Seeking Insurance Recommendations

Topic: Seeking Insurance Recommendations (Read 1437 times) previous topic - next topic

Seeking Insurance Recommendations

April 14, 2018, 05:01:26 pm

Starting a new thread as I don't see anything recent (in the last 1-2 years) devoted to this topic.

We are the ones who lost our 92 GV to an electrical fire last month. State Farm has treated us pretty well, but in retrospect I wonder if we should have had more thorough coverage, so I'm looking at our options for our next coach, something more tailored to RVs. Luckily State Farm is not attempting to use "book value" to settle this, yet without stated value coverage they probably could have. So I'm leaning toward a stated value policy for next time. We also had no coverage for personal items we lost, nor any sort of coverage to help with all the additional expenses we incurred (hotel, U-Haul trailer to carry home the items we could salvage, etc.). Note we are not full-timers, just frequent vacationers.

I've gotten wildly different quotes thru Good Sam (National General) and FMCA (Progressive). The National General quote is twice as much as the Progressive quote for the EXACT same coverage. We don't want to over-pay, but also don't want to end up with junk insurance, or have rates that double in the second year.

What current companies are good? Who to avoid? If both these companies are ok to deal with, I'd like to get a third quote since these first two are so wildly different. Any thoughts on that?

Thank you, friends.

Re: Seeking Insurance Recommendations

Reply #1 – April 14, 2018, 05:15:00 pm

You'll get plenty of answers on this one. Just remember stated value is not agreed value and the price difference is about double with a Foretravel due to NADA

Re: Seeking Insurance Recommendations

Reply #2 – April 14, 2018, 05:21:43 pm

We've dealt with both Progressive and Foremost. We had claims with Progressive and it was never a problem. We've only been with Foremost since we bought this coach four years ago and (knock on FT) have had no claims. With Foremost, we have a 'full-timer' policy that covers everything, including towing. The coach is insured for what we bought it for, no 'blue book' nonsense! We pay $800.00 a year, and, the amount keeps going down every year, as long as I'm a nice boy! What I would do, also, is check if you're covered for 'toys' that were not OEM. Some companies have different ideas about those and a 'rider' should be considered. Luck, maybe we'll run into each other (pun intended) one of these days!

Re: Seeking Insurance Recommendations

Reply #3 – April 14, 2018, 07:07:21 pm

Sounds like State farm did good by you, I would stay with them. What a insurance co. does when its time to pay out is the acid test.
I have Costco Ameriprise, good rates, no claims for the Foretravel, but have used them with the cars and the house, never a problem.

I would NEVER consider Progressive, but that's another story not to be aired here.

Re: Seeking Insurance Recommendations

Reply #4 – April 14, 2018, 07:12:11 pm

Jack & Emily,

We and other Forum members are using this agency that just writes RV insurance. They know all about every kind of RVing and we are very pleased with their candid answers and the experience their employees. They write with several insurance companies.
Ronald L. Jarvie

Certified Insurance Counselor
Overland Insurance Services
480-994-9584 or 800-677-4027
Barry & Cindy

Re: Seeking Insurance Recommendations

Reply #5 – April 14, 2018, 07:28:16 pm

We also use Ronald L. Jarvie

Certified Insurance Counselor
Overland Insurance Services
480-994-9584 or 800-677-4027

Very responsive thus far - we've used them one year and no plans to change.

Re: Seeking Insurance Recommendations

Reply #6 – April 14, 2018, 08:00:28 pm

So far as personal items lost, did you file claim on Homeowners insurance? Some homeowners insurance have coverage that goes with you worldwide. Texas policy has 10% of contents worldwide.
Contents coverage is usually 60 to 75% of home value. Imagine shaking your home upside down any thing that falls out is contents. The home owners deductible will apply.

Re: Seeking Insurance Recommendations

Reply #7 – April 15, 2018, 07:41:56 am

Quote from: craneman – April 14, 2018, 05:15:00 pm

You'll get plenty of answers on this one. Just remember stated value is not agreed value and the price difference is about double with a Foretravel due to NADA

Thank you for prompting me to educate myself about the difference between the two. My notes show both policies have an Agreed Value, but I will confirm that and get it in writing.

Re: Seeking Insurance Recommendations

Reply #8 – April 15, 2018, 07:54:24 am

Initially, ten years ago, when I first contacted Ron Jarvie he said Overland didn't care to insure a coach as old as our 1989 GV.
I discussed the condition and the current mileage. He said send pictures. Got a reply back: "No problem! The coach looks like new. How much do we want to insure it for?"
Ron & I then discussed the possibility of also insuring our car/towed. He told us not to do it and explained why. (I forgot why but did what he recommended)
Can't beat him for quality of service and understanding of what a RVer requires.

Re: Seeking Insurance Recommendations

Reply #9 – April 15, 2018, 08:13:08 am

Quote from: Larry Bradley – April 14, 2018, 08:00:28 pm

So far as personal items lost, did you file claim on Homeowners insurance? Some homeowners insurance have coverage that goes with you worldwide. Texas policy has 10% of contents worldwide.
Contents coverage is usually 60 to 75% of home value. Imagine shaking your home upside down any thing that falls out is contents. The home owners deductible will apply.

Thank you for the suggestion, Larry, I hadn't thought about homeowner coverage coming into play.
Thankfully we didn't lose everything inside, but everything in the basement (grill, lawn chairs, water/sewer/electric cords, etc.) was a total loss. The total value of it all is not much more than our homeowner policy $1,000 deductible though, so I think I'll just eat those costs.

A quick shout out though to American Express. We had purchased a propane fire pit just a week before we left on this trip. Anything purchased with an AmEx card (at least the gold card I have) is covered for 30 days against any loss. AmEx promptly refunded the cost of that item ~$150 just hours after I filed the claim online. They didn't even ask for photos, fire dept. report, or anything. As they say, "Membership Has Its Advantages" ;-)

Re: Seeking Insurance Recommendations

Reply #10 – April 15, 2018, 11:30:09 am

If you are eligible to use USAA, I would definitely go with them. Their membership requirements have changed. It used to be military officers, exclusively, but has since expanded to family members and to veterans, regardless of rank. They are consistently at the top of the insurance rankings in terms of service and rates. They don't cover RVs, but have partnered with Progressive; I don't know if Progressive gives favorable treatment to their USAA clients.
I have had to use Progressive a few times since I've owned motorhomes and could not be happier with their service and rates. They are also very responsive when I had to contact them.

Re: Seeking Insurance Recommendations

Reply #11 – April 15, 2018, 01:09:18 pm

What we did (time consuming) was take a survey of all our 'stuff', even bolted down like our wide screen tv, and assign a replacement cost. The survey was sent to my niece, who is settled down, for safekeeping. Anything that is not OEM, and that includes any electrical modifications, should be on the list.

Re: Seeking Insurance Recommendations

Reply #12 – April 15, 2018, 10:13:51 pm

Quote from: Lon and Cheryl – April 14, 2018, 07:07:21 pm

Sounds like State farm did good by you, I would stay with them. What a insurance co. does when its time to pay out is the acid test.

That's what I'm thinking.
"...they probably could have..." is irrelevant.
As for personal property /contents, you should NOT have to pay another deductible.
I presume you had a deductible applied to your vehicle loss.
If your homeowners is also with State Farm, you have met the loss deductible with regard to another coverage feature for the SAME fire loss.
So, present an itemized personal property claim to State Farm for coverage of that aspect of your loss.
A specialized MH policy, such as Progressive's, has a line item for extras, which negates involving the Homeowner's policy.

Re: Seeking Insurance Recommendations

Reply #13 – April 16, 2018, 04:50:07 pm

Quote from: Mogan David – April 15, 2018, 10:13:51 pm

As for personal property /contents, you should NOT have to pay another deductible.
I presume you had a deductible applied to your vehicle loss.
If your homeowners is also with State Farm, you have met the loss deductible with regard to another coverage feature for the SAME fire loss.
So, present an itemized personal property claim to State Farm for coverage of that aspect of your loss.

I didn't know the deductibles combined, thank you for that valuable information.
You have been such a big help, I really appreciate your time on the phone the week after the fire.
I took your advice, presented State Farm with comparables (even though their initial offer was reasonable, but hey, what did we have to lose?), and just settled with them today for an amount we are VERY happy with.

Re: Seeking Insurance Recommendations

Reply #14 – April 16, 2018, 06:43:10 pm

We have Progressive through Overland and recently asked them for a quote from another company. National General was just over double what Progressive was for the same coverage.

Re: Seeking Insurance Recommendations

Reply #15 – April 16, 2018, 09:08:45 pm

Quote from: kb0zke – April 16, 2018, 06:43:10 pm

We have Progressive through Overland and recently asked them for a quote from another company. National General was just over double what Progressive was for the same coverage.

That's exactly what I got, and I can't figure out why.

Re: Seeking Insurance Recommendations

Reply #16 – April 16, 2018, 11:38:16 pm

Quote from: EPEisenman – April 14, 2018, 05:01:26 pm

I've gotten wildly different quotes thru Good Sam (National General) and FMCA (Progressive). The National General quote is twice as much as the Progressive quote for the EXACT same coverage. We don't want to over-pay, but also don't want to end up with junk insurance, or have rates that double in the second year.

I switched from Progressive to National General Good Sam because Good Sam cost less and I don't have to pay for liability when in storage. Have not had a claim with either and have had Good Sam less than a year, waiting to see if the rate goes up.

Re: Seeking Insurance Recommendations

Reply #17 – April 17, 2018, 11:03:26 am

Quote from: Jerry Whiteaker – April 16, 2018, 11:38:16 pm

I switched from Progressive to National General Good Sam because Good Sam cost less and I don't have to pay for liability when in storage.

Mind telling us what you pay per year, Jerry?

Re: Seeking Insurance Recommendations

Reply #18 – April 23, 2018, 05:10:35 pm

Quote from: mike leary – April 15, 2018, 01:09:18 pm

What we did (time consuming) was take a survey of all our 'stuff', even bolted down like our wide screen tv, and assign a replacement cost. The survey was sent to my niece, who is settled down, for safekeeping. Anything that is not OEM, and that includes any electrical modifications, should be on the list.

FYI: Just talked with Progressive about our 'Personal Property Rider'. What I did not know, was our rider covered 'worth' rather than 'replacement' value. Two different deals (and prices)! For instance, we have two Mac computers that are fairly fresh, but the cost of new ones is up there. We pay about $100.00 a year for the 'worth' rider, so I'm going to find out what a 'replacement' rider costs. It's amazing, especially if you're full timers, what you've got on board! I'll post as soon as I know the cost of a updated rider. The biggest rider they insure for is $20,000.00, doubt if we have that much stuff, but those $50.00 frying pans add up!

Re: Seeking Insurance Recommendations

Reply #19 – April 23, 2018, 05:30:43 pm

Ronald L. Jarvie is a good and our choice.

We have an agreed value policy.

As for making an inventory take pictures as well as a video of your stuff. Pictures of data plates with part # etc. come in handy and save a lot of writing.

Look at the contents clause as you might be under insured there. You would not believe how much you have in there.

Keith

Affiliate Notice