Thwarted by Insurance

[eb99603]

My conversion dreams are being dashed by insurance woes. I cannot find anyone to insure my coach in the state of AK. My only "option" is the assigned risk pool for all of the other insurance outcasts (mostly DWI offenders) which as you'd guess, comes at enormous cost. I think I'm going to sell (or more likely in AK, part out and scrap) my Setra and buy a from-the-factory motorhome.

[J_E]

I had a similar experience.  Tried playing all the games of omission and other word games that members here suggest and had no real success.  I finally called a local State Farm agent and started talking straight with them about what I had and what I needed for insurance.  I ended up with a "Commercial" policy with the requirement that I keep the commercial coverage for at least a year.  I could update them on the conversion work as it progresses and they said that would up my coverage as applicable.  After it's fully converted and I get it titled as an RV (or more likely, assembled), then I can easily convert to RV insurance as soon as I've reached the one year minimum. 

Costs me about $70/month for full coverage on the bus at its appraised value.

[chessie4905]

It's usually collision insurance or a non finished conversion that is still titled as a bus that causes the problems.

[Branderson]

Are u military at all? If so go thru usaa

[Branderson]

Im not even sure if usaa is only military these days

[J_E]

USAA no longer insures RVs, they farm it out to progressive.  Progressive has adopted the policy that they will no longer insure a coach unless it's a Marathon or comparable.  I was told this by multiple agents.  Almost had one of them convinced that my bus was a MCI Marathon, but I believe that the VIN or title history screwed me. 

[eb99603]

I'm a current USAA customer, and had the bus (which is now titled as an RV) insured through Progressive back when I lived in MN. When I switched to AK, Progressive dropped me like a bad habit.

I've been dealing with trying to get coverage for about a year now, while my bus sits. I've called literally every underwriter that operates in the state. I've only ever asked for liability coverage.

[HB of CJ]

Respectfully ...

We have found that most agents do not want to do the leg work for you.  They should.  Time to lean on your agent?  Make it very clear you need insurance on your non commercial RV Bus Conversion that yourself have converted.

If they can not or will not perform, tell them you might change Agents.  Yep.

It is the stuff the Agent may not tell you.  Nearly all States might allow you to post a personal bond in lieu of RV Bus Conversion insurance?  This also is the same as self insured.  This is what the rich folks with Trusts do lots of times. 

Respectfully ...

[Branderson]

Wait usaa hasnt third partied you? Two yrs ago they got me to foremost insurance.

[eb99603]

I've leaned on every agent I've spoken to and consumed copious amounts of time from folks who ultimately never got my business because they either were unable, or unwilling to take my money. I've even spoken to the state Division of Insurance, who told me that the Assigned Risk Pool is my only option if no private insurer will voluntarily insure me.

@Branderson - USAA does not insure RVs anymore, and they do not insure commercial vehicles for personal use. They send me along to Progressive and Progressive only. As stated, Progressive positively will not insure me. I've spent literally months arguing with them about it.

[eb99603]

@HB - I can't find anything about bonds in lieu of insurance in any AK statutes. This list: https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/insurance/states-not-get-car-insurance/ seems to confirm that this isn't an option for me in Alaska.

Even if it were, the financial risk associated with having to personally shoulder the costs of an accident simply aren't worth it. At that point I'll just drive a fiberglass hunk-a-junk instead of a coach.

[Lin]

Have you tried GMAC (or whatever they call it now)?

[luvrbus]

Have you tried Geico ? It may be worth the money for you to join Good Sam's or FMCA and use their insurance program

[eagle19952]

I've leaned on every agent I've spoken to and consumed copious amounts of time from folks who ultimately never got my business because they either were unable, or unwilling to take my money. I've even spoken to the state Division of Insurance, who told me that the Assigned Risk Pool is my only option if no private insurer will voluntarily insure me.

@Branderson - USAA does not insure RVs anymore, and they do not insure commercial vehicles for personal use. They send me along to Progressive and Progressive only. As stated, Progressive positively will not insure me. I've spent literally months arguing with them about it.

AIS INSURANCE
(888) 772-4247

ps. 99654

Insured since 2002 and also have other vehicles
plated in 3 other states..Full Time policy
but NONE of my Real Estate is with them.

[richard5933]

USAA no longer insures RVs, they farm it out to progressive.  Progressive has adopted the policy that they will no longer insure a coach unless it's a Marathon or comparable.  I was told this by multiple agents.  Almost had one of them convinced that my bus was a MCI Marathon, but I believe that the VIN or title history screwed me. 

Progressive appears to have different guidelines state by state. We have Progressive on our 4108, and we did on our 4106 as well. Of course, having a bus that was professionally converted made things much easier. Our current one still wears the Land Cruiser plaques which certainly helped. In many ways it seemed that they are were just trying to eliminate some of the risks that come from conversions done by unknown entities. Things like 120v running over speaker wire would scare me away from writing a policy, and while the conversion in this thread may not be in that category it's easy to understand why a carrier wants to protect itself.

Not sure if the OP has his bus titled as a motor home or if it is still technically a bus. Anyone that has a bus still titled/registered as a bus should expect to have bus insurance. Once converted and titled as a motor home things get easier, but there are still potential problems.

As an option, do you spend enough time in any other state to make registering the bus in another state a possibility?

Do any of the companies doing insurance in AK have a set of guidelines for what they will insure? With the number of conversions I've read about in AK someone must be issuing coverage.