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Old 01-11-2018, 10:09 PM   #1
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Typical Process for Titles and Insurance?

I am thinking about getting a loan to buy my bus versus paying out of pocket.

I have never bought a used car before so I am not sure about getting a loan using the title as collateral for the bus since it appears I need to transfer the title to RV from school bus.

Why do I need to do that? Do I have to do it as soon as I buy it?

Will a bank finance me for a school bus OR let me change the title once I have made the purchase? Not a personal loan, one where they need my title to approve the loan. My credit isn't stellar...

And how does any of that affect insurance or I guess even my DL?


Thanks!

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Old 01-11-2018, 10:14 PM   #2
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I don't think you can register or title it as an RV unless it is one. In Illinois, 4 out of these 6 have to be met.

In Illinois (and every state is different), there is a list of requirements that you must have to be considered an RV:
Cooking appliance with onboard fuel source
Gas or electric fridge
Toilet with exterior evac
Heat/AC with power other than engine
Potable (drinkable) water supply
110v power supply


Read more about it here:
Getting Legal: Registering a School Bus as an RV | Our Wandering Family

My insurance, State Farm, will not insure a school bus, but referred me to a company that will ( haven't checked rates yet. As soon as the bus meets the RV requirements State Farm will then insure it depending on the features and value.

I don't know if your bank will issue you an automotive loan for a bus, but you should be able to get a personal loan with it as collateral.

In some states you are required to have a CDL in order to operate a "school bus" on the roads. Once it is converted to an RV your regular drivers license is sufficient.
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Old 01-11-2018, 10:19 PM   #3
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I got a signature line of credit from our local Credit Union.

Don't then have to worry about a "bus-loan", nor the lien and insistence on full-coverage insurance which would be expensive.
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Old 01-11-2018, 10:25 PM   #4
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I got a signature line of credit from our local Credit Union.

Don't then have to worry about a "bus-loan", nor the lien and insistence on full-coverage insurance which would be expensive.
Good point on the insurance on a financed vehicle. Also I doubt the bank would loan you build money with a $3500 bus as collateral. Personal loan or line of credit would be best.
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Old 01-12-2018, 08:09 AM   #5
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Ok so is this the process basically:

1. Buy a commercial school bus
2. Get commerical school bus insurance to drive bus short term
3. Renovate bus
4. Get RV Insurance
5. Transfer to RV title
6. Roll on


I live in and will be buying in Florida, anyone have any specific threats I need to deal with here?
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Old 01-12-2018, 08:16 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PNWorBUST72 View Post
Ok so is this the process basically:

1. Buy a commercial school bus
2. Get commerical school bus insurance to drive bus short term
3. Renovate bus
4. Get RV Insurance
5. Transfer to RV title
6. Roll on


I live in and will be buying in Florida, anyone have any specific threats I need to deal with here?
Get commercial insurance for personal use.
You can change the title to "MH" by simply giving them a signed paper saying its an RV when you title and register it. No need to make two trips to the tag office.
I'm in FL, let me know if you have any questions. I've titled and tagged 4 buses now.
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Old 01-12-2018, 08:20 AM   #7
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Any suggestions for commercial insurance here and maybe a rough idea of cost?

FLA doesnt need me to prove any of those listed "items" to show its an RV?
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Old 01-12-2018, 08:24 AM   #8
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Any suggestions for commercial insurance here and maybe a rough idea of cost?

FLA doesnt need me to prove any of those listed "items" to show its an RV?
Nope. You just give them a sheet of paper that you've signed saying its got 110v power, a toilet, and a bed.
There's no inspection. don't even drive the bus there it will just be a pain to park!
I'm 38 with no tickets or citations, no claims, no accidents in years. I pay roughly $700 a year for a commercial policy with a lot of coverage.
Find a LOCAL brick and mortar Progressive agent and they should be able to set you right up.

DO NOT MENTION "CONVERSION" TO THE INSURANCE FOLKS.
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Old 01-12-2018, 09:08 AM   #9
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Do I need a CDL to drive it if it's not converted?
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Old 01-12-2018, 09:35 AM   #10
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Do I need a CDL to drive it if it's not converted?
No.
Just take out the seats and title it as "MH". But get insurance first.
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Old 01-12-2018, 11:05 AM   #11
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Do I need a CDL to drive it if it's not converted?
No. Period.

It is a private bus when you have bought it. You do not need any kind of CDL to drive it, in any state.

What you might need, in some states, is a Non-commercial Class B adding to your regular license, Class A if you are towing a large trailer. You might also need an Air-Brake endorsement.

You only need these IF the state puts weight limits on your regular Class C license. SOme do, some don't.
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Old 01-12-2018, 12:31 PM   #12
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If you are going to be licensed & registered in WA I would suggest looking over:

WA State Licensing (DOL) Official Site: Who needs a CDL?

In part it reads:
Who needs a CDL?
Types of vehicles that require a CDL
You must have a commercial driver license (CDL) to drive any of the following vehicles:

All single vehicles with a manufacturer’s weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more.
All trailers with a manufacturer’s weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more, and a combined vehicles’ gross weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more.
All vehicles designed to transport 16 or more persons (including the driver). This includes private and church buses.
All school buses, regardless of size.



My best understanding is that if it has seats for 16 or more it requires a CDL in Washington. It is up to you to to read and make your own call.

I have purchased, and driven home, three seated buses without a CDL and have had zero trouble. I did remove the seats AND register them as RV's before I drove them again.

Registering as an RV in WA can be super easy if you go to the right licensing office. Where are you located?
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Old 01-12-2018, 12:43 PM   #13
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Here is an additional excerpt:

Who doesn’t need a CDL?
By law, the following types of drivers don’t need a commercial driver license (CDL):

..........

Recreational vehicle (RV) operators are exempt when driving an RV for non-commercial purposes. This exemption includes 2-axle rental trucks and horse trailers.

......

Drivers of vehicles with air brakes that don’t otherwise qualify as a commercial vehicle. Even though a vehicle is equipped with air brakes, it doesn’t automatically mean the driver must have a CDL. If the vehicle doesn’t meet the criteria listed under Types of vehicles that require a CDL, the driver is exempt.
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Old 01-12-2018, 02:28 PM   #14
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We are buying/living in Florida but plan to move to the PNW this year.

It appears that as long as its title RV/MH I do NOT need a CDL in WA?
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Old 01-12-2018, 02:33 PM   #15
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Quote:
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We are buying/living in Florida but plan to move to the PNW this year.

It appears that as long as its title RV/MH I do NOT need a CDL in WA?
Wherever its tagged- those are the laws that apply to you.
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Old 01-12-2018, 03:38 PM   #16
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Quote:
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If you are going to be licensed & registered in WA I would suggest looking over:

WA State Licensing (DOL) Official Site: Who needs a CDL?

In part it reads:
Who needs a CDL?
Types of vehicles that require a CDL
You must have a commercial driver license (CDL) to drive any of the following vehicles:

All single vehicles with a manufacturer’s weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more.
All trailers with a manufacturer’s weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more, and a combined vehicles’ gross weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more.
All vehicles designed to transport 16 or more persons (including the driver). This includes private and church buses.
All school buses, regardless of size.



My best understanding is that if it has seats for 16 or more it requires a CDL in Washington. It is up to you to to read and make your own call.

I have purchased, and driven home, three seated buses without a CDL and have had zero trouble. I did remove the seats AND register them as RV's before I drove them again.

Registering as an RV in WA can be super easy if you go to the right licensing office. Where are you located?
CDL laws are predicated on the premise that you are driving commercially.

If you are not driving commercially then you are NOT subject to CDL regs, any of them.

Washington State cannot make you subject to them, they only control your regular license ... so either that is badly worded, or it is flat-out wrong.

This is the very reason that some states have a Non-commercial Class A or B. Those classes wouldn't be needed if they could just say "You need a CDL".
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Old 01-12-2018, 03:45 PM   #17
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We THINK we will be registered/titled in FLA but drive around the country for a few weeks/months before finally settling down in the PNW.

We have to decide about homeschooling versus changing our permanent address and sending the kids to public school in the PNW.
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Old 01-12-2018, 05:58 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PNWorBUST72 View Post
We are buying/living in Florida but plan to move to the PNW this year.

It appears that as long as its title RV/MH I do NOT need a CDL in WA?
That is my understanding.

I am in WA and would LOVE to relocate to Florida. Can we just trade places....
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Old 01-15-2018, 12:22 PM   #19
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I just did an online app. with progressive for a 2001 Bluebird All American with value of $20K and they quoted me $618 a year for full coverage. That is much better than I would have expected.
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Old 01-15-2018, 01:32 PM   #20
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Did someone not explain to you to go to an independent insurance agent? Your quote is double or triple what a lot of us are paying.
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