insurance for trail rig

RatLabGuy

RatLabGuy

You look like a monkey and smell like one too
Joined
May 18, 2005
Location
Churchville, MD
Curious what folks have done/worked out on insurance for your modified vehicle, e.g. in event of total loss (theft) or something. Less concerned about body damage lol.

Obviously after you add on lockers, axles, armor, winch, blah blah the cash value for replacement is alot more than the $1500 the ins will estimate on the old truck by itself.
Talked to my Nationwide agent for awhile, originally he suggested getting special "class or modified vehcile" coverage, but minimum was for $20k, a bit of an overshoot :lol:
Now we're discussing line-iteming all the stuff/mods, w/ cost, maybe have it written into Comp coverage as additional rider... but that's kind of crazy b/c I don't really need/care about all the other stuff w/ comp coverage or the obligitary collision.
 
I have heard of people getting something similar to collector car insurance, which allows you to set your coverage at a dollar amount, but keep relatively cheap rates, since its not designed to be driven on the road much...

Here is a link from pirate about it...
http://pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=744180
 
Good question im glad you asked!! I have been meaning to ask this as well since I dont have full cover on my DD modified jeep (that im still paying for). So in the event I rolled my Jeep 4wheeling, would they cover that? I have Progressive and never deal with em cause ive never been in an accident but I think its time to up the coverage....
 
I had full coverage with State Farm in 96 when I rolled my scrambler. I had to fight them about value, 3 appraisers, 6 weeks later they paid the average of the appraised value. Then bought it back for little to nothing and put the payoff back into it. I rolled it at UNF on the gravel road.
 
back in 98, my jeep slid down an embankment during a heavy downpour(mud gave way)
it slid down 50 ft into another jeep. I had full coverage while making payments. My ins co. came out and looked at the jeep, then cut me a check for 5 grand. They even payed for the other jeep to be fixed as well. This was my first claim and my rates did not go up.....until i later bumped into a car on the rd, then both incidents were brought up and my rates went through the roof. But, the ins. worked for me when i needed them, even in an offroad accident. I just told them the truth.
 
Dylan W. said:
back in 98, my jeep slid down an embankment during a heavy downpour(mud gave way)
it slid down 50 ft into another jeep. I had full coverage while making payments. My ins co. came out and looked at the jeep, then cut me a check for 5 grand. They even payed for the other jeep to be fixed as well. This was my first claim and my rates did not go up.....until i later bumped into a car on the rd, then both incidents were brought up and my rates went through the roof. But, the ins. worked for me when i needed them, even in an offroad accident. I just told them the truth.
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What company was this? Sounds like a good deal.

FWIW, I have recreational vehicle insurance on my cruiser. Considering it doesn't leave the garage very often, its a pretty good deal.
 
Elliott said:
What company was this? Sounds like a good deal.
FWIW, I have recreational vehicle insurance on my cruiser. Considering it doesn't leave the garage very often, its a pretty good deal.
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Johnson ins, services(local,been with them since 16) It was through 'Kemper' they were a great co. till they dropped me. You have to be spottles with them.I got dirty I guess.
 
Well I got something worked out w/ my agent. Very straightforward nothing-to-hide kind of guy. Nationwide FWTW.
It is a "stated value" policy - agreed value between me and him on coverage, covers everything... winch, skidplates, lift, tires, blah blah, like a regular comprehensive policy but for an agreed value of $10k. I'm going to provide him a list of stuff, and some pics... he said it's really not even required but nice to have mostly in teh case of total loss, to remember what you had for making the claim.
BTW, I specifically asked about off-road use and coverage for damage off-road, e.g. rolling it etc. He said the policy says nothing specifically about where the vehicle is driven one way or the other, so there is no reason it should be denied based on location. Even mentioned about other folks havin gtrouble w/ thsi and he said "well their agents aren't doing their jobs. You've paid for coverage and it should be paid for - once a claim is made it really isn't up to the agent to deny." Thought that was funny..

In MD there is a special reg for "historic vehicles", 20 y/o - limited use - weekends, "club activities", etc - cheaper and no inspection.
w/ these tags and list as "classic car" the above policy for $10k is only $139/6mo for me $15k would be only like 169. Of course it is bundled w/ 2 other cars... and the rate hike from my recent accident hasn't kicked in yet.
 
ask you insurance company for a vehicle customization form. i have all of my custom stuff and add on's listed. get's updated annually.

i did have to file a claim about 2 years ago and they honored the agreement and compensated me for custom parts damaged on the truck.

this is with geico.
 
From what I was told by my ins. agent (Allstate) the Jeep was covered as long as I wasn't entered into an offroad race or competition. So regular wheeling was ok. I have full coverage on the jeep, FWIW.
 
Well my agent just called me, aparently he's been working to get this policy all buttoned up...
... and was just informed that not only could we not do the customized covered value, but also it's ineligible for any collision or comprehensive insurance.
:poop:
Said if you read the exclusions closely, it says no coverage for vehicles with "modified suspension", which is defined as anything other than what it came from the factory with. I even asked about factory TYPE suspension, e.g. same thing but just a replacement with slighly different variables (e.g., lift springs w/ higher spring rate or replacement torsion bars w/ different load rating - said Nope. He's really irritated too b/c he thinks there should be a way, but can't find it. He didn't know about this little exclusion, it's buried pretty deep.
Grrrr ruined my f-ing day.
 
State Farm has the same thing in their general exclusions area for normal vehicles.

They tried to not cover my CJ5 when I was in an accident, but it was finally pinned on the other driver so I ended up being covered, but it could have been bad.
 
RatLabGuy said:
Well my agent just called me, aparently he's been working to get this policy all buttoned up...
... and was just informed that not only could we not do the customized covered value, but also it's ineligible for any collision or comprehensive insurance.
:poop:
Said if you read the exclusions closely, it says no coverage for vehicles with "modified suspension", which is defined as anything other than what it came from the factory with. I even asked about factory TYPE suspension, e.g. same thing but just a replacement with slighly different variables (e.g., lift springs w/ higher spring rate or replacement torsion bars w/ different load rating - said Nope. He's really irritated too b/c he thinks there should be a way, but can't find it. He didn't know about this little exclusion, it's buried pretty deep.
Grrrr ruined my f-ing day.
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Sweet. I'll be calling him since all the buggy's I sell come from the "factory" with 4-links and big tars, nothing "modified" all stock:flipoff2:
 
Insurance sucks. I once had an insurance company randomly drop my Trans Am because "they didn't cover that type of vehicle" after being covered for 6 months on a bone-stock 98 Trans Am.

Moved to Allstate and have had great experience with them, but moved the TA to Hagerty because it doesn't see much driving and I got a big agreed-value plan for a ton less money.

But as far as a trail rig, good luck with that. It's got to be tough to get a good policy on something that is meant to be beat up on a trail.
 
That's pretty standard. If you tell them it has modified suspension then they won't cover it. I called all of them in the phone book one day and got the same answer.
 
Blaze said:
But as far as a trail rig, good luck with that. It's got to be tough to get a good policy on something that is meant to be beat up on a trail.
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The frustrating thing is, I don't really expect coverage for trail damage, or hell even collision damage from an accident I cause.
I consider that "the price of stupidy" (or fun, in the case of trail).
I'm worried about 2 things
-theft (complete loss)
-somebody hitting me, totalling it - avoiding a giant long-drawn out fight over value etc.

Tell me more about RV insurance - maybe I'll do that on top of the std basic auto?
 
Yeah, but it is hard to separate the honest people from the liars.

I know several people who have torn up their cars at the drag strip/road course (not covered) and later said they hit a deer or something stupid like that (covered) and got the insurance money to fix their car.
 
I've have USAA for autmobile insurance. (prior military in family)


I just got off the phone with them to confirm my coverage after reading this thread. She looked all through my policy and she cannot find any exclusion on a modified suspension disclaimer. I am just not covered if I race in a "timed event", but in all other instances I am covered. She stated to keep a receipt for any work or accessories that have been installed, in case I need to file a claim. I've been with them for years and have always been straight forward with them, and have been pretty satisfied with their customer service.


I also inquired about ATV insurance: they offer full ATV coverage, it just has to have a VIN plate of some sort. Same coverage as your vehicle, just on your ATV.


They also have a Kit Car Policy, for you home brew buggy jobs. Again she said it has to have some type of identification plate, but it would cover the same as a standard automotive policy HOWEVER, in NC/SC and a few others, they cannot offer any vehicle body or frame repair, they only offer liability. Still may be something to look into.

You can gather more information if you wish, just a few ideas for ya.

Maybe a good umbrella policy would work for you as well, if you were only worried about liability


J.R.
 
Man.. Geico is great "when you pay them" Ive got a 97 tj full with coverage, 94 f150 just liability, 92 cherokee "beater" and just liability. $126 a month.....not bad but I just got a ticket on 321 by Granite falls :shaking:
 
Geico told me today they would insure my caged bronco (no body) for about 300 a year. Not terrible, but I'd have to add lights, turn signals, and soforth to get it legal.
 
Gieco insures my buggy, of course they think it is a 94 cherokee but so does the state. People do this with sandrails all the time. Why is it so hard for rock buggies? My next buggy will most likely be titles as a Geo metro or something just because it will be fun when the cop runs the registration.
 
Down&Dirty said:
Gieco insures my buggy, of course they think it is a 94 cherokee but so does the state. People do this with sandrails all the time. Why is it so hard for rock buggies? My next buggy will most likely be titles as a Geo metro or something just because it will be fun when the cop runs the registration.
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thats great but what happens if you get into an accident that is your fault and your buggy is obviously not a 94 Grand? IMO, that would be what an insurance company would look at for a reason not to pay and leave you SOL
 
Down&Dirty said:
Gieco insures my buggy, of course they think it is a 94 cherokee but so does the state. People do this with sandrails all the time. Why is it so hard for rock buggies? My next buggy will most likely be titles as a Geo metro or something just because it will be fun when the cop runs the registration.
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To add to Rockcity, this still dosn't address the issue/concern I have.
When/if you need a claim on this buggy, and IF they actually cover (which they very well may not due to it not actually being what reg says), you wil lstill get only the amt of money for a '94 GC... what, $3k? i'd bet your buggy is worth alot more than that.

My concern isn't w/ having ANY coverage - I do indeed have basic liability as required by law. The difficulty is in getting coverage for the ACTUAL value, considering all the goodies etc, in event of a total loss.
 
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