RV Insurance Ontario

Recreational Vehicle Insurance in Ontario

RVs are an exceedingly popular way to vacation and enjoy camping adventures in Ontario. It's your mobile home away from home, so having the proper protection for your family and your RV is essential. In the event of a claim, you can be held financially liable for any repairs or liability costs without the proper insurance. Ontario RV insurance is essential to protect you and your RV investment.

What Is Ontario RV Insurance?

RV insurance helps financially protect motor home owners against potential loss, damage, and liability claims to their RV. A recreational vehicle insurance policy can include mandatory protection for collision damage, personal injury, and protection against any risks associated with the class of RV insured.

Speaking with a licensed insurance broker will help you understand a standard RV insurance policy and walk you through additional protection you can add that suits your individual needs.

What Is A Motorhome?

A motorhome is a type of recreational vehicle, or RV, known as "engine-in" because a motorhome combines both the motor vehicle and the living quarters. This can mean a lot of benefits for you and your passengers. Another advantage of the motorhome is that it can sometimes be more accessible for those with less towing experience. They are still quite large, so caution is always encouraged.

If you have never towed anything before, a motorhome may feel like a more natural fit. With your kitchen, bed, and washroom just steps away from your driver's seat, a motorhome is great when you need to rest from the road. For all of these advantages, a few downsides are worth considering. For example, motorhomes tend to require more maintenance. So be sure that you have a trusted mechanic in mind should the need arise.

Did you know? Three-quarters (76%) of RV owners have pets, which is significantly higher than Canadians in general (58%). Dogs are the most common, while cats are a distant second. Emphasizing the pet-friendliness of an RV has the potential of attracting a broad subset of vacationers navigating recreational living options, such as hotels and resorts, that may not always welcome pets.

Who Needs RV Insurance In Ontario?

If you own a recreational vehicle, such as a motorhome, you should purchase Ontario RV insurance to protect your investment and financial stability. You will be financially responsible for any losses or liability expenses without recreational vehicle insurance.

It is also important to note that if you finance or lease your RV, the lender will likely require insurance to be in place for the entire term of the loan.

How Does Ontario RV Insurance Work?

RV insurance protects your motor vehicle and provides coverage in the event of a loss or damage to the vehicle, contents, and personal belongings. Ontario RV insurance also includes liability coverage. If you own a motorized RV that you can drive on the road, it is essential to have mandatory protection as it is legally required in Ontario to have insurance.

Is Ontario RV Insurance Mandatory?

In Ontario, you must have insurance if you own a motorized RV or motorhome that can be driven on the road. If you own a non-motorized recreational vehicle, RV insurance is not mandatory. However, it is essential protection. Your non-motorized RV is covered by your auto insurance policy when it is on the road, but your auto policy does not cover your non-motorized RV when it is parked. This is where Ontario RV insurance is needed.

What Does Ontario RV Insurance Cover?

Ontario RV insurance covers damage to your recreational vehicle, contents, outbuildings, personal and premises liability, third-party liability (for drivable RVs), roadside assistance, renting out your RV, emergency vacation expenses, and increased coverage and limits. Standard coverage options include what you would typically expect from vehicle insurance: traffic collision coverage, automobile accident benefits and comprehensive coverage.

Extra coverage can be added to your recreational vehicle insurance policy to include protection for items such as appliance warranties, frozen food, lock replacement, emergency vacation expenses and personal effects. Speak with an insurance representative who will help you determine additional coverage options to add to your motorhome insurance policy. The standard types of vehicle insurance coverage, along with a few of the additional coverages you may want to ask our expert auto insurance brokers about, are listed below.

Third-Party Liability Insurance

Suppose someone files a lawsuit against you because you allegedly damaged their property or caused them injury while you were behind the wheel. In that case, the third-party liability insurance on your Ontario RV insurance policy will help you handle the cost of your legal defence and settlement payments if you are found liable by the court up to the coverage limits listed on your policy.

Direct Compensation Property Damage (DCPD)

This part of your standard recreational vehicle insurance applies when your vehicle is damaged in a collision in which you are not at fault. It gives you the ability to claim insurance compensation for the repair or replacement of your RV directly from your auto insurance provider rather than waiting for the other driver's auto insurance, and you may also be able to get compensation for the loss of use of your RV and its contents, depending on how your policy is written. There are some stipulations to this coverage, such as the accident must occur in Ontario, and another at-fault driver must be involved.

Statutory Accident Benefits Coverage

Suppose you are injured in an accident, regardless of whether you were at fault for the accident or not. In that case, the statutory accident benefits coverage on your Ontario RV insurance gets you benefits to cover expenses such as medical and rehabilitation costs. You may also be able to receive compensation for loss of income if you cannot work for a period of time due to your injuries.

Uninsured Automobile Coverage

When you're involved in a collision in which the other driver is at fault, you expect to receive compensation for the damage caused by the at-fault driver's insurance provider. But suppose the other driver is uninsured, underinsured or flees the accident scene before you can collect their information. In that case, you can fall back on the uninsured automobile coverage portion of your Ontario RV insurance to get the insurance compensation you need to deal with the repair or replacement of your recreational vehicle.

Emergency Roadside Assistance

Nothing can ruin the fun and excitement of vacationing out on the open road faster than being stuck on the side of the open road, going nowhere fast. Regardless of how well you look after your motorhome, there's always the potential for a problem like a flat tire or dead battery—and changing the tire on a massive RV can be considerably more challenging than it is with a regular car.

Suppose you have emergency roadside assistance coverage included on your Ontario RV insurance. In that case, you can rest assured that help will arrive—and you'll be able to recoup some of the costs associated with roadside services such as a battery boost, tire change, fuel delivery, lock opening, towing and more.

Vacation Liability Coverage

Ontario RV insurance protects you from many potential financial losses that could be incurred while you're out on the road—but if your motorhome is parked at a campsite when you accidentally injure someone else or damage their property, you need vacation liability coverage. For example, if you invite a new friend from a neighbouring campsite over for a hot dog roast and a shifting log accidentally burns them while you're stoking the fire, they could choose to sue you. Vacation liability coverage will help cover expenses such as legal fees, settlement costs and medical bills. It can also help cover the cost of repair or replacement for third-party property damage.

Driving Record Protection

If you've worked hard to maintain a solid driving record by playing it safe and following all the rules of the road, it can be particularly devastating to see your rating stained by one careless mistake. Suppose you are involved in an accident, and you are at fault. In that case, a driving record protection endorsement will protect your rating, and your insurance rates may stay the same following the incident, or the increase may be a lot less than it would be without driving record protection on your Ontario RV insurance.

Contents Coverage

While your Ontario RV insurance policy protects you against financial loss in the event of a damaging accident or theft of your motorhome, it doesn't typically cover the belongings inside it. From expensive fishing to recreational equipment and other essentials, paying out of pocket to replace it all would be a severe financial burden. With adequate contents insurance coverage on RV insurance, Ontario drivers can get help to repair damaged items or replace stolen and destroyed items. However, this coverage does have limitations. The items that were damaged or stolen from your RV must be items that are usually in the vehicle. Items such as earrings that were accidentally left in the vehicle would instead be covered by your home insurance policy.

How Much Ontario RV Insurance Do I Need?

You need enough RV insurance in Ontario to protect you and your RV or motorhome in the event of loss, damage, or liability claims. Most insurance companies include mandatory protection such as recreational vehicle insurance coverage for total loss replacement, the replacement cost of personal belongings, liability, and emergency expenses. Your Ontario RV insurance coverage can extend to emergency vacation expenses, emergency roadside service, and coverage while in the United States.

Be sure to speak with the expert advisors at Morison Insurance, who will explain the different types of coverage and how much recreational vehicle insurance coverage you need to properly protect your motorhome.

Can I Add Ontario RV Insurance To My Existing Auto Insurance Policy?

Yes, in most cases, it is possible to add Ontario RV insurance to your standard auto insurance package instead of using a stand-alone policy. Bundling it together could save you a bit of money, and you can still get good coverage if you add on a few endorsements to round out the package.  

How Much Does Ontario RV Insurance Cost?

The cost of your recreational vehicle insurance premium depends on many factors, including the year, make and model of your camper unit. Generally, less pricey RVs cost less to insure; more extensive and more elaborate motorhomes cost more to insure. For example, insurance premiums for an RV valued at $30,000 would cost an estimated $46 per month, whereas an RV valued at $100,000 would cost an estimated $161 per month.

Our Morison Insurance brokers will provide you with an accurate recreational vehicle insurance quote based on the details of your RV to ensure you have peace of mind knowing you are properly protected.

Where Can I Get Ontario RV Insurance?

You can get Ontario RV insurance from our team of Morison Insurance experts to ensure you are protected on your journeys, from family camping adventures to summer road trips. Our expert insurance agents will provide excellent service and get you several competitive recreational vehicle insurance quotes and advice on RV maintenance so you can have peace of mind and select the best policy for you in terms of price and coverage. Get started today by filling out the form on our website or by picking up the phone and calling 1-800-463-8074.

This content is written by our Morison Insurance team. It is provided for general information only. Insurance needs differ from person to person, and this article is therefore not a substitute for professional advice about your individual insurance needs which can be obtained by speaking to one of our brokers.