Camper Trailer Insurance Ontario: Coverage, Costs & Requirements

In Ontario, a camper or travel trailer is considered a separate vehicle from the vehicle that tows it, and it must be registered before you tow it on any public road. Registration and insurance are separate questions, though. Your tow vehicle's auto policy may extend some protection to a trailer while it's attached, but it usually won't cover damage to the trailer itself, theft while it's parked, or your belongings inside it. Camper trailer insurance in Ontario fills those gaps, subject to the policy's terms, conditions, limits and exclusions.

This guide separates registration, tow-vehicle insurance and trailer insurance, explains what a trailer policy can cover and what affects the price, and shows how to get a quote.

Does a camper trailer need insurance in Ontario?

It helps to separate four different things.

1. Registration

Before you tow a recreational or utility trailer on a public road in Ontario, you must register it and pay a one-time fee at a ServiceOntario centre. You'll receive a trailer plate and vehicle permit, with no annual plate sticker. Registration is not insurance.

2. Tow-vehicle insurance

The vehicle pulling the trailer must be insured, with at least $200,000 in third-party liability. Depending on the policy wording, the tow vehicle's liability coverage may extend to the trailer while it's attached. That's a policy question, not something to assume.

3. Physical damage to the trailer

Coverage for damage to the trailer itself, such as collision, theft, fire or hail, generally isn't automatic. It has to be arranged, either as coverage added for the trailer or through a dedicated trailer or RV policy, depending on the insurer.

4. Lender requirements

If you financed the trailer, your lender will usually require physical damage coverage and list itself as loss payee. That's a contract requirement, not provincial law, but it's binding on you.

In short: registration is required to tow on public roads, the tow vehicle must be insured, and protecting the trailer itself requires its own coverage. Talk to your broker before your first trip.

How does camper trailer insurance work?

Trailer insurance is usually arranged in one of two ways, depending on the insurer:

• Added to your auto policy as a described trailer, with physical damage coverage selected for it
• A separate recreational vehicle or trailer policy designed for travel trailers, fifth-wheels and similar units

Either way, the insurer will want to know what the trailer is, what it's worth, how it's used and where it's stored. A trailer used a few weekends a year and stored in a locked yard is a different risk from one parked year-round at a seasonal campground.

What does camper trailer insurance cover?

Depending on the insurer and the coverages you select, a camper or travel trailer policy may include:

• Third-party liability for injury or property damage involving the trailer, depending on how liability is arranged with the tow vehicle
• Collision if the trailer is damaged in a collision or upset while towing
• Comprehensive or specified perils for non-collision losses
• Theft of the trailer, and sometimes its contents
• Fire, including fires that start inside the trailer
• Vandalism
• Weather and hail, including wind damage and falling trees or branches
• Certain water damage, such as sudden and accidental leaks, depending on the wording
• Contents and personal belongings, where offered
• Emergency expenses, such as accommodation and transport if the trailer is damaged far from home, where available
• Towing or roadside assistance, where available
• Replacement cost settlement on newer trailers, where available

Coverage is subject to the policy's terms, conditions, limits and exclusions. Gradual water damage, mould, wear and tear, pests and mechanical breakdown are commonly excluded.

Does car insurance cover a camper trailer?

Don't assume it does. Under many Ontario auto policies, some protection may extend to a trailer while it's attached to the insured vehicle, typically liability. But that doesn't usually include physical damage to the trailer, coverage when it's unhitched and parked, theft from a storage lot, or the belongings inside.

The exact answer depends on your policy wording and insurer. Before your first trip:

• ask whether liability extends to the trailer while it's attached, and while it's detached
• ask whether the trailer needs to be described on your policy
• confirm whether physical damage coverage applies to the trailer, and on what basis
• check whether contents, emergency expenses and roadside assistance are included

If you're towing into the United States, confirm that your coverage applies there too, and carry proof of insurance and the trailer permit.

How much does camper trailer insurance cost in Ontario?

There's no reliable average for camper trailer insurance in Ontario, and we won't publish one. A small pop-up camper with liability-related coverage only and a new fifth-wheel insured for full replacement cost are priced on very different bases. Your quote depends on the trailer, how it's used and stored, and the coverage you choose.

What affects camper trailer insurance rates?

Camper trailer vs travel trailer insurance

In everyday conversation, "camper trailer" and "travel trailer" are often used interchangeably for a towable unit you can sleep in. For insurance, the exact classification depends on the insurer and the trailer type, such as pop-up camper, hybrid, conventional travel trailer, fifth-wheel or toy hauler. Describe your trailer accurately, including make, model and year, rather than relying on a general label.

Camper trailer vs RV insurance

"RV" usually covers both towable trailers and motorized units such as motorhomes. A motorhome is a self-propelled vehicle with its own engine, so it's insured more like a vehicle you drive. A towable trailer depends on the tow vehicle for motion, which is why liability and physical damage are often arranged differently.

Fifth-wheel vs travel trailer insurance

A fifth-wheel connects to a hitch in the bed of a pickup truck, while a conventional travel trailer uses a bumper or frame hitch. Fifth-wheels are often larger and higher in value, which can affect physical damage premiums and the coverage insurers offer. The way they're insured is similar in principle, but tell your broker which type you have, its value and the tow vehicle you'll use.

Does trailer insurance cover personal belongings?

Not automatically. Some trailer policies include a contents limit; others don't. Even where contents are covered, limits may be modest and some items may be excluded or limited, such as:

• valuables like jewellery and cash
• electronics like laptops, tablets and cameras
• sporting equipment like bikes, kayaks and fishing gear
• camping equipment stored outside the trailer

Your home or tenant policy may also provide some coverage for belongings temporarily away from home, subject to its own limits and exclusions. Ask your broker how the two policies interact so you're not double-insured or uninsured.

Does camper trailer insurance cover winter storage?

It can, but tell your insurer where and how the trailer is stored. Storage affects both the risk and the coverage you need.

• Private property: a driveway or yard at home, ideally secured
• Storage facilities: fenced lots or indoor storage, sometimes with their own requirements
• Seasonal sites: campgrounds where the trailer stays in place for months
• Security: hitch locks, wheel locks, lighting and cameras
• Unoccupied periods: long periods without anyone checking the trailer can affect certain coverages

Don't assume winter storage automatically reduces your premium. Some insurers adjust coverage during storage; others don't. Keep theft, fire and weather coverage in place while the trailer is parked, since that's when many losses happen.

How to get camper trailer insurance in Ontario

1. Identify the trailer type: pop-up, hybrid, travel trailer, fifth-wheel or toy hauler.
2. Gather the VIN from the trailer frame or permit.
3. Confirm the trailer's value, new or current market value.
4. Gather purchase documents, such as the bill of sale or dealer invoice.
5. Provide photos if the insurer asks.
6. Explain how you'll use it: weekend trips, long trips or a seasonal site.
7. Explain where it's stored, in season and over winter.
8. Disclose modifications, such as solar panels, upgraded electrical systems or added equipment.
9. Review liability limits with your broker, including how liability works with the tow vehicle.
10. Compare physical damage coverage, including replacement cost versus actual cash value.
11. Review the deductible.
12. Confirm exclusions, especially water damage, mould and contents.
13. Bind coverage before you use the trailer, and carry proof with your permit.

Replacement cost vs actual cash value for a travel trailer

Replacement cost, where available, aims to replace a covered trailer with a new comparable unit without deducting depreciation, usually only for newer trailers and subject to conditions. Actual cash value pays the trailer's depreciated value at the time of loss. For a trailer that's a few years old, the difference can be significant.

Do I need an appraisal for a camper trailer?

Usually not for standard trailers with a known make, model and year. For older, restored, custom or unusually high-value units, an insurer may ask for an appraisal or other evidence of value.

Camper trailer insurance quote checklist

• VIN
• Make, model and year
• Purchase price and current estimated value
• Registration information (trailer permit)
• Storage address, in season and off season
• Primary use and how often you travel
• Driver and tow vehicle information
• Previous insurance
• Claims history
• Modifications and added equipment
• Financing or lien information
• Desired coverage
• Desired deductible

Common camper trailer insurance mistakes

• Assuming the tow vehicle covers everything. It usually doesn't cover physical damage to the trailer or contents.
• Not registering the trailer before towing it on public roads.
• Not disclosing modifications or added equipment.
• Underestimating the trailer's value, leaving you underinsured.
• Not asking about contents coverage and limits.
• Ignoring theft protection, both coverage and physical security.
• Not reviewing storage coverage for winter or a seasonal site.
• Forgetting financing requirements from your lender.
• Allowing insurance to lapse between seasons.
• Assuming every water loss is covered. Gradual leaks and mould are commonly excluded.
• Not reviewing exclusions before the first trip.

Why work with an insurance broker?

Not every insurer writes trailers, and those that do differ on valuation, contents, storage and exclusions. A broker can:

• compare available markets for your type of trailer
• review coverage across your tow vehicle and trailer so there's no gap
• explain policy wording, including what's excluded
• identify gaps, such as contents or emergency expenses
• discuss optional coverage that fits how you camp
• assist with claims
• review coverage at renewal as your trailer ages or your use changes

BrokerUnion is an independent, RIBO-licensed brokerage that compares options across multiple insurance markets. We publish the insurance companies and markets we work with, but market agreements are product-specific, and not every market applies to every customer or trailer. Carrier availability, eligibility and pricing vary by client, risk, location and underwriting guidelines.

Frequently asked questions

About BrokerUnion

BrokerUnion Insurance Inc. is an independent, RIBO-licensed insurance brokerage headquartered in Pickering, Ontario, with offices in Pickering, Barrie, Mississauga, Whitby, Sudbury and Kitchener. This guide was written by the BrokerUnion Insurance Editorial Team and reviewed by Muqit Aziz, Principal Broker, using Government of Ontario sources.