| Author | Message | ||
| Terry (T3rry)
Registered Member Username: T3rry Post Number: 1 Registered: 2-2010 Posted From: 68.147.23.190 Rating: N/A |
HEY all, I just want to start by saying THANK YOU, all of you have already provided me with more info than my brain can handle, i have been reading the forums for the last 3 days straight ever since i found the ad for my bus on kijiji. I have solved several issues, and learned what to look out for in the future. thanks so much. However there is one thing i could not find an answer to, that i really need to know so i can get my bus home. I live in Alberta(Calgary), I need to know what's required to register/insure this thing here... could i reg it as an RV to avoid the costly semi-annual inspections the commercial buses need? can i get temporary insurance? i intend to only use the bus a couple of times per year (I am only doing a partial conversion, I'll probably leave 30+ seats in it, turn some of those around and out a table between them, put a couple of bunks at the back, maybe a bigger tv at the front, not nearly as extensive as what some of you guys do.) Any info would be GREATLY appreciated, and i assure you, this is only the first of MANY MANY threads to come  | ||
| Paso One (Paso_1)
Registered Member Username: Paso_1 Post Number: 159 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 142.165.246.240  Rating: N/A |
Welcome Terry Where is the bus now in Alberta ?? Lots of "rules floating around " If it is in Canada now you can get a transit permit to move it home. A dealer plate will make a few rules go away for moving it home. But your the down the road plan of keeping 30 seats won't fly if you plan on registering it as a motorhome / RV. The most you can seat I believe is 15 people before those "rules " start kicking at you again. | ||
| Terry (T3rry)
Registered Member Username: T3rry Post Number: 2 Registered: 2-2010 Posted From: 68.147.23.190  Rating: N/A |
It's already here, I actually bought it from only an hour away, so I dont have to worry about registration or transportation problems that way, i just do not want to pay thousands of dollars per year to register it as a commercial bus, when we only use it twice a year... the reason i need to leave so many seats is because we have a rather large family (18 of us just including my siblings, nieces, nephews, and my own kids, doesn't include other relatives who generally also go.) and we all go to visit other family once or twice a year, it's a 6 hour drive to get there, so we were hoping that this could make it a 1 vehicle trip instead of 6 vehicles. (Message edited by t3rry on February 28, 2010) | ||
| Patrick levenson (Zubzub)
Registered Member Username: Zubzub Post Number: 163 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 70.51.31.70  Rating: N/A |
You will need to look into this carefully. YOu may be able to get some kind of registration that is not commercial and keep more than 15 seats....but you will definetly need an upgrade to drive more than 15 passengers. (it`s an easy upgrade though not like a CDL) basically go talk to DMV call it a motorhome (not a bus) make sure it has a stove in there or whatever is needed to qualify, then make sure if you are carrying more than 15 you have the license upgrade.Finally make sure you do this the right way, these are just rough outlines....but I know it cane done legally, just don`t break the law. | ||
| Roger Dalke (Roger_d)
Registered Member Username: Roger_d Post Number: 28 Registered: 8-2007 Posted From: 205.206.150.238 Rating: N/A |
Alberta is one of the worst places to try and insure one of these things. Very few companies will even talk to you if it used to be a bus. Keeping that many seats you will have to insure it as a commercial vehicle. Good luck! | ||
| Terry (T3rry)
Registered Member Username: T3rry Post Number: 3 Registered: 2-2010 Posted From: 68.147.23.190 Rating: N/A |
Patrick, Yeah, my mother, who will be doing most of the driving, actually drives a 72 passenger school bus for a living, so i think her license would be sufficient (she's also licensed for air brakes and driving a semi, basically she can drive anything except a motorcycle), it's just a matter of figuring out what is required to call it an RV, and how to insure it. Roger, thanks for the heads up, that's what i was afraid of. my father (who is going to insure it) will be calling his insurance company tomorrow to ask them, i hope it goes well... fingers crossed. (Message edited by t3rry on February 28, 2010) | ||
| les marston (Les_marston)
Registered Member Username: Les_marston Post Number: 14 Registered: 1-2010 Posted From: 68.151.248.141 Rating: N/A |
We live in Edmonton and have had our MC5 insured as a motor home with AMA since 1992 and now have just insured our 102 D 3 with them as well. It is easier I think to insure it as a second vehicle on the same policy. DONT!!! say bus... Coach or motor home. The word "bus" seems to scare some insurers You will need to get air certificate as well to drive it. Good luck Les | ||
| Terry (T3rry)
Registered Member Username: T3rry Post Number: 4 Registered: 2-2010 Posted From: 68.147.23.190 Rating: N/A |
Thanks for the info Les... my father (who will be insuring it) is with TD insurance, he already has 3 vehicles on his policy, and has been with them for 20+ years, so I'm hoping we'll be good. | ||
| clint hunter (Truthhunter)
Registered Member Username: Truthhunter Post Number: 614 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 24.129.238.13  Rating: N/A |
... in most of Canada your application with more than 12 passengers would require classification for insurance & registration for that of a church or organization's private not-for-hire bus, requiring only annual safety inspection and higher liability insurance for the 30 passengers; not as bad as fore hire charter rates, but still likely to be stiff unless your a farm vehicle of sorts hauling your employees. Best to know before you go to register, what you want to do & can do as no is the same in don't know in civil tongue. ~motorhome conversion registration is the easy way to go, you'll only need two cars to follow you that way & the minimal conversion to qualify such as water , bed, toilet amenities. | ||
| Terry (T3rry)
Registered Member Username: T3rry Post Number: 19 Registered: 2-2010 Posted From: 209.167.172.135 Rating: N/A |
good news, my dad got it insured no problem, just called his other insurance comapny (he uses one for his other RV one for his cars, he called the Rv one first, they've had the info for 2 days and have no got him any info) so he called his insurance company for his cars, and they had no problem insuring it as an RV for only $300/yr with fire/theft and plpd (basic liability). |