Indiana Conversion Requirements?

[C&R]

Does anyone know the requirements for RV conversion in Indiana?
The guy we bought it from says we just have to loose the seats "make it look" like an RV.
We would rather not be denied the first time :]
Help!

 

[RiskGoals]

Can I revive this thread?

 

[o1marc]

Every state might be slightly different, but most use the "4 of 6" of the following list. Most have few details on each item. Such as the toilet, now that there are composting toilets, your doesn't have to have exterior vac. or for that matter, have any toilet at all.

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

 

[somewhereinusa]

It has to have all of the flashing lights and stop arms removed, and it can't be yellow. You need to have form "Affidavit – Physical Inspection of a Vehicle or Watercraft – State Form 39530" You can download it from Indiana BMV website. Change vehicle type to RV. My local sheriff won't sign it if it's still yellow. You will also need a bill of sale, gotta pay your taxes.
The rest kinda depends on your local office. I went to the closest one (Huntington), they made a phone call and said you need to prove stuff with receipts and such. The next day I went to Wabash, they made the same phone call, Indy said "We must have a run on them someone called yesterday". I walked out with the title application done 5 min later. Title showed up in a couple of weeks.
I haven't found anywhere in Indiana code that says you need anything but form 39530.

 

[MarkyDee]

Indiana does have a "Body Change" form to change your bus to RV. I titled mine as a bus and will re-title via the "Body Change" form to RV once completed. At that point its an RV and I'll get RV insurance.

 

[somewhereinusa]

MY bad,Form 39771 is the body change form,

 

[o1marc]

MY bad,Form 39771 is the body change form,

I'm missing something here. Are you saying there's no requirements of the 4of 6 items, only the form needs to be filled out? Surely it's not that easy.

 

[somewhereinusa]

I've done it twice, first time about 30 years ago and 6 years ago. The form and color are about it. But it also depends on the local BMV and who they talk to in Indy.

 

[RiskGoals]

I'm missing something here. Are you saying there's no requirements of the 4of 6 items, only the form needs to be filled out? Surely it's not that easy.

That's what I want to know!

 

[MarkyDee]

The BMV didn't tell me any requirements, but the insurance agent did. My insurance agent said they wanted a refrigerator, stovetop, sleeping arrangements, kitchen sink and bathroom.

 

[o1marc]

The BMV didn't tell me any requirements, but the insurance agent did. My insurance agent said they wanted a refrigerator, stovetop, sleeping arrangements, kitchen sink and bathroom.

This was my point, you may be able to pull the wool over the eyes of some DMV, $10/hr, have to deal with people, I just don't care, worker. Or your insurance agent, Who I believe will try every way possible to deny a claim. Fill out a form incorrectly, DMV passes it and now you have a title for an RV you can't insure as an RV because it isn't one.

 

[RiskGoals]

If it's registered as an Rv why would they have any reason to think otherwise?

 

[o1marc]

If it's registered as an Rv why would they have any reason to think otherwise?

Your kidding, right?
Because the insurance company has equity/liability in your bus, the DMV doesn't.

 

[somewhereinusa]

You don't need insurance to get the title changed. You need insurance to plate it.

 

[MarkyDee]

My insurance agent was incredibly blunt with me, telling me that the underwriters won't insure something like this, even though I had a great record and they've paid very little out for me or my family for over 30 years.



I put the screws to him about this (I have found someone who will insure a conversion, but they want all my business - cars, home, bus). He squirmed aLOT as I have a large extended family that does a lot of business with him.



He ate his words a few months later after going to an insurance symposium put on by the company. He found out that they, indeed, did insure a bus conversion - but he made it sound like it was a one-off (he was trying to save face).



All that to echo what the o1marc said - since the insurance company has a monetary stake in your vehicle, they can and very likely will deny covering it. They don't normally cover such a beast and the underwriters balk at anything - anything - out of the ordinary. They just don't know how to calculate the risk, so they don't want to take the risk.

 

[rensch26]

Yes as previously stated you have to remove the flashing lights, the stop arm, and it can't be yellow. I had to have a police officer come out and fill out the physical inspection form and the body change form. In and out of the BMV in a few minutes. Very easy process in Indiana.

 

[CMAK17]

I bought mine last October and immediately went to the BMV to transfer the title. It was previously plated as "bus- not for hire". Once the title arrived I went to the BMV and told them I need to plate this as an RV, it is currently not plated but the previous owner had it plated as a bus - not for hire. She said "okay", punched some buttons, gave me a total, I paid, plates came in the mail.

 

[o1marc]

I bought mine last October and immediately went to the BMV to transfer the title. It was previously plated as "bus- not for hire". Once the title arrived I went to the BMV and told them I need to plate this as an RV, it is currently not plated but the previous owner had it plated as a bus - not for hire. She said "okay", punched some buttons, gave me a total, I paid, plates came in the mail.

She should have been fired on the spot.

 

[somewhereinusa]

I bought mine last October and immediately went to the BMV to transfer the title. It was previously plated as "bus- not for hire". Once the title arrived I went to the BMV and told them I need to plate this as an RV, it is currently not plated but the previous owner had it plated as a bus - not for hire. She said "okay", punched some buttons, gave me a total, I paid, plates came in the mail.

Does your title say bus or RV?

 

[eethan]

very odd! i am in indiana and my bus is currently titled as a truck. i filled out the form and went to my local bmv and they insisted they would need pictures. i asked about the requirements, and they told me something crazy like i would need running hot and cold water, toilet, bed, 120vac, and loads of other things that i am not even close to having completed yet. maybe ill try going to another branch one of these days?