What kind of insurance do you need for an RV?

Are you preparing for an adventure with your newly purchased recreational trailer in tow?? If you are insuring a tow-behind recreational trailer, you may need to meet additional licensing requirements depending upon weight and braking mechanism.

In order to determine whether this is the case for your trailer, your insurance company will want to know that you are running a two-axle vehicle and what your gross vehicle weight (GVW)is. Your GVW should not exceed 4600 kg, or a license upgrade will be required in order to access insurance.

To determine your GVW, you should fill the trailer to your estimated travel needs and include a full tank of water and gas. Then? Head down to a weigh scale to determine your approximate GVW while fully loaded.

If your vehicle and/or trailer is equipped with air brakes and is over 4600 kg, your ICBC Insurance plan will require that you obtain an on-highway air brake endorsement before you can be fully insured. On-highway air brake endorsements are provided with completion of an ICBC-approved air brake course or equivalent experience. You must pass a knowledge test and a pre-trip test as well as pay associated licensing fees.

Air brake courses are a minimum of seven hours in length and can be accessed in a number of locations including driving schools and colleges. Once you’ve achieved your endorsement testing, you’ll be ready to head out on the road.

Once you’ve secured ICBC RV insurance, you may want to look into additional coverage if your needs require it. You’ll want to know whether the policy will cover towed vehicles or trailers only, whether road services are covered, and towing distances covered.

RV Travel Safety

Before you go, consider what will be necessary and what will be left at home. Be aware of the amount of weight that you are loading into your RV and do your best to balance it left-to-right and front-to-back to distribute stress evenly.

Make sure to check the air pressure in your tires as well as all fluid levels. Your lights, including signal lights, should be checked prior to hitting the road. Make sure your backup camera and side mirrors are clean and clear, and travel during the day if possible.

If you are travelling with more than one person, the second person should assist with identifying hazards on the roads such as wildlife or fallen debris and track your progress against your planned route. If you are travelling alone, make sure to make frequent stops and always pull over if you feel tired.

When operating a moving vehicle, the size of an RV it is important to remember that they are not as agile as a daily-driver vehicle. Large vehicles take more time to accelerate, decelerate and require more clearance to turn. Keep tabs on the weather and be mindful of conditions that require additional caution such as wet roads or freezing rain. In short, practice enough to be comfortable driving your vehicle before you go. Consider that in more remote locations, longer distances are required to get to a major centre for service.

When travelling long distances through busy centers, we recommend using an app or other web service to identify local traffic and suggested detours. When you are travelling all day, being held up in traffic only makes the day longer.

If you’ll be using electrical outlets in your trailer, be sure to know the amperage that it is wired for and know where the breaker panel is. Once you know the amperage, you can plan how to use appliances without blowing any fuses.

If you are adventuring in new surroundings, be sure to research the plants and animals in the area. When camping around hazards like snakes or ivy, it is important to have a reference point for what to do if you are faced with an emergency. Always make sure that you have a first aid kit in your RV, and if you are using a tow-behind trailer, ensure to keep one in each. A paper map and compass are important if Wi-Fi and cell phone services are unavailable, and it always pays to have a flashlight.

Finally, make sure that you are checking and maintaining your tow trailer, RV, or truck regularly. Any vehicle or trailer is safer and more reliable when it is consistently maintained.

For additional safety while sleeping away from home, wooden dowels can be placed along window tracks to prevent them from being opened from the outside and locks can be upgraded to deadbolts. Always carry ID and/or passports with you when you leave your RV or trailer and put other high-ticket items like sports equipment inside if possible.

Looking for cheap car insurance in Kelowna?

Southern Insurance would love to help you at our Kelowna office or, you can visit our website at: www.southerninsurance.ca

You may purchase additional car insurance in Kelowna once you have your ICBC standardized coverage in place. Come down to talk to us about RV insurance in Kelowna or auto insurance in Kelowna. With ICBC insurance in Kelowna, you meet the insurance requirements for the province, and you can then see us for your car insurance quote in Kelowna.