Does RV Insurance Cover a Car I Tow Behind It
Your RV policy covers the RV itself, but the car you're towing behind it almost always needs its own separate coverage.
No, not on its own
Your RV policy is written for the RV. It doesn't extend to a separate vehicle just because you've hitched it up and you're pulling it down the highway. The car behind you, often called a dinghy or a toad, needs its own insurance, the same policy it would carry if you were driving it on its own wheels.
Some RV policies offer an add-on for liability or physical damage while the car is in tow, but that's a separate coverage you ask for and pay for, not something built into a standard RV policy. Whether your insurer offers it, and what it actually pays for, depends on the insurer and the specific policy. Ask them directly rather than assuming it's included.
Whether the towed car has its own policy
If the car you're towing sits unused most of the year, it's tempting to let the insurance lapse and assume the RV policy has you covered. That's the mistake that costs people when something happens on the road. Without its own policy, damage to the towed car, or damage it causes to someone else, may not be covered by anything.
Keep the towed car insured the way you would if you drove it daily. If it's rarely driven apart from towing trips, ask your insurer about a policy priced for that kind of limited use. That can cost less than full-time coverage while still protecting you when the car is actually hitched up and on the move.
If you and the car's owner are different people, for instance if you're towing a car that belongs to your adult child or a friend, check whose policy would respond if something happens. This is worth sorting out before a trip, not after.
How the car is being towed
Insurers look at the method of towing because it changes what's actually at risk. A car towed on a dolly or a trailer is being carried, not driven, so the main exposure is damage to the car itself and to the dolly or trailer. A car towed flat, with all four wheels on the road and the ignition set up to steer and brake with the RV, is functioning more like a vehicle in motion, and some insurers treat that differently.
Your RV policy may also need to know that you tow a vehicle at all. If you added towing equipment or changed how you tow since you bought the policy, tell your insurer. An undisclosed change can affect how a claim gets handled.
Check too whether the trailer or tow dolly itself is insured. It's a separate piece of equipment, and it can be totaled or damaged just like any other vehicle.
Questions people ask about this
What happens if the towed car gets damaged on the highway?
This depends on whose policy is in place and what coverage it includes. If the towed car has its own comprehensive and collision coverage, that policy is typically what responds, whether the damage happened while towing or while parked. If the only coverage in the picture is the RV's liability coverage, that may not pay for damage to the car itself at all. Confirm with the car's insurer what applies while it's in tow.
Does the RV's insurance cover the tow dolly or trailer?
Not automatically. The dolly or trailer is its own piece of equipment, and some RV policies offer coverage for it as an attached accessory while others don't. Ask your insurer whether it's listed on the policy and what would happen if it were damaged or stolen.
Do I need to tell my insurer I tow a car behind my RV?
Yes, tell them. Insurers rate and write policies based on how a vehicle is actually used, and towing another car is a use they should know about. Leaving it off the application or never mentioning it later can affect how a claim is reviewed.
Can I use the towed car's insurance if I'm driving the RV, not the car?
This depends on how the towed car's policy is written. A standard auto policy usually covers the car itself regardless of whether it's being driven or towed, but the specifics of liability while it's hitched up and not under its own power vary by insurer. Ask the car's insurer how they handle a vehicle in tow.
Is a rental car I'm towing covered differently than my own car?
Yes, this is a different situation. A rental agreement usually has its own insurance terms, and towing a rental behind an RV may violate those terms outright. Check the rental agreement and ask the rental company directly before you tow it anywhere.
See what it would cost to insure the towed car properly before your next trip.
Pull out both your RV policy and the policy for the car you tow, and read what each one actually says about towing. Call your RV insurer and ask directly whether towing coverage is included or available as an add-on, and get the answer in writing if you can. Call the towed car's insurer and confirm the car is covered for its actual use, including any periods where it sits unused between trips. If you tow flat, ask both insurers whether that method is specifically addressed in your coverage. Do this before your next trip, not after something happens on the road.
