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Coarsegold · 03-23-2023, 11:16 AM

Likely most of us do not have coverage for rodent or animal damage. You know that if your rig sits long enough something will get in and do damage. Could be a mouse, rat or even a bear.

My daughter just told me a rat got in the engine area and chewed up some wires and the RV won't even start. She called her insurance and they said sorry no coverage for that. She said send that to me and they did.

Exclusions; #9 loss caused by birds, vermin, rodents, insects, or animals.

Her insurance is from the company that has the cute little green lizard and other goofy commercials that have nothing to do with insurance.

It appears this is only on their RV policy, automobiles have the coverage. Guess they got tired of paying claims for that. Oh, that is why we have
full coverage insurance I thought, since they sit a lot. Check your policy!!

shootist · 03-23-2023, 11:41 AM

Hitting an elk would total the Rv and it wouldn’t be covered? Or is this stationary type damage exclusions?

Old-Biscuit · 03-23-2023, 12:26 PM

Rodent damage is preventable therefore not covered

Hitting an elk is called an accident and covered under Collision

Coarsegold · 03-23-2023, 03:18 PM

Yes O-B that is true, but not sure if I would label rodents, rats and mice preventable.

I live below Yosemite National Park and also Sequoia Park, the amount of bear losses would surprise you how often they break into cars and RV's.

I just thought it is really hen house for them to have that exclusion on RV's but not on auto. I also want to make people aware of this and check their policy so they won't have a big surprise when they think they have "full" coverage and they really don't.

exgman · 03-24-2023, 05:19 AM

I just spent $13K repairing damage a rat did to my Coach. All cold water lines, 1/2 my hot water lines, Aqua Hot lines, and some air lines. Coarsegold is correct. Most RV policies exclude vermin damage. I found out the hard way.

SeeTheUSA · 03-24-2023, 07:46 AM

For $18/year, I have $10,000 rodent damage coverage with a $250 deductible on my motorhome insurance policy. I hope I never need to used it!

CaptainYARRR · 03-24-2023, 08:28 AM

This kinda reads like "I didn't read my exclusions and now I'm surprised." That's one of the main points of reading on any policy. Giving them money and asking for full coverage isn't a best practice.

jacwjames · 03-24-2023, 08:38 AM

I had a problem with my coach in 2021, one of the lines powered by the inverter was bad. When I threw the breaker on the generator would die. Long story short, the 12-2 wire was routed through the ceiling and I suspect some sort of vermin got it. I was able to reroute the power to get all the outlets working but it was a pain and would have cost $$$ to have a shop do it.

But it's not only RV's. I had a fault code pop up on my Jeep, high oil pressure. Went underneath and found the wires chewed through. Fixable but a pain, when I popped the hood found signs of vermin in there also. Last year it was my Suburban, something chewed through the alternator wire.

Doesn't surprise me that this type of damage is excluded in a policy. Insurance companies would be having to fix a lot of RV's

EDIT, this peaked my interest so I looked at my insurance policy, I do not have any exclusions in my Auto/RV policies. I do in my house policy.

Also confirmed that the RV is insured for "Stated Amount" which was hard to find but it is the amount that I agreed to 3 years ago when i first took the policy out.

Good to know.

Coarsegold · 03-28-2023, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainYARRR

This kinda reads like "I didn't read my exclusions and now I'm surprised." That's one of the main points of reading on any policy. Giving them money and asking for full coverage isn't a best practice.

Well yes that is true, but when the client says they want full coverage and the Insurance company said your covered you sort of take their word for it. Not many people have the time to go home and read their policy front to back. That is sort of like watching your clothes dry, it is pretty boring.

I hope my thread has opened some eyes and people will take some time to at least read the part of the policy that is titled (exclusions, or excluded items).

The repairs on my daughters RV is now up to $1300 and who knows if that is it.

stinger608 · 03-28-2023, 04:13 PM

We have full coverage through Progressive, and had to make sure we had rodent coverage as well as roof coverage.

That's another thing to make sure of, that when getting the full coverage to be sure to add the roof coverage as well. A lot of the insurance don't automatically include the roof.

Coarsegold · 03-28-2023, 04:59 PM

Yes that is a great point stinger, as some companies try to weasel out of these areas that are the most concern for RV owners.

Rexlion · 03-29-2023, 07:52 PM

This thread prompted me to ask my Farmers Insurance agent for a copy of the full contractual policy agreement, with all exclusions. I also posed the example of rodent or bear damage. He replied, "there typically are not a lot of scenarios under comprehensive... On the comprehensive coverage vandalism is covered, yet it doesn't state who, or what causes the vandalism, thus I feel any animal that vandals a trailer is covered."

So instead of getting something in writing, I'm getting his opinion of what's covered. I'm beginning to wonder of Farmers has an actual contract or if they fly by the seat of their pants!

Old-Biscuit · 04-01-2023, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rexlion

This thread prompted me to ask my Farmers Insurance agent for a copy of the full contractual policy agreement, with all exclusions. I also posed the example of rodent or bear damage. He replied, "there typically are not a lot of scenarios under comprehensive... On the comprehensive coverage vandalism is covered, yet it doesn't state who, or what causes the vandalism, thus I feel any animal that vandals a trailer is covered."

So instead of getting something in writing, I'm getting his opinion of what's covered. I'm beginning to wonder of Farmers has an actual contract or if they fly by the seat of their pants!

Your Agent is just the salesmen for the Ins. Company
Read your policy.

Course that is just my opinion

Jack Parker · 05-01-2023, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

Rodent damage is preventable therefore not covered

Hitting an elk is called an accident and covered under Collision

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

Your Agent is just the salesmen for the Ins. Company
Read your policy.

Course that is just my opinion

I'm glad I randomly read this thread. I don't have an RV yet but, Lord willing, I will shortly.

As a research junky, I've seen van and RV life folks on YouTube have issues with mice and insects. (Some of it's just flat out a cleanliness issue.) But, there are always tiny spaces that these pests always seem to find and get inside the vehicle. As for the engine, that's always exposed.

I've come across so many home remedies to prevent mice, like peppermint oil sprayed on the engine. Mice hate it. Since I plan to be rural and off-grid more than not, I'd be interested in hearing your methods for preventing rodent damage.

As for insurance coverage. I've just started researching that. It's an interesting racket that, much like RV dealers and manufacturers, tend to have purposely misleading methods and wording in their paperwork. Even if you happen to have the best agent in the world, if they quit/leave...