By Jon Merwin, Founder and CEO
Connecticut is a small state for an RV, and that is part of the appeal. From a driveway in New Canaan or Ridgefield you can be on the shore at Hammonasset, in the Litchfield Hills or across the line into the Berkshires, the Hudson Valley or Rhode Island before lunch. The catch is that Connecticut’s roads were not laid out for big rigs. Its most scenic highway bans them outright, and the state counts more than 700 low bridges. A good RV policy here is built around those facts and around where the unit spends the other ten months of the year.
We are a family-owned independent agency, open since 2005, and we place RVs with 40+ carriers alongside the auto, home and umbrella policies that sit next to them. We serve Connecticut from our Connecticut office and by phone, email and online. Call (603) 431-4020 with questions.
Key takeaways
- Connecticut will not register a motorhome without proof of insurance; a towed camper usually borrows liability from the tow vehicle.
- RVs, campers and all trailers are banned from the Merritt, Wilbur Cross and Milford parkways, as is any vehicle taller than 8 feet.
- Travel trailers need their own physical damage, contents and campsite liability coverage, which a car policy does not provide.
- Valuation options (actual cash value, agreed value, total-loss replacement) differ by carrier and by the RV’s age.
- Seasonal campsites, winter storage and full-time use each change what the policy needs to do.
- Our RV carriers include Progressive, National General, Foremost and Liberty Mutual.
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What Connecticut law says about your RV
Connecticut’s motor vehicle statutes define a camper as a motor vehicle built or permanently altered to provide temporary living quarters, and a motor home as living quarters built onto a truck or van chassis. A camp trailer is any trailer designed for living or sleeping and used only for camping or recreation (Conn. Gen. Stat. ch. 246, §14-1). Those labels decide how the DMV registers the unit, and they line up closely with how insurers treat it.
Registration has to be done in person at a DMV hub or branch, using the registration and title application, Form H-13B. A motorhome purchased in Connecticut that is newer than 20 model years needs a title; older units can use the previous owner’s registration instead. Light trailers, under 1.5 tons, do not need a title at all. For a motorhome, the DMV lists proof of insurance as a required document, and your insurer’s ID card is what satisfies it (CT DMV: register a new vehicle).
Because a motorhome is a motor vehicle, it carries the same mandatory pieces as a car policy: bodily injury and property damage liability plus uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. Our guide to Connecticut car insurance requirements explains those coverages. With a rig that weighs several tons, most owners choose limits well above the state minimum.
The parkway rule every Fairfield County RV owner learns
The Merritt Parkway runs from the New York line in Greenwich to Exit 54 in Milford, where the Wilbur Cross Parkway takes over to Meriden. CTDOT’s rule for all three parkways, including the short Milford Parkway, is blunt: RVs and campers are prohibited, every trailer is prohibited, and so is any vehicle more than 8 feet tall, 24 feet long or 7 feet 6 inches wide (CTDOT parkway restrictions; Regs. Conn. State Agencies §14-298-249). A full-size pickup with passenger plates may use the Merritt on its own, but not with a camper behind it.
The reason is the bridges. The Merritt’s stone and concrete overpasses are part of what makes it beautiful, and they are low. CTDOT’s 2025 “Check Your Height, Know It’s Right” campaign counts more than 700 Connecticut bridges under 14 feet 6 inches, on the Merritt and along railroad corridors, and it names recreational vehicles among the drivers who forget to check (CTDOT bridge-strike campaign). Know your rig’s height with the air conditioner and antenna on top, and keep it on a card on the dash.
From an insurance point of view, a bridge strike is a collision loss to the RV and a liability claim for the structure. Both can be large. That is one reason we look closely at collision deductibles and liability limits on motorhomes and tall fifth wheels.
Motorhome, trailer, fifth wheel or pop-up: what each policy covers
| Type of RV | Driving liability comes from | What the RV policy adds |
|---|---|---|
| Class A, B or C motorhome | The motorhome policy itself | Liability, UM/UIM, collision and comprehensive, plus belongings, campsite liability and emergency expenses |
| Travel trailer or fifth wheel | The tow vehicle’s auto policy while hitched | Damage to the trailer, belongings inside, liability while parked at a site |
| Pop-up or truck camper | The truck or tow vehicle’s policy | Damage to the camper and its contents |
| Unit left on a seasonal site | Not usually driven | Fire, theft, storm and liability at the site; some carriers use a specialty form |
The extras matter more on an RV than on a car. Look for coverage on personal effects (bikes, kayaks, electronics, clothes), awnings and attached accessories, emergency lodging and transportation if the RV breaks down far from home, and roadside assistance written for a vehicle that a standard tow truck cannot handle. Our general RV insurance page and the longer RV insurance guide describe each coverage part.
Campgrounds, seasonal sites and the shoreline
Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison is the center of Connecticut camping. Its campground holds 558 open sites, including eight rustic cabins, which is roughly two of every five campsites in the state park system; 88 of them have water and electric hookups, and stays are capped at 21 days (Connecticut State Parks: Hammonasset). Each site listing shows a maximum vehicle length, so check it against your rig before you book (Camping in Connecticut State Parks).
Two park rules have insurance consequences. State campgrounds do not let you leave a camper or RV on a site between back-to-back reservations; equipment has to leave for five days between stays (CT DEEP camping reservations). So a unit that “lives” at the shore all summer is usually at a private campground. That is a seasonal-site risk, with fixed decks, sheds and propane, and it is worth telling the carrier about up front. Second, a shoreline site is exposed to coastal storms. On a motorhome or trailer, flood water is usually a comprehensive claim rather than a flood-insurance claim, so keep comprehensive in force all season.
Some towns tax campers kept on a site for part of the year. Sterling, for example, explains that a camper registered in Rhode Island or Massachusetts that stays at a Sterling campground for three months or more and is there on October 1 is taxable in Sterling (Town of Sterling assessor). Ask your assessor; we only mention it because the same paperwork tells you where the unit is “garaged” for insurance purposes.
Storing an RV through a Connecticut winter
Most Connecticut RVs sit from late fall until spring. Where they sit drives a lot of the risk. Some owners keep a camper beside the house, which many towns and associations restrict, so check local rules before you buy. Others pay for a storage lot or an indoor building further inland. Each choice changes theft, fire and storm exposure.
- Storage coverage. Some carriers let you drop collision and liability on a stored motorhome while keeping comprehensive for fire, theft, falling trees and storm damage. Never drop comprehensive on a unit that is still sitting outdoors.
- Snow and ice. Roof loads and ice dams cause leaks that show up in spring. Water damage that builds slowly over months is often excluded, so clear the roof and check seals.
- Rodents and moisture. Damage from vermin, mold and wear is typically excluded. Prevention is up to the owner.
- Batteries and propane. Disconnect and store them according to the manufacturer’s instructions to reduce fire risk.
Higher-value rigs and how they fit with the rest of your coverage
A diesel pusher or a new fifth wheel can be worth as much as a house. For those, the valuation choice matters most. An agreed value or total-loss replacement option is often a better fit than actual cash value, and the carriers set different age limits for each. We place RVs with Progressive, National General, Foremost and Liberty Mutual, and we compare how each handles the model, its age and how you use it.
Liability should line up across your policies. A personal umbrella can sit above the RV, your cars and your home, as long as the RV is disclosed and the underlying limits meet the umbrella carrier’s minimums. See our umbrella insurance page. If the family also tows a boat or keeps one on the Sound, our Fairfield County boat insurance page covers that side. If you take an ATV or side-by-side along, see powersports insurance.
Where we write RVs in Connecticut
We insure RVs across the state, from Greenwich, Darien and New Canaan up through Ridgefield, Wilton and Fairfield, and out to the shoreline towns and the Litchfield Hills. Our Connecticut insurance agency page lists the rest, and our Connecticut high-value home insurance page covers the house the RV is parked beside. For the auto policies on your tow vehicle, see what shapes car insurance in Connecticut, or read about our founder, Jon Merwin.
Get a Connecticut RV quote
Tell us what you own, where it sleeps in winter and where you take it in summer, or send the declarations page you have now. We compare 40+ carriers and lay the options out side by side, and we don’t charge any fees. If something goes wrong on the road, we help you report the claim and keep after the carrier until it is resolved. Request a quote. There’s no obligation to buy. Use the form below, visit our quotes page, call (603) 431-4020 or email insure@portsmouthatlanticins.com. Hours are Monday through Thursday, 9 AM–5 PM, and Friday, 8 AM–4 PM (Eastern). Our clients have left 1,000+ Google reviews and over 2,000 testimonials.
Frequently asked questions
Does Connecticut require insurance on an RV?
Yes for a motorhome. The Connecticut DMV will not register a motorhome without proof of insurance, so a motorhome carries the same kind of liability and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage the state requires on a car (CT DMV registration steps; Connecticut car insurance requirements). A towable camper is different: the driving liability normally comes from the policy on the truck or SUV pulling it, and damage to the trailer itself is optional unless a lender requires it.
Can I drive my motorhome or tow my camper on the Merritt Parkway?
No. CTDOT prohibits RVs, campers and all trailers on the Merritt, Wilbur Cross and Milford parkways, along with any vehicle more than 8 feet tall, 24 feet long or 7 feet 6 inches wide (CTDOT parkway restrictions). Plan Fairfield County trips on I-95, Route 7 or I-84 instead. The rule matters for insurance too, because a low-bridge strike on a road your rig was never allowed on is an expensive collision claim.
Does my car insurance cover my travel trailer?
Usually only the liability side while it is hitched. Most auto policies extend the tow vehicle’s liability to a trailer being pulled, but they do not pay to repair the trailer, replace what is inside it, or cover an injury at your campsite once you unhitch. A separate travel trailer policy, or a trailer added to an RV policy, handles those.
How is an RV valued after a total loss?
It depends on the option you choose. Actual cash value pays what the RV was worth at the time of the loss. Agreed value sets the amount in advance. Some carriers offer total-loss replacement for a newer RV, which pays toward a comparable new unit within a set number of model years. We show you which options each carrier offers for your year and model.
I spend months at a time in my RV. Do I need different coverage?
Possibly. Some RV policies limit how many days a year the unit can be used as a residence, and owners who live in an RV full-time usually need full-timer coverage that adds personal liability and broader belongings coverage in place of a homeowners policy. Tell us how many nights a year you spend in it and whether you still keep a house.
Can I rent my RV out on a peer-to-peer site?
Not under most personal RV policies. Renting the unit to strangers is usually excluded, and the platform’s own coverage may not line up with your loan or your umbrella. If you are thinking about renting, call us before you list it so we can look at what each option covers.
What do you need to quote my RV?
The year, make, model and length; the VIN; whether it is a motorhome, travel trailer, fifth wheel, pop-up or truck camper; what you paid and any upgrades; where it is stored in season and over the winter; how many nights a year you use it; the drivers; and your current declarations page if you have one. Request a quote. There’s no obligation to buy. Use the form below or phone (603) 431-4020.
Sources
- CTDOT, Parkway Restrictions (Merritt, Wilbur Cross and Milford parkways)
- CTDOT, “Check Your Height, Know It’s Right” (2025)
- Connecticut DMV, register a new vehicle (motorhomes and trailers)
- Conn. Gen. Stat. chapter 246, §14-1 definitions
- Connecticut State Parks, Hammonasset Beach State Park
- Connecticut State Parks, camping rules and campgrounds
- CT DEEP, camping reservations and stay limits
- Town of Sterling, why campers registered in other states pay personal property tax
General information for Connecticut RV owners. It is not a quote, a binder or legal advice. Coverage depends on the policy wording and each carrier’s underwriting, and state rules and park policies can change. To talk through your own RV, call (603) 431-4020.