Need help in PA or NJ for less than full conversion

[cathxrine]

Hello everyone! Thanks in advance for your time + knowledge.

I want to turn a school bus into a party bus (not paid, friends and family only) but I'm having a lot of trouble finding insurance in New Jersey.

I have a down payment on a 2004 International 300 that was a partial DIY conversion (water tank, deep cycle battery, sleep/storage bunks, with a seat re-arrangement). It's already titled as motorhome / RV in Wisconsin.

In New Jersey, I have two independent insurance agents shopping quotes:

#1: as an RV, converted. Nobody will underwrite bc it's not a full conversion and it needs to be professionally done.

#2: as a transport bus. Nobody will underwrite bc it's a commercial vehicle no longer being used for commercial use (red flag), then they see the pictures of the inside (red flag)


Any help is appreciated! We're willing to put it under an LLC, take to PA, do anything! We just want a party bus!

Images here; https://photos.google.com/album/AF1Q...ZUnekOkf2H-n77

[john61ct]

See the thread about using a mail-only VT rego until conversion is complete

[cathxrine]

Hey John, thanks for the advice. I checked that out earlier.

We're not interested in the full conversion - it will just be a party bus, not to live in. And it's already registered + titled as a motorhome / RV.

Once the insurance companies run the VIN and they see it's a school bus it's a NO.

[john61ct]

Well not easy.

Stop dealing direct and put energy into finding a good agent.

Or may need to choose another state to fit your needs.

[john61ct]

And note stop saying party bus, huge red flag.

Maybe just do what's needed to "fully convert" to motorhome for lip service, don't need to actually use it that way.

People RVing for recreation are allowed to throw an occasional party.

[cathxrine]

thanks for the advice! but just to be clear:

I have never called it a party bus to insurance companies–only "RV" or "commercial vehicle for private use" (for family camping when pressed further).

I am using 2 independent agents, with access to 20-30 underwriters each. And the insurance companies are looking for a professionally-converted RV, which I do not want to pay for.

[Mountain Gnome]

I went strait to my State Farm agent, both in GA and OR, and asked for commercial vehicle for private use. No questions, no problems, ho hassles. Why go through a middle-man. They only up the price and skim off the top...

[john61ct]

Each state is different.

For this case, in a difficult state, an agent can get coverage when every direct-selling insurer says no.

Some states may simply be impossible.

You can in that case "virtually" re-domicile the vehicle to an easier state.

Where there's a will there's a way.

[john61ct]

And not all agents are equal.

The ideal is to find one that specializes in your use case.

Bringing other policies along as a bundle to sweeten the pot can also help.