Insurance

[SafetyCube]

Do you disclose to your insurance company that you live in your van?  

I'm about to purchase my first vehicle and I'm wondering about the repercussions of telling insurance that it will be my residence.  I'm a young gun and this is my first time purchasing auto insurance.  As for my listed address, a coworker was gracious enough to let me use his home address (and get packages there!).

 

[Hippiechk]

Hi;

Unless it's an official motorhome there is no point in telling insurance you will be living in it. They could even have issues as generally insurance is rated on assumed peril in that pleasure use is generally cheaper than business use. Out in traffic every day is the assumption with business class.

Depending on your location others could give you more info perhaps.


Great you have your first wheels & sounds like maybe your first home too!!

 

[Stargazer]

USAA refused to insure my van because I sleep in it.  They also refused to insure my fifth wheel because I live in it full time.

Same with Progressive.

Geico insured the van but I don't remember if I told them how I used it.  They refused to insure the RV because I full-time in it.

Foremost insures the RV and its contents.  They and Good Sam are the only ones I called who will insure full-timers in RV's.

Best of luck to you.

 

[GotSmart]

USAA refused to insure my van because I sleep in it.  They also refused to insure my fifth wheel because I live in it full time.

I informed USAA of my plans, and no problems.  But then I use a lot of other services they offer. (Life, banking, auto, renters) They advertise snowbird services.

 

[TrainChaser]

I used to work in the insurance business. My supervisor (in the business for a couple of lifetimes) said that even if you just ASK about something (like getting a Pit bull or Rottweiler, or doing something 'non-standard'), it goes on your insurance record, even if you never follow through with it. And then your premiums go up, because they assume you're doing it w/o telling them.

Keep your mouth shut. If you have an accident, just say you were on vacation (whether you were at fault or not). Telling an insurance company more than you need to will cost you (literally), or they will dump you.

Always remember one thing: Insurance companies are NOT in the Claim-Paying Business -- they are in the Premium-Collecting Business.

 

[GotSmart]

I used to work in the insurance business.  My supervisor (in the business for a couple of lifetimes) said that even if you just ASK about something (like getting a Pit bull or Rottweiler, or doing something 'non-standard'), it goes on your insurance record, even if you never follow through with it.  And then your premiums go up, because they assume you're doing it w/o telling them.

Keep your mouth shut.  If you have an accident, just say you were on vacation (whether you were at fault or not).  Telling an insurance company more than you need to will cost you (literally), or they will dump you.



Always remember one thing:  Insurance companies are NOT in the Claim-Paying Business -- they are in the Premium-Collecting Business.

They will definitely use not being told as a reason to deny a claim.  Lying and getting caught is fraud. 

I would put this post in the "bad advice" section.

Here is the USA RV insurance section.  

Just store some keepsakes at a family members home, and get renters insurance on it.

https://www.usaa.com/inet/wc/recrea...ref=pub_global_products_ins_recreationvehicle

 

[ggwoman]

Geico insured the van but I don't remember if I told them how I used it.  They refused to insure the RV because I full-time in it.

I had no problem with Geico insuring my rig as a full-timer. They insure RV's for replacement cost.

 

[TrainChaser]

GotSmart: "Lying and getting caught is fraud."

And what do you call just asking a question of an insurance agent and getting your premium raised, even when you didn't do what you were asking about?

Insurance fraud is a two-way street. "Employees of legitimate insurance companies can also deceive consumers for personal gain. For instance, an unscrupulous agent could collect premiums from a customer without delivering the insurance policy to the company. The insurance company could cancel or refuse to renew the policy. Signs of fraud with reputable companies include the failure to receive an insurance identification card or a copy of your policy in a timely manner." http://www.naic.org/cipr_topics/topic_insurance_fraud.htm

 

[GotSmart]

GotSmart: "Lying and getting caught is fraud."

And what do you call just asking a question of an insurance agent and getting your premium raised, even when you didn't do what you were asking about?  

Insurance fraud is a two-way street.  "Employees of legitimate insurance companies can also deceive consumers for personal gain. For instance, an unscrupulous agent could collect premiums from a customer without delivering the insurance policy to the company. The insurance company could cancel or refuse to renew the policy. Signs of fraud with reputable companies include the failure to receive an insurance identification card or a copy of your policy in a timely manner."  http://www.naic.org/cipr_topics/topic_insurance_fraud.htm

Your experience with one company is not how all operate.  

That is why I exclusively deal with USAA.  A++ rating.  There is a lot to be said about doing your due diligence.  

Having had my producers license, I have learned about the bottom feeders.  I will not deal with sub rated companies. 

I give USAA ALL the information, and when a claim happens, they come through.  My ex insisted on State Farm on the house.  We had an ice storm, and NEVER saw our agent.  The next week we changed te last of the policies over to USAA.

 

[BradKW]

It's fair to say that having multiple policies (ie spending lots more money) with one insurance company allows for some advantages. Where a single person wanting a single policy can be told "Can't do it", "Won't do it", we'll do it for twice what it should cost, etc, the person with home/life/multiple vehicles might be welcomed with open arms. I'm sure that there's an actuary table somewhere that shows how that's not fraud of some sort, but being on the receiving end of it doesn't feel good.

When it comes down to it, being 100% honest with an insurance company is a luxury some can't afford. Is there potential risk? Sure...as with most things in life. But we're all adults here...you do what ya gotta do and make choices based on risk levels acceptable to each person...

 

[ccbreder]

USAA never ask anything about my van when they issued my policy. I only have liability and no fault medical.