Colorado RV owners face a question every fall: what do you do with your insurance when you park the rig for winter? Many owners assume they can simply cancel their policy during the off-season to save money. Others assume their existing coverage automatically handles storage. Both assumptions can lead to costly surprises. Here's what you actually need to know about RV insurance during Colorado's winter storage season.
Should You Cancel Your RV Insurance During Winter Storage?
The short answer: no — and here's why. Even a parked RV faces real risks that standard RV insurance covers:
- Theft: RVs are valuable targets for thieves, and storage facilities — even secured ones — experience break-ins. Generators, solar panels, electronics, and the RV itself can all be stolen.
- Vandalism: Storage lots are not immune to vandalism. Damage to windows, tires, and exterior panels can be expensive to repair.
- Fire: Electrical fires, arson, and fires spreading from adjacent vehicles or structures can destroy a stored RV.
- Hail and weather damage: Colorado's spring and fall hailstorms don't care that your RV is parked. A single hailstorm can cause thousands of dollars in damage to a roof, skylights, and exterior panels.
- Falling objects: Tree branches, ice, and debris can damage a stored RV, especially in outdoor storage.
- Rodent damage: While not typically covered by insurance, rodents nesting in stored RVs can cause significant damage to wiring and insulation.
What Is Storage-Only RV Insurance?
Rather than canceling your policy entirely, many RV owners switch to a storage or lay-up endorsement during the off-season. This reduces your premium significantly while maintaining the comprehensive coverage that protects your parked RV from theft, fire, weather, and other non-driving risks.
Here's what storage coverage typically includes and excludes:
- Included: Comprehensive coverage (theft, fire, weather, vandalism, falling objects)
- Excluded: Collision coverage, liability coverage, roadside assistance, and other coverages that only apply when the RV is being driven
The savings can be substantial — switching to storage-only coverage can reduce your RV insurance premium by 50–75% during the months your RV isn't on the road.
When Does Storage Coverage Start and End?
Most insurers allow you to switch to storage coverage when your RV is parked for an extended period — typically 30 days or more. You'll need to notify your insurer when you put the RV into storage and again when you take it out. Some policies allow you to set specific storage dates in advance.
Important: make sure your full coverage is reinstated before you take the RV out of storage and onto the road. Driving with only storage coverage active means you have no liability protection — which is both illegal in Colorado and financially dangerous.
Colorado-Specific Winter Storage Risks
Colorado's climate creates some specific risks for stored RVs that are worth understanding:
- Freeze damage: Colorado winters can be brutal. If your RV's water system isn't properly winterized, frozen pipes can burst and cause extensive interior damage. This type of damage — caused by gradual freezing — is typically not covered by insurance, which is why proper winterization is essential.
- Heavy snow loads: Significant snowfall can stress an RV roof. Outdoor storage in high-snowfall areas of Colorado (mountain communities, the Front Range foothills) carries higher risk of structural damage from snow accumulation.
- Hail in spring: Colorado's hail season starts in March and April — right when many RV owners are preparing to take their rigs out of storage. Make sure your comprehensive coverage is active before hail season begins.
- Wind damage: Colorado's notorious chinook winds and mountain gusts can topple unsecured awnings and cause other wind damage to stored RVs.
Indoor vs. Outdoor Storage: Does It Affect Your Insurance?
Where you store your RV can affect both your risk exposure and potentially your insurance premium:
- Indoor climate-controlled storage: Offers the best protection from weather, theft, and temperature extremes. Some insurers offer lower premiums for indoor storage.
- Covered outdoor storage: Protects against hail and snow accumulation but not temperature extremes. A good middle-ground option.
- Open outdoor storage: Most affordable but exposes your RV to the full range of Colorado weather risks. Make sure your comprehensive coverage limits are adequate.
- Home storage (driveway or property): Convenient but check your homeowners or HOA rules. Some neighborhoods restrict RV parking. Your RV insurance still applies regardless of where it's stored.
What to Do Before Putting Your RV in Storage
A proper storage checklist protects both your RV and your insurance coverage:
- Winterize the water system. Drain all water lines, tanks, and the water heater. Add RV antifreeze to the plumbing system. Freeze damage from improper winterization is generally not covered by insurance.
- Document your RV's condition. Take photos and video of the interior and exterior before storage. This documentation is invaluable if you need to file a claim for damage that occurred during storage.
- Notify your insurer. Contact ABIM Insurance to switch to storage coverage and confirm your comprehensive coverage remains active.
- Secure the RV. Use wheel locks, hitch locks, and other anti-theft devices. Many insurers offer discounts for security measures.
- Remove valuables. Take out electronics, portable generators, and other high-value items that are easy to steal.
- Check your storage facility's insurance. Storage facilities typically carry liability insurance for the facility itself but not for individual vehicles stored there. Your RV insurance is your protection.
Review Your RV Coverage Before Next Season
The transition into and out of storage is a good time to review your overall RV insurance coverage. Are your liability limits adequate? Is your RV insured for its current replacement value? Do you have roadside assistance coverage for those long Colorado mountain drives?
ABIM Insurance specializes in RV insurance for Colorado owners. We can help you set up storage coverage for the winter, make sure your comprehensive limits are right for your RV's value, and get you fully covered before you hit the road in spring. Contact us for a free review — in English, Spanish, or Russian.