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LandSailor Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2009 Posts: 315 Location: Las Vegas, NV
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Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2014 2:58 pm Post subject: Insuring the Westy "Motorhome", saving serious cas |
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Howdy,
After going around and around with the Collector's Insurance "We insure Campmobiles, but not if you take them camping" racket, I finally talked to the right person who said "We don't insure anything with beds and a stove because that is a motorhome." Hmmm, a few searches later and a great quote from Progressive, I called my Allstate agent and explained what I found. He had to call their underwriters and they agreed that the sleeping bunks, stove, and sink meant that it qualifies as a "motorhome".
My full coverage insurance (in Nevada) went from around $700 per six months to $397 for the entire year with slightly better coverage.
Here's what changed for me:
A few coverages increased (per person, per accident coverages doubled) for a few bucks more per year.
Deductibles increased from $100 to $250 (the lowest they offer for motorhomes).
They put me down for 45 days of operation per year (there's no log requirement, btw). If you were living in a motorhome, obviously, you'd have to pay more.
Compared to Collector's Car Insurance
No "garage kept" requirement.
No mileage restriction.
No camping restriction.
Cost is about the same.
No Stated or Agreed Value coverage. It's the Actual Cash Value of replacing it with a comparable vehicle (of course, that's what I already had with them.) He told me to be sure to save any receipts for work that I do to it, etc.
This is with my current insurance company and literally the only one that I've ever used. From past experience, I know that claims filed back home were handled more easily for customers with a history.
My agent didn't know that they could call it a motorhome. Originally, I was going to have to bring it in for an inspection, but she called back and said that wasn't necessary since the Camper package was a factory option.
In the end, I'm saving over a thousand dollars per year. While this may not work with your situation if you're using your Westy as a daily driver, this is more than adequate for us. (Obviously, check with your local agent to see how your company's rules and state's laws apply to you.)
Last edited by LandSailor on Fri Mar 07, 2014 9:03 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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bluefirefly Samba Member
Joined: March 16, 2011 Posts: 438 Location: Calgary, Ab
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Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2014 3:32 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks a lot for the info and taking time to post about it!
It might not work for us right now, but that might change. _________________ 86 Syncro Tintop G60
work in progress ...as always! |
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mtnphan Samba Member
Joined: February 13, 2011 Posts: 46 Location: PNW
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Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2014 8:56 pm Post subject: |
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Just to clarify... this is with Progressive??? _________________ '85 Wolfsburg Westfalia 2.2 Subie |
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LandSailor Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2009 Posts: 315 Location: Las Vegas, NV
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Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2014 9:02 pm Post subject: |
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No, it's Allstate. The first quote was online from Progressive. |
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DeadSetMonkey Samba Member
Joined: April 15, 2010 Posts: 532 Location: Denver, CO
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Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2014 9:24 pm Post subject: Re: Insuring the Westy "Motorhome", saving serious |
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LandSailor wrote: |
It's the Actual Cash Value of replacing it with a comparable vehicle (of course, that's what I already had with them.) He told me to be sure to save any receipts for work that I do to it, etc. |
Was just reviewing thus stiff with my agent (American family).
He said they pull the actual cash value from a database of vehicles.
And, he looked up my VIN - the actual cash value for my Syncro Westy was $11k.
So he suggested I get it appraised, and insure it for the appraised value.
I haven't called any other companies yet.
Anyone in Colorado (policies are state specific, right) found a good deal on good coverage? _________________ ----------------------------------------------------
'90 Syncro Westy 2.5Subi Turbo, BFGs 215/75/15 Rheins |
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nevadaesh Samba Member
Joined: May 08, 2013 Posts: 214
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Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2014 10:54 pm Post subject: |
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LandSailor, Great post. We live in Nevada and have Allstate. Will be on the phone with them Monday morning.
Gary
We're out in the great town of Pahrump. _________________ '85 Westy
'07 FJC
'02 Camry |
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Royb Samba Member
Joined: May 24, 2008 Posts: 228 Location: Sierra Foothills
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Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2014 1:41 am Post subject: |
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Great tip! I'm going to look into this! Our Westy really is largely our motorhome, after all.
Btw, State Farm raised my rates because I got speeding tickets in my WRX, even though I explained it was physically impossible in the Westy. Doh! _________________ 1991 Westy |
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Hammy1 Samba Member
Joined: May 08, 2012 Posts: 205 Location: OTTAWA, ON
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Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2014 5:45 am Post subject: |
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CAA/AAA also classifies the Westy as an RV so you will require the RV coverage if you need your Westy towed.
Jon |
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LandSailor Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2009 Posts: 315 Location: Las Vegas, NV
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Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2014 9:25 am Post subject: |
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nevadaesh wrote: |
We're out in the great town of Pahrump. |
Gary, that's about what...a five hour drive in a waterboxer Westy over the hump!
Glad to help out! I wanted to get a little snarky with my agent, but he said they'd never had anyone ask about it and literally did not know it was even possible. Of course, I've already paid more than a year's worth of motorhome insurance at the regular monthly rates, but better to discover it sooner than later!
Also, I seriously typed "cash" in the subject line. Grrrr. Didn't think it maxxed the character limit.
As for the value, I discussed it with my agent and explained that I wanted Stated Value because replacing it would be about $12K and KBB said $6-10K, but couldn't find anyone that offered that package. He assured me that with receipts and comparable sales that they would pay to replace it with a similar vehicle. The receipts for my upgrades and replacements could be used to verify what was actually in "new" condition at the time of loss.
Obviously, that's not as easy as a Stated Value, but I will be following up with him (and possibly, one of their appraisers), plus start keeping copies of For Sale ads. The more history you have, the better. As I mentioned, I have literally been paying them money to cover their bets that I am a good risk for almost thirty years. My entire family has Allstate, so I'm not too worried about getting screwed. (Still would prefer a stated value, though.) |
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plaidseats Samba Member
Joined: July 17, 2014 Posts: 1 Location: Los Angeles
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Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2014 2:43 pm Post subject: "Load Capacity" for RV Insurance |
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LandSailor - thanks for the info. Was just going through the online quote process and it asks for Load Capacity in excess of 1500lbs - were you asked this? Does anyone know what the load capacity of a van is? Am I being naive do I just say "yes"...
Thanks for any guidance. |
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chazz79 Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2008 Posts: 2268 Location: ohio
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Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2014 6:43 pm Post subject: |
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I went agreed value this way. They didn't have a clue what I had at all so I had to describe it as a vintage motor home, like an airstream. The lady lit up because she knew what one of those was. E-mailed pics and they came back with 15k as agreed. I can live with that, I couldn't pay someone to build me another for that cash but I could do it myself. It's hard to get a policy that allows you to drive something old without fear of some bonehead hitting you and buying your ride for a grand. The rv policy gets you away from the weird limitations collector insurance like hagerty puts on you. You can pay a little more and insure contents just like homeowners too. It really is the way to go. _________________ One day as a lion, or a lifetime as lamb
The green monster in bits and peices: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=332556&highlight=green+monster |
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ThankYouJerry Samba Member
Joined: September 01, 2012 Posts: 2271 Location: Shakedown Street
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pomfritz Samba Member
Joined: December 18, 2014 Posts: 477 Location: Folsom, CA
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Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2015 8:17 pm Post subject: |
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We use Amerprise, through Costco. If you are an executive member they include Roadside assistance for free. The RV roadside coverage is nothing to write home about but that's not why we use them. The rates are great $127 per 6 months for the 83 Westy with $100 Comp/Coll ded and highest liability levels they carry. I asked about the value they use and they said it was over 14K. Nice that's plenty for now. They consider it an RV. YMMV |
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morymob Samba Member
Joined: November 09, 2007 Posts: 4683 Location: east-tn
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Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2015 5:24 am Post subject: |
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I went thru the routines when i insured my westy. Stove & sink dont make it a rv unless it has a bath room, solar shower & Porta potty dont count either. I still ger reasonable ins 4 just being a westy-camper van. |
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Royb Samba Member
Joined: May 24, 2008 Posts: 228 Location: Sierra Foothills
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Posted: Thu May 07, 2015 9:57 pm Post subject: |
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I mentioned on another thread that my insurance rip-off may be near an end. I raised the RV insurance option repeatedly with State Farm and after taking pictures of the stove, sink, the poptop, and the insurance card of my other car, swearing the Westy wasn't my daily driver, and estimating its value, they said they could insure it as an RV for $132/ year!!
Granted, they made me jump thru some hoops, but it will be worth it. I guesstimated it was worth about $10k based on similar ones for sale. _________________ 1991 Westy |
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rockfish Samba Member
Joined: February 13, 2007 Posts: 740 Location: Palo Alto, Calif.
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Posted: Fri May 08, 2015 1:14 pm Post subject: |
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Another possible avenue is buying Progressive RV insurance. You can insure for "stated" value.
For grins - 1989 Westy (Class B) and I said "pleasure use" for 250 days/year
For $500 ded. and $500K/$500K coverage the estimate came in at $655/yr for a stated value of $50K. (Includes "RV" roadside assistance).
Since my USAA coverage (replacement/Blue Book value, not stated value) is just under $600/yr this looks like a viable option... _________________ 89 Westy
GW 2.5 5-speed trans
"It's what you learn after you know it all that counts."
- John Wooden |
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