"Commercial" insurance policy for my R3500?

bowtieman55

bowtieman55

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 25, 2006
Location
Edenton, NC
When I purchased my '90 R3500 back in 2010, I showed a picture of it to my insurance company.

ai35.photobucket.com_albums_d163_bowtieman55_My_20Rigs_100_6855.jpg


Through random conversation, I mentioned that I bought it to pull my RACE car trailer with, etc. It was recommended (re: not optional apparently) that it be put on it's own policy, because it's considered "commercial". I didn't think a whole lot about it, but wondered "WTH"? So it's had it's own policy for 3.5 years now. The car trailer is not registered to me, nor is it insured by the same insurance company.
June 26, 2013, I get a call from one of the many insurance "agents" I seem to have with this company. She wants me to sign a "Request Cancellation" for the dually's policy. The paper was originally printed May 21st. Funny it's right before insurance premium is due (in July) and they've had this paper for over a month. I didn't "request" this cancellation/change of policy.

***NOTE: They had it on it's own policy, then "request cancelled" that policy and added the dually to my standard policy with my Yukon and Stratus.***

Personally, I've never considered this truck as "commercial" use. It's my driver; if I decide to pull my car trailer, a mobile home, or a 4x6 trailer, it SHOULDN'T matter IMO. The truck has 15,000 lb. tags on it.

This was the reasoning I was given the day of signing the paper, June 26th, from the first agent.
"Guidelines have recently changed and they consider that not to be commercial use."

So yesterday, I called and got yet another agent. I told her what had happened, and she stated:


"Can you email me a copy of the registration showing the weight on the truck? Thank you."
I told it it would be a couple of days before I could get to the truck. her response was...


"That will be great. Sorry but I will have to change this back to commercial. I will also need photos of the truck from front to back for the new application and I will also need your trailer information to add for liability. I need the year, make and serial number. Thank you so much and again I apologize for any inconvenience."

Since when do they ask what you'll be pulling and does this determine my insurance rate? The model and serial number of my 24 ft. car trailer shouldn't be of any concern to them.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and advice is welcome.
 

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So I went up there, and spoke with the 1st agent. The 2nd agent I spoke with yesterday was setting up a policy for a guy who I heard saying how he was pulling a travel-trailer with a Pathfinder and that it was really straining it. I (quietly) commented on that and added that it shouldn't matter if I'm hauling a car trailer or horse shit, considering I've got the correct truck/weighted tags for the "job".
She isn't sure why it was put on it's own policy and other than recent guideline changes, not sure why it was cancelled and put on my "personal" policy. She THINKS, but isn't sure, that the registration Classification has something to do with it. Does this mean that "any" dually has "Private/Commercial Vehicle" on it's registration card and that owners of these trucks all have a separate policy?
 

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Why not let them know that you are going through with the cancellation on the truck, but would also like to extend it to all of your vehicles because you are shifting your business to __________ since they don't screw around with your policies every couple years.
 
Who do you have vehicle insurance through? If it's not Farm Bureau and there's one near you, I'd suggest using them. Haven't had a minute's trouble from them in 7 years with any of my 3 vehicles.
 
bowtieman55 said:
So I went up there, and spoke with the 1st agent. The 2nd agent I spoke with yesterday was setting up a policy for a guy who I heard saying how he was pulling a travel-trailer with a Pathfinder and that it was really straining it. I (quietly) commented on that and added that it shouldn't matter if I'm hauling a car trailer or horse shit, considering I've got the correct truck/weighted tags for the "job".
She isn't sure why it was put on it's own policy and other than recent guideline changes, not sure why it was cancelled and put on my "personal" policy. She THINKS, but isn't sure, that the registration Classification has something to do with it. Does this mean that "any" dually has "Private/Commercial Vehicle" on it's registration card and that owners of these trucks all have a separate policy?
Click to expand...

It sounds more like they're confused over NC calling it a "Commercial" vehicle... and yeah, anything with weighted tags has the same thing on the registration. I've got State Farm, my stuff has always been on the same policy, never a problem. Sounds like your agent is an idiot.
 
I've got a Dodge 3500 dually and its not on its own "commercial" policy. It's on the same policy as my other vehicles.
 
What Shawn said. Sounds like your agent is an idiot.

I have State Farm with my F350 (although its not a dually) and any/all vehicles I've ever had for years and years without issues. I've had it set up that I'm covered with pulling a trailer, etc. I often pull with borrowed trailers depending on what I'm pulling or doing. Only hiccup I've had is that trailers should have their own registration and insurance, so I couldn't get a blanket policy to cover the trailer. Only thing I could add was liability if something from the trailer fell off and injured or damaged something. Any coverage of the trailer wasn't an option as it should be covered as well. Beyond that, no issues.
 
Thanks fellas. I'm gonna make progress on Monday, one way or the other. I'll check back in and let you all know what happens.
 
My w250 is tagged 26k and is under standard coverage even though i have a commercial class A license

81 w250 clubcab 318mag 300hp d60F&R 4.11 35s
94chevy silverado 350 4l60 325hp 3.73 32s

sent by telegraph from my w250
 
Sometimes I wish I had State Farm, but only because my name is Jake. Get it?! ;)
 
What are you wearing Jake at State Farm? Creepy, no?

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Uhh....khakis?
 
BigBody79 said:
I think the problem came in when you said race trailer. That's my thinking.
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I'm thinking between ^this^ and the "Private/Commercial" on the registration was just tooooo much for them.
 
Only way that thing should be insured as commercial is if you use it for business use. Aside from that, it would be a personal policy. My buddy has a Pete hauler and has a personal policy. Sounds like your agents don't have a clue. I would request a policy review by the underwriter and they need to credit you back from policy inception.
 
^ sounds like a great idea ^ how should I start the conversation? My tone sometimes seems harsh..

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A 24' enclosed white trailer with no markings being pulled by a 4 door dually WITH a weight distributing hitch?

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If you decide to stay with that company I would start with the agents manager. If it were me, I would be looking for another company that has a clue as to what they are doing.

bowtieman55 said:
^ sounds like a great idea ^ how should I start the conversation? My tone sometimes seems harsh..

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Click to expand...
 
bowtieman55 said:
I'm thinking between ^this^ and the "Private/Commercial" on the registration was just tooooo much for them.
Click to expand...


This. And when you say "race trailer", you imply business, since all racing operations that potentially result in cash payouts are seen as business enterprises.
 
10-4. I think I just sold the car and trailer. lol

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*** THE CATCH ***

The truck is mine 100%.

The car is titled to my dad. The trailer is titled, registered and insured by my dad. My name is no where near either of the two.
 
AS long as you are not using the truck for business it should be insured as a personal use vehicle. Sounds to be that they are just trying to collect more premium on you. Doesn't really matter who the car and trailer are registered to, it comes down to what the truck is used for. It can be a race trailer and a race car, who cares. If it's personal use it really doesn't make a difference.

bowtieman55 said:
*** THE CATCH ***

The truck is mine 100%.

The car is titled to my dad. The trailer is titled, registered and insured by my dad. My name is no where near either of the two.
Click to expand...
 
OK FELLAS...

Remember years ago in NC, when trucks had "Commercial" tags; keep in mind that your "Weighted" tag has taken the place of that "Commercial" tag. I guess this is where the "commercial policy" comes into play.

Apparently, NC insurance "laws/regulations" have changed to where if a vehicle (car, truck, personal use, business use ARE ALL CONSIDERED THE SAME) is registered more than 9,999 lbs. (my dually has 15,000 lb. tags), it is SUPPOSED to have a "commercial" insurance policy. For reference, the "multi-line representative" (agent #2 in the initial post) races a dirt track car; they also have a monster truck, so their F-350 has 26,000 lb. tags on it. She seems to know what she is talking about. I don't know the exact reasoning for this policy change and I don't think she did either, but she did call Raleigh while I was sitting there and they confirmed it. She said the insurance company didn't really care what you were hauling, but if you own a trailer or anything you haul on a regular basis (IN YOUR NAME-SEE BELOW), they like to have that info on hand.
There is also a "Non-Owner's Policy" that is an extra $30-$35 every 6 months, that they recommend adding to the policy, to cover any damage caused by anything I'm pulling with my truck. I guess this is "just in case" the piece being pulled isn't covered? I don't remember exactly what she said and that's MY fault.
Initially, and for the last 3 years, I've actually been saving money (about $75 every 6 months) by having the dually on it's own policy.

CONVENIENTLY, she checked the rates while I was sitting there, and my rate, for my dually tagged at 15,000 lbs. has gone up $85.72 (without the $30-$35 N.O.P) every 6 months...:rolleyes:

*** I don't know if the AMOUNT of weight determines the policy rate ***
 
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MORE FUEL FOR THE FIRE: Sitting here thinking about it, would my rate have changed had they never cancelled, changed and applied for a NEW commercial application? hmm... Also, why did it take over a month for me to be informed about the "Request Cancellation" and why is it suddenly invalid? Nothing has changed about the truck or it's weighted tag.

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