Insurance for a conversion

joedelauter · July 10, 2019, 04:23:43 PM

We have recently completed a significant amount of upgrades to our 88 MCI. In contacting my insurance agent about getting more than just comprehensive liability, was informed that they would not provide more insurance for a conversion. I checked with Progressive, and was told similar story.
Could someone steer us to a provider that insures a conversion coach.
Thank you,

richard5933 · July 10, 2019, 04:45:08 PM

What state are you in? Makes a big difference in these things. We have Progressive in Wisconsin, and our policy is liability, comprehensive, and collision.

Best recommendation I can make is to find a good independent agent. Don't work directly with an insurance company, but through an agent. A good agent will know how to shop your policy to the various insurers, and how to walk things through underwriting to get the coverage you want.

We have full coverage based on a stated value. They will pay up to the stated value of our policy, based on the value of the coach at the time of the loss. We had a professional appraisal done when we got the policy so that there was something on file to support the valuation we assigned. Of course, they will deduct depreciation from that appraised value as time goes on.

If you happen to be in Wisconsin I'll be happy to share the name of our agent.

joedelauter · July 10, 2019, 05:29:17 PM

Thank you Richard for your insight.
I am in PA, our bus is registered in PA as well.
Progressive must be different from state to state. When I was referred to them and called, i was told that they (progressive) does not insure bus conversions.
Will find and independent agent and see what they can do for us.

Beluga Bus · July 10, 2019, 05:44:46 PM

Is it registered as a bus or an rv? Get insurance to match registration. I'm in Ca and have State Farm, full coverage and stated value for any loss.
Matt

joedelauter · July 10, 2019, 08:29:36 PM

Hi Matt,
It is now titled as a Motor Home. Had to go through a lot of hoops here in PA to get it re-titled from a bus to the category of 'Motor Home'. Saves a heck of a lot of money on licenses, etc.
Thanks for sharing. Will check with state farm to see what they can do for us.

richard5933 · July 11, 2019, 03:09:37 AM

Quote from: joedelauter on July 10, 2019, 08:29:36 PM
Hi Matt,
It is now titled as a Motor Home. Had to go through a lot of hoops here in PA to get it re-titled from a bus to the category of 'Motor Home'. Saves a heck of a lot of money on licenses, etc.
Thanks for sharing. Will check with state farm to see what they can do for us.

Not sure that you're getting the main part of the message - DON'T CALL THE INSURANCE COMPANY. CALL AN INDEPENDENT AGENT - one that works with many different insurance companies, but who works for none of them. He/she will also be able to work withe the underwriters of the different companies to get you the coverage you need. Mine knew how to submit photos of our coach and the appraisal we had done which helped slide our policy through.

If you don't already have an independent insurance agent, get one first. Talk to them about your other insurance needs as well, as a good agent will be able to get you discounts for the multiple policies if they can have them written with the same carrier. They will also be able to coordinate your policies so that you don't have overlap. For example, we already have an umbrella policy on our homeowners policy, and the one offered by Progressive on our motor home policy would have duplicated coverage. I wouldn't have caught that on my own. Your premium amount shouldn't be any higher working through an agent than it would be going directly with the company. The company pays the agent.

It just takes one slipped word when talking with the companies to have some low-level phone operator say 'no'. A good independent agent will be able to run your application through the process and will know how to avoid the problems you'll encounter.

You are not looking for insurance for a bus conversion. The word 'bus' should never pass over your lips. You are looking for insurance for class a diesel pusher motor home. Period. Of course you'll tell your agent the make/model/year/etc., but your description should be of a motor home.

joedelauter · July 11, 2019, 06:12:13 AM

Hi Richard,
Thank you. Yes i get the picture now. you are probably right on the fact that words matter and to use the independent agent as the go between for us. Thank you.

jmblake · July 11, 2019, 04:51:20 PM

We are in Pa also and have had Progressive Insurance for the coach since 2007 with no problems. Got it through our local Insurance agency. I agree with Richard talk to your local agent first. Jason

joedelauter · July 12, 2019, 04:56:58 AM

Thank you Jason,
Where in PA are you? We are in State College.

blue_goose · July 12, 2019, 04:57:21 AM

I am in Florida and called Progressive was told they didn't insure conversions. Called FMCA and they can get your coach with Progressive. Be sure to check with FMCA and Good Sams for price quote on what ever you get.
Jack

joedelauter · July 12, 2019, 05:00:42 AM

Thank you Jack!!

richard5933 · July 12, 2019, 05:14:18 AM

The problem with calling the companies directly is that you're likely to get a low-level representative on the phone. They will hear bus and think that you have a school bus conversion which will be the end of the story.

By going through an independent agent, especially a good one that has connections to the underwriting departments in the various companies, you have someone on your side who knows who to talk to and how to get the correct answers.

Also, your coach is registered as a motor home. That's the policy you want - a motor home policy.

chessie4905 · July 12, 2019, 05:15:44 AM

We have ours insured through Nationwide. It is a different policy than our cars and trucks. Have had ours through them for years. Maybe it is because they were both GMC motor homes. We have our home insured through them, so maybe that helps. Dunno. The RV and cycle were switched to the different policy group at same time we purchased the 4905. The 4104 was on normal auto policy and had collision coverage also. When I wanted to put collision on the 4905, they wouldn't offer it. Agent mentioned that they didn't know what the 4104 was and shouldn't have covered it. That's when we were switched to a different policy under Nationwide. I know when this came up, he spent some time on the phone with some higher up person and mentioned that we were good long customers to them during the conversation. We were in the office during the call.

joedelauter · July 12, 2019, 05:28:52 AM

thank you