Can I insure bus while working on it?

[Franzirene]

Hi,

I am new here, and we bought our bus last year in November. We are located in Illinois. It is going to take us a few years to finish our bus but I don't like that its not insured. We actually had a fire in our garage last year and our bus was parked right next to it but nothing happened to it thankfully!! - I talked to our insurance company which is State Farm. They have no insurance option for it as long as it is not finished.

Does anyone know of any insurance companies who will insure it even though its not done, or is this common?

[Danjo]

National General insured me during conversion. However they only do liability for skoolies.

[Brad_SwiftFur]

Some of us use Progressive Commercial (don't bother with their personal Auto division) and you'll want "Commercial Vehicle for Personal Use".

[Drew Bru]

Ours was insured in Illinois through Progressive Commercial for personal use, as Brad_SwiftFur mentioned. It was liability only though.

[Danjo]

Progressive told me that as soon as I did anything more than remove seats that the policy was void. And liability only

[john61ct]

https://www.skoolie.net/forums/f18/h...ate-28907.html

[RolesvilleMarina]

We are with Geico... been over 30+ years with em

when we bought the Vista I called for a quote and they said they would not insure the bus after I gave them the Vin # as the title designation was BU or "Bus"

I am still working on our conversion, we are not living in it and so we are NOT putting in a lot of the "required things" that NC (my state) requires to change my title to HC (housecar ). It also would require NC to inspect and sign off on my conversion.

Stuff that.


I sent my title and paperwork along with a cheque for the required amount based on what I paid for the bus to Vermont.

I followed the directions on this forum. I checked MH as it says to and not bus.

I waited a few weeks and got Vermont tags in the mail. A few weeks later I got the registration.

I called back Gieco, gave them the Vin... it now comes up as a MOTORHOME and they insured me at less than $300 a year.

So the big thing is the Title designation. Commercial insurance is expensive.. the Vermont loophole is the way to go.

You take the Vermont registration to your states DMV and since it is now a "motorhome" they will give you a title or paperwork saying it is a motorhome.

I am not a lawyer and every state is different I know but I have never heard of a state "un-doing" a title designation... if you come into the office with a legit paper saying your a motor home I don't think they will say "nah, I don't believe you mate, lets have a look" So once Vermont makes you a motorhome I think you are for good...



Then you just do what you want inside. Geico never asked a single question about what I had done...

[ermracing]

We have State Farm as well and were able to get a Commercial for Private Use policy while building our bus. Options may vary by state, but try asking for one of those.

[sutphinins]

Originally Posted by Franzirene

Hi,

I am new here, and we bought our bus last year in November. We are located in Illinois. It is going to take us a few years to finish our bus but I don't like that its not insured. We actually had a fire in our garage last year and our bus was parked right next to it but nothing happened to it thankfully!! - I talked to our insurance company which is State Farm. They have no insurance option for it as long as it is not finished.

Does anyone know of any insurance companies who will insure it even though its not done, or is this common?

Where are you? Hard to offer suggestions if we don't know what state you're in.

[Gnoman]

Originally Posted by sutphinins

Where are you? Hard to offer suggestions if we don't know what state you're in.

Read through his post and you'll find out

[sutphinins]

Originally Posted by Gnoman

Read through his post and you'll find out

Think I need less caffeine this morning.

[Gnoman]

Originally Posted by sutphinins

Think I need less caffeine this morning.

Sounds like you missed your mark! Working on my second cup still

[Franzirene]

Originally Posted by sutphinins

Where are you? Hard to offer suggestions if we don't know what state you're in.

Illinois sorry

[Franzirene]

Originally Posted by sutphinins

Think I need less caffeine this morning.

haha! it happens!

[Franzirene]

Originally Posted by RolesvilleMarina

We are with Geico... been over 30+ years with em

when we bought the Vista I called for a quote and they said they would not insure the bus after I gave them the Vin # as the title designation was BU or "Bus"

I am still working on our conversion, we are not living in it and so we are NOT putting in a lot of the "required things" that NC (my state) requires to change my title to HC (housecar ). It also would require NC to inspect and sign off on my conversion.

Stuff that.


I sent my title and paperwork along with a cheque for the required amount based on what I paid for the bus to Vermont.

I followed the directions on this forum. I checked MH as it says to and not bus.

I waited a few weeks and got Vermont tags in the mail. A few weeks later I got the registration.

I called back Gieco, gave them the Vin... it now comes up as a MOTORHOME and they insured me at less than $300 a year.

So the big thing is the Title designation. Commercial insurance is expensive.. the Vermont loophole is the way to go.

You take the Vermont registration to your states DMV and since it is now a "motorhome" they will give you a title or paperwork saying it is a motorhome.

I am not a lawyer and every state is different I know but I have never heard of a state "un-doing" a title designation... if you come into the office with a legit paper saying your a motor home I don't think they will say "nah, I don't believe you mate, lets have a look" So once Vermont makes you a motorhome I think you are for good...



Then you just do what you want inside. Geico never asked a single question about what I had done...

oh wow. I didn't know you could go through a different state. Where can I find those directions on here?

[RolesvilleMarina]

Originally Posted by Franzirene

oh wow. I didn't know you could go through a different state. Where can I find those directions on here?

Here

bob's your uncle

https://www.skoolie.net/forums/f18/h...ion-15292.html

[vintageracer]

Originally Posted by RolesvilleMarina

I am not a lawyer and every state is different I know but I have never heard of a state "un-doing" a title designation... if you come into the office with a legit paper saying your a motorhome I don't think they will say "nah, I don't believe you mate, lets have a look" So once Vermont makes you a motorhome I think you are for good...

Then you just do what you want inside. Geico never asked a single question about what I had done...

This is a GREAT SUGGESTION ABOVE that just might save you a Hell of a lot money and aggravation when it comes to registering your Skoolie in your State of Residence and here's why!

Many states have language in their Title and Registration Rules and Regulations concerning title and registration of "Foreign" vehicles (Foreign Meaning A Vehicle Purchased Out of State OR Transferred By You The Titled Owner To Your "New" State of Residence) saying they will ACCEPT "Foreign Titles" At Face Value. This means if you have a good negotiable title from another state with whatever designation of vehicle type is on that GOOD TITLE this is the type of vehicle designation your state of residence will issue to you on your new state of residence vehicle title.

Your state of residence is NOT going to change the vehicle title designation when you go to register your Out of State Titled To You GOOD TITLE Skoolie OR a Good Out of State Title to a vehicle you just purchased with the correct vehicle designation your require. This is certainly true in the State of Tennessee where I am a resident.

What's this mean?

IF after checking your state of residence title and registration laws concerning registration of your Skoolie AND your state of residence will NOT issue a Title to your new Skoolie with the proper Motorhome/RV vehicle type designation YOU NEED for insurance coverage, cheaper registration cost and much better legal vehicle inspection requirements (Meaning Not Having To Meet Commercial Vehicle Requirements) you should definitely go to the State of Vermont, register your vehicle there with the proper type of Motorhome/RV vehicle designation you require. Upon receiving your Vermont title IN YOUR NAME with the correct Motorhome/RV Vehicle Type Designation you require THEN go transfer your Vermont title and registration to your state of residence.

Yes it will cost you some extra Moohlah!

Yes going to Vermont will make your life a whole lot easier when it comes to title and registration of your Skoolie in your state of residence IF your current Vehicle Type Designation on the title you received from the seller cannot be changed to Motorhome/RV Type Designation in your state of residence when registering your "New To You Skoolie".

[RolesvilleMarina]

Originally Posted by vintageracer

This is a GREAT SUGGESTION ABOVE that just might save you a Hell of a lot money and aggravation when it comes to registering your Skoolie in your State of Residence and here's why.

Many states have language in their Title and Registration Rules and Regulations concerning title and registration of "Foreign" vehicles (Foreign Meaning A Vehicle Purchased Out of State or Transferred By You The Titled Owner To Your State of Residence) saying they will ACCEPT "Foreign Titles" At Face Value. This means if you have a good negotiable title from another state with whatever designation of vehicle type is on that GOOD TITLE this is the type of registration designation your state of residence will issue to you on your new state of residence vehicle title.

Your state is NOT going to change the vehicle title designation when you go to register your Out of State Titled To You GOOD TITLE Skoolie or a good out of state title with the correct vehicle designation in your state of residence. This is certainly true in the State of Tennessee where I am a resident.

What's this mean?

IF after checking your state of residence title and registration laws concerning registration of your Skoolie AND your state of residence will NOT issue a Title to your new Skoolie with the proper vehicle type designation YOU NEED for insurance coverage, cheaper registration cost and much better legal vehicle inspection requirements (Meaning Not Having To Meet Commercial Vehicle Requirements) you should definitely go to the State of Vermont, register your vehicle there with the proper type of vehicle designation you require and upon receiving your Vermont title IN YOUR NAME then go transfer your title and registration to your state of residence.

Yes it will cost you some extra Moohlah!

Yes it will make your life a whole lot easier when it comes to title and registration of your Skoolie in your state of residence IF your state of residence has issues with the type of vehicle designation on the title you received from the seller of your "New To You" Skoolie!

I dunno why everyone doesn't just do vermont.. nothing easier than just checking box that says "motorhome" and presto you are a motorhome

They all want a bank cheque anyway so I went with the least hassle

cheers

[PNW_Steve]

Originally Posted by RolesvilleMarina

I dunno why everyone doesn't just do vermont.. nothing easier than just checking box that says "motorhome" and presto you are a motorhome

They all want a bank cheque anyway so I went with the least hassle

cheers

Some other states are fairly relaxed. Here in WA a very minimal conversion will fly and there is no inspection. A mattress, camp stove, portable propane heater, portable generator and a 5 gallon water tank. I registered two as RV's this way. On the third one I fudged a bit and didn't quite have everything done. They didn't care.

Vermont is definitely the easiest that I have come across but there are other options that are not too difficult.