Conversion Insurance

[RogerFaye]

Can anyone tell us who writes insurance in Connecticut to cover a 'home grown' conversion?

[HB of CJ]

If nobody will insure you in Connecticut for your owner builder Bus Conversion will the State allow you to insure yourself through a bond type arrangement?

[Lin]

We have National General, but I do not know about anything specific to Connecticut. Do you think it is different there than other states?  Most companies will just give you liability to start and may upgrade it based on pictures and/or appraisal.  Is it registered as a motorhome?

[DoubleEagle]

It might not be prudent to describe your conversion as "home grown" to an insurance company. It should be an RV in their eyes, and it is hopefully registered as one. If they ask for details, only provide honest answers to questions they ask, nothing more. In Ohio, when I got coverage for my latest Eagle from a company that already insures all of my personal and business vehicles, they initially refused coverage because I described it as a bus conversion. They said it would only be covered if it were a conversion when new. Lucky for me, I had proof that it was an entertainer coach from new, and never a seated bus. The agent you deal with may say one thing, but when the decision gets to one of those mysterious "Underwriters", their opinion of insurability might be different. The state insurance regulations in Connecticut might not be so much of a problem as the policies of the insurance companies which may be based in other states.

[jackhanow]

Rv or motor home. I use progressive and just have comprehensive with $100 deductible with towing and roadside. $300 per year.

[HB of CJ]

Withholding information or lying through omission may not bode well if or when you have a small or big claim with any insurance company.  If you do obtain insurance and receive the actual underwriting document it is also a good idea to back track it to see if it is actually a legitimate policy. 

Trust but verify.  Progressive wrote our coverage but that is ancient history going back to 2001.  Also having a good agent whom you have established an excellent relationship with works wonders.  Sometimes, (rarely) a few agents will also kinda embellish stuff in order to land the business.  Respectfully.

[scanzel]

I live in Connecticut and I have basic insurance for now and plan to upgrade soon. Mine in through Good Sam or FMCA don't remember which. Bus registration plate says camper and insurance is 1989 Prevost. When I had it inspected at motor vehicle dept they just checked vin number and gave me camper plates even though it was completely empty when I brought it home from Nevada. If you have camper plates then it is an rv.

[Oonrahnjay]

I live in Connecticut and I have basic insurance for now and plan to upgrade soon. Mine in through Good Sam or FMCA don't remember which. Bus registration plate says camper and insurance is 1989 Prevost. When I had it inspected at motor vehicle dept they just checked vin number and gave me camper plates even though it was completely empty when I brought it home from Nevada. If you have camper plates then it is an rv.

       In North Carolina, the title status is "House Car" but it's pretty much the same; plates are like regular car plates but the vehicle type on the registration card is "HC".  About 6-7 years ago, Allstate sent me a note saying that they were dropping all RV coverage in NC because our bright sparks in dearly beloved we-never-saw-a-tax-that-we-didn't-love Raleigh had put in some bonehead regulatory requirement.  They dropped my liability-only even though I'd been a policy-holder for my full-coverage car, RV liability, and my house insurance for years.  I applied to move it all to Progressive - they refused so I went with State Farm.  So, it does vary by state.

[chessie4905]

What model bus or coach are you trying to get insurance for?

[RogerFaye]

What model bus or coach are you trying to get insurance for?

It is a 1970 GM 4108 bus.

Thanks, everyone, for all the thoughts.