USAA won't insure my Vanagon?

IdahoDoug · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 5:35 pm Post subject: USAA won't insure my Vanagon?

So, after I got the tintop running this afternoon, I thought I'd take it for a little spin. Called my insurance, USAA and was informed the VIN shows it is a "bus" so they won't insure it. I have to go through some subsidiary. Anyone else have an issue like this on a mere tintop?

She asked me how many it seats. I said 7. She said bus. I mentioned she's insured my LandCruiser that seats 8 for 22 years - does that make it a bus?. Silence. I asked if I bought a minivan tomorrow that seats 7 would I have to go to a subsidiary to insure it as a bus? No, not if the carfax brings it up as a minivan versus a bus. Um....really? So carfax is telling you this is a bus, and therefore its a bus, like a commercial bus? What if carfax said it was a Formula One car - would they be the infallible source of all that is automotive?

Yeesh...

DougM
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1993 Toyota LandCruiser, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

Rocky Mountain Westy · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 5:44 pm Post subject:

Carfax is the biggest hoax ever. They peddle crappy third party info and people bow down to them like they are gods.

I would say that some of their info has merit but plenty of it doesn't. I have a customer who is a USAA customer and has a 91 tin top. I will ask if USAA insures it.
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The Splitzgauer build (when I have time to work on it and update the thread)

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danfromsyr · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 5:45 pm Post subject:

tell them they have their information wrong
VW never sold commercial BUS in USA
they sold passenger station wagons.. it's even in the sales brochures.

as a camper it's a conversion van converted by Westfalia werks in Germany.
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WestiCoast · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 5:53 pm Post subject:

USAA insures my Westy. Never had an issue. Also you might be able to contact carfax and have them correct their data. Although, I agree that shouldn't be necessary. Here is where I would start.
http://support.carfax.com/c_datarequest

j_dirge · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 7:21 pm Post subject:

Why is USAA using carfax? ...when they have direct access to DMV?

I'd find a new agent.
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MayorMcCheese · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 7:35 pm Post subject:

Call back and speak to someone different?
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goffoz · Samba Member Joined: May 09, 2007 Posts: 1486

My 89 tintop,7passenger, has Kali papers that say its a camper???
I was having problems with my insurer "Allstate", until someone on Samba mentioned that Allstate has RV insurance, thats really cheap, and that to qualify I need a few mods.
So I made a little cabinet, with a sink and stove, took out the middle seats,
and went to a different Allstate office.showed them my registration ,they looked at the van, and gave me a print out of the insurance they could provide...guaranteed me it would be no problem,and ....It was half$

So I showed this to my agent Shocked

and let them know I had almost no confidence in they're competence...and would be very happy to let Allstate head office know about their performance.
So its all good now Cool

and when I call them, and say, I shopped them elsewhere..we get a little discount Shocked

After 30 years of no claims and up to 5 vehicles annually
....I should be exempt Rolling Eyes

right

nemobuscaptain · Samba Member Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 3875

Ive had Usaa insurance for 20+ years on 4 different Transporters, two of which were Vanagons... including my current Multivan.
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akyrie · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 8:08 pm Post subject:

USAA shouldn't have any problems. I have two vans insured through them now, both tintops original. or...two buses. hahaha.

I like USAA but... I liked them better two years ago when every call was answered by a real live English speaking person. now.... they like that automated machine that makes the call take a lot longer than it should. It's like they want you to use the internet or something.
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WestiCoast · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 8:21 pm Post subject:

Last time I talked to USAA they told me about an "Agreed Value" policy. I need to look into that. Could save a headache down the road.

IdahoDoug · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 9:40 pm Post subject:

Yeah, I also like USAA actually. They've always been great to work with though I've only had one claim in 25 years. I was also thinking "call back and speak with someone else". I totally forgot to ask the lady how I had a Syncro insured a few years ago and did not go through this hassle.... I will see if I can find a copy of that policy. Glad to hear others have Vanagons with them. I think the agent got tunnel vision with the whole Carfax thing. Bizarre.

DougM
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1993 Toyota LandCruiser, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

zeohsix · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 9:40 pm Post subject:

USAA insures my Westy not sure if they know how much my pile of receipts for my build totals..... Very Happy

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I'm Cheap! I'll build that Syncro Westy myself and save money but, my labor is "FREE" especially if I ever go to sell it! One thing is I will know the quality of the parts and labor that went into the build and rest better when I'm actually driving said Westy down the road!

IdahoDoug · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 9:45 pm Post subject:

Heh, same here with the pile of receipts. It's been an expensive 10 days since getting her back to Idaho.
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1993 Toyota LandCruiser, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

nemobuscaptain · Samba Member Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 3875

1621 · Samba Member Joined: May 15, 2006 Posts: 2174

Another happy USAA member here for nearly 20 years. They've insured my Westy for the last nine years with no issues, and I honestly wouldn't go with any other insurer. I'd call back and talk with them again. They'll insure other big passenger vans (some quite a bit larger), so I see no reason not to cover a 14ft seven-seater.
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'85 Westy

JunkYarDog · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2014 10:11 am Post subject:

USAA covers my 85 GL and has done so for over 18 years. I will say however recent changes in the way they operate are starting to push me to look at other options.
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Gauche1968 · Samba Member Joined: April 13, 2006 Posts: 1562

Welcome to the 21st century, whatever the computer says is the truth.
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1984 Vanagon GL
1984 Vanagon Westy

ShootingFish · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2014 10:39 am Post subject:

I tried to insure with USAA and they were giving me a hard time about my 88' Westy because it is a RV and they don't do RVs… The fact that it had a cooktop, sink, & fridge was a done deal. They referred me to Progressive, and I have been with them for a while now, but am thinking about going somewhere else with everything.

They will insure the Doka, but they also told me that they will just total it out if it is in an accident because their policies are based on depreciated/bluebook value.

I use them for all of my finances and I have found their insurance program to be rather frustrating over the last couple of years.
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SF

Props aren't just for boats....

'88 2WD ALH-TDI Westy Red Vanagon

'90 Syncro 16 Doka Yellow Vanagon

Tom Powell · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2014 4:46 pm Post subject:

I've had USAA for fifty years. They insure both my Vanagons and also my bay window bus.

Aloha
tp

IdahoDoug · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2014 10:16 pm Post subject:

Thanks! Will call them again when I'm not standing in the garage in dirty coveralls, with dinner reservations and wanting to ceremoniously drive off in my just started Vanagon in 35 minutes. I was trying to rush it and suspect I got a new employee or similar...

DougM
_________________
1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1993 Toyota LandCruiser, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader


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