Stuck with Progressive

[Coloradobus]

We have had Progressive for 8 yeasr. We when bought our current coach, and were going to re-up with Progressive thru our Insurance broker, "Miller Insurance of Lake Oswego Oregon, we were shocked what Progressive wanted to charge to insure the older coach, 1992. Our past coach, the 2000 H cost us 3100.00 annual premium with $2500 deduct for coll, and comp., 1/2 mill for liability, uninsured, underinsured. We were told that $2,500 of the total was for the ":Agreed Value" of 500,000.
For the Beaver Bus, same coverage except "Agreed Value" was now $139,000, Progressive wanted $2100, stating $1600 of the charge was for the "Agreed Value" Whew!!! We went shopping, and Miller RV Insurance provided us with National Interstate, same coverage as before but with a deduct change in collision/comp from $2500 on the "H"3-45 to $1000 deduct for the same on XL 40. Our Beaver Bus premium is in realm of $1100-1200 annually.
Since we got in before "Zorro" has "Aged Out'. and we are currently covered with National Interstate, and we will be grandfathered as the coach ages.


JIM C's idea of possible useage of Classic Car type insurance is interesting, but we have policies with several and their restrictions are many. Here are a few examples of resrtictions thru Grundy and Safeco.

1.) No "errand" trips with vehicle.
2.) Limited number of miles per year.
3.) Used only for Club events, parades
4.) NO overnight trips, unless provided with " verifiable secured" parking.
(However, these restictions may very with the Insurance Carrier. Safeco is less restrictive than Grundy, and Grundy is less restrictive than Haggerty)

When we tow the 1967 Vintage Airstream with the 1969 Cadillac to a cross country Airstream Rally, we get "riders" to supplement the original Classic Car policies, thru our mainstream car insurers.

Unless a Grundy-type insurer were to change the restricitons, it would be tough to drive a Prevost to Palm Springs and "camp" in it.
We also learned this time around how the Insurer rates the use of the RV. We are listed as "useage" 2-5 months a year. If we were "Fulltimers, over 5 months, with an owned "stick" home, or Fulltime over 5 monthsr, with NO "stick home" our rates would be much, much higher.

[Jon Wehrenberg]

Jim,

The issue of lack of maintenance was brought up by me as supposition as to why an insurance company may want to shy away from insuring 20 year old vehicles.

That may not be the case, but regardless of what prompts their position on this issue we need to talk to them as a group. A single person trying to insure a coach will likely not get anywhere. I suspect, but do not know that the underwriters look at risk and when the topic of 20 year old buses comes up I would be surprised if the mental image is not that of a well worn bus nearing the end of its life with 2,000,000 miles and currently owned by a church group or marching band or being home converted by an individual.

The insurance company may not realize the typical bus conversion likely has 200,000 miles, good care, covered storage, and is going to be carefully driven by a mature owner.

[Woody]

I'm sorry guys but there is such a thing as internet shopping. The carrier we had for our 4 Vogues wouldn't touch a 20 year old Prevost so we went hunting.
As I said before we found good coverage at a good price through a company that does not advertise a lot. They check out well and the agent in Orlando is great. They required a lot - I submitted 20 images showing every aspect of the coach, had an appraisal done and came to a good agreement.

I would be pleased to join any group arrangement and with all the info I have gleamed from this forum have no doubt that this coach will pass any inspection requirement but the group must come up with a competitive quote.

In the aviation business I have always found that association group policies seem to always be higher than individual policies but that all depends on experience and the aircraft. I can't see how we could ever come up with acceptable driver and coach condition standards that would fit all.

I hope I am not being too negative but this is from many decades of fighting these guys.

[phorner]

Jim,

The issue of lack of maintenance was brought up by me as supposition as to why an insurance company may want to shy away from insuring 20 year old vehicles.

That may not be the case, but regardless of what prompts their position on this issue we need to talk to them as a group. A single person trying to insure a coach will likely not get anywhere. I suspect, but do not know that the underwriters look at risk and when the topic of 20 year old buses comes up I would be surprised if the mental image is not that of a well worn bus nearing the end of its life with 2,000,000 miles and currently owned by a church group or marching band or being home converted by an individual.

The insurance company may not realize the typical bus conversion likely has 200,000 miles, good care, covered storage, and is going to be carefully driven by a mature owner.

Jon, have you met some of our members ???

[Darrell and Linda]

Our coach is insured through Allstate. We have a $168,000.00 full replacement value tag, (any higher valve, we would need an appraisal), full glass coverage with $100.00 deductible, includes all windows, $500.00 deductible on collision, $2,000,000.00 public / third party liability. Total annual premium is $426.00........ I presented and forced an ammenity list and a ton of pictures for their file. This is not government insured.

This is RV insurance. I believe the reduce premium is because the coach is in storage for a minimum of four months a year. Having said that, If we used the coach full-time, and they doubled or even trippled the annual premium, it would be very reasonable.

Isn't Allstate an american insurance based company?

[CAPT MOGUL & Sandy]

I was just told this past week that Gilbert Ins.out
of Orlando,Fl will no longer insure with Agreed Value.
There carrier is American Securities. We are grandfathered
in but if we make any change anything with policy it will
be cancelled. No new policies will be written with Agreed Values.
For the new 2001 royale we just got,I have found a company to insure
with agreed value but will have to give it to you when we get
home in 2 days. Actually the 2001, with agreed value, premiums
are cheaper with exact same coverage amounts than the 1997 Royale with Gilbert.
I hope I have all this right. Will see policies in 2 days when we get home.
Sandy

[rahangman]

Darrell and Linda...can you send me a PM with your insurers contact?

[Jon Wehrenberg]

Having had a fire caused by mechanical work done by "experts" I can only say that with National the repairs were done exactly how I wanted them done.

I cannot express how important it was to be able to have the bus towed to Prevost Jacksonville, and restored to its original condition by the company that made it. Other insurance companies may treat a claim exactly the same way, but I doubt if a company that wants 3 estimates for a fender bender on a car is ever going to allow you (the policy holder) to determine how or where your coach will be repaired.

The issue gets more involved if the interior is affected because the chassis and the conversion may need to be repaired and I would not want to even think about how a proper repair would be made if the coach were to be taken to anyone other than Prevost or Liberty (in my case).

I am prepared to pay a higher premium to have the comfort of knowing if anything bad happens my coach will be fixed and returned to me with no issues brought about from improper repairs.

[Darrell and Linda]

Rahangman

Rodger, make room for my PM, thanks

[Yankee802]

This is what we currently have with Progressive, in case it helps.

We live in it fulltime, and it will be (we are moving to my wife’s new duty station (Navy)) in Panama City, Florida
$100,000.00 is the agreed (and purchase price) value I currently have with Progressive for another 3 years.
I am 43, My wife is 30.
Full Timers Personal Liability: $100k ea person/$300k ea accident
Medical Payments: $5k ea person/$50k ea accident
Loss Assessment/Storage $5k
Deductible $2.5k
Premium is $1446 for 12 months.

I have initiated a yearly maintenace program, have had my fisrt one (and baseline) and the 2nd annual one is scheduled for this month at Prevost in Jacksonville. I also take my coach for a 60 mile(ish) run each month to keep things moving, rather than just sitting there for months.

Also am having problem with my icemaker, so if you think you can help, please see that thread.