Another insurance frustration

[Satelliteguy]

So..Howdy Bus guys.

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.

The bus was great, had some issues but nothing I don't think are big, Fingers crossed, and I gave a deposit to hold the bus. I am trying to locate a shop in the area to replace a brake diaphragm, but I am not to worried about this.

This bus is still titled as a commercial bus "So" the biggest Issue I am having is trying to get insurance. The PO had it insured with Progressive so I called them, they said if it had a kitchen and bath room 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 am not going to be living in Florida as this bus is going to be my home/driver all I have at this time is a relatives address where I am staying for a short while.
 
I have read the forum suggestions on whom to call but seem to be running into stone walls. I now have a bus that I can not 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 then 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 maybe just venting here but I am sure their are others looking to fulfill a dream and I do not what to see them going through the same thing.

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

[Nova Eona]

I'd suggest digging into what it takes to get retitled as an RV/motorhome in whatever municipality you want to operate out of 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 NH FWIW - I suspect their rules and flexibility vary by region, and I had the additional benefit of transferring my existing policy from an old Winnebago, so it wasn't starting from scratch.

[luvrbus]

Allways check the Co 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 a agent let them find you a Co,that is what they get paid to do       

[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 drivers insurance. We had progressive but when they doubled our premium, we went with state farm.

[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 PO 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 it has a toilet, sink, stove, etc., not much. 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 CO title that specified motorhome, maybe making it easier to get CA DMV approval.

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

[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.

John     

[Satelliteguy]

Thanks to all for your input.

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

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

Thanks

[luvrbus]

On the Country Coach pages people are shedding Progressive some are getting rate increases of over $6500.00 a year. I had Progressive when I picked up my RV in Texas till I open the bill for over $8000.00 a year

[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 bunch are Hub International.

[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     

[rancher]

Sateiliteguy.  If I were you I would start by calling the title service company's and find out what's the cost and what it will take to get the title changed to a motor home title. They will know the easiest states to make this happen. You are probably not going to find any insurance for this bus with the current title that you can afford. I know several folks been down this road with semi trucks they wanted to pull horse trailers with or toy haulers. You need to get that title changed.

[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, seems in Florida the DMV does the conversion inspections. “But” Lazy Days also have 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