Progressive Insurance

A Trip in an RV Shouldn't Ruin Your Marriage … or Your Day

Mistakes happen, especially when you're somewhere unfamiliar, but the results of a recent survey may still surprise you. The survey found that among RVers, a spouse is more likely to be accidentally left behind than the dog. A leading RV insurer, The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies, surveyed more than 1,000 RVers countrywide to uncover amusing mishaps they've experienced while traveling.

The survey found that the most common blunders made while traveling are:

Driving away with the steps extended
Backing into something
Misjudging overhead or side clearance space
Not connecting taillights correctly
Running out of gas

The survey found that 53 percent of RVers spend a month or more each year traveling the open road, and 42 percent travel more than 500 miles per trip. Only 28 percent bought a stand-alone insurance policy with specialized RV coverages. In fact, 54 percent simply added their RV to their auto policy, and 14 percent didn't buy any RV insurance.

Simply adding your RV to your auto policy can leave you woefully under protected. To find an independent agent, visit Progressive's website. For more information on specialized RV coverages, click here.

RV Insurance: Don't Hit the Road Without It (October 2008)

If you bought a tractor-trailer, you wouldn't add it to your car insurance policy. It's a specialized vehicle and needs special coverages and claims handling. So why do more than half of RVers we surveyed add their RV to their car insurance policy? For example, what if:

Your RV breaks down on a trip?

While a lot of car insurance policies offer roadside assistance, many may not include coverage for your RV. Even if your policy covers some roadside expenses, it may not cover them all. For example, it may pay for towing only up to the amount it costs to tow a car. RV tows can cost three times more. That means there are out-of-pocket expenses you're responsible for paying.

Your RV is involved in a crash?

Auto insurers typically have someone who normally handles car insurance claims inspect your RV. Specialty RV insurers train claims reps to look for damage and write estimates specific to RVs. They also work with repair facilities that can repair an RV and guarantee the work.

The stuff in your RV is stolen?

You may keep things inside your RV that you never keep in your car like jewelry, laptops and camcorders. Your auto policy won't pay to replace these items if they're lost, stolen or damaged. Specialty insurers offer "personal effects" coverage that will pay to replace them if they're used with your RV.

For more information on RV insurance, contact an independent agent or broker.

Tips for Protecting Boats and Motorcycles
Boat
Before you take your motorcycle on the road or put your boat on the water, it may pay to be certain your insurance is shipshape. Motorcycles and boats are often significant investments, and the right insurance policy can help protect them. Here are a few tips, courtesy of Nancy Baidas Agency.

Evaluate your specific needs. Insuring a boat or a motorcycle is different than insuring your car or home. A specialized motorcycle policy, for instance, can provide coverage for custom paint jobs and aftermarket equipment that might not be covered if the bike was just added to a generic auto policy.

Similarly, a specialized boat policy could cover things like the cost to replace lost or damaged fishing gear and costly services such as emergency on-water towing and fuel-spill cleanup. You probably wouldn't get this coverage by adding a boat to a homeowner's policy.

Consult with an independent agency like Nancy Baidas Agency. Unlike "captive" agents who represent only one company, independent insurance agents and brokers are licensed insurance professionals who represent several companies. They can offer you a variety of coverages, review and evaluate your policies, suggest new coverage options that meet your changing needs, and answer your questions.

To learn more about Progressive boat and motorcycle insurance, contact Nancy Baidas Agency or visit Progressive's website.