Progressive Insurance - what are the "magic words" to get a full-time van quote?

[Kaylee]

Several members have recommended Progressive Insurance for full-timer van insurance.

A couple of weeks ago, I phoned them, and the person I spoke with refused to quote me.
I may have used the wrong phrasing.
I referred to my van as a "conversion".
She said they couldn't risk workmanship/structural issues.

The only major structural-ish work is my solar system.
Everything else is reasonably simple.

Did I just get the "wrong" person?

I did explicitly explain that I'm a full-timer.
Please don't tell me to "obfuscate" that.

 

[maki2]

People come into this thread and throw the word "conversion" around way too often when it is not actually what they have done. Quit scaring the insurance agents by saying you have "converted" it when all you are doing is a few minor things to make it more comfortable for camping trips.

Also they don't care how long your camping trip is. They don't care if it is one night or every night for the rest of your life as long as you pay your bill on time and don't get moving violations or get into a collision. Of course they and you would not be happy if it got stolen, assuming you have that kind of coverage.

Your solar system is a cargo item that you are carrying by having it have clamped to your roof racks. If you want the value of it covered that is done with coverage on contents.

They might ask you for an approximation of the miles you put on a vehicle on average in a time frame such as a month. That is just a standard kind of thing insurance companies ask. Fortunately they often phrase is as how many miles do you drive to work. Just tell them you don't have a commute to work unless of course you do have one.

Just answer their questions and don't blurt out information they don't need to hear. That just confuses them because they don't have a place to enter it on the forms they are filling out on their computer screen. If they don't have a place to enter it on the form they will refuse you the coverage. Sounds crazy but that is what happens when you get people who are trained to carefully fill out forms.

 

[CityWoman]

Several members have recommended Progressive Insurance for full-timer van insurance.

A couple of weeks ago, I phoned them, and the person I spoke with refused to quote me. I may have used the wrong phrasing. I referred to my van as a "conversion".

She said they couldn't risk workmanship/structural issues.

Are you trying to insure it as something other than a regular van?

 

[Kaylee]

Are you trying to insure it as something other than a regular van?

I can't insure it as a "regular" van, because it is, in fact, my home, which changes the landscape, insurance wise.

If one is living full-time in one's vehicle, it is important to disclose that to one's insurer.
The other factor is I have no physical "garaging address".

Other info:
My current insurer suddenly jacked up my rate from what they had quoted me, and still haven't explained why.
It's a very old van (1987), so my current insurer only offered liability insurance.
They were the only company I called that was willing to insure an out-of-the-closet fulltimer. I had not called Progressive during that first search, but now that I'm dissatisfied with current insurer, I'm open to any competent company.

Many here have mentioned Progressive, so I'm hoping some of them will post with their first hand experience.

 

[Matlock]

I may have used the wrong phrasing.
I referred to my van as a "conversion".
She said they couldn't risk workmanship/structural issues.

Did I just get the "wrong" person?

I did explicitly explain that I'm a full-timer.
Please don't tell me to "obfuscate" that.

So, here's a consensus snip from Allstate, State Farm and Progressive from "Insurance Agents" a couple years ago;

"Vehicles and trailers are not eligible for coverage when used as a full-time residence.
Our motorhome and recreational vehicle coverage are for policyholders who have a separate primary residence and use their motorhomes, vans, travel trailers, and fifth wheels for recreational purposes only."

How is your Van titled? The VIN number defines what it is and that number is what the insures types into their system. If titled as a Campervan and the VIN agrees then it's a matter of finding a Co. that will insure it. You may call a dozen Progressive locations before finding one that will take you at a reasonable price.

Google "Insurance Broker" and call one. Tell them honestly your situation. They will point you in the right direction. EVERY STATE IS DIFFERENT and agency's differ in that state. A Broker is different than an Agent.

Traveling across the country and camping in your Van is insurable, just tuff to get insured without a sticks and bricks address on the policy. Find a relative and get them to agree to using their address.

I am confused why you need to be classified as a Full-timer as opposed to a Camper. I've been camping while I travel and everyone says I'm on an extended vacation.

Hope something here helps .. that's all I got.

 

[Kaylee]

How is your Van titled? The VIN number defines what it is and that number is what the insures types into their system. If titled as a Campervan and the VIN agrees then it's a matter of finding a Co. that will insure it. You may call a dozen Progressive locations before finding one that will take you at a reasonable price.

Google "Insurance Broker" and call one. Tell them honestly your situation. They will point you in the right direction. EVERY STATE IS DIFFERENT and agency's differ in that state. A Broker is different than an Agent.

Thanks Brother Hand, yes that's very helpful.

Ok, the van is titled as a van, so I will drop "conversion"/etc from my word list.
Instead I'll just state that I'm mostly camping on public land, doing volunteer work while waiting for my next contract, which is absolutely 100% true.

You yourself pointed out that most insurers won't consider somebody genuinely living out of their vehicle, hence why I need an insurer who will insure a "full-timer" not merely a part-timer.
I will put less emphasis on it, while still being honest.

Fortunately, long before my accident, I was in fact a Nomad, spending at most a year at each location. I will put the emphasis on that.
Now that both my parents are dead, I don't have even a putative "home", and don't want to impose on friends. That also feels safe to put emphasis on.

Do insurance brokers help with low end cases?
I've wondered about calling that guy in one of BW's vids.

The van is registered in SD under their Most Awesome "Nomad" classification.
Yes, seriously, they have one... and the Awesomely Competent county clerk who did mine, grokked it in its fullness.
It was stunningly easy.

P.S. A big shout out & thanks to Texas' JEWELL ANN for actually phoning an SD county office to help me when I was researching the Nomad registration thingie.

 

[Elbear1]

Youre not really on the road much. Be honest about how often you will be in transit. Or just choose "primary residence" through your online quote. Youre not getting insurance to cover hail damage while youre sitting here, its basic collision while being driven only.

Dont tell them its self-built if thats going to be an issue. Even factory RV's are "conversions" i.e. they start with a basic chassis and body they order from ford/dodge/gm. And again its none of their business as theyre not covering ANYTHING in your van.

Its a recreational vehicle and its planned to be used X amount through the year. Its a 10 minute ordeal. Getting brokers involved or sweating this and that over basic liability is absurd.

Give me your basic details and I'll show you how.

 

[lenny flank]

Most insurance companies won't cover a DIY "conversion". They are afraid you effed something up and will burn it to a crisp, sticking them with the bill.

My van is just a van. I live with my sister, but I take a lot of long vacations and road trips with it.

 

[Elbear1]

Heres a mock up. I called your van a 1993 "OTHER" make worth $4,000 used as primary residence.

 

[Kaylee]

Thanks Lenny!

Elbear1: thanks!
Is that "$233" for a "Primary Residence"?
Can you post a link where they explain what that means?

The van is a 1987 Dodge B250.
Good Sam's said up front they would only do liability insurance, so that's ok, but I wouldn't be against some modest content coverage (~1,000?).
Its book value is a little under $3,000.
Don't get me started on how much it has actually cost me. #roll-eyes#

 

[maki2]

Most insurance companies won't cover a DIY "conversion". They are afraid you effed something up and will burn it to a crisp, sticking them with the bill.

My van is just a van. I live with my sister, but I take a lot of long vacations and road trips with it.

When you have liability only insurance they are not afraid of what will happen to the van. They are afraid when someone says the word conversion that there were structural changes which could cause a situation in which other people and vehicles get hurt. Those are the most expensive of the insurance claims.

 

[Elbear1]

Nobody is going to want to insure your homemade stuff. Or youre going to pay way more than its worth for the reason the girl on the phone said.

I dont know where they would explain it. Its a pull down menu on their site. I attached a pic of the options they give you.

I would seriously call it pleasure use and less than 20 days a year personally. Which is likely true for you anyway. It will be half the price....$125 a year

If you say rearended someone and they try to deny paying for it on the grounds you were only supposed to be driving it 20x a year...its literally impossible to prove you were driving it more.

 

[maki2]

If you don't want to impose on your friends then ask for a favor that pays them a yearly "rent" for the use of their address as your home base. It is a very simple negotiation to make. You can show up their once in a while because your friends will enjoy seeing you now and again. But do be sure that their address does not get associated with you name on public websites and that their names are also kept undisclosed. That is a courtesy that they deserve. Keep the information off all social media. You yourself might be getting "googled" by all kinds of businesses and by individuals too.

 

[lenny flank]

If you say rearended someone and they try to deny paying for it on the grounds you were only supposed to be driving it 20x a year...its literally impossible to prove you were driving it more.

Alas, that is no longer true. Virtually every major street in every major city now has access to automatic license plate readers that log every vehicle that goes by--date and time.

If they want to expend the effort, the insurance company (or the LEOs) can quite literally track nearly every place you have driven for any arbitrary length of time into the past.

 

[Elbear1]

Alas, that is no longer true. Virtually every major street in every major city now has access to automatic license plate readers that log every vehicle that goes by--date and time.

If they want to expend the effort, the insurance company (or the LEOs) can quite literally track nearly every place you have driven for any arbitrary length of time into the past.

Maybe they would look around your given address but to look all over the country x 365 over what amounts to pocket change to them is a huge stretch. Idk if theyre even allowed to have that data or how long its stored for. Not to mention out in the country theyre still rare.

Besides its an estimate of use.

 

[Kaylee]

Elbear1:
I'm not sure if some of that was directed to someone else.

I was asking about modest contents insurance, for theft, fire, etc.
I meant for personal property & "household goods".
It's not a necessity, just something I'm curious about.

I'd definitely be interested in a quote for "roadside assistance"/towing.

Again, let's please leave out the "obfuscation" options.
I wouldn't be in the mess I'm in, if I had that brain difference. I have a completely different, and opposite one.
If I rear ended somebody, I'd tell the truth.

If you ("Elbear1") could run another quote using the data I listed above, that would be awesome. You were the one who first got me considering Progressive.

Reminder: I use a collaborative killfile app that will & has blocked me from using forums with "problems".
Let's keep this thread focused, so I can continue participating here.
Unless, of course, "somebody/somebodies" want me to leave, like someone aggressively did at a different forum.
(That's not directed at Elbear1.)

 

[Elbear1]

I would get a broker if youre trying to itemize personal belongings. Personally items of value should be kept in a fire safe and/or in a safe deposit box.

 

[highdesertranger]

for the contents get renters insurance. make sure it covers the contents while traveling. highdesertranger

 

[Kaylee]

Elbear1:
Let's not worry about that. It was just a thought.

What's a quote for liability only, in SD, "primary residence", for a roughly $3,000 1987 Dodge B250 van?

Again, thanks for getting that first quote & your past comments on Progressive. You may be saving me a bunch.

 

[Elbear1]

The first one gave you liability only for primary residence...$233

Cant do SD without address. This one is 3k value used 30 days a year with $1k personal property, $750 roadside assistance, etc $400 a year

See pics for what all is covered