My sister is talking about buying a van to live in. How would she get insurance? Is there insurance to cover her personal property since it's not an actual home or rental property?
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
“While living in a van used to be a sign of failure, today it’s a symbol of adventure! But before your sister embarks, make sure she grabs the right insurance policy.
available to a van dweller depends on where your sister lives and the type of van she has.
If she has a larger van that includes a sleeping area, small kitchen, or even a bathroom, most car insurance companies would issue an RV policy. Typically this is called a Class B insurance policy. This type of policy would include standard coverage like
as well comprehensive and collision. Most RV policies will also cover personal property as well.
However, some vandwellers choose to just purchase a basic full-size van or minivan, throw a bed in the back, and stay at campgrounds. In this case, a regular car insurance policy would suffice.
It can be extremely difficult to insure a type of van that isn’t listed under an RV or Class B policy. Knowing what insurance is available prior to buying a van to live in is an important step. She’ll want to be sure she has the proper insurance coverage for her new home.
If she’s interested in buying a van with all the extras or she’s retrofitting a van to include a kitchen, solar panel, etc., she should first look into companies that offer RV and Class B policies. Then, she can hop on the
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