Full Timer's Insurance Options?

[technomadia]

We are literally hitting our heads up against our aluminum walls trying to figure out if we've properly insured our 4106 for full-time use.

Ok, to start things off with..  we do currently have a Progressive full-timers policy, that, in theory - should have us covered.

BUT - we just heard from other Progressive customers that in the fine print (we've not yet gotten that part of the policy yet to read for ourselves), that the policy is VOID if we don't own another vehicle. Which we don't - we're intending to go toadless until we get comfortable driving the bus.   We have an emergency request into our agent to inquire about this, before we (hopefully) hit the road later this week with new shoes.


Curious what other full-timers have done for insurance on their buses?  (For reference, we are domiciled in South Dakota.)


We have a ton of questions into our agent about this to hopefully be answered tomorrow (based off what we've read in the archives - ie. motorhome vs bus conversion, actual cash value vs. agreed upon value, upping our liability limits/umbrella policy, etc.). But if any one has advice on how to navigate getting a motorhome titled bus conversion properly insured for full-time use, would love to hear it! 

Thanks a bunch,
- Cherie

PS.  We've already followed the recommendation to contact Miller's Insurance, and they flat out turned us away.

[white-eagle]

We got our insurance through Poliseek who placed it with GMAC after checking on different costs with different carriers in different states.  They are recommended by Escapees (does that mean they are reputable or they spend lots for ads?) but they seem to understand full timer's which is what Escapees is about also.

They also seemed readily available for questions.  and FMCA had a special deal with GMAC at one point last year.

If you don't belong to those 2 orgs, you should if you are full timing, imho.

[Ralph7]

       I have Progressive and South Dakota plates & DL & My dakotaaddress & just upped my contents plus have a house in Pa. that I will loose my home owners Ins. so will get an add on for fulltimer ins. BUT ? So if you need cleared check  my profile, My phone ## & e-mail there, 'm on both boards.
        One super important ?? where are you domasiled??   If you call me at time I am in Pa. so 3hr time diff.

[loosenut]

I have AAA and tried to move to Progressive and they refused me. With AAA I had to go to an office where they took pictures and I had to detail why the insured amount was higher than the price I paid for the bus.  I already had AAA on other things so that may have weighed in my favor.

AAA accepted my application and money but the reality is I won't find out how much I'm insured for until I have a claim.

Mike  

[skihor]

Our experience with Progressive wasn't good at all. When we first signed up the premium was based on an "agreed value". 5 years later we filed a claim for hail damage. I was informed that they had done away with the "agreed value" and our payout was now based on "actual cash value". They neglected to inform me of the policy change. They tried to "burn" me for over 15K ! I produced over 12K worth of receipt,s besides proof of the purchase cost, and several "comparables". I still lost 5K. Same on our cars. One of our cars was deemed to have a salvage value of close to 70%. All told I figure we lost close to 9K from what I thought would have been fair. Also because they got hit so hard in that storm they added a "Cost of doing business in Colorado" policy increase. I cancelled 3 cars, 3 motorcycles, 2 trailers, and 2 buses, and renters ins. I carry 250K/500K on everything. They lost alot more than me in the long run.
We ended going with GMAC, for everything, which was quite a bit cheaper than Progressive anyway. We have CoachNet for towing. 

Don & Sheila

[Sean]

Call Poliseek (formerly AON, formerly RVAA, formerly Alexander & Alexander -- they seem to change names every two years).  They are a broker but cater to full-timers and the bus conversion market and they will find you something.  Brace yourselves, though: it's very hard to insure a 50-year-old bus.

FWIW, our scooters count as our "main automobile" for the purposes of our umbrella policy.  If you have to, buy a $200 motor scooter on Craigslist, insure it as your main vehicle (we use Progressive for the scooters), and strap it to the bumper.

-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com

[technomadia]

Thanks for the recommendations on Poliseek, I actually do have a request into them - but have not heard back.  (And didn't feel like following up after the unhelpful attitude we encountered with Miller today).   So I will definitely follow-up on them if we don't get some reasonable answers from our current RV full timers agent.

And hey Ralph.. we're your neighbors at MyDakotaAddress   We've been domiciled there for 4 years now.

We figure worst case, we just bump up the eventual plans to get a vehicle (dreaming about a VW Bug) and I just drive behind the bus until we're comfortable enough with it to tow (or leave it parked at a friend's place).  But strapping a scooter to the back ain't a shabby idea either!   


We're not thrilled with Progressive - aside from all the stories we've heard, they also won't insure our contents for above $1000/each. Which leaves our laptops at best, half insured. And, if we title the bus in both our names - they want to charge us 50% more for being legally unmarried.    So if we can get into a better company, that would be ideal.

Thanks again all.... oh the adventures !
- Cherie

[rip]

We have GMAC insurance with towing and so far so good.I had my bus towed last year and was impressed with the service. I also my bus and toad registered in S.D. We will see how good the company really is after they handle my hail damage claims on both vehicles.
    Don

[akroyaleagle]

When Progressive doubled my insurance because they said I spent more than 180 days in the coach, I changed.

Good Sam gave me a quote lower than USAA.

USAA had just begun insuring RVs. I went with them because all my other insurance is USAA.

If you have served in the military you are eligible to join USAA. They are the most outstanding company I have ever dealt with. I've been with them over 40 years.

Everyone eligible should check them out.

https://www.usaa.com

[Ncbob]

I, just last week, changed the insurance on my toad to GMAC. The agent wasn't sure if GMAC would insure coaches at this point...but that's OK 'cause I don't want the same expiration dates for both vehicles.

We full time but when I got down to the fine print in the Nationwide policy I discovered that they're coverage is only for a 'vacation period of 2 weeks.  Not a problem as far as I'm concerned because I only drive the bus 2 days a year...one day to get to FL for the winter and 1 day to get home to NC. That might come back and bite me in the butt!

My agent is going to see if GMAC will give me coverage on my 43 year old bus (MC5A) for Liability, Comprehensive and total loss. I'm not concerned about collision...God Help the guy who runs into me...he might be in a world of hurt!

I'm going to keep plugged into this thread and hope we all come out winners in a game where we can't deal the cards.

Bob

[oldmansax]

And, if we title the bus in both our names - they want to charge us 50% more for being legally unmarried.   
Thanks again all.... oh the adventures !
- Cherie

I was privy to a similar situation once. The folks involved were not married but had several material possessions together. They ended up forming an LLC holding company. The LLC owned all the possessions (car, boat, house, furniture etc.) & they owned the LLC. They had to write up & carry with them a copy of the agreement showing they had "permission" to use the "resource" however they wanted. LOL! It worked very nicely for them. They could insure everything & if tragedy struck, the legalities & ownership were already handled.

YMMV,

TOM

BTW, your adventures haven't started yet!! 

[technomadia]

Just a quick update on the insurance situation.

Our South Dakota full-timer specialist agent at Epic Insurance (http://www.epic-ins.com) is going to bat for us.

She has contacted our current insurer, Progressive, and has gotten them to agree to waive the penalty for having two unmarried titled owners - after she explained to them our domestic partnership situation, and how long she's worked with us.  She is also surprised to learn that they do have an internal policy that at least one other vehicle owned is required for a motorhome full-timers policy to be valid, and has bumped our situation up to her contacts within the company.  We currently have a 'non-owners' liability policy with them for use with renting & borrowing vehicles as we travel, and hopefully that will meet their intentions of us not intending to use the bus to run all our errands (grocery, movies, etc.).   Worst case, we can just buy a scooter (as Sean recommended) or a cheap-o car and park it somewhere to meet the requirement.

She is also trying to work angles with GMAC to insure us.  They normally will not provide comp/collision on a bus conversion, but she has asked for special consideration for us. We shall see if anything comes of that, and we're prepared to get an appraisal done if they agree to insure us.


She says we're not her typical client.. and she's enjoying the challenge of our unique situation Usually it's the other way around I suppose, the RV is younger and the owners older.  Oh well, we never claimed to do things the typical way.

I'll update when we learn anything further.

- Cherie

[skihor]

When I called GMAC they were more than happy to sell us full timers insurance. We carry 250K/500K on the liability side and a 1K deductable on the comp/collision. Contents are based on a percentage of the busses value, and as such, only around 8K. That bothers me, but, honestly it's only cloths/dishes/personal stuff that prolly isn't worth much more. As I recall the policy is around $800 a year. It was cheaper than Progressive's "full coverage", and like, $200 a year cheaper than Progressive's full timer policy. Our rates are based on living in Denver, Colorado. Also when I sold our 2 Harleys Progressive TRIPLED the rate on my Gold Wing. Gmac's rate rose on the 'Wing and I went with Geico. Gmac quoted me $202 for our Corvair and 4 days later got a bill for $292, (that's a 45% difference). So... GMAC lost that one, as well. So my point is... pay attention, No insurance Company is "all that". Shop around and make sure every one is "on the same page".
Coach Net for towing is a good safe bet. One tow could equal several years worth of premiums.

Don & Sheila

[rv_safetyman]

PS.  We've already followed the recommendation to contact Miller's Insurance, and they flat out turned us away.

Cherie and Chris, your comment really bothered me.  I have often recommended Miller as a broker that understands and works well with bus owners.

I have been insured through them (Progressive Policy) for many years.  First they worked with me when I did my truck conversion and then when I bought the bus.  Always been very supportive and friendly folks.

After thinking about your comment, I called them to ask if they had changed their policy.  They were very clear that they still work with bus folks. 

Your situation of running your business out of your bus, may have raised a flag.  I talked to them at length, since we, like many folks, use our bus as a mobile office.  They said that as long as there is no signage on the side of the bus and no "foot traffic" into the bus, they have no problem with insuring a bus that is used as a mobile office.

I wanted to post this information to make sure that folks understand that Miller Insurance is at least one company that supports our life style.

Jim 

[thomasinnv]

when i bought my bus a year ago, I checked with Miller also and they wouldn't cover me. I don't remember the particulars as to why though. There was some kind of technicality which I don't remember right now. It might have been because it wasn't professionally converted, but i don't remember for sure. It's been a while now and I talked to a lot of insurance co's back then. As a side note though, I have GMAC and they have no problem with buses, but for full coverage i was told they do now require it to be a professional conversion.