Options for maintaining car insurance with no physical address

[aytee]

I'm going to have this problem myself in the near future.
I don't care what rhymes or reason the government has for denying nomads from public services and insurance, they are the ones that cause people to live out in their vehicles because they are the wealthy and kicking underperformers to the side of the road that are not profitable to them is their game.

It isn't the government, it is the insurance companies - who use any excuse they can find to not pay out. A Catch-22 situation for us, the law says we must have it but no one will provide it. The government needs to step in and require that insurance is provided to everyone regardless. Didn't they do that for medical?

The trouble is, of course, that us types stay under the radar - for a reason. Who knows what will happen if we make noises about it, rather a Pandora's box I fear.

 

[Morgana]

One reason insurance companies require a physical address is that your location is a big factor in how they calculate your risk (and thus your premium).

The smaller a group is, the less likely a company is to tailor its product to them. People design products for markets that are lucrative. (I'm old enough to remember when the corporate world first figured out that more different demographic groups were starting to have serious money to spend -- it's pretty funny looking back.)

Not everything that is inconvenient for us is the result of an evil conspiracy. And the gummint can't fix everything. You want to go off the beaten path, sometimes you have to be the one to figure out how.

 

[WanderingRose]

Not to defend insurance companies acting badly, but I suspect the difficulty getting insurance on self-modified vehicles may be that they are self-modified?

It’s not insuring the vehicle itself, I suspect, but what has been done to it.

That seems logical, to me, tho it doesn’t solve the problem.

 

[BelgianPup]

Always remember one hard fact about insurance companies: Their primary business is PREMIUM COLLECTION. Their secondary business is providing insurance.

The insurance agent I worked with told me that insurance companies exchange info about clients and applicants, esp the negative stuff. If you call an insurance company and tell them that you sell illegal drugs out of your stolen car, and you want to know if you can insure your illegal goods against theft, they will politely turn you down, AND put your info on a database so any other insurance co. can see it.

Progressive Insurance seems to have a good reputation for a willingness to work with people who deviate from 'normal' lifestyles, from what I've heard.

 

[magentawave]

I'm living full time on the road. Car insurance is with esurance because it has been the cheapest. Boat liability insurance has been with Progressive because they were the only one that would insure my old sailboat. I use Liberty Mutual for renters insurance because it was the least expensive and covered about double what other insurance companies would. My renters insures covers up to $20,000 of stuff at my sons address, my storage unit and all the loose stuff in my van - including my two Ecoflow Delta 1300 "solar generators." Be sure to ask a lot of "what if?" type questions before going with the carrier of your renters insurance. For example: "I camp often. Will my two Ecoflow Delta 1300 power stations be covered if they were stolen from my van while "camping"? I used my sons physical address for all of them.

 

[GotSmart]

The point being that it does not matter what you drive. Many viable suggestions were made in this thread.

 

[Jim D]

It isn't the government, it is the insurance companies - who use any excuse they can find to not pay out. A Catch-22 situation for us, the law says we must have it but no one will provide it. The government needs to step in and require that insurance is provided to everyone regardless. Didn't they do that for medical?

The trouble is, of course, that us types stay under the radar - for a reason. Who knows what will happen if we make noises about it, rather a Pandora's box I fear.

I've been with my auto insurance company for over 40 years so I wonder if they would bump me when I become a van dweller?

 

[RVTravel]

If/when you file a claim and no longer live where you did, they may deny the claim. And them giving you money and later finding out you didn't live there could be seen as insurance fraud.

 

[user 423]

I've been with my auto insurance company for over 40 years so I wonder if they would bump me when I become a van dweller?

Find out if your company offers full-timer RV insurance.

 

[Jim D]

If/when you file a claim and no longer live where you did, they may deny the claim. And them giving you money and later finding out you didn't live there could be seen as insurance fraud.

Yeah, that would be a problem for sure that's why I'm getting involved now.

Find out if your company offers full-timer RV insurance.

I've watched some You Tube videos and a few say they went through this and they won't give the RV insurance without certain amenities that have to be installed by professional contractors.

I'm in Nevada and plan to stay in here for now and since Pahrump is the capital of Nomads I'm checking with what they do and Nevada state laws.

 

[Jim D]

OK, this is another issue I have to address. I hope my insurance company I have now will stick with me since I've been with them for well over 40 years but just in case I found an insurance company that's built just for van lifers and RVer's. This insurance company appears to be new or fairly new and I haven't researched it well but I added my old passenger van into the quote and the site kicked me back a price that's about $100 more than I'm paying now.

The site is named, "Roamly" and is designed just for us van dwellers.

Check it out. Their quote system is very specific so go through the vehicle information boxes several times if it doesn't work (as I had to do) and bear with it.

https://www.roamly.com/

 

[aytee]

I've been with my auto insurance company for over 40 years so I wonder if they would bump me when I become a van dweller?

If you're with Geico they will. They did me, after many years with them.

From that experience I learned to lie. (Which for me is difficult.)

 

[RearViewMirror]

We will be going through something similar this coming spring. We are selling our house and moving full time in our van. I retired at 47 as a Professional FF. The goal is to allow my wife to retire at the same age and we can just go and do the things we want to do on our own timeframe.

This is what I've learned so far from our financial adviser and tax attorney so take this for what it's worth. You must have a physical address somewhere. Not speaking from an insurance perspective though that certainly needs to be factored in. From things like being able to receive mail (I understand that you can have it sent to a PO box) but... If you get a jury summons you will have to have a proof of address. To pay taxes... The man is going to want his money and there is no way around that. So whatever state your vehicle is licensed out of, you will need a physical address to assess that vehicle. You will also need a physical address to pay state and federal taxes. From an insurance perspective, someone mentioned earlier that where you have your vehicle addressed out of can greatly affect your rate. When applying for insurance they take into account where you "currently" live. If you live in a low crime neighborhood your vehicle insurance will be less. Then remember that insurance companies also take into account how many miles you drive per year etc...

We have a Progressive policy and we have been forward with them about our plans. And quit honestly, the rates are actually not bad considering they are insuring a converted 4WD 2022 Mercedes Benz Sprinter with every single option available. Insurance coverage for $180,000 + $15,000 for items inside the van (think of it as a renters insurance rider) comes out to $89 a month. That is also with uninsured motorist, roadside assistance, etc...

For the time being, we will be using my parents address so we will have a physical address. But we will pay taxes in this state. From federal income tax and state income tax (which I am excluded state income tax because of my retirement pension).

So as much as we would like to completely disappear off the grid? It is impossible.

 

[Jim D]

We will be going through something similar this coming spring. We are selling our house and moving full time in our van. I retired at 47 as a Professional FF. The goal is to allow my wife to retire at the same age and we can just go and do the things we want to do on our own timeframe.

This is what I've learned so far from our financial adviser and tax attorney so take this for what it's worth. You must have a physical address somewhere. Not speaking from an insurance perspective though that certainly needs to be factored in. From things like being able to receive mail (I understand that you can have it sent to a PO box) but... If you get a jury summons you will have to have a proof of address. To pay taxes... The man is going to want his money and there is no way around that. So whatever state your vehicle is licensed out of, you will need a physical address to assess that vehicle. You will also need a physical address to pay state and federal taxes. From an insurance perspective, someone mentioned earlier that where you have your vehicle addressed out of can greatly affect your rate. When applying for insurance they take into account where you "currently" live. If you live in a low crime neighborhood your vehicle insurance will be less. Then remember that insurance companies also take into account how many miles you drive per year etc...

We have a Progressive policy and we have been forward with them about our plans. And quit honestly, the rates are actually not bad considering they are insuring a converted 4WD 2022 Mercedes Benz Sprinter with every single option available. Insurance coverage for $180,000 + $15,000 for items inside the van (think of it as a renters insurance rider) comes out to $89 a month. That is also with uninsured motorist, roadside assistance, etc...

For the time being, we will be using my parents address so we will have a physical address. But we will pay taxes in this state. From federal income tax and state income tax (which I am excluded state income tax because of my retirement pension).

So as much as we would like to completely disappear off the grid? It is impossible.

I'm in Nevada. there are NO state taxes. I will have several mechanical items in my van but I will not purchase insurance to cover the loss of them because I will have the funds to cover the replacement of them if they get stolen. I will have a vehicle alarm activated when I have to leave my van that will alert everyone and myself that someone is trying to enter my van so no need for insurance.

The address thing I'm still working on. I'm in a house right now and that should be good for a couple of years after I have to live on the road. Alot of people live in an RV park for a month and use that address so what's the difference between that and using your last home address for awhile? I'm still working on the address thing.

As for car insurance, Roamly seems to be the best bet to get insured when you don't have an address and you can have your own opinion but if you lose your relative's address as I did your opinion will come to the reality of what I'm writing.

 

[RearViewMirror]

I'm in Nevada. there are NO state taxes. I will have several mechanical items in my van but I will not purchase insurance to cover the loss of them because I will have the funds to cover the replacement of them if they get stolen. I will have a vehicle alarm activated when I have to leave my van that will alert everyone and myself that someone is trying to enter my van so no need for insurance.

The address thing I'm still working on. I'm in a house right now and that should be good for a couple of years after I have to live on the road. Alot of people live in an RV park for a month and use that address so what's the difference between that and using your last home address for awhile? I'm still working on the address thing.

As for car insurance, Roamly seems to be the best bet to get insured when you don't have an address and you can have your own opinion but if you lose your relative's address as I did your opinion will come to the reality of what I'm writing.

I agree with a lot of what you posted. If / when something happens to my parents then we will move our address to my one of my wife's family members. She has a very large family.

As far as state income tax, we do have it here but I'm excluded from it because of my retirement pension. Federal on the other hand... Can't get away from that.

 

[bullfrog]

^^^Be aware many states do tax pensions even if earned outside their state if you work in their state and file a tax return there!

 

[Wassup]

And there may be another issue if you have an IRA, pension or 401k. Are they protected from a lawsuit? No auto insurance means sombody would have to pay.

 

[RearViewMirror]

^^^Be aware many states do tax pensions even if earned outside their state if you work in their state and file a tax return there!

That won't be an issue for me personally as my van will continuously be licensed out of this state with a "physical address" in this state also. So I will continue to pay income tax in this state. Even though we will base ourself out of Colorado, we will not become true residents of Colorado until something happens to my parents or until we decided to give up this lifestyle. So as of right now... the only taxes I will pay are federal income taxes on my pension, any money removed from investments, and personal property tax. This state "does" have state income tax but I am excluded from paying state income tax because of my pension and job that I did as a Professional FF. I realize other states do not have a state income tax. That is not the case here but I am still able to take advantage of that due to my career that I chose. Once something happens to my parents (and admittedly they are in poor to mediocre health) we will either move our "permanent" address to one of my wife's family members until we decide to put down roots in Colorado. Once that happens then I will have to pay all of the associated taxes for that state. And yes... my pension, from that time forward, will be taxed at the federal and state level once we move to Colorado permanently.

 

[Jim D]

I'm looking into the "Escapees" thing right now. It's probably going to be the best situation for me at this time because all of my family are gone. I just started checking into them and I read a passage that stated their mailing address can be used as a residential address. We'll see if this is correct.

Escapees is better since it covers several issues I will face but I can get my van insurance with Roamly if it comes down to it.

 

[abnorm]

I've been using Escapee's Florida Address and Mail Service for about 5 years

Others on the forum also use Escapees.....

NO Problems.....I have No Florida home anymore......I live in a van in the WEST....MY Escapees Address satisfies my Florida Driver's License and INSURANCE.............as well as Banking and $ocial $ecurity.........I can send for my mail to be delivered anywhere

AND ABOUT INSURANCE
When I bought this van my life long company said NO.....So I took the "SchoolieForumAdvice"............

Find an INDEPENDENT AGENT !...............My guy knows I live in the van........I NEVER see a bill directly from Progressive........Just the agency invoice.............and the "cards" directly from Progressive.......and never any questions about mileage/garaging or other BS from Progressive

YMMV..............Insurance is a State regulated business