Want to get away from it all and still have the comforts of home? That is the goal of millions of Americans who take their vacations in motor homes, also known as recreational vehicles, or RVs. But if you are planning to join the "have icebox, will travel" crowd, you need to check your insurance coverage before you hit the open road.

RVs are treated much differently than passenger cars or SUVs for insurance purposes. For one thing, the cost of the vehicle and the potential for extensive physical damage in an accident mean that the ordinary coverage minimums that apply to passenger cars are too low. Additionally, since many RVs are driven by people who are not used to the extra size and length, insurers believe there is a greater risk for accidents.

Most private passenger auto insurers do not cover RVs. Some carriers will issue a certificate of insurance that applies to a motor home. In other cases, if you have rental car coverage as part of your insurance package, it will apply to a recreational vehicle, but only if your physical damage limits are increased. If your insurer will sell you coverage with higher limits, that may be your first choice. If not, you will have to find an independent agent who can write policies in the "specialty market."

There are two ways of taking an RV vacation. The route taken by most first-timers involves renting a motor home from one of the more than 800 dealers around the country. Many dealers offer insurance, but it may not be a good deal. Here are some of the things to watch for when renting:

Is the insurance included in the rental price? If not, does the stand-alone price make sense? A $12-a-day insurance policy might not seem like much, but over a year s time that would work out to more than $4,300 for a policy.

What is the deductible amount? Most RV policies start with a $500 deductible and go as high as $2,000. How much are you willing to pay out of pocket if you have to make a claim?

Is the liability coverage adequate? Most states require motorists to carry liability insurance, but some dealers are only concerned about physical damage (especially if they are still the owners of the vehicles). Make sure your policy conforms to the state minimum liability requirement.

Is the dealer policy primary or secondary? If you are in an accident, the primary policy pays the claims up to its limits, and then a secondary policy kicks in. If you buy a secondary policy from the dealer to cover your rented RV, your own auto coverage would become the primary insurer. That means the RV policy would not pay off until your own policy had exhausted its limits.

Are the limits high enough? Remember that a fender-bender in a 27-foot motor home can run $2,000 or more, compared with $400 or $500 for a similar accident in your four-door sedan.

Are you covered for towing? Half of the fun of an RV vacation is traveling to remote areas far from fast-food franchises, motels — and repair shops. If you have a breakdown 60 miles from the nearest mechanic, the bill for an oversize wrecker to come and get you may be pretty high. Your policy should provide for high towing limits.

Does the policy exclude drivers under age 25? Some policies include a flat-out exclusion. Others give the agent leeway in determining whether a younger driver is mature enough to handle the vehicle. If your policy excludes a younger driver, an accident that occurs while the excluded driver is behind the wheel will not be covered.

Are you covered for medical expenses if someone is injured? Passengers inside the motor home can be injured because they are not secured by a seat belt — even if the vehicle is not involved in an accident. Check the medical payment and personal injury provisions of the policy.

Does the policy provide replacement for personal property that is damaged or stolen from inside the motor home? Your golfing vacation could be seriously hampered by the loss of your clubs. Find out if your policy will allow you to replace them as well as personal computers, fishing equipment, and television sets. If not, your home insurance might cover these items.

If you do decide to buy a motor home, you will encounter many of the same issues as if you rented. Private passenger carriers generally are not prepared to insure a motor home year-round, even if they offer temporary insurance to rent one.