Insurance during bus build

[richard5933]

First - welcome to the forum. Glad you're here.

Second, take a breath and don't panic. Hopefully you've read through this entire thread and have an understanding of some of the basics. If not, start scrolling and read the whole thing.

Basically, don't ever mention 'bus' or 'bus conversion' when talking to an insurance company. Actually, my recommendation is to not even talk to the insurance company yourself. Find a GOOD independent agent, and let them talk to the company on your behalf. This is one of those times you need someone on your side.

If your bus is not converted yet, then you do NOT need insurance for a bus conversion. You need insurance for a privately owned bus. That's what you have. At the least, you should be able to get liability insurance for your bus. Once you have the conversion completed far enough that you have motor home tags, you no longer own a bus (as far as the insurance company is concerned). At that point you own a motor home. Nothing more. Nothing less. Lots of good pictures to your agent if he/she requests them, then let them shop around for a good policy.

Regarding Progressive - they do still insure 'bus conversions' but not in every state. We have a factory conversion and ours is insured through Progressive. So was our first bus.

What state are you located in now? Where are you moving to?

[eagle19952]

I just walked into a State Farm broker in Alabama (in December). 30 minutes later I had a cheaper better deal.
One coach, two cars.
With 3 different states registrations/tags.

[Debo]

For future searches, I just wanted to add this. It's the definition of a "house car", or motor home as legally defined in the state of North Carolina. The laws in your state are most likely completely different, so don't go by this in other states. I copied this directly out of the NC Chapter 20 statutes that govern motor vehicles.

"Motor home or house car. – A vehicular unit, designed to provide temporary living quarters, built into as an integral part, or permanently attached to, a self-propelled motor vehicle chassis or van. The vehicle must provide at least four of the following facilities: cooking, refrigeration or icebox, self-contained toilet, heating or air conditioning, a portable water supply system including a faucet and sink, separate 110-125 volt electrical power supply, or an LP gas supply."

After I had the required systems installed, I scheduled an appointment with a DMV inspector who came out to my house and changed the designation from "bus" to "house car" while on his computer in my driveway. (He was fascinated with the project, btw.) I never again used the B-word, and have had zero problems with getting insurance, registration, the authorities, etc. It's not a bus - it's a motor home. Period.

[Oonrahnjay]

For future searches, I just wanted to add this. It's the definition of a "house car", or motor home as legally defined in the state of North Carolina. The laws in your state are most likely completely different, so don't go by this in other states. I copied this directly out of the NC Chapter 20 statutes that govern motor vehicles.

"Motor home or house car. – A vehicular unit, designed to provide temporary living quarters, built into as an integral part, or permanently attached to, a self-propelled motor vehicle chassis or van. The vehicle must provide at least four of the following facilities: cooking, refrigeration or icebox, self-contained toilet, heating or air conditioning, a portable water supply system including a faucet and sink, separate 110-125 volt electrical power supply, or an LP gas supply."

After I had the required systems installed, I scheduled an appointment with a DMV inspector who came out to my house and changed the designation from "bus" to "house car" while on his computer in my driveway. (He was fascinated with the project, btw.) I never again used the B-word, and have had zero problems with getting insurance, registration, the authorities, etc. It's not a bus - it's a motor home. Period. 

      Same with mine in NC.  The DMV inspector (regular Highway Patrol  uniform) spent 10 minutes with me, gave me a piece of paper to take to the license plate people, but spent most of the 10 minutes talking to me about how I wanted to do it and how I planned to get it done.  Actually, I didn't have all the required items installed at that time -- I did have seats removed - but he was happy to sign off on the status as "house car" so I could get plates and insurance.

[bobofthenorth]

Don't disagree with what you said. My main point with regard to insurance is that just because a vehicle is tagged as a motor home doesn't mean the insurance company will agree. Push come to shove, if/when there is a claim on the policy they will look for any reason to deny the claim.

^^^^^^   This  ^^^^^^^

Just because you have a stack of receipts or cancelled cheques doesn't mean you have or ever had insurance.  Its all good until it isn't.  Your only real defense is a local broker who values your business.