Skoolie insurance - help!

sued · 09-18-2023, 06:19 PM

Hi all -

I'm in desperate need of help. My skoolie is being professionally done and it is getting ready to go for the exterior paint. I do live in NY and I know they are probably one of the worst states for insurance; however, I am not opposed to getting a virtual address and insuring it in a state that will give me the least grief.

I did call Good Sam (who is National General) and they will not insure me with a roof deck and/or a wood burning stove. All State has given me a quote, but they did not mention any of the above and I have also read that NY state does not allow composting toilets (which I have).

I do have a title that has it as a MH (motorhome) so I'm not understanding why I just can't insure a motorhome.

Any thoughts or help would be greatly appreciated.

sued

s2mikon · 09-18-2023, 08:17 PM

What state is it titled in now? When talking to these folks at the insurance agent just yes or no is the best answers. Q Does it have a toilet? A Yes. Not yes it has a composting toilet. Same with everything else. The less they know the better. Just don't lie.

sued · 09-19-2023, 06:05 AM

It is currently titled in Florida, I live in NY. I didn't offer any info some questions were specifically asked. I just don't know what I should do or what insurance co I should be speaking to.

rossvtaylor · 09-19-2023, 07:49 AM

Hi Sued, so do you have a roof deck and a wood burning stove? If so, the only option might be to get a "Commercial Vehicle for Personal Use" policy through one of the insurers of commercial vehicles (like Progressive Commercial, not the auto division, or Farm Bureau or State Farm). Every RV/MH insurer we've used specifically asked about roof-top decks and wood stoves...which are an automatic no.

As far as the composting toilet goes, I'm not aware of any state that doesn't allow composting toilets. But it is fairly common for a state's definition of a motorhome to include a list of items, one of which is a "toilet with exterior evacuation". For example, Arizona (where I live) requires that a motorhome have 4 out of 6 things in a list...one of which is a "toilet with exterior evacuation"...so Porta Potties and composting toilets or incinerating toilets don't count. But as long I have 4 of the remaining 5 items on the list, it meets the definition and can be a motorhome even with a composting toilet. There's a difference between "not allowed" and "doesn't count" so I'd verify the NY regulations on that.

s2mikon · 09-19-2023, 08:44 AM

Mine was registered in CA and I am a NM resident with NM CDL. Nat Gen cancelled my policy because it was not registered in NM. So I went and got it titled in NM. All they wanted to do was verify the VIN# and gross weight. They didn't ask about toilets or anything else. They accepted the CA title designation as a motorhome and that was it. I then re-insured with Nat Gen and been fine since. They do give a discount for my CDL. Enough to pay for my medical every 2 years.

Dbacks2k4 · 09-19-2023, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rossvtaylor

Hi Sued, so do you have a roof deck and a wood burning stove? If so, the only option might be to get a "Commercial Vehicle for Personal Use" policy through one of the insurers of commercial vehicles (like Progressive Commercial, not the auto division, or Farm Bureau or State Farm). Every RV/MH insurer we've used specifically asked about roof-top decks and wood stoves...which are an automatic no.

State farm last year asked me if I planned to put a wood stove or roof deck on my bus before they issued my commercial personal use policy.

Could be they were just going to warn me about full coverage later on if I went that route (wasn't going to do either anyway so didn't matter to me) but I got the impression they are cracking down on those in the commercial space as well as rv.

rossvtaylor · 09-19-2023, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dbacks2k4

State farm last year asked me if I planned to put a wood stove or roof deck on my bus before they issued my commercial personal use policy.

Could be they were just going to warn me about full coverage later on if I went that route (wasn't going to do either anyway so didn't matter to me) but I got the impression they are cracking down on those in the commercial space as well as rv.

Interesting and some foreshadowing, for sure. I've been using the Progressive Commercial folks for the past few years, so my recent experience doesn't include State Farm. If Progressive asks the next time I add a bus, I'll let you know!

rossvtaylor · 09-19-2023, 12:17 PM

Hey Sued, out of curiosity I just searched the NY DMV site to see if I could find the systems/equipment requirements to be a motorhome or RV. Oddly, I cannot find any mention of that. If I search the DMV.NY.GOV site for RV or Recreational Vehicle, they only list boats and snowmobiles and ATVs. If I search "motorhome" there's nothing relevant in the search results. And searching "toilet" (to find that requirements list) yielded no results at all. Let us know what you find!

sued · 09-21-2023, 07:24 PM

thank you all for the information. I did find in NY that the motorhome have 4 out of 6 things in a list...one of which is a "toilet with exterior evacuation" I do have the other 5 that should be okay. Allstate did quote me but I need to send pics and I just want to be careful.

As I said before, I have no problem getting a virtual address and insuring and registering it in that state. It's 17,000 lbs so I don't need a CDL but if I have to register it commercially I'll have to get my CDL license, which I'm trying to avoid. Any other information is really appreciated.

cadillackid · 09-22-2023, 04:59 PM

progressive for the first time this year asked me at renewal on my red bus if it has seats and is planning to keep seats... since it is, it was an easy yes for me.. and easy renewal.. makes me think though that they are trending away from insuring busses slated or during conversion...

Danjo · 09-22-2023, 07:09 PM

I recently relocated and renewed with NGIC. When I first got the bus it was bone stock yellow and I had to provide photos all angles inside and out. This time they asked me how along I was into the conversion to which I told them the basics: toilet, shower, stove, sink, bed. Didn’t want photos. Asked me if I intended to rent it out (no.) . Didn’t ask about decks, racks, wood stoves. Didn’t ask me what color it is now. Insured it as “RV”.

ermracing · 09-22-2023, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sued

It's 17,000 lbs so I don't need a CDL but if I have to register it commercially I'll have to get my CDL license, which I'm trying to avoid. Any other information is really appreciated.

Is this the current weight or the GVW? The reg and possible requirement for a CLD is based on the GVW. My bus was has/had a GVW of 29,000, but I was able to get it lowered to 25,900 for registration purposes to avoid ending up with Commercial plates here in NH. I happen to have my CDL-B, Pax and School Bus Cert, but now anyone can drive my bus with a regular license.

ewo1 · 09-23-2023, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sued

It is currently titled in Florida, I live in NY. I didn't offer any info some questions were specifically asked. I just don't know what I should do or what insurance co I should be speaking to.

If you have no problems using a virtual address then just register it with a north Florida address and get a 2 year registration.

For a virtual address, use a ups store PO box just don't use the words "Box #" when you fill out forms...just use, unit# or apt # instead.

A North Florida Address because is you use an address that has a high risk score, like South Florida for example, you will pay alot more for insurance as compared to say, Panama City.

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