More problems getting insurance.

[Elizabeth C.]

Hey everyone,
We have been in the process of trying to get insurance on the "CrowsWing" for months now. We have liability on it through our tow vehicle insurance but we want further coverage to cover any damage due some bozo running into it etc. It is very frustrating to hear that other people have insurance through companies such as State Farm . We have used State Farm for over 20 years for house and auto ins , so we went to see the agent. We even took along photos and spreadsheets of building costs and comparables from manufactured trailers of similar size. She called the adjuster while we were there and we were abruptly turned down. We were told they "do not insure homebuilt trailers". We offered to take the trailer to have it professionaly appraised and were told it wouldn't help. It didn't even seem to make a difference that the chassis was built by a professional trailer company. We even contacted a different agent from the same company to no effect.

Since then we have been turned down by all the big names, such as Nationwide, Allstate, Geico, Goodsams, Progressive, we even offered to change insurance for all our vehicles if they covered the trailer. I mean really, I could see if we were a risk. Other than having a windshield replaced due to a crack from a flying piece of gravel, we have not had any claim on our vehicle since a deer hit my husband's truck in 2003. We both also have clean driving records. I guess it has a lot to do with were you live.

We are beginning to feel like the proverbial "red-headed step child". We haven't given up yet, but have resorted to contacting Rv specific insurers. in the meantime any help would be much appreciated, especially names and contacts.

Thanks everyone,sorry for the rant. On another note, not having insurance hasn't kept us from camping. For those of you that like photos here are a couple from our latest trip to Monongahela national forest.








Hangin' loose in the Northern Neck,
Dr. CDawg

[doug hodder]

I'd say...#1 never call it "home built" It's always, "custom built". If the trailer frame was registered as a "utility" trailer, then it can cause problems. I never register it till it's done, so I can get it registered as "special construction". It makes it easier to insure. I'm with State Farm and they have indeed insured all of mine at one time or another. I do believe it may have to do with location however. I'm with an agent that works with a lot of vintage trailer people. State Farm wouldn't insure my wooden boats however. You might want to give Hagerty insurance a call. They deal mainly with vintage cars but it's usually non typical daily driver stuff that they insure, hot rods, sports cars, restored vehicles etc.... Just a suggestion FWIW. Doug

[Elizabeth C.]

Thanks for the info Doug. If only it was just a matter of rhetoric. We tried the "custom trailer" route already. The agents ( without fail) then ask what manufacturer did the custom build , when we say "we did", they then ask what is the name of our company . Awkward .

So far not a single insurer has asked what it was registered as.

Anyway we are shooting an email to Haggerty per your suggestion. Wish us luck!

over and out.
Dr. CDawg

[deleted]

Have you tried AAA? Seems like since they offer RV insurance and RV roadside assistance they might be willing and able to help you.

Really sorry to read about your frustrations.

[XcessiveCarts]

I tried AAA fir my Cargo Camper that I built. THEY SAID NO WAY

[Martiangod]

Ok with co.pperaters, o told them o had about $6000 plus my labour into it, she said well us can't replace it for that and she hung a $12000 replacement value on it, sexy smeezy

[TPMcGinty]

Wow. I had absolutely no trouble insuring my homebuilt and I'm through State Farm. Maybe it's because I have a small town agent.

[DrCrash]

Your problem sounds like the same one I had.

We tried and tryed with all the insurance companys including our own and got nothing but " No "

Even drug the thing to town and tryed to get our agent to get up off his ass and go look at it.

What I ended up doing was called my insurance company headquarters and asket to talk to a underwriter. Once i had them on the phone I asked them to just look at it. So she gave me her email and I sent 2 or 3 pics of it. Imedatly she say " Oh my thats not a shipwreck, Yes we will cover it for 15k. "

My suggestion is try the same route, skip the dummys and get ahold of the underwriter.

[DrCrash]

Oh btw I really like your tear, very nice.

[alex k]

natiowide covers mine as a utility trailer with a $3500 value
local agent had no problem covering it after the tour he got
costs 26.00 a year

[nuyork212]

I to have been looking as I hope to get a tear drop trailer at the end of the month... I tried progressive on line for a quote...

calling it travel trailer... as I went through and submitted the information It looks like I can get coverage for about 20.00 a month...

Make sure you don't put that it will be stationary or else it wont process...


Give it a try http://www.progressive.com/insurance-choices/

There are choices and I picked " Other" on several

[Oldragbaggers]

I just went on to Good Sam Club (we are members), and went through the "get a quote process. I just registered it today as a 2013, so I put 2013 for the year, under the make I selected Teardrop and they only give you one size option, 5'6" by 11'3", so I selected that. The quote came up as $121 for 6 months and I could have just clicked to proceed with coverage. That seemed a little high to me, but I saved the quote to be able to access it later if I can't find anything else at a better price. At least it's possible, unless I'm missing something. I have Nationwide for my home. I am going to give them a shot. Maybe my agent will be impressed enough to give me $20 a year too.

[nuyork212]

I just went on to Good Sam Club (we are members), and went through the "get a quote process. I just registered it today as a 2013, so I put 2013 for the year, under the make I selected Teardrop and they only give you one size option, 5'6" by 11'3", so I selected that. The quote came up as $121 for 6 months and I could have just clicked to proceed with coverage. That seemed a little high to me, but I saved the quote to be able to access it later if I can't find anything else at a better price. At least it's possible, unless I'm missing something. I have Nationwide for my home. I am going to give them a shot. Maybe my agent will be impressed enough to give me $20 a year too.

Is Good Sam Club any good?

[planovet]

I just renewed mine through MetLife. All they asked me when I first called them is for the VIN of the trailer and how much I wanted to insure it for.

When I go home tonight, I'll check the papers and see how much I'm paying.

[Oldragbaggers]

Last night I went online with Good Sam and filled out a quote request. Under make of trailer they have Teardrop listed, so I chose that. Today I got a call back from an agent wanting to go over the quote with me. We talked at length and I explained to him it was homebuilt, told him I had my receipts and what they total. He asked about what amenities it had, the exact size, and the vin # (which fortunately I just got yesterday from the MVA). He said they could insure it for full value (no depreciation) for up to 5 years, collision with $500 deductible (my choice), and comprehensive with $250 deductible for $236 per year. I don't know if that's good or not. (You're all welcome to chime in on that.) But the fact that it was homebuilt did not seem to be an issue unless it were to get kicked back somewhere further up the line.