I have been looking for several months now for "my bus", the one I want to end up living in. I have traveled to Colorado, California, Arizona, and several locations in Florida. This last week, I flew to Maryland to see a bus that looked like it would be a good fit for me. Post by: Satelliteguy

The bus was great, had some issues, but nothing I don't think is big. Fingers crossed, I've given a deposit to hold the bus. I am trying to find a local shop to replace a brake diaphragm, but I am not too concerned about it.

This bus is still titled as a commercial bus. So, the biggest issue I am having is trying to get insurance. The previous owner had it insured with Progressive, so I called them. They said if it had a kitchen and bathroom, they would not insure it. I called Foremost to see if they could help, when I said I lived in Florida, they said no and hung up. 

I won't be living in Florida since this bus will be my home/driver. All I have at this time is a relative's address where I am staying for a short while. I have read the forum suggestions on whom to call, but I seem to be running into stone walls. I now have a bus that I cannot drive or even take to a RV park.

I understand there is not much that can be done to help me. This is very frustrating to have a safer passenger vehicle than a box-built class A RV to put on the road with no insurance to be able to move it down the road. I guess I may be just venting here, but I am sure others are looking to fulfill a dream, and I do not want to see them going through the same thing.

Thanks for reading this. It did not make me feel any better, but thanks anyway. 

Post by: Nova Eona 

I'd suggest researching the requirements for obtaining an RV/motorhome title in the municipality where you plan to operate legally.  Lots of private insurance companies will flee at the word 'bus' without pausing to engage other parts of the brain.

I've got Progressive in New Hampshire. I suspect their rules and flexibility vary by state, and I had the additional benefit of transferring my existing policy from an old Winnebago, so it wasn't starting from scratch.

Post by: luvrbus

Always check the company that has your other vehicles insured. I have been with State Farm for years, and they insure anything I ask for, and at a good rate. Use an agent to let them find you a company. That is what they get paid to do       

Post by: gmnut55 

We also have State Farm. They also insure anything we ask for at reasonable rates. They have been great on paying a claim on an accident we had from another driver than collected from the other driver's insurance. We had Progressive, but when they doubled our premium, we went with State Farm.

Post by: windtrader

Congrats on getting a bus. As to insurance, many have Progressive for their "RV", "motorhome" "housecar". I'm surprised they insured it as commercial.

When I got mine a few years ago, my research created anxiety about getting insurance. The previous owner had Progressive so I called them with the policy details and stated I want the SAME thing, making it easier for the agent to process.

California has provisions for bus conversions. The DMV needs to sign off that it has a toilet, sink, stove, and other basic amenities. When I brought mine into DMW for titling, the DMV inspector was focused on finding the VIN plate. Maybe he looked it over and was satisfied it was converted to regulations but no questions about the conversion. It did come with a Colorado title that specified motorhome, which might have made it easier to get California DMV approval.

There are readers here who bought a seated bus to do a conversion and they had issues getting insurance, but that was due to being a commercial-configured bus and not yet converted.

Post by: Iceni John 

When I bought my bus (still legal for school bus use, and with Exempt plates), I had a small rural DMV office change the Vehicle Type to Auto (BU), and I had the new plates in ten minutes!   I insured it through National General, now part of Good Sam, for only $122 per half-year.  A few years ago, I retitled it through a private vehicle registration service to the coveted MH, and my insurance has stayed the same rate.   Try calling Good Sam and see what they can do for you.   I've just transferred my car insurance to Good Sam as well because Allstate had almost doubled my rate in about two years.

Post by: Satelliteguy 

Thanks to all for your input. I have spoken with my agent (State Farm) about this bus, but due to the title not being listed as a motorhome, they cannot help. I spoke with Progressive as they have the bus insured now, they have changed the policy, or the insurance agent knew what to say to avoid not covering it. 

I don’t know if I have created a perfect storm here. I hope not.

Thanks

Post by: luvrbus 

On the Country Coach pages, people are shedding Progressive, and some are getting rate increases of over $6,500 a year. I had Progressive when I picked up my RV in Texas till I opened the bill for over $8,000 a year

Post by: Dave5Cs 

Find a Broker and let them find it for you.  I had State Farm in California, and they gave it to Safeco, and now a branch are Hub International.

Post by: luvrbus 

If you are old enough and a member of AARP, they offer some good deals sometimes. My coverage with State Farm was better and cheaper than the AARP plan through Travelers. I am not one for driving a 50,000 lb. RV with the minimum required liability so I pay the price for $500,000 liability, helps the lawyers sleep better at night.

Post by: rancher Satelliteguy. 

If I were you, I would start by calling the title service companies to find out the cost and what it will take to get the title changed to a motorhome title. They will know the easiest states to make this happen. You are unlikely to find affordable insurance for this bus with its current title. I know several folks who have been down this road with semi-trucks, they wanted to pull horse trailers with or toy haulers. You need to get that title changed.

Post by: Satelliteguy 

Good news bus guys….. I found insurance with the help of professionals. I drove over to Lazy Days RV and asked about retitling and insurance, it seems in Florida, the DMV does the conversion inspections. “But” Lazy Days also has insurance agents on site, and after some checking of all one million agent documents, a place was found for me. I have insurance to get the bus from its old home in Maryland to its new (for now) home in Florida.

Progress feels great

Thanks to everyone for the input and suggestions

Happy Busing