Pre RV insurance

[ktmossman]

I am having a tough time getting insurance on the bus before I have it ready for an RV title.  I have talked to countless agents and none of them have a clue.  I have tried sharing the eventual purpose and not.

So far, I have two quotes.  The first requires me to put one of my cars on the policy and costs $4K/yr. (This is the one advertised in BCM.)  The second costs $3k/yr.  Both are for minimum liability.

Does anyone have contact info for an actual agent who might know what I'm talking about (preferably one that serves Texas)?

[richard5933]

If it's not yet converted and still registered as a bus, then you need insurance for a bus. You don't need to go into great details about your plans, especially if the bus is still a bus. Just start with asking about coverage for a private bus, and make sure that they know you'll only be using it to transport you and your immediate family (not taking groups out, etc.)

Couple of thoughts...
Research independent insurance agents in your area, and then pare down the list to those that write commercial policies. Even though you don't technically need a commercial policy, an agent that writes coverage for commercial outfits is going to be more familiar with the type of insurance you need. Give them a call and see if they can write a bare-bones liability policy to get you going for the meantime.

Next, if that craps out, call a local charter company. The smaller the better. See if you can get someone in the business office to listen to you, and hopefully let you know who their insurance agent is. Then call that agent.
You can also find a church in your area with a private coach, and see if you can get information from them about who writes their bus policy.
Hope this helps.

[lvmci]

Don't call it a bus, it's a motor home, I put a refrigerator,  a table and chair, a stove, if it has a toilet and sink great,  if not put portable ones in, make sure all your marker lights and brake, tail and headlights all work, and a license plate or 1 trip permit to get an inspection from the DMV, try your insurance agent then...if there is more than 14 seats in most states, remove all but a few, lvmci...

[luvrbus]

Kevin are you looking for liability only ? that should not be that hard to find,but if you are looking for full coverage with a 100/300/100 limit it going to cost for a J4500 lol I got a quote from Progressive for my Country Coach it was 8k, I went commercial it was a lot cheaper with more coverage 

[DoubleEagle]

Maybe things are different in Texas, but as has been said, and I'll say it again, don't call it a bus. Get that title switched over to RV, Motor Home, House Car, whatever. I pay less for liability for two Eagles than I pay for one car, in Ohio. Cliff got wild estimates at first, but after he priced around there was a big difference. Shop around. 

[luvrbus]

Missing the point guys he asking for insurance before the conversion to RV he is stuck with it being a bus even if it is not for passengers or revenue 

[DoubleEagle]

Then he will have to pay the price, but if he took out most of the seats, added a cooking device, a sleeping arrangement, a refrigerator or icebox, and a temporary sink (depending on state requirements), he would have an RV. It does not have to look pretty, it just needs to meet the requirements, and not be engaged in hauling passengers. The other problem is if the vehicle is registered as a commercial bus, the driver needs a CDL, and the vehicle needs DOT inspection.  And how much do commercial plates cost in Texas?

[windtrader]

The state of Texas requires 4 out of 6 things. You can pick and choose what you want. Here is the manual on what the state requires, chapter 11 covers a Converted Bus.https://www.txdmv.gov/txdmv-forms/do...vehicle-manual(A)is built on a motor vehicle chassis as an integral part of or a permanentattachment to the chassis; and(B) contains at least four of the following independent life support systemsthat are permanently installed and designed to be removed only forrepair or replacement and that meet the standards of the AmericanNational Standards Institute, Standards for Recreational Vehicles:(i) a cooking facility with an on-board fuel source;(ii) a gas or electric refrigerator;(iii) a toilet with exterior evacuation;(iv) a heating or air conditioning system with an on-board power or fuelsource separate from the vehicle engine;(v) a potable water supply system that includes at least a sink, a faucet,and a water tank with an exterior service supply connection; or(vi) a 110-125 volt electric power supply.


lots more specifics here at schoolie http://www.skoolie.net/forums/f18/

[richard5933]

...The other problem is if the vehicle is registered as a commercial bus, the driver needs a CDL, and the vehicle needs DOT inspection...

Everything gets very complicated when you have a vehicle that is not clearly one thing or another, and there are multiple conversations - registration, driver license, and DOT rules all go by different standards.

It is possible to register a bus as a 'private bus' in Texas (see section 9-2 of the TX Motor Vehicle Registration Manual).
https://www.txdmv.gov/publications-tac/doc_download/3077-registration-manual

Whether or not a vehicle is a "commercial vehicle" depends on who is asking. For the purposes of the FMCSA, it needs to be used in the furtherance of a commercial operation before they care about it and will want to see a DOT number. But, this is separate from what TX says.

For a bus which has had the seats removed, it is to registered according to this (page 2-5):

"Classify buses reconstructed by removing the seats (except driver's seat) as commercial
vehicles. An exchange of registration and corrected title is required. Register such
vehicles with a carrying capacity of 3,000 or 4,000 lbs. depending on the manufacturer's
rated carrying capacity for the chassis. However, never record the carrying capacity as less
than 3,000 lbs."

Whether or not a CDL is needed is another separate conversation. This will depend on the GVWR and a few other factors. Since a non-commercial class B license is required in Texas for motor homes 26,001 pounds or heavier, it might be beneficial to bite the bullet and get that now. For this question you'll need to check with the DMV.

[luvrbus]

Texas has required some type CDL for anything over 26.000 lbs since the 80's not much to the CDL drivers license for RV in Texas

[buswarrior]

Insurance industry is not a friendly place at the moment.

This question is about insurance, before the coach is ready to be a motorhome.

In a time when a driver cannot insure a tractor trailer without 3 years verifiable, current, experience...

A busnut is going to fail to find a carrier to insure a bus.

In your jurisdiction, whatever the used vehicle dealers are doing to move equipment around, you need to tap into that, and pay for them to move it for you.

Dealer plate, tow truck, whatever...

This hobby isn't getting any easier to start from scratch...

Try making arrangements to drive it thru 3 states and an international border...

We are finding out across the hobby, same as a business venture, a busnut needs to START with the insurance question, before purchasing the coach.

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

[Runcutter]

Kevin, I just sent you a PM with my North Texas agent, who has been very helpful when I've had unusual or urgent business insurance requirements.  As others have suggested, a minimal conversion may be the way to go.

Please let us know how you make out.

Arthur

[luvrbus]

He is between a rock and a hard spot,in Texas you show proof insurance before you get plates and I think even before the title is changed over.Here in AZ you don't show proof of insurance for plates and title work lol but they will send you a letter if not insured in a few weeks after the change,I plated my DL3 then put it out of service and it is only insured when I call my State Farm agent and tell her I am going to move it or drive it, save me lots of money that way