Motor insurance
American RV Insurance
motor cover for American motorhomes on UK roads: the size, the import history, the parts and the value
Motorhome cover for a US-built RV on UK roads. Its weight, your licence, its import and registration, and the cost of parts shape the terms more than for a European motorhome.
- Class A, Class C and Class B
- Agreed value options
- Imported and UK-registered
- FCA authorised and regulated
Quick answerAmerican RV insurance is motorhome cover for a US-built recreational vehicle used in the UK. It works like other motorhome cover, but insurers look closely at the RV’s weight and your licence, how it was imported and registered, any conversions, and how parts would be sourced after a claim. Agreed value cover can help with a vehicle that is hard to value. Enter the registration and specialist UK brokers can come back with quotes.
This page is about US-built motorhomes. European motorhomes are covered on our motorhome insurance page, smaller vans on campervan insurance, and towed American trailers on caravan insurance.
At a glance
American RV Cover, in Brief
Six things that decide how American RV insurance behaves, before any of the detail.
- Weight and licence
- Some RVs are too heavy for a standard car licence
- Import history
- How it was imported and registered in the UK
- Parts and repairs
- Some parts come from the US, so repairs can take longer
- Agreed value
- A value set at the start, useful for rare vehicles
- Size and storage
- Length and height affect where it can be kept
- Touring abroad
- European cover is included on some policies
The basics
What Is American RV Insurance?
Motorhome insurance for a recreational vehicle built for the US market and used in the UK. It covers the RV on the road and when parked, and your liability to others.
Other road users
Injury and damage to third parties, the legal minimum.
The RV itself
Damage, fire and theft, depending on the level of cover.
Contents
Belongings inside, with limits on valuables.
Agreed value
A value set with the insurer at the start, where offered.
Fitted equipment
Awnings, slide-outs, generators and solar, where declared.
European touring
Cover abroad for a set number of days, where included.
How it works
How Does American RV Insurance Work?
You enter the registration, describe the RV, its history and how you use it, agree a value, and brokers come back with quotes.
You enter the registration
The RV is identified, including its make, model and year.
You describe its history
When it was imported, how it was registered and any conversions made for UK roads.
You agree a value
Market value, or an agreed value backed by photos and a valuation.
You choose the cover
Third party, third party fire and theft or comprehensive, with extras such as European touring.
What it covers
What Does American RV Insurance Cover?
Liability to others, the RV itself depending on the level of cover, its contents and fitted equipment, with extras such as agreed value and European touring.
| Section | Where it sits | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Third party | The legal minimum | Injury and damage to others |
| Fire and theft | On third party fire and theft | The RV if stolen or damaged by fire |
| Accidental damage | On comprehensive | Repairs to the RV |
| Agreed value | Optional on some policies | Settles at the value agreed at the start |
| Contents | Included on some policies | Limits apply to valuables and single items |
| Fitted equipment | Where declared | Awnings, slide-outs, generators and solar |
| European touring | Included or optional | Check the number of days covered |
| Breakdown and recovery | Optional | Check the vehicle size limits |
Check breakdown size limits. Some breakdown providers cannot recover larger or heavier vehicles, so confirm the RV’s length and weight are within the cover.
Exclusions
What American RV Insurance Does Not Include
Driving without the right licence, undeclared conversions or modifications, wear and tear, and theft when required security was not in use.
The wrong licence
Driving an RV heavier than your licence allows.
Undeclared modifications
Conversions or changes the insurer was not told about.
Wear, tear and breakdown
Mechanical failure is not an insured event.
Theft without required security
Where the schedule names a tracker or lock.
Damp and gradual damage
Slow leaks and damp are maintenance issues.
Undeclared full-time living
Living in the RV needs declaring.
Types
Which American RVs Can Be Covered?
A range of US-built motorhomes, from compact vans to large coach-style RVs. Size, weight, age and value shape the terms.
Class A
Large coach-style RVs, among the heaviest.
Class C
Built on a truck or van chassis, with a cab-over bed.
Class B
Van conversions, closer in size to a campervan.
Slide-out models
Rooms that extend when parked.
Classic and vintage RVs
Older imports that may suit agreed value.
Recent imports
RVs newly brought into the UK.
Coach-built motorhomes? Our coach-built motorhome guide covers them in more detail.
Who it is for
Who Needs American RV Insurance
Anyone who owns or is buying a US-built motorhome to use on UK roads.
Owners touring the UK
Holidays and weekends away.
Long-season travellers
Weeks or months on the road.
New importers
Bringing an RV into the UK.
Classic RV enthusiasts
Owning an older model.
Full-time RV owners
Living in the RV, declared to the insurer.
Buyers
Checking cover before they buy.
US or European
American RVs vs European Motorhomes
Both use motorhome insurance, but an American RV’s size, parts and valuation can make it a specialist risk.
| American RV | European motorhome | |
|---|---|---|
| Size and weight | Can be larger and heavier | Can be smaller and lighter |
| Parts | Some from the US | Usually available in the UK |
| Driving position | Sometimes left-hand drive | Usually right-hand drive |
| Valuation | Agreed value can help | Market value is easier to set |
Motorhome or caravan? Our motorhome and caravan guide sets the two side by side.
Cost
What American RV Insurance Is Priced On
The RV’s value, size and age, the cost of parts and repairs, your record, where it is kept and the level of cover. We do not print average premiums.
Why the value and parts lead
A high value and parts that may need to come from the US can make repairs costly and slow, which feeds the price.
Why the driver and storage matter too
Your age, experience and record, and where the RV is kept, feed the rate.
What the quote is rated on
The main factors
- ValueMarket or agreedBase
- The RVSize, weight, age, classRate
- The driverAge, licence, recordRate
- StorageWhere it is kept and securityRate
- UseMileage and touring abroadAdjust
Limited mileage
Some insurers offer lower terms for fewer miles.
Club membership
Some insurers look favourably on owners’ club members.
Secure storage
A secure site can help with theft terms.
Import and licence
The Import and Licence Checks That Decide an American RV Claim
American RV claims can turn on whether the vehicle, the driver and the value were described accurately. Four checks come up again and again.
Check your licence covers the weight
Some RVs weigh more than a standard car licence allows. Some older licences cover heavier vehicles; others need an extra category. Our weight and licence guide explains more.
Declare the import and conversions
How the RV was registered in the UK, and changes such as lighting or gas conversions.
Get the value right
An agreed value backed by photos and a valuation can avoid disputes after a total loss.
Tell the insurer about changes
New equipment, full-time living, a move of storage or trips abroad. Tell the insurer first.
Quote checklist
What You Will Be Asked for an American RV Quote
Six things shape the quote: the RV, its history, its value, your licence, where it is kept, and how you use it.
The RV
Registration, class, length and weight.
Its history
Import date, registration and conversions.
Its value
Market or agreed, with evidence.
Your licence
The categories it includes.
Where it is kept
Storage and security.
How you use it
Mileage, touring abroad and full-time living.
Comparing
Checking American RV Quotes Side by Side
Four areas decide whether a policy suits the RV: valuation, repairs, use, and extras and costs. The price is only one of them.
Valuation
- Market or agreed value
- Evidence the insurer needs
- New for old, if offered
Repairs
- Approved repairers for RVs
- Parts sourcing
- Hire or accommodation after a claim
Use
- European touring days
- Mileage limits
- Full-time living
Extras and costs
- Breakdown size limits
- Contents limits
- The excess
Check how repairs are handled. Parts from the US can mean a long time off the road. Unfamiliar terms are explained in our plain English jargon guide.
Cutting costs
How to Reduce the Cost of American RV Insurance
The levers are security, secure storage, limited mileage, an accurate value and the excess. We publish no savings figures.
Fit a tracker
Security can help the theft terms.
Store it securely
A secure site or driveway can help.
Choose limited mileage
If you tour less, some insurers offer lower terms.
Keep records
Photos, service history and receipts support a claim.
Join an owners’ club
Some insurers look favourably on membership.
Choose the excess deliberately
A higher excess is a lever, worth using only at a level you could absorb.
Glossary
American RV Insurance Terms Explained
The words that come up most on an American RV schedule.
- RV
- A recreational vehicle, the US term for a motorhome.
- Class A
- A large coach-style RV.
- Class C
- An RV built on a truck or van chassis.
- Class B
- A van conversion RV.
- Agreed value
- A value set with the insurer at the start of the policy.
- Market value
- What the RV was worth just before the loss.
- Slide-out
- A room section that extends when parked.
- Licence category
- The vehicle weights your licence allows.
- Comprehensive
- Third party cover plus damage to the RV.
- Excess
- The part of each claim you pay yourself.
Why MyMoneyComparison.com
Why Compare American RV Insurance with MyMoneyComparison.com?
MyMoneyComparison.com is an FCA-authorised UK comparison service that introduces motorhome owners to specialist UK brokers. We do not sell insurance and we do not give advice. Using us is free.
One form, your RV
Enter the registration and describe the RV once.
Advice given
We are an introducer, not a broker. We do not sell policies and we do not recommend one insurer or product over another. Read our editorial policy.
Authorised and regulated
MyMoneyComparison.com Ltd appears on the FCA register under FRN 916241.
Incorporated
A UK company since 2013. FCA authorisation is separate and later; the register carries its date.
FAQs
American RV Insurance FAQs
Answers on licences, imports, agreed value, repairs and touring.
What is American RV insurance?
Motorhome insurance for a US-built recreational vehicle used on UK roads. It covers your liability to others and the RV itself depending on the level of cover, with extras such as agreed value and European touring.
Can I drive an American RV on a normal car licence?
Not always. Some American RVs weigh more than a standard car licence allows. Some older licences include heavier categories, and others need an extra test, so check your licence before you drive or buy.
Is an American RV harder to insure?
It can be. Size, weight, value and parts that may need to come from the US make some RVs a specialist risk, so fewer insurers may quote. Specialist brokers can help find cover.
What is agreed value cover?
A value set with the insurer at the start of the policy, backed by photos and a valuation. If the RV is written off, the claim settles at that value, which can help with rare or imported vehicles.
Does it matter if the RV is left-hand drive?
Insurers ask whether a vehicle is left-hand drive, and it can affect the terms with some insurers. Declare it accurately, along with any other differences from a UK-spec vehicle.
Do I need to declare conversions made for UK roads?
Yes. Changes such as lighting, gas system or other conversions made after import are modifications, and undeclared modifications can affect a claim. Keep records of the work done.
How long do repairs take?
Some parts for American RVs come from the US, so repairs can take longer than for a European motorhome. It is worth checking what help the policy gives while the RV is off the road.
Can I take my American RV to Europe?
Some policies include European touring for a set number of days and others offer it as an extra. Check the countries and days covered before you travel.
Will breakdown cover recover a large RV?
Not every breakdown provider can recover larger or heavier vehicles. Check the length and weight limits on any breakdown cover before you buy it, and tell the provider the vehicle’s size.
Can I live in my RV full time?
Full-time living is a different risk from leisure use. Tell the insurer, as some policies do not cover it and a specialist policy may be needed.
Are my belongings covered inside the RV?
On some policies, under a contents section with its own limit. Valuables such as jewellery and electronics usually have lower limits, so check the terms and list any high-value items.
Are slide-outs and generators covered?
Fitted equipment such as slide-outs, generators, awnings and solar power kits can be covered if declared. Check they are included in the value on the schedule and listed accurately.
What security do insurers ask for?
It depends on the RV and its value. Some insurers ask for a tracker, alarm or immobiliser, and set conditions on where the RV is kept.
Is an American trailer covered here?
No. A towed travel trailer or fifth-wheel is a caravan rather than a motorhome, and is covered by caravan insurance instead. See our caravan insurance page.
Can I get limited mileage cover?
Some insurers offer terms based on a mileage limit, which can suit owners who tour less. Staying within the limit matters if you need to claim.
How do I compare American RV insurance quotes?
Look beyond the price to the valuation basis, repair and parts arrangements, European touring, breakdown size limits, contents limits and the excess you would pay on a claim.
Ready when you are
Get Quotes for Your American RV
Enter the registration at the top of this page, or start below. Specialist UK brokers can then come back with quotes. Free to use, with no obligation to buy.
- Class A, B and C RVs
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- FCA authorised and regulated
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About this page
This page explains UK insurance for American RVs: what it covers, what it leaves out, and how weight, import history and valuation decide a claim. It is general information rather than advice. Policies differ between insurers, so read your own documents and put the questions raised here to your insurer or broker.
How we approached this page
- Published UK motorhome policy summaries
- GOV.UK guidance on driving licence categories and importing vehicles
- Financial Ombudsman material on motor insurance complaints
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