Truck not covered under personal policy

[kittlecat]

I'm not such a fan of insurance companies either. My sister and her husband plan to "downgrade" to a "regular" pick up truck in 2018 so they can change insurance companies and receive a more competitive rate on the items they insure. Also, the TV they have now is huge. It is not something one wants to just cruise around in for the heck of it, which makes it impractical for almost anything except serving as the TV for their 5th wheel.

[keith_h]

With all of the screwy truck registration requirements in Illinois it wouldn't surprise me that something like the F-450 has to be classified and insured as a commercial vehicle regardless of how it's used. I'd contact the DMV and state Insurance Commissioner's office to see what the law says.

[rmoore0852]

I am learning lots while reading all these weight/TV posts. I am in TX so weight is not much of an issue for us, but the other state's regulations just floor me sometimes (CA in particular).

In reading the first post I can't help but ask, why an F450 for a trailer with a GW of 16k and 2400 on the pin? That seems to be easily within 350/3500 territory. Most of the 3500 trucks in the last few years are pushing 30k trailer weights. Kind of like those who use a semi as a TV. Why?? My older model 2500 pulls our 14k trailer fine and I am still within my weight limits (not by much).

Please don't take the question wrong and get defensive, just trying to learn. Also not looking to drag the weight police into the issue, i'm just curious.

[Livin the Life]

No offense here from CA. It's ridiculous. The first reason for the state to classify all pickups as commercial and a weight fee required for registration is: because they CAN. The only "excuse" for doing this I could get from the DMV was, Well you are "ABLE" to use that vehicle for commercial purposes. (Soooooo, in case you do, they get their/our money).
The same politicians in Sacramento that say "We don't have a spending problem, we have a revenue problem. Revenue spelled "TAXES".

[wahoonc]

Originally Posted by Livin the Life

No offense here from CA. It's ridiculous. The first reason for the state to classify all pickups as commercial and a weight fee required for registration is: because they CAN. The only "excuse" for doing this I could get from the DMV was, Well you are "ABLE" to use that vehicle for commercial purposes. (Soooooo, in case you do, they get their/our money).
The same politicians in Sacramento that say "We don't have a spending problem, we have a revenue problem. Revenue spelled "TAXES".

I have seen just the opposite in some other states... People buy a big truck, swear it is for personal use, then overload it using it for commercial use then get in a wreck and don't have enough coverage... Lawyers win every time.

There has to be a balance point somewhere, not quite sure where it is. I take the time to make sure my vehicles are properly licensed and insured. Unfortunately I appear to be in the minority. Even commercial entities will try to cheap out by not having enough coverage or proper licensing on their vehicles (or businesses for that matter). Plumber that is in the build next to us has a whole fleet of overloaded 1/2t pickups with passenger car tags on them. One got in an at fault wreck here a while back. The ensuing lawsuit nearly put him out of business. He still hasn't learned.


Aaron

[BillyBass]

We don't have personal property tax, in pa.which is great

[windowman]

My E450 is insured under my standard policy. Erie Insurance

[Mtelkman]

Wow. Reading all this makes me glad I am in Montana. Personal property tax? Mandatory commercial registration on trucks? Good grief!

[Gzrglide]

Like W5CI said, glad to be in Arkansas after reading what other states are doing, but my retired Military tags on my TV only cost me $3.50 a year.

[Mr Havercamp]

Originally Posted by BillyBass

We don't have personal property tax, in pa.which is great

Hallelujah on that post we do however have taxes on almost everything else.

Then we have this gem..... I can register the largest class A for $96 cheaper than my GMC 2500.

[W5CI]

I forgot about the Military tags, You don't have to be retired just Honorably discharged. I have them on my Prius and Amateur radio tags on my 3500, insurance on RAM 3500 is cheaper than the Prius

[Mr Havercamp]

Originally Posted by kittlecat

I'm not such a fan of insurance companies either.

How could anyone be a fan?

Some dummy drove my 15 GMC into a concrete light pole base to the tune of around 9K in damage. When I received the renewal the rate increased almost $500 per year despite having "accident forgiveness". When I raised hell they stated my rate did not increase because I had "accident forgiveness", but I lost the "safe driver" and "accident free" discounts. And thats X2 as it also came off my wifes Honda. I still can not figure out if they forgave me for the accident, how did I lose the accident free discount and my agent couldn't tell me either. He stuttered a lot when I asked.

I guess I have no reason to bitch about it, we shopped around at least 15 different companies and due to declaring the accident no one even came close to the increased insurance rate. So it looks like I'm stuck with them for the next 2 years or longer. It's a racket. If I ever run into Flow she's getting punched in the face.

[prof_fate]

registered and insured are different things.

registered is a legal state thing - and varies a LOT by state. I'm considering buying a school bus to convert into a camper..since it seats over 15 people it's a bus, not a van. Empty it out and it'sa truck, rigght? Can be..or can be a camper if you have cooking/sleeping/water/bathroom in it (inspection required).

NONE of that has any bearing on what an insurance company might call it. They almost always go by the VIN number.

I have commercial insurance on my truck ONLY because with Erie that's the only way to get coverage on my commercially used cargo trailer. Liberty Mutual adds a rider to their personal policy to provide liability on the trailer. (still costs more than Erie).

If the cargo trailer is used for personal only then it's covered when being towed as part of a personal auto policy.

LOTS of things are diff ona commercial policy - tort, towing and rental coverage if you have an accident, etc.

[BillyBass]

Originally Posted by Mr Havercamp

Hallelujah on that post we do however have taxes on almost everything else.

Then we have this gem..... I can register the largest class A for $96 cheaper than my GMC 2500.

Am I missing something here isn't ppt base on the value of your toys If my toys was value forty thousands.I guarantee I would pay more then what I pay for my registions on my toys. Boat 6.00 camper 12.00 and truck 86.00.Which is a total 104.00 a yr.

[CaptnJohn]

Originally Posted by BillyBass

We don't have personal property tax, in pa.which is great

No but I left PA for a few reasons. #1 was the taxes! I pay PP tax on my boat, indoor dry slip, 5er, and vehicles with a smile. My home here is valued at 2 1/2 times the one was in PA and my taxes are only 27% of what I was paying 14 years ago. Trash removal in PA was about $400 annually and is included in my real estate taxes. Personal income tax is lower in NC than in PA and being reduced again next year. #2 is NO MO SNO! Utilities are only slightly lower but I have 1050 additional sq ft. To me #2 is extremely important as I prefer warmer temps but still 4 seasons, just subtle change. To each their own preferences .....

[wahoonc]

Originally Posted by CaptnJohn

No but I left PA for a few reasons. #1 was the taxes! I pay PP tax on my boat, indoor dry slip, 5er, and vehicles with a smile. My home here is valued at 2 1/2 times the one was in PA and my taxes are only 27% of what I was paying 14 years ago. Trash removal in PA was about $400 annually and is included in my real estate taxes. Personal income tax is lower in NC than in PA and being reduced again next year. #2 is NO MO SNO! Utilities are only slightly lower but I have 1050 additional sq ft. To me #2 is extremely important as I prefer warmer temps but still 4 seasons, just subtle change. To each their own preferences .....

I was considering a move to PA a few years back. Found a very nice house in Litiz, PA. Taxes were over 4 times what I pay for 40 acres and the same sized house here in NC. Weather is better too.

Aaron

[prof_fate]

you pay it somewhere.
Roads cost what what they cost, police, courts, etc.

Prop taxes here pay for schools and municipal and county needs (with a 1% income tax as well) and state income tax is 3% - BUT retirement income is NOT taxed here, a benefit for older people.

As for property taxes..it's not logical and can vary a whole lot. I pay $2200 a year..across the street in new houses (a bit bigger) they pay $6000 or more. 3 miles down the road, diff school district, a house like mine is $800. And we all get teh same thing for our money.

there is no personal property tax, sales tax is 6% in most of the state and no tax on clothing or food (necessities they say).

[emtp82]

So just got off the phone wife my agent. She tells me there has been quite the battle apparently to get me coverage. The commercial underwriters didn't want to cover it because I am not a business, HELLOOOOO! The personal underwrites were happy to cover it but couldn't because of the built in hurdles because of the size restrictions. So to make a long story short my agent fought on my behalf, got the restrictions bypassed and now we have personal coverage. Yeah my agent kicks butt.

[Ford Idaho]

Originally Posted by emtp82

So just got off the phone wife my agent. She tells me there has been quite the battle apparently to get me coverage. The commercial underwriters didn't want to cover it because I am not a business, HELLOOOOO! The personal underwrites were happy to cover it but couldn't because of the built in hurdles because of the size restrictions. So to make a long story short my agent fought on my behalf, got the restrictions bypassed and now we have personal coverage. Yeah my agent kicks butt.

Glad to see your agent stepped up for you.