insurance for a converted bus

[Bob Gil]

Ok where do you guy get you coaches insured?

I called my regular company and they normally write any thing and they said they could not do it unless I was buying a bus and do the work myself.

I have been trying to get things rounded up to get it home and happen to see my agent this afternoon.  I was just trying to liability since it had a fire I figured they would not do much else till it was cleaned back up and I would then take it back to them and let them inspect it before changing the coverage.

Bob   bobgil@flash.net

[scottwms]

Progressive

[cody]

Progressive here too.

[Lin]

I have been using GMAC which had some program going with Good Sam.  They will insure a bus conversion for liability initially.  But once you have an appraisal done, they will give full coverage.

[HighTechRedneck]

State Farm.

I tried a number of the RV specialist agencies (Aon, Hi Sage, RV Insurance Pros, etc.) and they wouldn't even discuss covering a bus conversion unless the conversion was done by a recognized professional conversion shop.  Likewise, Geico had the same response.

[H3Jim]

State Farm

[John Z]

I tried GMAC. Rates were cheap, but when i asked what the value they were covering it for was going to be (since they had not seen the bus) she told me that would be determined at the time of the claim?? I asked what if it is worst case and it burns to the ground? How are you going to know what was all there? She had no other answer so i looked elsewhere. I am now with progressive and a stated value policy.

[tekebird]

state farm,

4 coaches, agreed value coverage and includes towing to the closest shop that is suitable (bus garage: not jimmy joe's truck stop and tire change facility

[Bob Gil]

Thanks all

I just went to the Progressive web site and I think the rate of $139.00 a year would be hard to beat.

I think I will send them the money.

Then after I get the fire damage all fixed I can add something more then liablity on it then.

[gus]

I insured my 4104 with my regular auto insurance company. I never said it was a bus, I told them it is a motorhome which is the way it is registered. Motorhome is the key word, don't even say bus if you don't have to.

No problems or questions of any sort and my ins co won't insure a truck more than one ton??

[HighTechRedneck]

I insured my 4104 with my regular auto insurance company. I never said it was a bus, I told them it is a motorhome which is the way it is registered. Motorhome is the key word, don't even say bus if you don't have to.

No problems or questions of any sort and my ins co won't insure a truck more than one ton??

Interesting.  I've never seen an insurance agent that wrote a vehicle policy without asking the make, model and VIN.

I would be concerned how they would handle it if a claim ever had to be filed on it.

[bobofthenorth]

I would be concerned how they would handle it if a claim ever had to be filed on it.

Me too.  When you think you are fooling an insurance company the only person getting fooled is the guy in the mirror.  I've never yet seen an insurance company who wouldn't take the premium but I've met a couple who got pretty balky when it came time to pay up.

Buyer beware.

[Hi yo silver]

Both John Z's experience and your agent's response sound to me like a knee jerk responce from an agent who doesn't want to be bothered.  I have talked with my State Farm agent twice, and he has quoted $500 and some odd dollars.  I have my other vehicles and homeowner's with him.  I told him it was an MCI bus conversion; he didn't get nervous and didn't ask a lot of specific questions.  In fact, he said "when you get it, you're automatically covered for 0 days anyway, just call me with the VIN.
Dennis 

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Hi Bob,

We use AON [national interstate recreation insurance] They seem to be geared tward RV's and cover you for the things that you would never get

with auto insurance. Also, a diminishing deductable..

Nick-

[luvrbus]

Is State Farm allowed to write insurance in The Sate Of Texas where Bob lives

[HighTechRedneck]

Is State Farm allowed to write insurance in The Sate Of Texas where Bob lives

They were when I lived there but that was over 15 years ago.

Hi Bob,

We use AON [national interstate recreation insurance] They seem to be geared tward RV's and cover you for the things that you would never get

with auto insurance. Also, a diminishing deductable..

Nick-

Interesting, they were one of the ones I contacted and they wouldn't even discuss it because it wasn't done by a professional conversion shop.

[gus]

redneck and northbob,

You need to go back and read my post again.

I didn't say anything about not giving the ins co the make, model and VIN?? No insurance co could write insurance without this info??

Nobody was fooled. It is registered as a motorhome and I insured it as such.

[Lin]

Now that some have mentioned it, I did tell GMAC it was a professional conversion (which is what I was told anyway), and it might make a difference with them.  They were real hot on the appraisal though and had to review it to give full coverage. 

[PP]

Statefarm took my money for more than 30 years on everything from buses to trucks to cars. Right up until I told them we were going to be fulltiming. They dropped me like a hot potato. Progressive had a policy specifically for fulltimers and didn't care that it was a bus, they based the coverage on the purchase price and said that when it was finished, if I wanted to bring an appraisal, they'd be glad to raise the coverage and the premium. By the way, they will tow it anywhere I ask if I ever need it, and we know that ain't cheap, yet it's only an extra 37 bucks a year. PP

[HighTechRedneck]

redneck and northbob,

You need to go back and read my post again.

I didn't say anything about not giving the ins co the make, model and VIN?? No insurance co could write insurance without this info??

Nobody was fooled. It is registered as a motorhome and I insured it as such.

I insured my 4104 with my regular auto insurance company. I never said it was a bus, I told them it is a motorhome which is the way it is registered. Motorhome is the key word, don't even say bus if you don't have to.

No problems or questions of any sort and my ins co won't insure a truck more than one ton??

I'm not saying you misled them, but I would say one of two things happened:

• They realized it was a bus conversion and it wasn't a problem in their rules.
• They assumed it to be a RV motorhome model based on your reference to it as a motorhome and didn't look it up.

If the former, no problem at all.  If the later, then you may run into trouble if you ever have to file a claim and they may claim that you misinformed them.  Sure it is a motorhome by registration.  A Lamborghini is a car by registration, but insurance companies rate them differently than a Taurus.  Not just because of the price, but because of the class.  All the insurance companies I looked at had a destinct classification for bus conversions.

I'm just saying, be careful.

[tekebird]

state farm is in TX as well as the other state too.

they will write on a bus conversion......you must reference it as a motorhome....that is what it is afterall.

bus conversion will raise flags to underwriters.  and bring visions of POS 1960's schoolie conversions.

If your bus is registered and titled as a motorhome that si what it is...refer to it as such in all maner of dealings with govt, etc.

you are not lying!

reference it by it's proper Serial Number/VIN and model Number and you will have no issues at all

[PP]

Not many insurance companies will touch it if you are upfront and tell them you're fulltiming. When I was dropped by State Farm, I checked out quite a few and AARP will do it also under Hartford, but only as a second vehicle even though you're living in it. Progressive was the easiest with a policy just for fulltiming.

[DavidInWilmNC]

I have USAA, which is great if you qualify (military or family of military).  I pay about $375/ year for full coverage.  I told the insurance company that it was a 1978 MCI MC8 motorhome and the VIN.  They took a while looking it up, but insured it no problem.  I never mentioned it was a bus; it's not titled as one.

David

[Dreamscape]

In Texas we have State Farm, about 500 bucks a year. Thought that wasn't too bad for our coverage. I used the word motohome when I talked with the agent. Keep in mind ours is an older coach, your mileage may vary.

Hope I don't have to use them for claims EVER. 

Paul

[FloridaCliff]

I used Progressive Direct.

My Home carrier doesn't do RV's

I told them I had a 1975 GMC RV, Gave them the VIN, They said "Thats a bus, right"

Bought an agreed value policy, very easy and fast.  Road service on RV was super fast and they called me

back to make sure everything went fine with the tire change 3 times.

Cliff

[makemineatwostroke]

 FWIW State Farm and the State of Texas are aways in a court battle they are the largest auto carrier in the state.They got in trouble by not paying the home owners claims when the hurricanes hit the coast and the state would not let State Farm  write new policies but the two are kissing now with State Farm cutting the rates by 100 million this year

[m-werx]

we use dempsy&siders the fmac ins,tel#513 891 4400 Brenda,offer the best tow package, we have a s/s+a prevo not yet finished.

[steve5B]

 

  ALLSTATE HERE IN INDIANA IS WHAT I WENT WITH!


   STEVE 5B......

[HighTechRedneck]

Well, obviously I'm in the minority on the issue of being upfront about it being a bus conversion when insuring it.  In my case, the State Farm agent knew going in that it was a bus conversion that I was personally converting to a motorhome.  He even needed photos of it.

[FloridaCliff]

HighTech,

The knew mine was a bus conversion without even telling them.

But my title says Motorhome and thats what it is, now.

But I totally agree, that any deception will only bite you in the rear if you file a claim.

Cliff

[belfert]

I had no problems insuring my bus conversion with my regular policy through Secura.  The agent knows it is a bus conversion, but I'm not sure how it is noted on my policy.  I gave him the manufacturer, year, model, and VIN and it showed up on my policy.  I pay around $700 a year for liability, comp, and collision.  My insurance is expensive even with no accidents or tickets because I have maxed out all limits on my insurance and have umbrella liability.

[luvrbus]

every state must have different rules I started with John Miller before he passed away and I had to have photos and a appraisal.The underwriter stopped writing policy so I got a new carrier Progressive. changed agents went to AON same deal over again and I was placed with Progressive.a friend of mine a AAA agent told me he could save me some money and he did about 400.00 per year so i get another appraisal and the photos.get my new policy back Progressive again.               this 140.00 appraisal fee is getting old to get the same carrier each time

[HighTechRedneck]

every state must have different rules I started with John Miller before he passed away and I had to have photos and a appraisal.The underwriter stopped writing policy so I got a new carrier Progressive. changed agents went to AON same deal over again and I was placed with Progressive.a friend of mine a AAA agent told me he could save me some money and he did about 400.00 per year so i get another appraisal and the photos.get my new policy back Progressive again.               this 140.00 appraisal fee is getting old to get the same carrier each time

That would get old. But as long as you save more than $140 per iteration, I guess it is worth it.  But it seems like one appraisal good enough for the one, should be good enough for the next as long as no major damage or wear has been done in between.  Go figure.  The friend is probably cutting you a deal out of his margin.

[HB of CJ]

Yeah, Progressive.  $Expensive$, but doable.  They binded my empty shell with no problems with the understanding that I was doing all the work on the bus conversion.

[Danny]

I was only able to get libility until I get my bus finished.  At that point I will be able to go with full coverage.  The company is Farm Bureau.  I have other policies with them already, so that might have helped.

Danny

[gus]

redneck,

I suppose one could conjure up all kinds of potential problems but since I've been with this company over 50 yrs I'll not lose a lot of sleep over all those problems.

It wasn't too difficult for them to figure out by the year and model that it is a bus.

What I was trying to say all along, maybe not clearly, is that when you call the insurance company don't start out by saying you want to insure a bus.

[tekebird]

LOL thats what all the people on the gulf coast said right before the adjuster said here is 500.00 thanks for our business and by the way, we are no longer insuring you

[gus]

Doug,

They must have had State Farm or Allstate. Luckily I have neither.

Either one or both have been thrown out of MS for not paying claims and have lost some huge court cases.