RV Insurance in Tennessee

Tennessee features mountains and an abundance of outdoor recreation opportunities. From fishing and hiking to four-wheeling and cave spelunking, Tennessee offers it all, especially for RVers.  

Whether you're a full-time or part-time RVer, it's important to understand the risks of driving an RV and how to protect yourself. RVs are big, heavy vehicles that can be hard to maneuver and hard to stop quickly. What’s more, they are prone to rollovers and can be dangerous to drive in high winds. It’s important to have Tennessee RV insurance in order to protect yourself, your RV, and your belongings when the worst happens.

An independent insurance agent can help you get multiple quotes for RV insurance in Tennessee. A local agent can help you choose the best coverage for your needs and budget.

Is RV Insurance Required in Tennessee?

Anyone who owns and operates a motor home or RV is required to have RV insurance in Tennessee.

RV insurance can cover many different types of vehicles, including:

• Class A, B, and C motor homes
• Travel trailers, including conventional and fifth-wheel
• Pop-up and truck campers

If you use your RV as a motor home and drive it on public roads under its own power, state laws require you to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance. The required minimum amounts of liability insurance that motorists must carry in Tennessee are as follows:

• $25,000 for each injury or death per accident
• $50,000 for total injuries or deaths per accident
• $15,000 for property damage per accident

If you finance the purchase of your RV, your lender is likely to require you to buy comprehensive and collision coverage in addition to liability coverage before your financing will be approved.

If you live in your RV full time, you’ll need special “full-timer” RV insurance that combines elements of auto insurance and homeowners insurance. And if you’ve got an RV like a pop-up, travel trailer, or fifth-wheel that is towed behind another vehicle, it will be covered by the car insurance policy of the vehicle that is towing it.

How Much Does RV Insurance Cost in Tennessee?

The cost of RV insurance in Tennessee varies depending on the type of vehicle, how it’s driven, and the personal characteristics of the driver. The cost of part-time RV insurance is not expensive relative to the cost of full-time RV insurance, which will cost more because full-timers are spending far more time driving the RV, traveling farther, and keeping more possessions inside the vehicle.

Here are some of the factors that will influence the cost of RV insurance in Tennessee:

• The driving record of the RV owner, including RV driving experience
• How many miles the RV will be driven, and where it will be driven
• The type and class of the RV
• The size and length of the RV
• The age and condition of the RV
• The value of the RV
• Where the RV will be stored
• Whether the RV is financed

The types of coverage and deductibles selected also play a big role in your RV insurance costs in Tennessee.

What Kind of Coverage Can RV Insurance Provide in Tennessee?

RV insurance blends home and auto insurance coverage into one policy that protects the vehicle from collisions with other vehicles or objects, weather, vandalism, theft, and other perils. In addition, it should cover your personal property inside the RV, and provide liability protection in case you cause injury or damage to someone else.

It can be purchased as an add-on to your auto insurance policy, or as a separate RV insurance policy. For motor homes, you must have at least the state minimum for liability coverage because they are driven and not towed. You’ll need a separate RV insurance policy if your motor home is considered Class A, Class B, or Class C, if it's financed, or if it's a rental.

RV insurance is generally divided into two categories: recreational and full-timer. If you don't live in your RV full time, recreational insurance will cover your RV inside and out when you’re on the road or parked at a campsite. A full-time RV insurance policy is for those who use a motor home or travel trailer as their primary residence.

A basic RV insurance policy in Tennessee is likely to include the following:

• Liability coverage: (required by law) Protects you in the event that you cause injury or damage to someone else while operating your RV.
• Comprehensive and collision coverage: These work just like the comprehensive and collision coverage in your auto insurance policy. They cover physical damage to your RV. They are optional, but will be required by your lender if you finance your RV.
• Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage:  Protects you if you’re hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver while operating your RV.
• Medical payments coverage: Pays for medical expenses for you or your passengers if you’re in an accident, regardless of who is at fault.

A variety of other RV insurance coverage options are available. Depending on the insurance company you choose, these may include:

• International travel coverage: This will cover you if you plan to drive your RV into Mexico or Canada.
• Loss replacement coverage: This will help you replace your RV if it suffers a total loss.
• Personal property insurance: Provides coverage for personal items inside your RV, such as clothing, kitchen items, tools, equipment, electronics, and so on.
• Attached accessories coverage: Reimburses you for damage to items like awnings or TV antennas that are not covered under the basic policy.
• Emergency expenses coverage: Reimburses you for hotel or transportation costs after you’ve had an accident and cannot use your RV.
• Campsite and vacation coverage: Protects you if you use your RV or motor home as a temporary residence during a vacation. It covers your liability exposures in these situations.

Part-time RVers who only use their vehicle during certain months can suspend their collision and liability coverage when the RV is not in use. This can help them save money on their premiums.

Keep in mind that RV insurance in Tennessee will have coverage exclusions. It will typically not cover general wear and tear or mechanical problems. It also won’t cover damage caused by mold, fungi, rot, earthquakes, and floods.  

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Tennessee Health Insurance for Full-Time RVers

If you’re a full-time RVer, having health coverage is one of the more complex issues for you to navigate before you hit the road. First and foremost, full-time RVers don’t have a permanent address, making purchasing something like health insurance even more complicated than normal. But you do have to have an official domicile, even if you don’t technically “live” there. Your domicile will remain the state from which you have “moved” into your RV, until such time as you take the necessary steps to change it.

You’ll need to decide among a variety of health insurance options that are available to individuals or families that are embracing the full-time RV life. Here are the most common options:

• Medicare: This is the easiest solution for full-time RVers who are 65 and older. You’ll be covered everywhere in the US and able to use any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare. If you have a Medicare supplement plan, check with your provider for specifics on where and how you’ll be covered while traveling. 
• Health Insurance Marketplace: The Health Insurance Marketplace, accessible at healthcare.gov, offers various health insurance options depending on where your domicile is.
• Private health insurance: Some insurance companies offer private individual health insurance plans.
• Short-term health insurance: Some insurance companies offer short-term health insurance plans for people who need temporary coverage, usually during a transition between jobs or other insurance changes.
• Self-employed group coverage: Self-employed individuals can sometimes qualify for group coverage, either on their own or in a larger group made up of other self-employed people.

Health insurance options for full-time RVers will vary depending on where you have your formal domicile. What’s more, you’ll have to carefully weigh your options and your budget to ensure you’re making the best choice.

What Is RV Gap Insurance?

Standard RV insurance policies cover the depreciated value of the vehicle, i.e., the current market value of the vehicle at the time of a claim. But what if your RV is totaled in an accident, and its market value is less than what you owe on it?

That’s where RV gap insurance comes in. It covers the difference between what an RV is currently worth (and what your insurance company will pay if it’s totaled) and the amount that you owe on your loan.

What are the Best RV Insurance Companies in Tennessee?

Local independent insurance agents make comparison shopping for full-time RV insurance easy. They can obtain quotes from the best RV insurance companies in Tennessee, and ensure that you’re getting your policy at a competitive price.

Why Shop RV Insurance with a Tennessee Independent Insurance Agent?

Instead of getting an online quote, find an independent insurance agent now, and get one-on-one consultation and affordable options for the best coverage for your unique needs. Your agent will work with you free of charge, offering you a variety of options so you can make the best choice. 

What’s more, your agent will be there for you when claim time comes. They know the ins and outs of the process and will make sure your claim is handled appropriately.

Contact an agent today for a free, no-obligation consultation.