| Author | Message | ||
| Christopher Goodwin (Cgoodwin)
Registered Member Username: Cgoodwin Post Number: 132 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 71.212.75.184 Rating: N/A |
I have a limited liability policy with Progressive on my bus, runs about $260 a year. I recently went through many posts here where people had gotten comprehensive for around $800, I did the on-line policy writer and came out with $3300, messed with it a bit and got $2200 so I called and asked progressive about it. This was 2 hours of frustration beginning with being told they do nto and never have done bus conversions, I pointed out that under motorhomes in the drop down under "Type" the second choice was "Non-professionally converted bus", this conversation went round and round for an hour until finally they agreed that the did it but it would be through their commercial dept and they transfered me, that dept told me that I should not have been transfered and put me back. Once dealing with the right dept again I asked not to be transfered, and got the name and extension of the person I was dealing with, then went through the same hour long arguement to prove that they did in fact incure bus conversions.... In the end $2200 was the lowest and that was for a vehicle used less than 30 days a year! I have a spotless driving record, am 45, and own a home, the bus is kept in secured storage and I have a freaking CDL as well as licences to drive heavy equipement in 2 other countries and and International Drivers License! An I missing somethign here or just trying to get insured from the wrong people??? | ||
| Florida Cliff (Floridacracker)
Registered Member Username: Floridacracker Post Number: 335 Registered: 7-2004 Posted From: 68.204.214.17 Rating: N/A |
I went through Progressive Direct. Told them I wanted to insure my "motorhome" (as it is titled) Gave them my VIN and they said "thats a bus, right!" Yes, I said. Wrote me up. I think you got a hold of a confused person or need to use "motorhome" in your description. Maybe you did? Cliff | ||
| James Smith (Tomcat)
Registered Member Username: Tomcat Post Number: 58 Registered: 8-2005 Posted From: 207.200.116.13 Rating: N/A |
My 'converted' coach liability was $125 every six months. After officially moving to Colorado and LEO inspection/registering the coach as a motorhome, my rate went down to $39 every six months. Jay 87 SaftLiner | ||
| Steve N. (N4rsn)
Registered Member Username: N4rsn Post Number: 114 Registered: 2-2005 Posted From: 75.105.156.215 Rating: N/A |
I use allstate, and my my bill is about $500. per year. Full coverage. All I told them is--- I want to insure my motorhome. VIN # is 4106-2221. They had no problem with it. I think the problem is, we need to supply ONLY the information they ask. They even wanted a picture, so I am not getting away with anything. Just a thought | ||
| Chuck Newman (Chuck_newman)
Registered Member Username: Chuck_newman Post Number: 228 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 67.126.200.104 Rating: N/A |
You can stay out of trouble by using the term used on your state vehicle registration. In California, I had the bus registered as a MOTORHOME before I picked it up. Have the shell insured with AON (previous different and more common name, can't remember what it was). They asked if it was a conversion project and I said yes. No problem. When the motorhome is complete, I'll get it appraised and shop for insurance for my new professionally converted MOTORHOME (by my new startup company). And when I reserve a camp ground, I have a 40 Ft. MCI motorhome. A Prevost and Marathon are technically bus conversions but no one calls them by that name. MCI sells brand new E and G series bus shells to be converted to motorhomes. If you use the term used by the State of registration, then no one can charge you with fraud. If you have an accident or other claim, the insurance company may whine and not want to pay up, but that happens every day whether it be vehicle, homeowners, or medical insurance. But that's another issue. The insurance company can call my coach a dog house if they want, but under the vehicle code of the State of California, it's a motorhome. Period. | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member Username: Gusc Post Number: 473 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 63.97.117.37 Rating: N/A |
Add the bus to your regular auto insurance policy as a "Motorhome" as others have said. Do NOT call it a bus. This will also get you a multiple-vehicle discount, especially if you have been with the same company many years and have a good record with them. Most of us don't drive a bus a bunch of miles per year so that helps too. Dropping the PD from the serial number is a very good idea, never thought of that. | ||
| David B. Sweet (Sweets4104)
Registered Member Username: Sweets4104 Post Number: 7 Registered: 2-2007 Posted From: 64.136.27.226 Rating: |
I insured our GMC PD4104 "motorhome" though Good Sam VIP Insurance (GMAC)for 57.00 every six months. GMAC told me they will not write full coverage on a bus conversion. | ||
| Simon Ayriss (Design_dog)
Registered Member Username: Design_dog Post Number: 39 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 69.108.113.43 Rating: N/A |
I'm just seconding what David Sweet has stated. I got insurance through Good Sam GMAC, they were friendly, I told them right up front MCI 'bus' and they knew exactly what I was trying to insure - a bus/ motor home conversion. They have experience with conversions and are among the few that will write them up as such. But, as David said. It is their policy that they Do Not insure Full Liability Value on a Full [DIY or Non-Professional] conversion - Meaning not full coverage for all the work / money you put into it unless you have a pro shop do it with receipts. So if you lose your nice paint job and a new toaster oven [1400 watts], your outta luck if it's your fault. But if you just need straight liability for now, I recommend them. Since my conversion is not near being done - it works fine for me. BUT - WHAT I DID do is BUMP UP the coverage so that I am covered up to and over 500,000 - always ASK - you might be surprised, usually it may be about 25mo. more or sometimes less. When driving 26,000lbs. the wife screaming at ya, a hot cup of coffee between your legs and some guy riding your tail wind - thats nothing. heh. heh. I am a relatively new bus owner and I pay around 600 a year. Always been good to me so far. | ||
| Simon Ayriss (Design_dog)
Registered Member Username: Design_dog Post Number: 40 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 69.108.113.43 Rating: N/A |
One last thing. Quick comment on the full coverage. Probably when I am ever done with my conversion [and assuming I have a lot of time, money and value invested in the bus], I plan on taking it to my local current 'car' insurance agent AFTER assuming it is titled as a MOTORHOME - THEN having them INSPECT it and getting a quote for it as a MOTORHOME and putting in a custom claim. According to my agent [Mercury] they will do it after inspection, and treat it like a Motorhome. Personally, I have mixed feelings about this. I kind of think whatever it is if something DOES happen to the bus, I am just not sure I would get compensated for it and if it's legitimate damage almost would want to start over. But I guess some compensation is better than none, but at what price? Interested in anyone who has FULL coverage on a DIY conversion and how the value was determined? Good luck on your insurance quest. | ||
| John Zabrocki (John_z)
Registered Member Username: John_z Post Number: 55 Registered: 9-2006 Posted From: 64.61.224.14 Rating: N/A |
I was not comfortable with the Good Sam's insurance since they would not do a stated value policy, whether or not it was inspected. The agent just told me that they would decide what it was worth at the time of the claim! Not a good deal if it was totaled somehow! They can dig up a bunch of ads showing similar buses selling for 5000.00 or even less! I went elsewhere for my insurance, am using Progressive Drive. | ||
| Tim Walsdorf (Roofer)
Registered Member Username: Roofer Post Number: 3 Registered: 8-2004 Posted From: 70.105.110.52 Rating: N/A |
I got Progressive through my local insurance agent,got an apprasel from an appraser I found on the internet.Good to go about $10 a Thousand for full coverage in Wis. | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member Username: Gusc Post Number: 479 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 63.97.117.52 Rating: N/A |
John Z, I got the same answer from my insurance co which I have been with for 52 years. I was trying to decide whether or not to keep paying for collision but they wouldn't tell me the insured value. I think it is to prevent people from wrecking their old cars on purpose to collect on them!! Don't know any other reason for that response? | ||
| Tom Caffrey (Pvcces)
Registered Member Username: Pvcces Post Number: 1122 Registered: 5-2001 Posted From: 65.74.67.130 Rating: N/A |
Gus, an actual cash value policy(ACV) is always that way. That's what we have with State Farm. It's also why we do not buy comprehensive coverage. That would double our premium and I don't think that I could figure on their depreciated value being very high. For what it's worth. Tom Caffrey PD4106-2576 Suncatcher Ketchikan, Alaska |
