insurance - Page 2

goinbroke2 · 09-19-2016, 07:18 AM

A different perspective from Canada...
I'm in Nova Scotia and bought the bus already converted. It's a schoolbus converted to a motorhome/racecar hauler (enclosed 16ft back with ramp)
Called the ins company the guy before me used...no way, it wasn't pro done!?!? It was a BUS and nothing I could say about it. Went to "silver wheels" which ins hot rods/antiques/etc. NO WAY, not a pro job. A wife of a guy who works for me is in insurance, she fought for two days and we said whatever they wanted to finally get ins. Got it for the 6months I was going to have it registered (racing season) was $600. following year, THEY won't cover it because it's not pro done!

Just to be clear, there are a dozen or more buses running around the Maritimes hauling racecars. Went through several companies and back to this same one for a last kick at the cat because racing season was about to start. Had to get an appraisal. Fine, buddy appraised it at $19,500.....um...they charge so much per value so I got him to state it was worth $12,000. Sent appraisal, registration (which in NS it's classified as a camper) and the girl said "oh, it's registered as a camper?, oh in that case it's $128.00 per year for full coverage, pl/pd/theft/fire/glass/etc"

I put ins on it and will never take it off now.
Even if it's only registered 6 months out of the year, I leave full coverage on it all year round now.

International · 09-19-2016, 05:15 PM

Good for you sorry you had to really earn that policy. In the long run it seemd to work out good.

TheKoolBus · 10-25-2016, 02:27 PM

I just went through the process of getting a quote from Progressive. If I'm honest on their questionnaire and reveal that it is a converted bus of any kind, it immediately says that they absolutely will not cover a converted bus, professional or not. If I put in "Other Class A", it works just fine, I moved on with the questions and got a quote of $222 for six months.

I'm not sure if this is legal or what, but I'm already feeling like this would be my only option.

AlleyCat67 · 10-25-2016, 02:45 PM

BUT.... you have to CALL them to buy the policy. I went the same route, avoiding the word bus when I talked to them... but in the end they still would not insure it.

Read this post, call Max @ National General. He will get you hooked up. My liability policy on a 2005 bus is 81 down, 65 a month.

I've referred a few people here to him after I was referred by the author of the post I linked.... and he's come through for every one of them. I think it took about 2 hours for mine to come through.

Dapplecreek · 10-25-2016, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheKoolBus

I just went through the process of getting a quote from Progressive. If I'm honest on their questionnaire and reveal that it is a converted bus of any kind, it immediately says that they absolutely will not cover a converted bus, professional or not. If I put in "Other Class A", it works just fine, I moved on with the questions and got a quote of $222 for six months.

I'm not sure if this is legal or what, but I'm already feeling like this would be my only option.

Which state are you in?

railbus5 · 10-25-2016, 07:31 PM

I had to go through my agent to buy in Maine. I had their blessing and help to use the "commercial for non-commercial use" type of policy. It is about $600 per year paid upfront. This is thru Progressive. You can do installments for more. I said I needed to get it running so I could sell it easier. I have not found a buyer yet.

TheKoolBus · 10-25-2016, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dapplecreek

Which state are you in?

Minnesota. I'm not sure how much it varies state to state. I was just looking at it today because I now have almost three years of tabs to catch up on and now MN needs proof of insurance to keep up with registration.

tobeamiss · 10-30-2016, 09:01 AM

I think NY is one of the toughest! I'm having a heck of a time!

DoubleO7 · 10-30-2016, 10:25 AM

Just insured mine this past week thru Progressive.
As an "other" motorhome.
100% online.
Three levels were offered and I chose the middle level of insurance.
$133 per year

EastCoastCB · 10-30-2016, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoubleO7

Just insured mine this past week thru Progressive.
As an "other" motorhome.
100% online.
Three levels were offered and I chose the middle level of insurance.
$133 per year

Did you do this online?

johnbloem1974 · 10-30-2016, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Did you do this online?

I actually did the same thing - all online - listed it as an "other Class A". Have had coverage since November 2015, just got my renewal for the next year. I pay $23 a month. Listed on my policy as a 1998 INTER 3800...

John

DoubleO7 · 10-30-2016, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnbloem1974

I actually did the same thing - all online - listed it as an "other Class A". Have had coverage since November 2015, just got my renewal for the next year. I pay $23 a month. Listed on my policy as a 1998 INTER 3800...

John

That is exactly what mine is on my Progressive Ins. policy.
1998 INTER 3800.

And yes, did it online, 100%

EastCoastCB · 10-30-2016, 02:42 PM

I'd honestly expect a cancellation letter and vin flagging within a month or two at most.
They will initially send you the policy but it says in their legal language that they do NOT insure "converted school buses". Its happened to about everyone on here who's tried, if not all.

DoubleO7 · 10-30-2016, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

I'd honestly expect a cancellation letter and vin flagging within a month or two at most.
They will initially send you the policy but it says in their legal language that they do NOT insure "converted school buses". Its happened to about everyone on here who's tried, if not all.

Yea, I am expecting that to happen.
But maybe if I am expecting it to happen it will not happen, LOL.
I expect to win the lottery and it never happens!

EastCoastCB · 10-30-2016, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoubleO7

Yea, I am expecting that to happen.
But maybe if I am expecting it to happen it will not happen, LOL.
I expect to win the lottery and it never happens!

Not trying to be a downer, but it keeps popping up from time to time with new bus owners and is always worth mentioning.
I'd try to avoid it honestly. The less they know the better.
If you go through an agent, you'll do much better. The online thing seems to me just a way of outing yourself early to them.

johnbloem1974 · 10-30-2016, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

I'd honestly expect a cancellation letter and vin flagging within a month or two at most.
They will initially send you the policy but it says in their legal language that they do NOT insure "converted school buses". Its happened to about everyone on here who's tried, if not all.

That's what I expected too after we bought ours, but we've had it since November 2015 and just renewed it for another year... I was kinda surprised after reading all the stuff on here about it...

John

Mmaddy59 · 11-07-2016, 06:27 PM

Went thru Progressive. Commercial insurance since I am using it to see my watercolors and Jewelry.

$60.00 a month....$624 a year.

prof.fate · 11-11-2016, 09:51 AM

What about insuring it as a truck? cargo truck, etc?

I plan to get a shorty next year for that use...

I guess 'station wagon' is a stretch? LOL Limo?

When I was young a van was a truck..today they're passenger cars..or trucks are station wagons (what is an SUV anyway? my outback sure seems like a station wagon).

railbus5 · 11-11-2016, 05:59 PM

That will not work. The VIN will tell them what it is. They ALWAYS ask for the VIN. Besides lying gets you into more trouble than the truth.

DoubleO7 · 11-27-2016, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

I'd honestly expect a cancellation letter and vin flagging within a month or two at most.
They will initially send you the policy but it says in their legal language that they do NOT insure "converted school buses". Its happened to about everyone on here who's tried, if not all.

And so I have to give you full credit for the jinx, LOL.

Received letter today in snail mail.
"The 1998 INTER 3800 is unacceptable because it is a converted school bus.
You may be eligible for coverage in Progressive's Commercial Auto Program."

No explanation as to how they made the determination.

But the policy will not be cancelled until Jan. 6, 2017 and so they are insuring it from Oct. 28th until Jan. 06 which is good enough to use it for moving stuff to the new property.

I hope, LOL.

Then decide if I am going to keep it or not.

Building a new house so it would basically be sitting for two years or more.

Come Jan. after Progressive cancels, I will go back online and see if I can get the same policy again online from them. Just to see if it can be done again.

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