Its hard to not want to firebomb my insurance company.

[greglepore]

LWJ has hit it. I did coverage work as an atty for close to 3 decades. The problem is that the claims dept views an "auto" as an "auto". Fred's situation is unusual and requires intervention by management, perhaps starting with the agent making a case. If Fred can show that the truck was in fact a "lot truck" that was used only off road, then he should be covered. What complicates things is that the truck was down for a rebuild, and the lack of current registration reflects that as readily as it does off road only use.
From the company's perspective, they don't insure vehicles intended for road use under any coverage other than auto.

[T77911S]

here is another way they get you.

you got a storage shed at home? its not attached to the house so it and everything inside is not covered.
about the only one that benefits (or protects) from insurance other than the insurance company is your lien holder.

[fastfredracing]

I know, they have so many out clauses . Reading through your policy, is a real eye opener .

[Baz]

Like I said....the language should be:

"Everything you own and everything located on your property is covered and if damaged or destroyed will be replaced or cash value given - no matter what happens...no exceptions."

Cost: $5K/year

Signatures:
Date:

[sugarwood]

No way. People then start claiming accidents on 50 different cars, most of which are friends cars, which are common insurance claims. There is a reason vehicles are their own category

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by GWN7

State commissioner of insurance is where you file your complaint over their denial of your claim. If they required a complete listing of all your equipment to be covered under your policy then their agent and/or they themselves should have notified you of that requirement before they cashed your first cheque.

this

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

So, Fred thinks that if he had 50 uninsured cars on his lot, they should all be covered?

That is not even remotely close to what he has described.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

No way. People then start claiming accidents on 50 different cars, most of which are friends cars, which are common insurance claims. There is a reason vehicles are their own category

I said "OWN" which means it's in "YOUR" name.

Other stuff has to be documented......photos and bill of sale on equipment, tools, a shed or enclosure for your Emu.....take a pic and send it to your agent - boom.....it's included.

Can't get any easier than that!

[KFC911]

Years ago, my dad's Lexus was in his independent mechanics shop overnight...about a dozen cars had their catalytic converters cut out. His business ins. covered them all as I recall....typical or no?

[fastfredracing]

Yes , typical, I am responsible for any cars on my lot My insurance covers them.
This was my one and only claim . I had a really nice Black 500 SL dropped off over night. I noticed the scratch on the rear quarter panel before I ever unlocked the door to pull the car in.
The owner of the car said it was not there when he dropped it off. I had to turn it in , and my insurance paid the tab , no questions .

[drcoastline]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

I am sitting home reading my policy front to back. Am I out of line calling this old tow truck business personal property?
Its worded pretty simply
(4). Personal property , owned by you that is used to maintain or service the buidling or structure, or its premises .
My business property consists of the following property (2) machinery and equipment . (4). All other personal property that is owned by you, and used in your business.
I am a sole proprietorship , the truck is titled in my personal name .

Property not covered:
p. Vehicles , that are self propelled machines ( including aircraft, or watercraft)
that :
(1). Are licensed for use on public roads . ( it is not )
(2). Operated principally away from the described premises . ( it is also not, this truck is strictly a lot truck to move disabled vehicles around the lot .
I'd like to hear your thoughts on this. Thank you

I can see how you feel the way you do when you pull certain clauses out. But a policy needs to be read in it's entirety. Because in one place they give you coverage and in another they take it away. Someplace in there is a clause something to the effect "unless a more appropriate coverage is available".

The trucks is intended to be registered and driven on public roads. That's it's intended use. As opposed to say a quad that is intended for off road use and not to be driven on a public road. The quad would be personal property.

Again, I understand your thought and how you were using the truck, but you were using it in a fashion in which it was not intended. The insurance companies position is, it is a vehicle intended to be registered, tagged and driven on public roads, therefore commercial auto insurance is available including comprehensive (that covers the tree falling on it) and it should have it's own policy.

They can over ride that clause by agreeing to endorse the policy to include the truck but they would do that only by endorsement in writing. And of course that would need to happen before the occurrence.

Here is my real concern for you. This is an excerpt form your first reply to me. "It was not registered, or insured at the time of the incident. Why would it be , I was not driving it , and what could possibly happen??" Now we know a tree can fall on it for one. But what about liability? What if someone were hurt? I am concerned it is an attractive nuisance. If a minor were to get injured or anyone you will be paying out of pocket for defense costs. If found liable for the injuries (which you would if it were a minor) you will pay the damages out of pocket as well.

BTW- the statement I highlighted above clearly indicates you knew it was not registered or insured because you weren't driving it and not because it was a lot truck you thought was insured as personal property. That indicates to me it was insured as a motor vehicle but was now uninsured because you weren't driving it. Probably because of the overhaul.

Get it insured before someone gets hurt and you have real problems.

[drcoastline]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

Yes , typical, I am responsible for any cars on my lot My insurance covers them.
This was my one and only claim . I had a really nice Black 500 SL dropped off over night. I noticed the scratch on the rear quarter panel before I ever unlocked the door to pull the car in.
The owner of the car said it was not there when he dropped it off. I had to turn it in , and my insurance paid the tab , no questions .

That coverage is your garage keepers legal liability. It covers property of others in your care custody and control. Very different from vehicles you own.

[drcoastline]

Originally Posted by KC911

Years ago, my dad's Lexus was in his independent mechanics shop overnight...about a dozen cars had their catalytic converters cut out. His business ins. covered them all as I recall....typical or no?

Typical. Garage keepers legal liability. The vehicles were in his care.

[drcoastline]

Originally Posted by T77911S

here is another way they get you.

you got a storage shed at home? its not attached to the house so it and everything inside is not covered.
about the only one that benefits (or protects) from insurance other than the insurance company is your lien holder.

Not true. A homeowners policy HO-3 has coverage B-other structures. Coverage is in the amount of 10% of your homes value automatically included.

[fastfredracing]

Thank you for chiming in Dr, LWJ, and Gregpelore. I appreciate the wisdom from the other side of the equation, and you guys in the biz.
Im sure you can see how one could be frustrated. So, even though , it says, in clear wording , that it is covered, it is, in reality not , due to some creative wording, " and definitions " .
I would argue that I was using this truck for its exact intended purpose. It is by far, the safest, fastest, and best tool for the job, of moving disabled vehicles around the lot and into the building for repairs. Ive done it with backhoes, a small farm tractor, snow plow trucks, and and s 10 with a wood bumper over the years . All of that stuff, was dangerous, and really easy to damage something . Most importantly, not possible by myself ( remember, I am a one man shop )
I did not really have any intentions on making it a road going working tow truck . Have you seen the cost of insurance for that?
Everything is not always black and white .

[greglepore]

Totally. Just remember to explain that thats all you did with it, and if it becomes a pissing contest make sure it wasn’t recently registered.
What your claiming is entirely valid if you didn’t try to get in the blond’s pants in hs....but I digress to PARF.


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[fastfredracing]

I have never had this truck registered in my ownership.

[greglepore]

Then you need to get on horn to agent, asap.


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[jlj]

All of you who buy insurance based on price only and don’t bother to use a proper broker are simply getting what you deserve. My advice to all of you is to send an email to your broker or agent and ask them to advise you what you are not covered for , what coverages are available you don’t currently have and what it will cost you . You will be be surprised when you ask this how poor most of your coverage is. Buy based on coverage and service not what it costs

[Baz]

Originally Posted by jlj

All of you who buy insurance based on price only and don’t bother to use a proper broker are simply getting what you deserve. My advice to all of you is to send an email to your broker or agent and ask them to advise you what you are not covered for , what coverages are available you don’t currently have and what it will cost you . You will be be surprised when you ask this how poor most of your coverage is. Buy based on coverage and service not what it costs

Good advice.

I wonder why you couldn't just say "I want every single thing I own covered no matter what it is, how old it is, what condition it's in, where it's located, and what happens to it."

Seems fairly straight forward.