How to Insure- Primary Residence or just plain car insurance

[Michelle (GMC Gypsy)]

So I was on the phone with my current insurer (on my car) yesterday and asked about insuring the van i.e. will regular insurance cover solar panels, fridge etc. She asked if it was going to be a primary residence and being the (way too) honest person I am I said yes. She said they don't cover that but said they partner with a company that insures trailers/mobile homes. I haven't called that company yet to price plans but I thought I'd ask y'all how you have your vehicles insured first. 

Should I set up a primary residence somewhere and insure as a passenger vehicle (with extra coverage?) or just insure it as a mobile home (likely to cover contents)?

 

[TMG51]

I'm not sure about how mobile home insurance works, because on paper I still pretend to have a residence. And one of the reasons I pretend to have a residence is because of how insurance works. Typical car insurance covers your car, not the belongings in your car. If someone breaks in and steals your stuff, that's covered under your homeowner insurance policy, not your car insurance. So, I have a renter's insurance policy at my pretend physical address. It costs me $70/year to have $15,000 in coverage. Renter's insurance is cheap and worth it. Of course, if the insurance company were to find out you don't live at the reported address the policy would be void, so in the event of a claim: "Yeah, I was on vacation four states away and someone broke into my vehicle..."

It may be that mobile home insurance would do both for you but someone else will have to chime in there.

 

[GotSmart]

I have USAA, and was completely honest with them.  

Using my daughter's address, (Where my mail goes to) I have a  renters policy.  $500 deductible on the contents of the van. Since I also use their banking and automatic payments I never have to worry about anything.    

Flashing that USAA ATM card also has its advantages while traveling.

 

[Michelle (GMC Gypsy)]

I have USAA, and was completely honest with them.  

Isn't that the insurance for Veterans? I don't qualify for them. When I posted this thread it linked me to a thread from 2012 where someone mentioned Foremost, which is the company my insurer partners with. Probably gonna have to talk to them.

 

[Wanderer]

So I was on the phone with my current insurer (on my car) yesterday and asked about insuring the van i.e. will regular insurance cover solar panels, fridge etc. She asked if it was going to be a primary residence and being the (way too) honest person I am I said yes. She said they don't cover that but said they partner with a company that insures trailers/mobile homes. I haven't called that company yet to price plans but I thought I'd ask y'all how you have your vehicles insured first. 

Should I set up a primary residence somewhere and insure as a passenger vehicle (with extra coverage?) or just insure it as a mobile home (likely to cover contents)?

Well, I kind of doubt the solar panels will be damaged in anything but a wreck (OK, maybe hailstorm) , so the "Value" if the van can vary, but I think that like I was told by my insurance agent "Yes, we can insure you, just don't tell us you live in the van" Thus, this is how I get around it.

I remember one time we lost a car due to a fire, they asked "Have you done any engine work?" (Like rebuild and/or replacement) and then asked "Anything inside the car was damaged?" (The engine fire only killed the engine so "No")  So interior might be covered....

 

[GotSmart]

Isn't that the insurance for Veterans? I don't qualify for them. When I posted this thread it linked me to a thread from 2012 where someone mentioned Foremost, which is the company my insurer partners with. Probably gonna have to talk to them.

Things have changed.  It is worth a phone call.   Military, veterans and family members or even spouses of former military dependants~~~ My ex has kids who are members, and their spouse ~~~  

USAA  800-531-8722 or 210-531-8722.

 

[Michelle (GMC Gypsy)]

Things have changed.  It is worth a phone call.   Military, veterans and family members or even spouses of former military dependants~~~ My ex has kids who are members, and their spouse ~~~  

USAA  800-531-8722 or 210-531-8722.

While my father was Navy he got a "Less Than Honorable" discharge and I'm pretty sure it still only applies to those who got Honorable discharges.

 

[GotSmart]

While my father was Navy he got a "Less Than Honorable" discharge and I'm pretty sure it still only applies to those who got Honorable discharges.

It is a free phone call.

 

[Michelle (GMC Gypsy)]

While my father was Navy he got a "Less Than Honorable" discharge and I'm pretty sure it still only applies to those who got Honorable discharges.

I was correct.

 

[GotSmart]

I was correct.

Crumbs.  

It was worth a try.

 

[Michelle (GMC Gypsy)]

So I checked with Foremost and they only insure "professional conversions". Looks like setting up a primary residence and getting renters insurance along with car insurance is going to be the way I go.  :s