Insurance for pre-conversion

moosemanusa · February 06, 2015, 09:13:12 AM

I'm posting this for someone else, they are having problems finding coverage for a pre-conversion vehicle!.

We know the insurance companies can be picky about what makes a conversion (stove etc) but who can insure whilst the vehicle is being converted.

Only for inspection, driving to storage type driving as well..

Bus a driving shell currently, only 1 seat (drivers)..

Any pointers would be appreciated..

Moose

mung · February 06, 2015, 09:56:59 AM

Put a Coleman stove and a bucket with a toilet seat on it in there and call it an RV?

Lin · February 06, 2015, 10:49:15 AM

Just guessing, but in order to insure it as a motorhome, you will probably need to register it as a motorhome first. Find what the state requires for that and do it in the simplest way. If they say they want a bed, just put a cot inside. If they want a stove, put any stove inside, etc.

The alternative would be to register it as a bus, you would then probably need a commercial license to drive it.

scanzel · February 06, 2015, 11:22:36 AM

If you registar as a bus then you will most likely need a cdl and commercial insurance. Better to registar it as a camper/rv. When I brought my Prevost home from Nevada to Connecticut it was empty minus all bus seats. The only thing motor vehicle wanted to document was the vin number, they didn't even care about the interior and gave me camper plates.

mung · February 06, 2015, 11:33:30 AM

In Florida if you have less than 16 seats you don't need a CDL.

buswarrior · February 06, 2015, 11:39:52 AM

Do not use the word "bus" to describe it.

Home built recreation vehicle, or the words used in the state in question.

"Bus" makes trouble.

Happy coaching!
buswarrior

eagle19952 · February 06, 2015, 12:03:26 PM

Once that word (bus) is in the system it is very hard to remove....

Quote from: buswarrior on February 06, 2015, 11:39:52 AM
Do not use the word "bus" to describe it.

Home built recreation vehicle, or the words used in the state in question.

"Bus" makes trouble.

Happy coaching!
buswarrior

moosemanusa · February 06, 2015, 02:50:30 PM

Great notes! will pass this along!

Thank you!

daddyoften · February 06, 2015, 05:29:05 PM

I'm Wyoming I'm insured as a private non commercial bus. It costs me only $600 year. Mine is just a shell. My agent told me not to insure it as a rv once it's done because since it was a bus at one time it's very hard to insure it ad anything else. The only thing I'm going to worry about is re titling it ad an rv once I get it converted.

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Jim Eh. · February 06, 2015, 05:54:38 PM

Where I live, a single seat vehicle (all passenger seats have been removed) would be registered as a truck. I have built the base for my bed and I will be throwing a bar fridge in it but I have to secure it to the floor. I can then register and insure it as an RV. I did not consider registering it as a truck because the vehicle inspection would only be valid for one year from inspection date. Because I waited I until the floor was done so I can put it the components needed to and can now register (and insure it if I wish) as an RV. The inspection for an RV is not based on a calendar and is good for the time you own it the inspection will be valid when I complete my project and I can drive it around to different shops if I need to in the mean time.

dbldragon · February 07, 2015, 10:53:20 PM

We bought our bus in the states and imported as so . Inspected and initial transfers to get home as a bus .Here in BC RV needs bed water fridge cooking and some others that are optional but MUST be PERMANENTLY mounted . To get around bus issue we now have ours registered as a window van with only 3 seats. A friend has a schoolie as a truck.
We may leave ours as such to avoid more inspections and fees even after conversion is done .

Big YOLO Bus · February 08, 2015, 07:51:29 PM

Had similar trouble finding coverage for mine. None of the insurance companies wanted to cover it as an RV until after the conversion was finished. Finally found Start Farm would cover it for me as a commercial vehicle for a little over 600 / year. I figure I'll be ready to get RV coverage by the time that runs out. About all they asked for were some pics showing all the seats removed and the conversion started.

Oonrahnjay · February 08, 2015, 09:31:35 PM

Quote from: Big YOLO Bus on February 08, 2015, 07:51:29 PMHad similar trouble finding coverage for mine. None of the insurance companies wanted to cover it as an RV until after the conversion was finished. Finally found Start Farm would cover it for me as a commercial vehicle for a little over 600 / year. I figure I'll be ready to get RV coverage by the time that runs out. About all they asked for were some pics showing all the seats removed and the conversion started.

I took my purchase documents in to the license plate office in my little town. The woman had never seen any before. I told her that I was going to build it as a conversion to a motorhome. She gave me a title as a "house car" (NC's classification); I had to get a State Highway Patrol inspection. The inspector told me that I had to have running water, kitchen, sleeping facilities etc. -- I said, "yeah, I plan to build those in". He said "OK" and signed it off.
No commercial registration, no CDL, no Motor Carrier inspections.
I have State Farm RV liability insurance for about $115 per year.

Newbob · February 11, 2015, 08:00:44 AM

My BMV didn't care what it was - they were just taking my word for it. My INSURANCE company however - gave me a real hard time about what it was exactly and I had to go through many calls and agents to straighten it out.

Short story: I registered it as a camper, insured it as a "work van" because I have rental properties. They did want to see pics to ensure I had removed the seats. - They were very concerned about the seats. FWIW

digesterman · February 11, 2015, 04:10:16 PM

They did want to see pics to ensure I had removed the seats. - They were very concerned about the seats. FWIW

Seats to the insurance company equates to passengers, don't think some insurance companies are hot on having their insured carrying around a lot of people, people are expensive to repair if in accident.