I frequently get calls from new bus owners asking where they can buy insurance for their newly acquired bus conversion. Please reply back with your bus conversion insurance carrier and if you like them or not and any other relevant info so we will have a place for new bus nuts to use as a resource to help them get coverage.
i.e. State Farm - They are acceptable to me, but then again I have never had a claim.
If we hear the same name over and over again I will contact the insurance carrier to see if we can get them as an advertiser with us.
Progressive...but not all agents are created equal.
AISinsurance.com (http://aisinsurance.com) is my agent.
yes i've liked them for 15+ years
I use progressive, through my local agent. The agent looked at me like I was crazy, but progressive just wanted to know if was still a bus or already converted.
State Farm. Same agent for many years. Bus, house, cars and equipment around the place. He did research on year and pics he required inside and out and his folks put a $85,000 price on it for replacement about 6 years ago. About $30,000 more than I paid for it. I said okay. Now getting that out of it if I total it is something else.
We had to switch to Allstate from State Farm. Progressive would not insure our coach because it's not a pro built unit.
National Interstate then you can use the word bus conversion ;D plus they don't jack with you on a claim
There is a broker who is highly recommended by folks with HDT's. Blue Sky RV Insurance.
They have a lot of experience shopping coverage for hard to insure vehicles.
Can also provide towing coverage.
We are going to use them to cover a Volvo 780.
https://blueskyrvinsurance.com/index.html
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We use progressive. Did it all online and then finalized it over the phone.
Never had a claim and haven't really worked with an agent so can't speak to how well they are to work with when you actually need them. We have full coverage on the bus plus full-timer insurance.
The previous owners had State Farm and were pretty pleased with them (I suppose).
My State Farm agent acted like I grew 2 heads when I asked him to get me a quote to insure the bus. I even gave him all of the contact info of the previous owners' agent and the policy.
Needless to say, we're not with State Farm any more ::)
We have been with Progressive since 1994. We have had some windshield claims and an inverter damage claim. Also had a windstorm claim for ac covers etc. No problems whatsoever. I have been told though that if it ever lapses we would be hard pressed to get coverage on a 1964 bus.
National General Insurance company through Good Sam, 2 Subarus and 2 buses insured.
Siberyd
State Farm. Easy peasy
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Auto Owners South for all of my cars, motorcycle and Bus.
Jack
National General Insurance company through Good Sam..... Very Easy....
I had car (full coverage) and bus/liability-only; also two homes (in the process of moving at the time) with Nationwide. A drunk running from the cops totaled my car and I got a minimum payout and zero help from Nationwide; then, I got a notice "due to changes in North Carolina regulations, Nationwide will no longer cover RV's in North Carolina", so I went to Progressive. I was on the phone for 1 & 1/2 hours with Progressive - offered car, bus, home, etc. insurance; the agent kept asking questions about the "conversion motor home" and then would put me on hold "to talk to a supervisor". After all that, she came back with a flat refusal to insure my bus (granted, it is an oddball and being branded a "Daimler" had her confusing it with a Chrysler truck).
I went to Geico. They took my coverage, then sent me a notice after 2 months saying I lived in a hurricane area and my driveway was cracked so they were cancelling my home coverage, with a refund of the home premium I paid less 4 months worth of coverage. For my car and bus insurance, they were on a auto-pay and my bank; they changed systems and dropped the auto pay but I caught that they hadn't drafted it (the notice that they WEREN'T taking the auto-draft looked almost exactly like the notice from GEICO that told me they WERE taking it for that policy period but I caught it). I called them and they told me that I had to give them a different credit card number to pay up the policy. I told them I wanted the new card put on auto-draft. 7 months later, I got a nastygram from the State, telling me that they were going to suspend all my license plates for 30 days because I hadn't paid my insurance.
Geico's responded "Oh, when you called the number on the piece of paper that we sent you about 'auto-draft', you got the 'Immediate Pay' section. They could only take your payment for that one policy period. You should have called the 'auto-draft' section and had them re-enroll your policy on auto-draft." Nothing on the paper notice they sent me and nothing that they said when I called them the first time said anything about two different payment sections to call.
I sent a letter requesting a waiver to the State with the info. They sent me back a letter waiving the suspension of my license plates but saying that I broke the law and I owed them a $100 "civil penalty" (a civil penalty can't be appealed in court like a fine can) and if I let my insurance lapse within the next three years, they would suspend my plates for 6 months.
I went to State Farm after that, No claims but the service (which mostly has consisted of taking my money) has been very good. Still only liability on my bus, though.
Miller Rv Insurance in Oregon, Progressive is what I have through them. They are knowledgeable in conversions. Mine is a professional conversion but I am sure they handle home conversions.
http://www.millerrvinsurance.com/index.php (http://www.millerrvinsurance.com/index.php)
Had an appraisal done with Mark Koch at Automotive Appraisal Services in Yorba Linda Calif. Now have a agreed value on my policy that will cover me in the event of loss. Do not take a declared value policy as they are worthless.
Quote from: bronson on March 10, 2016, 12:15:52 PM
Miller Rv Insurance in Oregon, Progressive is what I have through them. They are knowledgeable in conversions. Mine is a professional conversion but I am sure they handle home conversions.
http://www.millerrvinsurance.com/index.php (http://www.millerrvinsurance.com/index.php)
Had an appraisal done with Mark Koch at Automotive Appraisal Services in Yorba Linda Calif. Now have a agreed value on my policy that will cover me in the event of loss. Do not take a declared value policy as they are worthless.
I had my insurance with John Miller for years before he passed away.I drank quite a few Miller Lites beers with John under the awning of his Prevost named "Miller Time " one fine man and his daughter is carrying on the business.I left only because of the screwy law in AZ requiring a local agent I may go back since the law has changed here
I go through Miller, good people
I have had my Coach insurance with North Carolina Farm Bureau. When I left NC to go to NJ to look at a few buses, I asked if I purchased one, could he "bind" coverage so I could bring it home. I did and he did. I have one claim due to hurricane damage. The building I was parked next to blew down and on my coach. Everything went smooth. Good experience for over 12 years. Home, rental property, cars, service truck and boat covered.
Art
We also went through Miller Insurance, who placed us with Progressive. Mark Koch did the appraisal on our 1959 GM-4104 (recently sold) and he'll be doing the appraisal on our 1996 XL40 coach if my wife ever gets done with the paperwork and photos. No complaints about Progressive, though the only claim we ever submitted was years ago for towing the 4104 thirty miles to a garage in Wisconsin.
Kirby
I went with State Farm.
For anyone interested, I got quotes 2 months ago. Here are the results.
National interstate / explorer = $967
Progressive = $875
National General / Good Sam = Liability only
Prevost Prouds = No self conversions
FMCA / Allied = $574
Overland = No bus conversions
Blue Sky = No bus conversions
Safeco = liability only
State Farm = $526
I have progressive with roadside and glass and it was less than $300 for the year. They insure my mc 5 for $250ish. But don't have extra on the 5.
Foremost RV insurance since 1973
I am currently carrying commercial policy through Progressive. My agent does not seem to be able to insure it as Private Coach / RV. Geico won't do bus conversions. I guess ill try State Farm next, anybody know a good agent, who handles conversions, FL title?
Sami
When we got our "new" Eagle Model 10 in 2015, it was a former entertainer coach. Our regular insurance company is Pekin Insurance (Illinois), and like others, we got the odd looks and silly questions. I told them what it was and provided pictures which were sent to the "Underwriters", those mysterious people who remain nameless, yet decide whether you are covered or not. They initially refused to cover it, but I had previously insured my Model 5 Eagle with no problem, but there was a lapse in coverage because we were not using it for a few years. The Pekin underwriter said that it could not be covered because it was not originally an RV (bus conversion). I provided proof that it was never a passenger bus and had always been equipped with cooking facilities, a bathroom, and sleeping areas since new. So, the only the only thing that saved me was a copy of the original bill of sale and registration, otherwise I would have been hunting around like many apparently are.
I always listen to John Miller when buying insurance "pay attention to the coverage" I don't believe John ever wrote a policy that was standard minimum liability coverage like a 15/10/15.
His saying was you are driving a commercial vehicle that has been converted to a RV. When you are involved in a accident the lawyers are coming for you.I am probably over insured with the 1 million liability, my policy is over 1400 bucks a year but I have enough coverage to last awhile before the lawyers come for us I hope
Quote from: sixtyseven on March 11, 2016, 10:19:59 PM
I went with State Farm.
For anyone interested, I got quotes 2 months ago. Here are the results.
National interstate / explorer = $967
Progressive = $875
National General / Good Sam = Liability only
Prevost Prouds = No self conversions
FMCA / Allied = $574
Overland = No bus conversions
Blue Sky = No bus conversions
Safeco = liability only
State Farm = $526
cheaper is not always the best....
Quote from: Beachfinn on March 12, 2016, 06:41:49 AM
I am currently carrying commercial policy through Progressive. My agent does not seem to be able to insure it as Private Coach / RV. Geico won't do bus conversions. I guess ill try State Farm next, anybody know a good agent, who handles conversions, FL title?
Sami
try AIS.com they write in many states and many different insurers, worth a call.
I have agreed upon insurance for a cash value , but I am sure that if I ever need it they will find a way to only give me 80 % of that as they always find a way out of paying . funny how over the years I have paid ALL of my part of the agreement . I think the 80% is a standard part of there corrupt world
dave
Typically agreed value is based on an appraisal, but regardless of how you and the insurance company come to an acceptable value, as soon as the policy is issued the insurance company begins plugging in depreciation so after a period of time in the event of a total loss the insurance company pays what they determine to be depreciated value.
They never adjust the premiums downward, although they have less exposure as time passes due to depreciation.
Progressive since 2005. Agreed value.
Mike in GA
Read the fine print you find that Jon is spot on,my Progressive policy on the Trek states all claims will be made by the adjuster at fair market valve at the time of the claim lol One is only dreaming if have 150,000 agreed on value and something happens 2 years down the road.I have a friend here his Eagle burn and he has been battling Progressive for over 3 years now
Truth is, and an honest agent will tell you... if you insured 10 years ago for 100K $'s agreed value or what ever, they will depreciate it faster than a speeding bullet....What they don't tell you is that your rates should go down every year also...
Your rig is not worth what it was...
I have had AAA for seven years with an agreed upon value. Reasonable, but then I have homeowners and my other cars there as well for a discounted rate. Have not had a claim.
I have agreed upon insurance for a cash value , but I am sure that if I ever need it they will find a way to only give me 80 % of that as they always find a way out of paying . funny how over the years I have paid ALL of my part of the agreement . I think the 80% is a standard part of there corrupt world
dave
edit
I called my insurance co. and asked about the AGREED UPON CASH VALUE and was told that with a complete loss I would get 100% of the agreed value of the policy .
dave
Quote from: sledhead on March 22, 2016, 02:55:42 PM
I called my insurance co. and asked about the AGREED UPON CASH VALUE and was told that with a complete loss I would get 100% of the agreed value of the policy .
dave
;D good luck if your agreed value was 2,4,6,8,or 10 years ago. ???
I've been with Good Sam for the past several years but only have lots of coverage for the other guy and minimum uninsured motorist because the state requires it of them. Both AAA and progressive agreed to comp and collision etc. and then cancelled a couple of weeks later stating age (mine or the 81 year old bus or both, they didn't say) as the reason. Geico, though advertising r/v and motorcycle insurance, are loathe to provide same. Go figure. Jack
Do we have enough current or former Bus Conversion folks here to create a good insurance data base? This way we could recognize current and regional patterns?
A couple quick things. Current information. An accurate claims history and performance. Cost and particular coverage factors. All submitted to a data base?
Reason I am proposing this is that we are getting all different inputs based upon nothing substantial. Insurance only works if the company will perform after the claim.
Which companies work with us? Which just take the premiums but then do not perform? Which rare agents just pocket the premiums and do not write a contract?
Like said, cheaper ain't always better. Trust but verify. Could we dig around and find an agent or company who is willing to help us out nation wide? A proven record?
How about self insurance? A bonding company? Understand I am not a fan of insurance companies. Particularly legally mandated vehicle insurance. The big con.
Sosss ... again, are there enough of us nationwide (plus Canada and Mexico) to create and maintain an accurate current clearing house for Bus Conversion coverage?