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Old 05-06-2015, 09:36 PM   #1
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Found a company that insures conversions in NC

FYI, National General in North Carolina specializes in insuring SCHOOL BUS conversions specifically (and any other bus conversion for that matter).

I got on the AIS insurance page and called them. The lady was super knowledgeable and helpful. She referred me to National General, which used to be GMAC.

I will be getting retitled as an RV once the work is done. She said she needs three pictures proving that we have permanent bathroom, kitchen, and sleeping facilities. That's all it takes. No need to have it retitled, even though we will be.

My trip partner and I have good driving records, no major accidents, and we will be signing up for the Good Sam Club roadside assistance and the Good Sam Club (year membership to both for less than $100) which gets us a discount. Already having insurance on a regular vehicle (even with a different company) also gets a discount. Having experience with driving large vehicles and/or trailers also gets a discount.

They won't do collision, but we're only looking for liability anyway. As soon as we send in the conversion pics, we'll have a year of liability insurance for $257.

That sounds fantastic to me.

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Old 05-14-2015, 03:15 PM   #2
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Thanks for sharing!
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Old 05-19-2015, 01:35 PM   #3
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That does sound fantastic! Did it work out for you guys? We are in South Carolina and having major trouble insuring even though we have everything it's supposed to have (fridge, stove, sink, bathroom, bedroom, shower ). It's incredibly frustrating!
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Old 06-16-2015, 10:00 PM   #4
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Rv insurance

See, now I feel like I should have had this conversation a yr ago, I have national general insurance for 3 yrs now, I have two buses covered by them for like 400 a ye, but, it's liability only, see I want full coverage on mine, after all the blood sweat tears and one dog it took to get her built I want it covered to replace it if anything should happen, see when I read the forums I was thinking you guys wanted like me, full coverage. So big DUH to me , yes national General will get yA liability ins.
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Old 06-16-2015, 10:11 PM   #5
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Seems odd to me that an off grid type would believe so heavily in insurance.
No one is gonna pay you what its REALLY worth to you. The first time a claim is ever filed you will have a legal fight almost undoubtedly.
but to each their own.
I have full coverage and want liability only but have been repeatedly told by Good Sam and Progressive that they cannot write such a policy.
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Old 06-16-2015, 10:52 PM   #6
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I wish I could get comprehensive to help me feel better about lending the bus out to (a very few) others in the family, none of whom have any substantial experience in heavy trucking/buses. But you know the drill: National General will do liability only because the conversion is not done by a "professional." I've wondered what it would take to get it done "professionally" but haven't researched it..
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Old 06-17-2015, 06:22 PM   #7
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I generally only ever purchase liability for any of my vehicles because I always buy used and cheap. I've never had a vehicle worth over $4000. I'd rather save the money on premiums and just replace it if I have to. Plus, from what I've seen about bus crashes, generally the bus comes out relatively unscathed compared to the other vehicle.

...Except that one time my band director in high school forgot to set the parking brake and we came out to a missing bus. It rolled down a gentle 100 yard hill and into a ravine. I'm not sure how he didn't get fired!
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Old 06-18-2015, 02:11 PM   #8
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Insurance

Quote:
Originally Posted by onenationundergoat View Post
FYI, National General in North Carolina specializes in insuring SCHOOL BUS conversions specifically (and any other bus conversion for that matter).

I got on the AIS insurance page and called them. The lady was super knowledgeable and helpful. She referred me to National General, which used to be GMAC.

I will be getting retitled as an RV once the work is done. She said she needs three pictures proving that we have permanent bathroom, kitchen, and sleeping facilities. That's all it takes. No need to have it retitled, even though we will be.

My trip partner and I have good driving records, no major accidents, and we will be signing up for the Good Sam Club roadside assistance and the Good Sam Club (year membership to both for less than $100) which gets us a discount. Already having insurance on a regular vehicle (even with a different company) also gets a discount. Having experience with driving large vehicles and/or trailers also gets a discount.

They won't do collision, but we're only looking for liability anyway. As soon as we send in the conversion pics, we'll have a year of liability insurance for $257.

That sounds fantastic to me.
So you went through n general and they used the company in NC ?
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Old 06-18-2015, 02:32 PM   #9
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So you went through n general and they used the company in NC ?
I'm not sure what you're asking.
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Old 07-10-2015, 09:58 AM   #10
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Well, it seems AIS knows nothing. They recommended National General. Come to find out, NC is the ONLY state that National General does not insure bus conversions for. Back to square one.
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Old 07-10-2015, 10:13 AM   #11
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Well, it seems AIS knows nothing. They recommended National General. Come to find out, NC is the ONLY state that National General does not insure bus conversions for. Back to square one.
Nope, they don't insure in New Jersey either. Have you tried Good Sam yet?
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Old 07-11-2015, 12:13 PM   #12
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Seems odd to me that an off grid type would believe so heavily in insurance.
No one is gonna pay you what its REALLY worth to you. The first time a claim is ever filed you will have a legal fight almost undoubtedly.
but to each their own.
This. /\ /\

Insurance is nothing more than a scam really, so why would you want to give them more money?

Like life insurance. Nothing more than a modern scam.

And if the USA and Canada were truly free country's like they teach us in school, we would not be Dictated and forced to have insurance.

Canada and the USA are Dictatorships, nothing more. Otherwise we would not be jailed for driving a vehicle without insurance.

Nat
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Old 07-11-2015, 12:33 PM   #13
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Canada and the USA are Dictatorships, nothing more. Otherwise we would not be jailed for driving a vehicle without insurance.
I respectfully disagree. In my opinion there are far too many immature and irresponsible drivers on the road who, upon causing a collision with damages and/or injuries, will refuse to accept responsibility by paying compensation/reparation for the damages they've caused. They'll make all manner of excuses about why they haven't got the money, can't afford it, etc, despite somehow finding the money to get their own vehicle repaired or replaced and enjoy other good things in life before making whole the other people whom they've injured (physically or financially). It's for this reason that "we" the responsible majority have agreed to require that "they" (and us) carry insurance to ensure that these kinds of things are paid regardless of the dumb excuses the at-fault may/will produce.

Now.. as to the appearance that many insurance companies act like slimy sleazy dirtbags who are nearly as difficult to extract payment from as the immature twit drivers, and aren't living up to the level of service we expected when we required everybody to pay into the insurance game.. Totally agree there!
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Old 07-11-2015, 09:26 PM   #14
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In the USA proof of financial responsibility is required. That can be a bond or insurance.
Large companies with many vehicles have no insurance, they have a bond posted.
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Old 07-11-2015, 09:40 PM   #15
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In the USA proof of financial responsibility is required. That can be a bond or insurance.
Large companies with many vehicles have no insurance, they have a bond posted.
True, that's how the police here insure the police cars. Nothing more than a bond.

Nat
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Old 07-12-2015, 05:21 AM   #16
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I respectfully disagree. In my opinion there are far too many immature and irresponsible drivers on the road who, upon causing a collision with damages and/or injuries, will refuse to accept responsibility by paying compensation/reparation for the damages they've caused. They'll make all manner of excuses about why they haven't got the money, can't afford it, etc, despite somehow finding the money to get their own vehicle repaired or replaced and enjoy other good things in life before making whole the other people whom they've injured (physically or financially). It's for this reason that "we" the responsible majority have agreed to require that "they" (and us) carry insurance to ensure that these kinds of things are paid regardless of the dumb excuses the at-fault may/will produce.
That's a given. My last stint as a small town EMT in New Jersey saw us responding to a call for a dumbass male teen who put his car into the shrubs on someone's lawn because, as he told the cops he "lost control". He told us, not understanding that our paperwork is a legal document, and that we talk to the cops all the time anyway, that he and his buddy were drifting...in a residential neighborhood. Thankfully it was late at night and no one was seriously injured. And, equally thankfully, New Jersey provisional licenses start with an automatic 2 points on them, and at 4 points, they lose them. I think the cops slapped him with a Careless Driving ticket (2 points). Serves the jackass right

Quote:
Originally Posted by family wagon View Post
Now.. as to the appearance that many insurance companies act like slimy sleazy dirtbags who are nearly as difficult to extract payment from as the immature twit drivers, and aren't living up to the level of service we expected when we required everybody to pay into the insurance game.. Totally agree there!
Indeed. Mind you, I've never had a problem with USAA's insurance, even when my 10yo Volvo was stolen (with full coverage). The adjuster was incredulous why I had full coverage on it, even though I told him I live in New Jersey, and would rather pay more to ensure I'm not screwed over by some other moron. State Farm, IMO, was horrendous. When I got a 98 Tahoe (with all the bells and whistles and latest safety features), they wanted 6 grand a year to insure it. I said screw them and moved to a different agent.
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Old 07-12-2015, 09:29 AM   #17
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I believe insurance is a great idea. But being forced to do business with a private sector, for profit, "free enterprise" company by any government is not only BS but unconstitutional regardless of what the current Socialist Supreme Court has to say.

If the Federal Government deems insurance as absolutely necessary to the well being of it's citizens and the stability of the economy, then THEY should be the ones who provide the service on a not-for-profit basis.

Either go full out Socialism and take over the whole thieving insurance industry and provide it as a public service to everyone...or get the Hell out of it entirely.

Obamacare can kiss my a**.
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Old 07-12-2015, 04:29 PM   #18
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Good points folks.

Nat
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Old 07-12-2015, 05:00 PM   #19
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Our solution will be to register the bus in South Dakota. They allow non-resident registrations!
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Old 07-13-2015, 01:56 AM   #20
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I bought a policy with Progressive to get mine from auction to my shop, but they are adamant about "No RV conversions" on a school bus. No RV conversions on large, private, Thomas-bodied trucks either (I tried)...

I went to State Farm. They're a bit more relaxed about it. The only thing their underwriters required was a photo of the interior after I removed the seats. I'm not planning to do a major build, just make it comfy for camping and Burning Man, etc, and the agent was okay with that. I'm not sure how a full-on, house on wheels conversion would do with them.
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