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Old 11-03-2009, 11:33 AM   #1
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Progressive and GMAC Not a Possibility

We planned to live in our bus conversion full-time and neither of these companies will insure us. I think we are going to have to lie. It's ridiculous because we have a GMAC mortgage on our house and are trying to tell them that. I cannot believe this ridiculous circular lie I'm in.

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Old 11-03-2009, 08:21 PM   #2
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Re: Progressive and GMAC Not a Possibility

Call GMAC again. The first time I called them I argued with the lady until I was blue in the face over her claiming to not cover school bus conversions, she was not only stupid but also rude and it really pissed me off. Second time I called it was no problem at all.
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Old 11-04-2009, 10:28 AM   #3
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Re: Progressive and GMAC Not a Possibility

We could get insurance for our bus for recreational use but not full-timing it. They then referred me to Progressive, which canceled our policy after two months because it is a bus. All this can be fixed if we get a commercial driver's license. So, now we get to lie and say we aren't full-timers in it and hope it doesn't bite us in the ass until then.
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Old 11-05-2009, 05:38 PM   #4
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Re: Progressive and GMAC Not a Possibility

Quote:
What would they care if you full-timed or not.
It has to do with calculating their exposure to risk, and guessing at the premiums required to cover policyholder's losses.
A true "recreational" vehicle that is parked behind the owner's house 50 weeks per year has less exposure to a collision than a full-time 'RV' that might be running back and forth across the country, and staying in 60 different places each year. "Homesteading" full-timers who rarely if ever move, but keep plates on the RV. are probably such a small segment of the industry that they don't show up on the insurance industry's radar.

With a passenger car, they ask us:
- Pleasure use only?
- Short commute to work, less than x miles?
- Long commute to work, over x miles? or
- Used in business? (e.g. Project Manager or Outside Salesperson)

There are vehicle use classes based on the answer, just like rating the answer to the questions:
"Who will be driving, how old are they, and what is their accident history?"

In other places they might ask instead for a miles driven per year estimate.

The more a vehicle is on the road, the more opportunity there is for someone else to drive into you. (I know WE are all good drivers. )
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Old 11-09-2009, 02:30 AM   #5
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Re: Progressive and GMAC Not a Possibility

You should get into the habit of asking for the person's "Name" and "Employee Number" right at the start. Just tell them that it is so you can give them good feedback with the company. While I worked for Sprint as a Cell Phone Rep (almost 3 years), every time I talked to Customer Service, I asked for these things. Only once was I ever told no by one of them, and I hung up on them and called again.

Its also good to tell the person that you "Have a problem and might need them to get their manager", right at the start of the call. This way, if they don't explain something well enough or you are starting to have a problem with them, just ask them to get the manager. I did this from time to time with Sprint too, never had a problem.
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Old 11-11-2009, 06:27 PM   #6
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Re: Progressive and GMAC Not a Possibility

thats crazy my wife called gmac and got our policy without having the vin to the bus (made the call the day before we left) and they gave us a discount because we HAD our mortgage with them a year ago.... they sold it to another company but we still got the discount... it is just a hit or miss type thing i guess ...im in west texas
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Old 11-11-2009, 10:38 PM   #7
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Re: Progressive and GMAC Not a Possibility

Not a single problem here with GMAC... they were nice, courteous & friendly! Try again, that person you talked to was either new, a control freak or just hates their job...
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Old 11-12-2009, 08:35 PM   #8
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Re: Progressive and GMAC Not a Possibility

Just don't mention anything about full timing. I full timed in mine, but I never told GMAC that...didn't tell them much of anything actually, other than it had been converted for use as an RV...
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Old 08-07-2015, 08:02 AM   #9
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I went online with progressive and had coverage in about 15 minutes. They even had under types of motor home both "professionally converted and non professionally converted school bus". The rate was $245 a year. I'm in western PA. Just FYI
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Old 08-07-2015, 08:11 AM   #10
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Originally Posted by jkronmiller View Post
I went online with progressive and had coverage in about 15 minutes. They even had under types of motor home both "professionally converted and non professionally converted school bus". The rate was $245 a year. I'm in western PA. Just FYI
How long have you had this policy?
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Old 08-07-2015, 08:18 AM   #11
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Doesn't matter if you full-time or not with Progressive. They do not insure skoolies. If you are insured with Progressive, it's probably because somebody left out an important piece of information on your policy.

https://www.progressive.com/rv/bus-c...ssa-insurance/

Quote:
A class A non-professional bus conversion has the following characteristics:

Motor home facilities built into a Class A type bus shell, but does not include changes made to school buses or public transit buses, as these vehicles are unacceptable.

Conversion is performed by the owner of the vehicle.
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Old 08-07-2015, 08:22 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dennimoto View Post
Doesn't matter if you full-time or not with Progressive. They do not insure skoolies. If you are insured with Progressive, it's probably because somebody left out an important piece of information on your policy.

https://www.progressive.com/rv/bus-c...ssa-insurance/
Yeah, most don't see that part. Then comes a cancellation notice.
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Old 08-07-2015, 12:38 PM   #13
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about 10 days, I've heard they have a tendency to insure then drop a week later but so far it's all good
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Old 08-07-2015, 03:57 PM   #14
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NOT trying to sound like a mean or negative person, but start shopping around for a "backup policy"...
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Old 08-07-2015, 04:53 PM   #15
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Try AIS Insurance. They offered me a quote for a skoolie, today.
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Old 08-08-2015, 04:34 PM   #16
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Yep got progressive's cancellation notice today. I called and asked them if they don't cover schoolies why do they have two drop down options on their site asking if the bus has been professionally converted or privately converted. Service rep was clueless. Said I should not have had those options. I told her I'd be happy to send the print out that shows it. Then in their letter of cancellation they said I might be eligible for coverage under their commercial vehicle ins. I called the number included and that service agent was clueless as to why they would put that in the letter since its not a commerical vehicle. Wow....Flo you leave a lot to be desired!
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Old 08-08-2015, 09:49 PM   #17
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Why I just left mine titled as a bus. Lots of commercial insurers, but only ONE RV insurer available here.
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Old 08-08-2015, 10:34 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EastCoastCB View Post
Why I just left mine titled as a bus. Lots of commercial insurers, but only ONE RV insurer available here.
If you leave it as a bus, then is it no longer exempt from a CDL? Or can it be titled bus and registered RV?
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Old 08-09-2015, 12:14 AM   #19
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Its a bus on the title, and a bus on my insurance.
I have it all registered and insured as my "personal bus" not for passenger transport of more than 8 people.
The GVWR on it is now 17,900 lbs and I don't need a CDL.

Your state or province may (and probably will) vary... but this is what I've arrived at.
FWIW- I've even double checked with the Highway Patrol here and I'm 100% legal and legit.
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Old 08-09-2015, 01:36 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EastCoastCB View Post
Its a bus on the title, and a bus on my insurance.
I have it all registered and insured as my "personal bus" not for passenger transport of more than 8 people.
The GVWR on it is now 17,900 lbs and I don't need a CDL.

Your state or province may (and probably will) vary... but this is what I've arrived at.
FWIW- I've even double checked with the Highway Patrol here and I'm 100% legal and legit.

How is your GVWR only 17,900? It must have been higher from the manufacturer.
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