What did you do for insurance?

[Glenn Quarles]

Friends, USAA would not sell me damage insurance because there is no vehicle ID number. Did any of you face this issue and what did you do about it? Is there a way to add a VID to a home made trailer in Texas?

Thanks!
Glenn

[Gage]

Guess you need to get a vin number for it. If it gets stolen, how are you going to identify it with no vin number? Something to think about.

[GuitarPhotog]

In Calif. we must have a VIN to register the vehicle. If there isn't one, the DMV issues one and attaches a sticker.

I simply added my trailer to my existing auto policies. The agent said that it would be difficult to prove the value in the event of any claim. I carry the insurance mostly in case of vandalism or theft.

<Chas>

[Martiangod]

Mines insured for $12000, with picks and description to the insutere

[GerryS]

If you built on the HF frame that's all you have coverage on though right, or do you have a stated value policy?

Since our TD was built by a manufacturer, our VIN is from them, and we are fully covered. All we needed to do was to give our agent the VIN and we had coverage that morning. No different than buying a car...

[Shadow Catcher]

I had to add the VIN number to ours, and the insurance is through Nationwide and was worth it considering the $9,000 repair price after the accident.

[_Ryan_]

I have State Farm and they are giving me the run around. They automatically cover it for liability but say they are unable to cover collision or full coverage. I believe I need to go down there and get them to make some calls to get this taken care of, otherwise I will be switching companies.

One thing is for sure, I will not be taking this on any trips until I get this worked out. Too much time, money, blood, sweat, and tears invested into this teardrop to have it all go away from some accident or theft.

[TPMcGinty]

I have State Farm and they are giving me the run around. They automatically cover it for liability but say they are unable to cover collision or full coverage. I believe I need to go down there and get them to make some calls to get this taken care of, otherwise I will be switching companies.

One thing is for sure, I will not be taking this on any trips until I get this worked out. Too much time, money, blood, sweat, and tears invested into this teardrop to have it all go away from some accident or theft.

I have mine insured through State Farm. All I did was take it down for them to look at and they asked me how much I wanted to insure it for. Very easy process.

[_Ryan_]

I have State Farm and they are giving me the run around. They automatically cover it for liability but say they are unable to cover collision or full coverage. I believe I need to go down there and get them to make some calls to get this taken care of, otherwise I will be switching companies.

One thing is for sure, I will not be taking this on any trips until I get this worked out. Too much time, money, blood, sweat, and tears invested into this teardrop to have it all go away from some accident or theft.

I have mine insured through State Farm. All I did was take it down for them to look at and they asked me how much I wanted to insure it for. Very easy process.

Great news! I only hope this is not a state specific thing.

[nrody]

To get the trailer registered DMV issued the vin sticker, When I rebuilt the trailer and replaced the tongue I had to carefully remove the sticker from the old tongue and place it on the new tongue. I have Mercury Ins. and they wanted me to get the trailer appraised. Had to take it to SoCalTears (very helpful folks) and they appraised it and sent photos to my insurance.

[TPMcGinty]

I have State Farm and they are giving me the run around. They automatically cover it for liability but say they are unable to cover collision or full coverage. I believe I need to go down there and get them to make some calls to get this taken care of, otherwise I will be switching companies.

One thing is for sure, I will not be taking this on any trips until I get this worked out. Too much time, money, blood, sweat, and tears invested into this teardrop to have it all go away from some accident or theft.

I have mine insured through State Farm. All I did was take it down for them to look at and they asked me how much I wanted to insure it for. Very easy process.

Great news! I only hope this is not a state specific thing.

Let me know how things work out.

[Mary C]

In GA you can get a vehicle identification number (VIN) for a homemade trailer. The dept of motor vehicles Tag office will give you a form and number plate. you must attach the plate to the trailer, then have it inspected by the local police (yea they don't know what they are looking for ) the form just states the obvious, wheels, frame and attachment device and was the plate sufficiently attached, he signs it and then you take the form to the tag office and shazam........you get a tag. The term is utility trailer so it doesn't matter if you have a box on it, or a TD but if you get bigger then it might get into the other crietera for a travel trailer.

Mary C.

[Glenn Quarles]

Ok, it's done...crazy easy! I made a quick call to the county tax collector, explained that I needed a VID number for my home built trailer, they let me pick a number, checked the system to make sure the number was not already taken and that was it. I then gave USAA a call with the new number and a few minutes later I had full coverage!

Thanks for the help!
GQ

[dreadcptflint]

Some home owner's policy has limited coverage for trailers other than that a VIN is key. There are different ways to insure a trailer but then again any agent could tell you that.

[_Ryan_]

So I'm back with the story on my search for insurance, and good news, it has a happy ending.

Originally I talked to State Farm (who I am currently insured with), and they said they couldn't insure it. So I checked with Progressive, Geico, and Good Sam. All these conversations went the same way, "Let me check on that, can I put you on hold?", followed by "I'm sorry sir but we cannot provide coverage for your homebuilt camper..."

I was getting discouraged but I decided to call my agent at State Farm directly which I should have done in the first place. Previously I had spoken with someone else in the office who was either lazy, uninformed, or both. My agent came out personally within the hour and took pictures of the trailer. He said he needed to speak with his underwriter but was certain he could get it insured either as a camper or utility trailer. The problem was that if I had to make a claim he wanted to make sure that there would be no confusion on what State Farm would pay. Apparently this can happen even if you think you are insured for a certain amount.

After the pictures were taken I emailed him a few things on the internet to establish a value based on comparable teardrops from Little Guy/Camp-Inn based on size, and specs. 3 days later I got a call that it would be insured as a "utility trailer" for an estimated value of $9,000 - $11,000. The premium was $46 every 6 months with a $250 deductable, not too bad!

Bottom line, go see a real person who will put in the extra effort to get your teardrop insured.