RV Insurance: What is Personal Attachments Coverage?

Greensboro RV Insurance is similar to standard automobile insurance, with many important features you need if you actually operate your RV on public roads as opposed to keeping it parked and not driving it anywhere.  It's also similar to homeowners insurance in that it provides protection for personal property kept in your vehicle in the same way your home insurance provides protection for the personal belongings kept in your home.  For some, their RV actually is their home and they need to have comprehensive protection from financial loss from any of the many perils to which an RV may be subject.

What's Required for Your RV

Just as with any motor vehicle being driven on North Carolina's public roads, the only vehicle insurance required by state law is a minimum amount of liability coverage that pays benefits to someone suffering injury, death or property damage as the result of an accident you've caused.  Add to this uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, which pays you if you're the victim of a hit and run accident or involved in an accident caused by someone with either no or insufficient insurance coverage.

Beyond the Required Minimums

It's easy to see that the minimum amounts of liability and uninsured/underinsured RV insurance coverage are significantly less than you'd likely need if involved in a real-world accident with your RV.  These minimums are 30/60/25 per accident, or $30K for a single person injury, $60K for two or more persons injured and $25K for property damage.  The same minimums apply to uninsured/underinsured coverage.  A serious accident where you're found to be at fault would likely require significantly more funds than the minimums provide and experts advise you take out three to five times the minimum amounts of coverage required.  Some say you should carry as much liability protection as you can afford.  An affordable solution is to take out an umbrella policy.

Popular Options to Required RV Coverage

Standard Greensboro RV insurance covers the legally required liability and uninsured motorist coverages and adds some important protection such as:

• Collision insurance
• Comprehensive coverage for losses resulting from other than collisions
• Personal property coverage
• Medical payments coverage

Another optional coverage, unique to RV insurance, is Personal Attachments Coverage.  This is protection against losses relating to the theft, damage or destruction of anything attached to the exterior of your RV and may include:

• Satellite dish
• Bicycle
• Awning
• Cargo carrier
• Outdoor furniture, and more

 

Types of Off-Road Vehicle Insurance

 

If you own any type of off-road vehicle, whether it's an ATV, dune buggy, dirt bike, snow mobile or golf cart, be aware that your standard homeowner's insurance likely provides you with little or no protection against it being damaged or destroyed.  This is especially true since your off-road vehicle is taken off your property.

North Carolina State Law

In the State of North Carolina, insurance is required on all registered motor vehicles.

Laws governing ATVs are similar to the laws governing motorcycles.  This means that all registered ATVs are required to carry at least a minimum amount of liability coverage, both bodily injury protection and property damage liability.  The minimums are the same as they are for motorcycles and cars:

• $30K per person/accident bodily injury liability
• $60K for all persons per accident
• $25K per accident in property damage liability

Even if your vehicle is not registered because it's not used on public roads (which is illegal anyway) or public lands, having liability protection is important to have in case you're involved in an accident that's deemed your fault.  You'll be held financially responsible if you cause any property damage or injuries while using your vehicle.  Without insurance, the cost of these damages will have to come out of your own pocket.  If your off-road vehicle is registered, you'll also be required to carry insurance for uninsured/underinsured drivers.

Off-Road Vehicle Insurance

Even if your off-road vehicle isn't registered and you're not required to have insurance by law, obtaining coverage for your own protection and peace of mind is still a smart move.  There are four types of coverage that go into making of an off-road vehicle insurance policy.  These include:

1. Bodily Injury Liability - pays toward medical costs of parties injured in an accident you cause.
2. Property Damage Liability - pays toward the repair/replacement of property owned by a third party damaged or destroyed in an accident you cause.
3. Collision Coverage - helps pay toward the cost of repairing/replacing your ATV if damaged in a collision with another vehicle, a tree, a fence, etc.
4. Comprehensive Coverage - helps pay to repair/replace your off-road vehicle if it's damaged in ways other than in a collision.  This may include damage caused by weather (such as a hail storm), fire, vandalism or if your off-road vehicle is stolen.

Full protection is the safest option.  You should read and understand your policy completely.

11 ATV Safety Tips

 

All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are extremely popular in North Carolina for the fun and excitement they provide.  They are, however, not toys and should be respected and treated as the powerful machines they are, with some of them weighing upwards of half a ton and able to reach speeds of more than 60 miles per hour.

These vehicles are responsible for thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of injuries each year in the United States.  Many of these deaths and injuries may have been preventable, had the riders observed appropriate safety rules and riding tips for operating ATVs.  We'll present some of those tips here.

ATV Safety Tips

1. Before riding your ATV, take the time to learn how.  Training can be obtained for little or no cost in most areas.  Hands-on training is available from the ATV Safety Institute, who also offer a free ATV E-Course.  You may also find training through a local ATV riding group.
2. Always wear proper ATV riding gear, including a certified DOT-approved helmet that fits properly, safety glasses or goggles, gloves, a long-sleeved shirt or jacket, long pants and boots that cover up over your ankles.
3. Ride on designated trails at safe speeds and on pavement only to go across roads.  ATVs aren't designed to operate well on pavement.
4. Don't mix ATV riding with alcohol or controlled substances.
5. No child under the age of 16 years should be allowed to drive an adult ATV.  Smaller, less powerful ATV's are designed for youngsters, but kids riding these vehicles should be supervised to help ensure their safety.  Children under six years of age should not be on an ATV, either as a driver or a passenger.
6. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends ATVs with engine sizes of less than 70cc for kids from six to eleven years of age.  Engine sizes between 70cc and 90cc are recommended for kids between 12 and 15 years old.
7. Avoid riding your ATV at night or when visibility is poor.
8. Three-wheeled ATV's have been deemed unsafe and should not be ridden.
9. Most ATVs are designed for only an operator and not a passenger.  Room for the rider to redistribute his weight is necessary to handle the irregularities of some terrain.  
10. Maintain your ATV to keep it running smoothly.
11. Make sure you and your ATV are properly insured against liability and personal injuries.  For an expensive ATV, consider comprehensive coverage.

11 Golf Cart Safety Tips

 

Whether you're using a golf cart out on the links or for driving up and down the streets of your community, there are some tips we'd like to share to help you travel safely as you go.  For many, nothing beats the relaxation provided by a nice, sunny day out on the golf course, but nothing can ruin that good time quite as much as a golf cart accident.

Golf cart accidents can cause anything from minor injuries and/or damage to catastrophic injuries and even death.  According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), there are approximately 15,000 golf cart related injuries annually that are serious enough to warrant a visit to the emergency room.  While some of these accidents are a result of poor manufacturing design, most can be attributed to negligence on the part of those involved.  These are preventable accidents that may have been avoided by knowing and following these tips.

Golf Cart Safety Tips

1. Learn how to safely operate your golf cart by reading the owner's manual, if available, and follow all safety guidelines.
2. Make sure the tires on the cart are inflated to the recommended tire pressure.
3. Golf carts are lightweight and top-heavy, making them fairly easy to flip over if not driven properly.  Avoid sudden or sharp turns and keep your speed within reason.  The number one cause of golf cart injuries is passengers jumping or falling off the cart.
4. Don't overcrowd your golf cart with passengers.  Everyone riding on your cart should have their own seat.  Don't allow anyone to hang out the side or back of the cart.  Overcrowding makes it easier for passengers to fall off and puts additional strain on the golf cart, making it more difficult to handle safely.  
5. Just like with a roller-coaster, keep all body parts inside the golf cart.
6. Just as with any vehicle, don't drink and drive or consume intoxicating substances before or while driving.
7. Avoid distractions when driving a golf cart (or any vehicle).  This particularly pertains to cell phone use, which the CPSC lists as the number one cause of distracted driving.
8. Use seatbelts in your golf cart.  While most golf carts don't come equipped with seatbelts, retrofitting them into your cart is fairly easy and well worth the modest cost when considering the added safety you'll enjoy.
9. Avoid bad weather when possible.
10. Perform regular maintenance.
11. Have fun but stay safe!

6 RV Safety Tips

 

RVing has become an increasingly popular way to travel and vacation, but it also includes a number of potential safety hazards that should be understood before starting out on your RV experience.  Just because you can drive a car doesn't mean you'll be immediately adept at driving a motor coach or towing a trailer.  Let's take a look at some important RV safety tips geared to helping you make the most of your RV travels while remaining both safe and sound.

Six RV Safety Tips

1. Whether you're renting an RV or already own a rig, the first and most important safety tip is to thoroughly get to know your RV.   You'll need to do some research so that you know the height of your rig, its weight and, especially if it's a trailer, it's weight capacity.   This means how much stuff you can add to your RV and still remain under the manufacturer's weight capacity recommendation.  You'll also need to know how to distribute the weight in your coach or trailer.
2. Driving an RV is more like driving a big-rig truck than driving a car and the only way to get used to driving something this size is to practice, practice, practice.  Before even purchasing your first RV you should rent a model you like for the day to see how it feels.  You might try this with several different models until you find one you really like.  Lots of maneuvers in an RV are different than you're use to in your car or pickup, including accelerating, braking, passing other vehicles, using only your mirrors to see behind your rig and, most importantly, backing up.
3. Your RV insurance and emergency roadside assistance should provide you with complete coverage.  If you're pulling a trailer and your pulling vehicle breaks down and needs to be towed, the trailer should also be towed so it's not left unattended on the roadside.
4. You need to monitor your tire pressure regularly, on your motorhome or on your trailer and pulling vehicle.  Tire blowouts are the reason for many RV accidents.  Under- or over- inflated tires are an accident waiting to happen.  Consider purchasing an automatic tire monitoring system.
5. Don't speed.  Your RV tires are rated not only for a maximum weight but also for a maximum speed.  Consult your tires' sidewalls.
6. Get enough rest and don't drive for too many hours on any given day.

RV Insurance Coverage: Vacation Liability

 

Just as with automobile insurance, RV Insurance is required for all recreational vehicles driven or towed on North Carolina public roads.  The minimum amount of liability coverage required by the state is $30K for bodily injury (per person, per accident), $60K for bodily injury of all persons per accident and $25K for property damage per accident.  NC law also requires all drivers be covered by uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

And, like with auto insurance, there are many add-on coverages available in your RV insurance policy that are not required by law but that provide valuable benefits when needed.  These include:

• Collision coverage, which pays toward damage suffered in a vehicle collision
• Comprehensive coverage, which pays for damages suffered in non-collision scenarios such as fire, theft, vandalism, etc.
• Roadside assistance and towing coverage

Specialized RV Insurance Coverage 

The above list includes basic RV insurance coverage, to which you can add the mandated liability coverage and uninsured/underinsured protection the state requires you have.  There is also a specialized list of RV insurance coverage that can be added to your basic policy to provide additional protection.  These include:

• Total Loss Replacement Coverage - available for a single-owner, brand new RVs.  If used, this coverage pays the full amount for replacement of a totaled RV.  Replacement for older vehicles is based on actual cash value, which incorporates depreciation.
• Custom Equipment Coverage - this helps pay for losses involving custom upgrades to your RV, both inside and out.  Basic policies typically include only about $1000 coverage form custom equipment, which may be much less than actual costs.  This coverage extends that coverage.
• Emergency Expense Reimbursement - pays for travel and lodging if something happens to your RV while you're away from your home.
• Vacation Liability Coverage - sometimes automatic in policies that include both comprehensive and collision protection, vacation liability coverage protects against liability when your RV is used as a vacation space in a campground.

Vacation Liability Coverage - also known as campsite liability protection, covers you in the event there is bodily injury or property damage at your campsite or in your RV while it's parked off of public roads.  This coverage doesn't apply to family members.

If someone trips and falls and breaks a limb or your dog bites a visitor to your campsite or RV, you're covered with vacation liability protection.  This includes helping pay defense costs and any liability settlement amounts.

IS RV Insurance Required?

Unlike what's required in many other states, ALL types of recreational vehicles driven or towed on public roads in North Carolina are required by state law to be covered by a minimum amount of RV insurance. This includes motorized RVs such as Class A, Class B and Class C RVs as well as bus conversions. It also includes the following non-motorized RVs:

• Fifth-wheel trailers
• Tent trailers (pop-ups)
• Toy haulers
• Travel trailers
• Truck trailers

What's the Minimum Coverage?

Just as with regular auto insurance coverage requirements in the state, liability RV insurance is required in an amount that at least meets the state minimums, which are:

• $30,000 bodily injury/person per accident
• $60,000 bodily injury total for all persons per accident
• $25,000 property damage per accident

Bear in mind that the above described liability coverage only pays benefits to third parties suffering losses in accidents that have been proven to be your responsibility. This coverage pays no benefits toward compensation for your own personal injuries or property damage.
RVs are also required to carry uninsured motorist coverage, which protects you from losses deemed the responsibility of a motorist who is uninsured or underinsured.

What's Not Required (But Probably a Good Idea)

Just as with auto insurance, there are plenty of insurance options to consider when buying your RV insurance policy. First off, it should be mentioned that the state minimum requirements for liability coverage are typically woefully inadequate in the real world of medical costs for injuries or property damage arising from a vehicle collision. Keep in mind that any costs incurred over and above what your liability coverage pays must come out of your own pocket, so think seriously about increasing your liability protection to a more adequate level.
Once your liability coverage is decided, there are other add-on coverage options to consider. These include:

• Collision
• Comprehensive
• Medical payments
• Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
• Roadside assistance, towing or rental reimbursement

Besides the above listed policy options, which are also available on any standard auto insurance policy, RV insurance can include some specialty option add-ons such as:

• Emergency expenses - pays for temporary living and travel expenses if your RV is damaged and you can't use it
• Equipment protection – pays for damage or loss of equipment stored outside your RV such as a satellite dish or trail bike
• Personal belongings protection – pays for damage or loss of personal items within your RV

RV Insurance: How Does it Work?

Here in North Carolina, recreational vehicles are very popular and, while the term RV usually evokes the image of large motor coaches rolling down the road or parked at a scenic campground, it can mean many things. Recreational vehicles include all types of motorhomes, from small pop-top camper vans and bus conversions to Class A, B and C motor coaches. Other types of RVs could include boats, all-terrain vehicles and even golf carts.

Who Needs Protection?

All of the aforementioned vehicles pose a certain amount of risk to the driver/owner. For this reason, they should be covered by sufficient insurance to prevent the suffering of financial losses that become your personal responsibility. North Carolina, like all other states, require that motor vehicles driven on public roads be covered by a minimum amount of state-mandated liability coverage. Just as with your car insurance, RV liability coverage pays “the other guy” when you’re involved in an accident shown to be your fault. However, just like car insurance, options exist whereby you can add coverage that reimburses you for losses resulting from a collision (collision coverage) or from non-collision caused losses, such as theft, vandalism, fire, storm damage and more (comprehensive coverage).

Why RV Insurance is Unique

Many RVs are large, difficult-to-drive vehicles more likely to be involved in accidents that cause a great deal of damage to other individuals and their property. For this reason, often the claim dollar limits are higher than for regular car insurance. In addition, RVs often contain a great deal of items, including appliances and any number of personal items.

Even if you only use your RV occasionally, or for a few months a year, you need to carry coverage year-round, especially the comprehensive coverage that protects against losses from non-collision incidents. Another consideration applies to those individuals who live in their RVs as a substitute for conventional homes. In these cases, some provisions of RV insurance will more closely resemble a typical homeowner’s insurance policy.

While basic liability insurance is required by law if your RV is licensed for the road, if you’ve purchased your vehicle through a bank or other financial institution, it will want collision and comprehensive coverage to protect its financial interests. Your local insurance broker can clearly explain everything you should have.