INSURANCE

Insuring a tiny home is challenging because insurance companies have difficulty categorizing our rolling homes, let alone insuring them for damage and theft. Luckily, with the growing popularity of tiny houses, it is becoming easier to find insurance options.

Insuring A Tiny House As An RV

Classification is important when it comes to tiny home insurance. In the past few years, RVIA (Recreational Vehicle Industry Association) has started classifying tiny homes built by approved manufacturers as “certified RVs.” In the tiny house world, only a few companies like Nook Tiny Homes are licensed to build RVIA certified tiny homes. If your tiny house is going to be built by an RVIA company, it will be legally categorized as a Recreational Vehicle. Insurance companies understand this classification and it will be easy to secure RV insurance.

It can be very difficult if a tiny house is built by a company that is not certified by RVIA. Once a tiny home is built, you cannot retroactively have it RVIA certified. The DMV will categorize your tiny home however it pleases upon registration. For example, a tiny home could be registered as a “Recreational Trailer” in Illinois and as a “Coach Trailer” in California. These classifications are more difficult to insure.

Insuring A Tiny Home As Something Other Than An RV

Some people have tried to acquire insurance by categorizing their tiny homes as additional dwelling units, pieces of art, or something else altogether. If you do not intend on traveling with your tiny home, this is may be an option if you live in a state that permits these policy types. But remember, you will not be covered if you travel with your tiny house.