National General / Good Sam RV Insurance Review: Coverage, Cost, and Who It's For
National General underwrites Good Sam RV policies. How it works for van conversions, what it costs, and how it compares to Roamly and Progressive.
Good Sam is the most recognized name in RV insurance, and it has been for decades. But Good Sam is an insurance agency — a brand and distribution channel — not an insurance carrier. The carrier that underwrites Good Sam’s policies is National General Insurance, which has been a subsidiary of Allstate since January 2021.
For van conversion owners, the Good Sam / National General product matters because it has one of the deepest feature sets in the RV insurance market: full replacement cost, agreed value, suspendable storage coverage, personal belongings, vacation liability, full-timer’s coverage, and roadside assistance. The product was designed for the full-time RV community and has been tuned over decades for recreational vehicles of all classes.
The question for converted van owners is whether a product designed for factory-built Class A motorhomes and travel trailers fits a DIY Sprinter conversion equally well. The answer is: mostly yes, with a few important caveats.
How Good Sam and National General Relate
The relationship is straightforward:
- Good Sam Insurance Agency is the brand you interact with. Quotes, customer service, marketing — all Good Sam.
- National General Insurance is the carrier that underwrites the policies and pays the claims. National General sets the underwriting rules and pricing.
- Allstate is the parent company. Allstate acquired National General in 2021. The Good Sam and National General brands continue to operate as separate entities within the Allstate portfolio.
This matters because the carrier’s financial strength and claims-paying ability come from National General (backed by Allstate), not from Good Sam. When you file a claim, you’re filing with National General. Good Sam is the agency that sold you the policy.
National General also underwrites policies sold through other channels — including Roamly, which lists National General as one of its underwriting partners. It is possible to end up with a National General policy whether you buy through Good Sam directly or through another agency.
What the Policy Covers
The Good Sam / National General RV product has one of the most complete feature sets in the market. For converted vans insured as Class B RVs:
Liability, collision, and comprehensive. Standard coverage tiers. Covers both the base vehicle and the conversion.
Full replacement cost. For qualifying units (typically within the first five model years), the policy pays the cost to replace the vehicle with a comparable new unit if it is totaled. This is one of the most valuable features in the product and is not universally available from other carriers.
Agreed value. For units that do not qualify for full replacement cost, the policyholder and carrier agree on the insured value at binding, up to a maximum of $300,000. At total loss, the carrier pays the agreed amount without depreciation disputes. This is critical for custom and DIY builds where there is no factory MSRP. According to the underwriting guide, agreed value is specifically available for “highly customized units without a Blue Book comparable” — which describes most van conversions.
Personal belongings coverage. Covers personal property stored in the van at original replacement cost (not depreciated). Base coverage starts at $3,000 and scales to 20% of vehicle value or $5,000 minimum, up to a maximum of $30,000. These limits are meaningfully higher than most competitors.
Full-timer’s coverage. A dedicated product tier for owners living in the RV as their primary residence. Adds personal liability (premises), increased personal property limits, medical payments to others, and additional living expense coverage. Good Sam’s full-timer’s product has been available for decades and is one of the most established in the market.
Vacation liability. Liability coverage while the van is parked and being used as temporary housing. Included in the standard product.
Suspendable storage coverage. Collision and liability can be suspended during extended storage periods while comprehensive stays active. This reduces annual cost for seasonal users.
Roadside assistance. Towing, lockout, flat tire, battery jump. Available as part of the standard product or as a Good Sam membership benefit.
Emergency expense coverage. Lodging and transportation reimbursement when the van is disabled away from home.
Build Requirements for Van Conversions
National General’s underwriting guide for RVs — the Countrywide RV Underwriting Guide — specifies what a converted van needs to qualify as a Class B RV.
The van must have all of the following permanently installed:
- Cooking facilities
- Refrigeration or icebox
- Self-contained toilet
- Heating or air conditioning
- Potable water supply with faucet and sink
- 110–125 volt electrical system
- Sleeping facilities
Good Sam’s requirements go one step further than Progressive’s: the toilet must be a self-contained unit with indoor plumbing — not just a portable bucket-style toilet. This is the most common disqualifier for budget and minimalist builds.
The van must also be titled as a motorhome, housecar, camper, or equivalent recreational vehicle. A commercially-titled cargo van does not qualify. For state-by-state retitling requirements, see the registration overview.
What It Costs
Good Sam / National General does not publish specific rate ranges for van conversions. The published range for Class B RV insurance generally is consistent with other carriers:
| Scenario | Typical Annual Range |
|---|---|
| Converted van, recreational use | $500–$1,600 |
| Converted van, full-time use | $700–$2,000 |
| Factory Class B | $600–$2,200+ |
National General’s pricing tends to be competitive in the mid-range — neither the cheapest option in every state nor the most expensive. The product’s value proposition is in coverage depth, not in being the low-cost leader. When comparing on premium alone, Progressive often wins on price (especially with bundling). When comparing on coverage features — full replacement cost, agreed value, personal belongings, full-timer’s depth — Good Sam / National General often wins.
Where Good Sam / National General Fits Best
Full-timers. The full-timer’s product is one of the oldest and most complete in the market. If you live in the van, Good Sam is one of the first carriers to quote.
Documented custom builds. If your van was built by a professional shop with documentation, receipts, and photos, Good Sam’s underwriting handles it well. The agreed value process lets you lock in the insured value based on actual build cost.
Owners who want deep coverage. Full replacement cost, high personal belongings limits, suspendable storage, vacation liability — Good Sam’s product has more standard features than most competitors. If coverage breadth matters more than finding the lowest premium, this is the product.
Existing Good Sam members. Good Sam membership includes benefits beyond insurance — campground discounts, fuel discounts, roadside assistance — that may add value for active RV users.
Where It Falls Short
Minimalist builds. The indoor plumbing/toilet requirement disqualifies some budget and minimalist conversions. If your van has a portable toilet or no toilet at all, you may not qualify. Roamly and State Farm are more flexible on what constitutes a qualifying conversion.
Class B not available in California. Per the National General Countrywide RV Underwriting Guide (revised February 2026), Class B van conversions are not eligible for coverage in California. This is the single most important limitation for TVG readers, given the concentration of van conversions in California. California van owners need to quote through Roamly, Progressive, or State Farm instead.
“Only vehicle in household” exclusion. National General’s underwriting guide lists vehicles that serve as the policyholder’s sole means of transportation as an unacceptable risk. For van lifers who sold their car and use the van as their only vehicle, this is a disqualifier — even if the van meets every other eligibility requirement. Roamly does not have this restriction.
No rental income coverage. Like Progressive, Good Sam does not cover peer-to-peer rental income through Outdoorsy or RVshare. Renting the van through a marketplace could result in policy cancellation. Roamly is the only major option that explicitly supports rental use.
High-value builds trigger referral. Van conversions with a settlement value above $50,000 require referral to National General’s underwriting team for review, per the UW guide. This adds friction and processing time for premium builds.
Photos required before binding. National General requires exterior and interior photos for underwriting review before a Class B policy can be issued. This is standard for specialty carriers but slower than Progressive’s web-first process for factory RVs.
Quoting process. Getting a Good Sam quote typically requires a phone call. The online quoting process routes you to a phone agent for RV products, especially for converted vans. This is slower than Roamly’s online-first process.
Good Sam vs. Roamly vs. Progressive
| Factor | Good Sam / National General | Roamly | Progressive |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY coverage | Yes (strict requirements) | Yes (more flexible) | Yes (since Nov 2023) |
| California Class B | No | Yes | Yes |
| Full replacement cost | Yes (first 5 model years) | Varies by underwriter | Yes (first 5 model years) |
| Full-timer’s depth | Strongest in market | Available | Available |
| Sole-vehicle household | Not eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
| Rental income | No | Yes | No |
| Multi-policy discount | Up to 20% (auto bundle) | No | Yes (significant) |
| Build requirements | Strictest (indoor plumbing) | Most flexible | Moderate |
| Quoting speed | Phone-based, slower | Online-first, faster | Web + phone, moderate |
Compare Good Sam / National General
- Roamly vs Good Sam — specialty vs ecosystem
- Roamly vs National General — agency model vs direct underwriter
- Progressive vs Good Sam — the two largest traditional carriers
- Good Sam vs State Farm — structured product vs agent flexibility
How to Get a Quote
Good Sam RV insurance quotes are available by phone at 1-866-639-9498 or through goodsam.com (which routes to a phone agent for RV products). For a converted van, have ready:
- VIN and vehicle registration showing housecar/motorhome/camper title
- Photos of the completed conversion, including bathroom and kitchen
- Build value estimate (base vehicle + conversion cost)
- Documentation of permanently installed habitation systems
- Intended use (recreational or full-time)
- Garaging address and annual mileage
Where to Go From Here
- Comparing all carriers? Best Insurance for Van Conversions
- Evaluating Roamly? Roamly Insurance Review
- Looking at Progressive? Progressive RV Insurance Review
- Full-time coverage? Full-Time Van Insurance Guide
- Platform-specific? Sprinter · ProMaster · Transit
Sources and Verification
- Good Sam Insurance Agency — Product features, quoting, and full-timer’s coverage
- National General Countrywide RV Underwriting Guide (PDF) — Build requirements and underwriting criteria
- SEC Filing — Allstate Acquisition of National General — Acquisition confirmation and date
- Roamly — About — National General listed as underwriting partner
Coverage details cited reflect published Good Sam and National General materials as of April 2026. Individual quotes, coverage availability, and terms vary by state, vehicle, and driver profile. Confirm specific coverage language with the carrier before binding.