Insurance and registration for Washington State?

[MilesOriginal]

I've been searching the forums for answers, haven't found anything concrete.
We're in Tacoma, Washington. We just bought an El Dorado National (looks like a transit bus) 32ft, to convert. Paid $2500, went to title it, and the DMV wants us to take pictures of any damage to the Dept of revenue, presumably to justify the "low" price (it's a 1997 model).
It's looking like we're going to try the Vermont rite for the registration, but i previously found a thread mentioning a Puyallup, WA, DOL or DMV that will register it without all of the inspection crap. Does anybody have that info?
Also, we would love it if someone could refer us to a local insurance agent that isn't scared of conversions.

 

[PNW_Steve]

Welcome!

I have used Bev's in Snohomish for two buses with no issues.

The first time I had the auction sites pulled up on my phone to show them comparable sales. They didn't need it.

 

[MilesOriginal]

Thanks, Steve. What is Bev's? The closest info I can find is for Barb's licensing.
Any insurance suggestions?

 

[PNW_Steve]

Thanks, Steve. What is Bev's? The closest info I can find is for Barb's licensing.
Any insurance suggestions?

Listen to what I mean not what I say :biggrin:

You are correct. Barb's is correct. Sorry I had a senior moment.

For insurance State Farm has been good to us and a couple of other WA skoolies. I have been with State Farm for 20+ years for auto, homeowners and life insurance. Adding buses has been easy. Another member contacted my agent and wound up switching his auto and homeowners to State Farm before they would write a policy for his bus.

 

[MilesOriginal]

We got the title transferred, yesterday, after going back and forth between the sellers and a tiny DOL inside of an Ace Hardware, in Edmonds. It seems that they needed something to be wrong with the bus, for us to have gotten it for $2500. Nevermind that it's 22 yrs old and the motor had 288k miles in 2005 (they installed a WiFi speedometer 17k miles ago, so we have no idea where it's at, now).

We're going to see if our Farmer's Insurance agent can get us insured, he's pretty wiley with the loopholes and such. If that doesn't work, we'll definitely be talking to State Farm.

If we have any difficulties when it comes time to register the bus as an RV, the Vermont route sounds promising, but it would be great to get it all legitimately done, in-state.

I just want to start deconstructing, but we have to sneak down to our mechanics and make sure it will be good for the long haul.

 

[jimancin]

Just bought our bus and took it to Longview Wa Cowlitz county lic office and no problem getting it licensed but when I went to State Farm they would not insurance it because of the conversion I was going to do. I went back to the licensing agent and she put regular plates on it, so State Farm then insurances it, but I wondering if I get stopped after the conversion will I be ticked for it being a motorhome and having regular plates on it ? ��*��

 

[PNW_Steve]

Just bought our bus and took it to Longview Wa Cowlitz county lic office and no problem getting it licensed but when I went to State Farm they would not insurance it because of the conversion I was going to do. I went back to the licensing agent and she put regular plates on it, so State Farm then insurances it, but I wondering if I get stopped after the conversion will I be ticked for it being a motorhome and having regular plates on it ? ��*��

That's interesting......

I have titled, registered and insured three buses in Washington so far. All of them insured with State Farm.

Your experience sounds completely alien to me. Mine have all been very straightforward.

I used to work for the licensing office here and have never heard of a motorhome license plate.

Are you sure that you are in Washington? :biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

 

[PNW_Steve]

Regarding value: I have had the auction site up on my phone and shown the agent my purchase and other comparable buses that also sold for a similar price. That has satisfied them.

 

[Wapiti-SKO]

Steve, you wouldn't be willing to cough up the location or phone number of your WA state farm agent would you?
Nobody else is yet willing to write me a "commercial for personal use" policy. I will need to drive a bus whilst converting, if possible...

 

[SanctuarytheBus]

Hi! We've been trying to get our license plates in Longview but were told we needed an estimate from a dealer and no one is willing to look at our bus for us! We're mid way through construction and want to get out on the road as soon as we're done.

 

[Champagne-SKO]

Old thread, but it helped me out so i'd like to thank PNW Steve for the State Farm tip. I just got my 2006 El Dorado Shuttle insured for $80 a month for comprehensive. It is commercial for personal use. They said once I finish my build I can switch it to RV coverage. They were super helpful and seemed to understand how to insure conversion projects.