The purpose of insurance is to prevent consumers from paying immense amounts of money when an unexpected event that causes damage occurs. RV insurance policies specifically can save you from paying exceedingly high costs compared to other forms of insurance.
While standard insurance policies will often provide coverage for minimal amounts of water damage scenarios, many do not include this type of coverage or have many exclusions, as they’re not legally required to cover water damage. Therefore, it’s essential to read your insurance policy, be aware of what the company will and won’t cover, and communicate your needs to your insurance company.
Why Is RV Insurance To Cover Water Damage Needed?
Water damage in an RV can cause significant destruction. Therefore, it’s crucial to fix any water-related issues. Unfortunately, insurance companies are not bound by any legal obligation to cover water-related damage. However, this is something you’ll want to have in your plan in case of an emergency.
Water leaks can lead to the growth of harmful substances, such as mold and mildew, ultimately requiring thousands of dollars to fund repairs and even resulting in the destruction of your RV. Unfortunately, even when carefully monitoring the state of your RV, it’s easy not to catch water damage before it’s significantly progressed.
What Will Insurance Companies Cover?
It’s important to note a standard policy does not typically include lots of water coverage. Therefore, if you don’t specifically request additional water damage insurance for your policy, you’ll likely receive a denial for your claims in many water damage-related instances. Common exclusions in standard policies include:
- Neglect in the maintenance of your vehicle
- Issues with the original manufacturing
- Wear and tear over time
- Negligence in the care of your vehicle
- Freezing temperatures and the accumulation of snow or ice
- Water leaks
- Corrosion, rust, etc.
If any of the above circumstances apply to your vehicle, you’re likely to be denied if you file a claim with an average plan. Because of this, you’ll want to communicate with your insurance company about receiving a water damage policy in addition to your insurance for standard damages.
The amount that an RV insurance company will cover varies. It’s essential to accurately communicate your needs to your insurance policy to include water-related damages. Some things this type of insurance will cover are:
- total loss replacement
- recovery of damaged property
- emergency expenses
By adding this to your plan, you’re able to avoid heavy monetary losses in the instance that water leaks resulting in damages are found in your mobile household.
Do You Need Water Damage Coverage?
Before spending additional money to add water damage coverage to their insurance policies, many ask themselves whether water damage coverage is something they’ll need. However, there is no universal answer, as this depends on the individual and their circumstances.
Frequency Of Use
First, you’ll want to ask yourself how often you use the RV. If your RV is not regularly used, you’ll likely be able to stick to a regular standard policy. However, if this is your full-time home, a comprehensive approach in which water damage will; be fully covered may be the best way to go.
Weather
Next, you’ll want to consider what environmental conditions you and your RV will be traveling through. For example, if it’s used in drier regions and won’t be experiencing a lot of rain or snow, then coverage for water damage will likely be unnecessary. But, water damage coverage is optimal for RVs that regularly travel through more wet weather conditions.
RV Storage
Where do you store your RV?
RVs that remain outdoors when unused are more likely to be at risk of water damage as they are more susceptible to the weather. Meanwhile, keeping your RV in a heated indoor facility for storage can prevent the need for water damage coverage.
RV Age
Lastly, the age of your RV is essential to consider, as older models are more at risk of wear and tear over time. Newer models won’t have as much of an issue.
The Bottom Line
If water damage is a concern you have for your recreational vehicle, first, you’ll want to consider if water damage insurance is something you’ll need based on its condition and the terrain through which you’ll be traveling.
If you find that it is, read your current policy and see if this is something that’s covered. If not, or you’re unsure, make sure to communicate with your insurance company before it’s too late.
