cameras can all qualify you for discounts while also protecting your investment.
Store Your RV Properly: Keeping your RV in a secure storage facility during the off-season demonstrates to insurers that you’re a responsible owner. Some policies even let you suspend certain coverages (like collision) while the RV is in storage, further reducing your costs.
Review Your Coverage Annually: As your used RV ages and depreciates, it may make sense to adjust your coverage levels. What made sense when you first bought the RV might not be the best fit five years later.
Maintain a Good Driving Record: This one takes time, but keeping your driving record clean is one of the best things you can do for your insurance rates across all your vehicles. If you currently have a less-than-perfect record, don’t worry, at Affordable Insurance, we specialize in helping drivers in all situations find coverage.
Conclusion
Insuring a used RV in Aurora doesn’t have to be complicated. Start by understanding Colorado’s minimum requirements, then build from there based on your specific RV, how you use it, and what level of protection gives you peace of mind.
The key is finding the right balance between adequate coverage and affordable premiums. Too little coverage leaves you exposed to financial risk: too much means you’re paying for protection you don’t really need.
Whether you’ve got a well-loved vintage trailer or a recent-model motorhome, our team at Affordable Insurance is here to help you figure out the best approach. With over 25 years of experience and relationships with multiple A+ rated carriers, we can find options that fit your situation, even if you’ve been turned down by other companies.
Ready to get started? Give us a call or stop by our Aurora office. Jennifer, Yolita, and the rest of our team are happy to answer your questions and get you a quote. We offer low down payments, no credit checks, and same-day coverage so you can get out on the road and start making memories in your RV.