I own an ambulance company and my wife is my insurance agent. Most companies insure my trucks as E350's or E450's. They only add on ambulance body style when we tell them that they are ambulances. I have had many different companies and never had a problem with coverage or claims. FYI the VIN does not designate ambulance or any other body style. However, the registration usually states ambulance.
The second they put my VIN into any computer they know it's not a E350, they do have different VINs and technically it isn't a E350 it's a E35SUP. Anyone having insurance trouble should call progressive and ask about a "non business commercial policy".
To clarify. A straight VIN decoder only shows what Ford produced. I say Ford because that is primarily what I deal with. The Ford VIN is going to show (off the top of my head) the country of origin, the manufacturer, the factory, the braking system, the model (E or F, 350, 450, cab and chassis, cutaway etc) the engine and the sequential ID number. Some insurance databases, Carfax or state DMV databases might have more information like if it is an ambulance. But with me, I have bought and sold over 100 ambulances, most of mine showed E350 Cutaway or just E350 on the title. I really think it depends on how it was registered and titled when it was new. We had to be very careful insuring ours because we owned the insurance agency and the ambulance service. Anything other than full disclosure would put my wife's insurance license at risk.
@@MrAcutecareems It's not that it shows as an ambulance, ambulance is a "use" not a "type" of vehicle. Ambulances carry "patients" if it's not doing that it's not an ambulance. That said, it shows as being manufactured as an "incomplete vehicle" by Ford (in the case of my E350 based type 1 ambulance) to be completed by an outside builder. This leads to questions of its GVWR which may impact insurance depending on the state (in MA a vehicle this heavy requires commercial insurance). My main point is that leading people to believe that the VIN on a Ford E350 cut van reads the same as the VIN on a E350 will only cause people issues with insuring and registering their vehicle. The VIN shows that vehicle left Ford with a gaping hole and no body behind the cab as an "incomplete vehicle". Digits 4-8 of a VIN designate model, body type, restraint system, transmission type and engine code, those digits separate the E350's from a E350 cutvans.
Ok. But I believe that is what I said. But, I give up. You win. I said the VIN will tell you the body type from the manufacturer. Cut Away, Van, Cab and Chassis or Stripped Chassis etc. In Texas sometimes the DMV puts "Ambulance" as the body type on the title. Not in the VIN. That was my point. We all understand that Upfitters build or convert vans and chassis to ambulances to complete the incomplete vehicle. I am actually a Ford Upfitter myself. In my shop we mount and remount ambulance bodies on Cutaways with the E Van and Cab and Chassis with the F Truck. And none of them came with an "Ambulance" indicator in the VIN. But some of them have "Ambulance" as the body type on the title. And some of them just have E350, E450, F350 or F450 on the title. When the Cutaway or Chassis is sold by the manufacturer, there is no way for them to know what the truck will end up as. But when it is titled to the final consumer, they pretty much have an idea of what the truck ended up as. I rest my case. Now, we can get into a discussion of registration and titling requirements, if you like. I am a registered Texas car dealer also.
I just got covered today. I told the insurance company I wanted to add a 2003 Ford e450 cutaway to my existing policy and gave them the VIN. They asked a little bit about the truck and I just said it's a cutaway with a box on it (nothing about an ambulance) and that it would be for my personal use so I didn't have to out and out lie. They said they'd have to cover it as commercial and my policy is 106$ per year! I'm so relieved. I live in WV.
I just purchased an 1999 E350 Ambulance in Wyoming. I drove it back to NC where I live. My Wyoming Title stated that the vehicle was an Ambulance. I had called my StateFarm agent and gave them the VIN number to which gave me temporary insurance for the drive home. I told them it was going to be a Truck but was current an Ambulance. Fortunately I have a great working relationship with my StateFarm Agent. Upon reaching NC, I went to the Title Registration office. They told me I had to meet with a DMV Officer to walk my "Truck" and approve the change on the Title --- AMB to Truck I meet with the DMV Officer, I had to remove all none White Ambulance lights and disconnect the Siren and Radio. After I made these modifications, I was given a document that I took to the Title Registration Office to start the ReTitle process. The Title office had to get approval from Raleigh to make the change to the Title. It was just a phone call. I also had to provide the length of the "Truck" - 19 ft... Once completed,,,, 2 hours (most the time standing in line waiting my turn.) I had a license tag, registration and a new title that would be mailed to me. That completed, I had to provide pictures of the "Truck" of the exterior to StateFarm so enable the Adjuster to finalize my price for Insurance. It maybe allot simpler now that the Title states that the Vehicle is a Truck. I am getting a quote from other insurance companies to see if I can improve my price. I will also be meeting with my StateFarm Agent next week to review my insurance, investigate the if the price would improve with Re"Title"ing the "Truck" and as an "RV". I hope that this helps someone who is beginning this Campulance adventure...
Hey David, we finally bought/got our ambulance. This time last week, we were driving back from none other than Long Island NY from where I bought it from. I did just as you stated. Prior to buying the rig, I had my insurance agent run the VIN and purchased 6 months of full coverage prior to even leaving to go and buy it. My agent stated that due to the weight of the vehicle (and before I turn it into a camping RV) it will just have to be insured as a commercial vehicle. Upon providing receipts of items bought and changes madeto make it into a camper, I can then have it reinsured as a camper. Great Videos on insurance, I'm glad I saw them prior to purchasing my rig.
I did the exact same thing. They insured mine as a box truck because that's what the title said it was. So when it's done and outfitted I'll have to re-insure it. My ambulance is a larger model FL60 extended cab and it has a larger box. I can stand in mine so the truck is heavier so my tag was more. My insurance is $200 per six months. I'll have to re-due that after it's a complete retro fit.
We just purchased our 1996 decommissioned ambulance last week from the 2nd owner (non-emergency non-profit group). We have State Farm. We never mentioned it was an ambulance but that fact was somehow tied to our VIN info which caused problems. First they wanted to insure it as a commercial vehicle even though we had no ambulance decals, painted all white, lights and sirens disabled. What helped us a lot was our argument that decommissioned police vehicles when sold do not have to be considered "commercial". We're still waiting a final response but it sounded like private was probable.
I think the weight of the ambulance is what triggered the ‘non-business’ commercial designation. I would also caution against saying anything that is not true, because even though the policy is issued, they could possibly deny paying a claim based upon learning something that was not revealed when the policy was issued. Insurance companies did not become wealthy by paying claims.
@@larryrobertson2150 It’s a rubber wheel that you attach to a drill and use to remove decals. I got mine on Amazon. It saved me a lot of time. It does wear down like a pencil eraser, but pretty cheap to purchase.
Thanks for the informative video David. Working on closing on an International Navistar 4700. Series and body style is listed as "RESCUE" on the title. A little concerned that will appear on the insurer's computer but will follow others strategy and describe it as a cutaway truck. 🤞
Here in Kentucky I merely provided the VIN to my agent and had zero difficulty. We are insured through Safeco and proof of ins card merely says 1991 Ford and my state registration lists as 91 Ford E350 van with vehicle type listed as truck. There is no me toon anywhere of the cutaway nor ambulance. Insurance was easy for me, finding a mechanic has been a living hell!!!
If you do another. Ask people who reply to add what state they are from and insurance company worked for them. Then those of us still looking could know what company in what state to call for the best results.
David, I did have trouble. When I put the VIN number in in multiple insurance vendor quote engines, it always would reject the VIN, as, unable to recognize the VIN. It occurred to me that it was coming up as a commercial vehicle possibly and a regular company wouldn’t insure, as a private vehicle. I resorted to calling a local agent, explained I was purchasing a “box truck”, for personal use. He was able to get me insurance, for that purpose, same day. I moved all of my vehicles and boat to his company. I picked my “box truck” up two days ago. The fun begins. The Whizzy wheel works great.
I'm a licensed insurance broker in Colorado ... I"m also looking for an Ambulance to convert for myself. I have access to a LOT of Markets (Insurance companies), so I"m 100% certain I can find insurance for it. I haven't researched it yet, but I think one of the challenges might be that it's classified as a commercial vehicle, at least at first (perhaps it can be changed to an RV, even if you tell them that's what it's for) but I would NOT recommend lying to, or concealing information from your insurance guy ... the fastest way to get your policy cancelled or claim denied is a Material Misrepresentation... (lying) to them. That VIN number tells a story and insurance underwriters don't miss much...the VIN may say E450 Van or Work Truck, but if something Happens to that "Van" and a claims adjuster shows up and sees a damaged Ambulance ...they may deny your claim because you lied about it (that pesky Material Misrepresentation clause). ...jus sayin...find a broker who can help you explore many markets ... captives like State Farm, Farmers, USAA ... may be able to do it, but they only sell their own products. Off the top of my head, as a broker, I can submit to as many as 25 different companies... and the services of a broker costs you nothing...
I'm about to put my ambulance I bought into a garage for minor work,oil change,and inspection and I decided to talk to my insurance agent ahead of time about switching my insurance from my car to it when it's ready to be inspected....my insurance is going to be almost about 70$ a year less then the car lol the price and extras I got with it and things keep getting better with it amd things in general and im not even on the road yet
Both American Family (my insurance co) and Progressive wanted to take it to an outside source with their underwriter. I ended up going with Geico online. For some reason they couldn’t verify the vin number, but it still went through for $47 a month. I needed insurance right away, due to parking it at a storage facility.
I read somewhere geico would insure before and after conversion but they would not do that for me. Geico said i had to get it professionally renovated with receipts before they would insure it as an RV
Hi David, I insured mine thru State Farm and did not have any problems. I can insure it as a private vehicle or as an RV when converted. I am in Virginia. I am picking it up this weekend, and I just insured it for 6 months. I am paying in monthly installment. I can alter the insurance at any time, including not having any or only have enough for damage by tree limbs, etc. If I am not driving it and am not parking it on city streets, I do not have to have it registered or insured. That will give me a bit of breathing room until I return home in August and begin work on the conversion. I will register it and insure it then.
We are currently looking for a policy to cover a medium duty rig that we are interested in purchasing. We have multiple cars and a boat insured through AMICA. I contacted AMICA and told them about the proposed change to the ambulance (I know, I said the "A" word) to make it an RV. The only problem was that I will need a non-business commercial policy until it is converted, and AMICA does not have any commercial policies. The rep I spoke was super interested in this and compared it to van conversions that they have covered in the past. They are going to run it up the flag pole to see if they can cover it. Don't know whether it happen with them, but at least they are working on it. They also mentioned other companies like Progressive who cover this type of vehicle in case they are not ultimately able to right a policy for us. We'll see where it goes. Thanks for being such a great resource.
I said this in your last video on the topic but... I had all kind of trouble getting insurance from ridiculous premiums to just refusing to cover it, Massachusetts is an absolute pain for insurance and essentially requires a commercial policy for anything that weighs as much as an ambulance does. What saved me was a person at progressive who listened to what I had and what I was doing and suggested a "non business commercial policy". I'm now paying less than $600 a year for full coverage with one of those "non business commercial policies" from Progressive. You have to use those words "non business commercial policy" it's not a well known way to insure and you need to tell them or run into the right person (like I did) or they may not know.
@@ExceptTin The title calls it a Ford "E35SUP" which I believe is Fordspeak for when an E350 van gets cutoff behind the cab and turned into any type of utility vehicle. I just have passenger plates on it so the registration lists it as a passenger vehicle.
I found one with a blown motor. I've got a crushed bus, with a good motor. We've discussed this. I'm just gonna go get it tomorrow, because it was just recently decommissioned , and, Will be gone soon, at the asking price. Plus, my state doesnt require insurance, so, I have time to figure it out. But, $2k, for a 2005 ambulance?
I did end up getting insurance. Had to get commercial coverage. Not much more than I was paying with my car. I did have to jump through hoops, but was worth it in the end.
I am still working on mine. Three companies in Canada have said absolutely not no matter how I approach them and no matter how good my driving record and that when I find a company that will, I will transfer all my other insurances to that company! I have a new plan to use my network ...will let you know how it goes! Vxo
I just picked up a rig in Arizona last weekend, insured it through progressive as a commercial box truck and there wasn't an issue. It is a much bigger rig than a e350 or e450 though.
Great tip to ask the insurance company first!! Save time and money 💴 Best to get comprehensive even if Liability only is cheaper. The cheap comes out more expensive in the end!😕
On your survey, you should have a place where people can tell you why they couldn't get insurance? Then it would be cool if you could make a video where you can take those results and show people alternate ways to get insurance or how you can self insure your vehicle? The other question I have is, what do you do for health insurance not only for you but your pet? What type of issues can and do you face while not being in one local location?
So A couple days ago I got the stolen catalyic converter replaced on the amby as per what CALIF DMV wanted but also their website says if your truck like mine is 2006 or older and diesel weighing more than 14,000 lbs it is exempt from smog check. So I have this 2006 Ford E450 diesel with unladen of 15,000.... and the chat person there said I was exempt. Good news I guess. Was able to get basic Insurance (Viking/Dairyland) via CALIF requirements plus roadside for $100 a month. I know people have gotten for less elsewhere but not in Calif. I can deal with $100 monthly. So I'm more steps closer to getting it registered.
Update found out my unladen is actually 10,000 with a limit of 15,000 so will need smog. Im not doing anything else till dmv registration snafus due to sellers errors on forms gets resolved. Actually didnt need smog but did have to register commercial.
Were you able to get Liability and Collison with Viking/DairyLand? Also did you tell them it was an Ambulance. I am in WA state and having a hard time getting insurance. I want them to know it is was an amby to make sure I am covered Thanks!!
@@jimt4861 Dairyland is used to insurance weird farm stuff but couldnt hide it is an ambo because the VIN told them everything but they were great working with me. Got cheapest liability insurance required by State of Calif but any more would have made it too expensive per month. Im on an extremely fixed income and its my only vehicle but I do have a great driving record. Because of divorce and having to sell home and pay off the exes debt my credit was ruined. Im sure that hurt me too. But my credit is improving over time. When I can get mimimum requirements needed to change it to rv for non ambo registration I will. Its over 10 yrs old so against law to even use as an ambo but that still wouldnt change dmvs mind about that. In mean time Im doing what I need to to use it to camp/inhabit stealthwise in. Im not gutting or changing alot inside as I want to keep it industrial but steampunk it up alittle.
I had Geico coverage when i bought the rig 12/1/21. they called and cancelled me. they asked about the body style. I said an ambulance.....cancelled!!! It is a 2003 E-350.
Every state in the US has its own set of rules for insurance on ambulances. Some don't treat them any different than any other work truck, and others don't seem to want to have them on the road at all...
I hope all who listened will take heed and do what you suggested before they purchase there box rig rv truck, snicker, snicker! Sounds like in other words don't mention the word ambulance when talking to your insurance people. Lefty, now don't you say anything 😆
This is the one topic that has me on the fence of purchasing an ambulance - Insurance. How about a definitive video where you video chat with actual insurance representatives from the various insurance companies that spell out to us what they require for coverage. That would put this issue to rest for the time being and give people the information they need to make a true informed decision.
ok so i life in Indiana. My insurance agent told me that i only can insure the vehicle when i changed it to an rv. this means adding a sink and an bed. that’s my project right now.
Hi! I said I would keep you updated on getting insurance confirmed so that I could purchase an ambulance to convert. I did try all of your suggestions, however here IN Ontario, Canada, there has been a revamping of many companies totally against insuring retired ambulances. So, I decided to be totally honest and started working with an Insurance agent who chose to do the work. So now yes! I can get insurance but it is crazy expensive until it is converted to RV. Today I will look up details to convert as they differ province to province. The goal is to have everything settled by the 1st of August! Will let you know!! V.
@@TheCampulanceMan Thanks! Hopefully by beginning of August I will have all the info to move forward to purchase, insure, register, convert, and reinsure....ugh...so worth it though right? V.
What is "crazy expensive"? Just because my first vehicle was a fast motorcycle in toronto, so Ive yet to see anyone in the comments pay enough to scare me off yet
@@dillonrogers973 The initial insurance quote is $6000 a year until it is converted to an RV. Right now I pay $1200 a year for my suv. I have zero tickets and a super squeaky clean driving record. It would probably be cheaper if I didn't live in Toronto. So far they have not given me any quote for when it is converted to an RV as they will await the appraisal first.
First, just came across this channel. Yeah, bought a ex-military ambulance 1 year ago and it was not the easiest to insure. Thanks to school bus conversion campers forum, I was told to contact an insurance broker directly and managed to find one who was willing to underwrite it as a RV (FYI- I had registered it through the city as a RV before this point so it was effectively a RV). It is ironic that the insurance companies will not insure ex-ambulances even though its a vehicle designed to carry injured people SAFELY from point A to B. So what is the deal? The deal = who are you to convert the ambulance to a camper/RV? Are you a certified electrician/carpenter/plumber who is licensed to make these kind of conversions (this was what I was told by one insurance person when they asked me questions over the phone). Also, be careful what you TH-camrs post because you could lose your insurance (or face fee hikes) if they see what you are doing to your rig. Yeah, my advice is not to give up and call insurance brokers, not the insurance company and their 1-800-too-bd4u phone lines.
Addendum - I believe in being completely honest and open about it because if you make a claim, the insurance company may find out anyway. Remember, the insurance companies like taking the money, not giving it out. Why play with fire and give them an excuse to refuse your claim? I just have liability on mine and I registered it as a RV so insurance is dirt cheap but I was completely honest saying it is was an ambulance. As is indicated in the video, the insurance companies are looking for business.
Can you put another link to that poll? Is it in your about section maybe? Because link is so long that on my tablet it can’t see whole URL. PC is not working, but I can fool it by typing in url thru a browser on iPad & not the app. Done that many times.
@@TheCampulanceMan direct auto will insure the vehicle. You have to insure the contents separate unless you re-title as an RV. I’m working on that now. More to come…. I look forward to meeting you on our journeys I need a sticker for “The Wondering Zen Den” much love from Satellite Beach, Florida!!
@@werslackers If possible, email me when you've completed that insurance coverage for your vehicle contents. I'm interested in that :) See ya on the road!
don't want to give any wrong information but if you go to get insurance and you leave the word ambulance out of the whole conversation you will most likely get the insurance just tell them you have a van a cutaway or a work truck
So you got insurance did you use a tag from a different vehicle to drive it home after you brought it from the seller or did you go to the Motor Service Center beforehand to get a temporary tag to drive it?
@@squidtrader7973 Yes, I mailed his tag back to him. I was planning to drive with no tag, proof of insurance, bill of sale, and title. If pulled over most will allow you to drive on with that proof.
@@TheCampulanceManis this a safe way to do it? I just bought one in NY and need to drive it back to CT, about 6 hours. I can get insurance, bill of sale, and title, but would be a heck of a lot easier if i did not have to get registration sorted beforehand.
@samanthamaxson6409 Carry proof of insurance and bill of sale. If you happen to be stopped you should be ok - just say you just bought it and are taking it to your home state to register it. Insurance is the thing that you need...
appreciate the heads up, here in Canada they make you jump through many hoops and they still consider it high risk and can be very expensive, according my broker. looks like i will be going cargo trailer.
I've heard from other Canadians that had to go through quite a bit of red tape but were able to get insured. I can ask for info from them in an upcoming video to help out...
i was as quoted 6-$8000.00 a year for Commercial insurance from My Insurance Broker, affiliate of CAA. Hours on the phone getting nowhere, and being questioned in a manner to control everything at an absurd level. Clean driving record, with no tickets in past 6 years.
@@sabotage6301 , I did eventually find coverage, basically started asking people who had their rigs listed for sale how they managed to get coverage and went that route, btw I live in Ontario where it is especially difficult to find coverage, hope that helps, good luck.
I tried to click the link to the poll. It said that I have to do it from my computer... I’m not going to fire up the computer for that.. I have a 2001 Freightliner FL60 Ambulance. I did have a difficult time getting insurance in Arizona. I was able to get it insured through Geico. I had to get a commercial insurance policy until I can get the box converted into an RV. It’s definitely not cheap... Once I can get it titled as an RV, the insurance goes way down.
what is better between geico and progressive ? or do you have another preferred company ? I tried to call like you did and add the ambulance to my insurance , geico told me after they got the VIN that is a commercial vehicle and they have to transfer me to another department that only works over the phone, so I could NOT get a quote online like I usually do. After I talked to an agent she gave me a quote of $2000 per year. And that is liability only and the cheapest they had. Does that price sound good to you ??? for me it was a little expensive if I only go camping couple times a year. Thank you so much for all the videos and info !!!
That is a high price. Tell them its a non-business commercial policy. You should be at 400/yr or less. Stress that you're not using it for business purposes.
I pay $236 per year just liability for $2 mil coverage. I suggest finding an insurance broker who does school bus conversions as they are more common than ambulance conversions - how do you find one? Go to online forums like Skoolies and ask if any one lives in your area and who they talked to to get insurance. Otherwise, call insurance brokers and ask them if they do insurance for converted vehicles to RVs. If the bring up commercial insurance, say ... its for an RV, I am not running a business.
@@TheCampulanceMan yes , I kept on telling them that it's not for business and I will only probably use it couple times a year. I feel like the Geico lady either didn't know what she was doing or was just trying to rip me off. Thank you for the info !
How much does it cost? Are you paying it monthly or are you paying for it once a year? You have a home base too so what happens if you don't? What happens if you don't tell them that it's an ex-ambulance though and then you get it insured and then get into an accident and then they find out that it's an ex-ambulance?
I bought an E450 Ambulance last week and took a gamble on being able to get it insured. I just called my insurance agent and have the exact same conversation with them. Yes, it's a 98 Ford 7.3 Diesel E450 Van with a "box" on the back with only $115k miles. I got a great deal as I wanted the 7.3. The Insurance agent couldn't pull up the VIN in the regular system so that stumped them initially. Then she said basically it would have to go under an RV policy. It could not be added to my regular auto policy. She ran the numbers for an RV and with my coverage level it's costing me $640 for the year. I needed to get it done so I can then go get the title and tag. Im going to have the title as an RV so that I won't have any future problems. Im then going to shop it around and see how much cheaper I can get it. Im also going to be doing some clips of my conversion process to post soon.
I own an ambulance company and my wife is my insurance agent. Most companies insure my trucks as E350's or E450's. They only add on ambulance body style when we tell them that they are ambulances. I have had many different companies and never had a problem with coverage or claims.
FYI the VIN does not designate ambulance or any other body style. However, the registration usually states ambulance.
Excellent info Haynes thank you!
The second they put my VIN into any computer they know it's not a E350, they do have different VINs and technically it isn't a E350 it's a E35SUP.
Anyone having insurance trouble should call progressive and ask about a "non business commercial policy".
To clarify. A straight VIN decoder only shows what Ford produced. I say Ford because that is primarily what I deal with. The Ford VIN is going to show (off the top of my head) the country of origin, the manufacturer, the factory, the braking system, the model (E or F, 350, 450, cab and chassis, cutaway etc) the engine and the sequential ID number. Some insurance databases, Carfax or state DMV databases might have more information like if it is an ambulance. But with me, I have bought and sold over 100 ambulances, most of mine showed E350 Cutaway or just E350 on the title. I really think it depends on how it was registered and titled when it was new.
We had to be very careful insuring ours because we owned the insurance agency and the ambulance service. Anything other than full disclosure would put my wife's insurance license at risk.
@@MrAcutecareems It's not that it shows as an ambulance, ambulance is a "use" not a "type" of vehicle. Ambulances carry "patients" if it's not doing that it's not an ambulance. That said, it shows as being manufactured as an "incomplete vehicle" by Ford (in the case of my E350 based type 1 ambulance) to be completed by an outside builder. This leads to questions of its GVWR which may impact insurance depending on the state (in MA a vehicle this heavy requires commercial insurance).
My main point is that leading people to believe that the VIN on a Ford E350 cut van reads the same as the VIN on a E350 will only cause people issues with insuring and registering their vehicle. The VIN shows that vehicle left Ford with a gaping hole and no body behind the cab as an "incomplete vehicle". Digits 4-8 of a VIN designate model, body type, restraint system, transmission type and engine code, those digits separate the E350's from a E350 cutvans.
Ok. But I believe that is what I said. But, I give up. You win.
I said the VIN will tell you the body type from the manufacturer. Cut Away, Van, Cab and Chassis or Stripped Chassis etc. In Texas sometimes the DMV puts "Ambulance" as the body type on the title. Not in the VIN. That was my point. We all understand that Upfitters build or convert vans and chassis to ambulances to complete the incomplete vehicle. I am actually a Ford Upfitter myself. In my shop we mount and remount ambulance bodies on Cutaways with the E Van and Cab and Chassis with the F Truck. And none of them came with an "Ambulance" indicator in the VIN. But some of them have "Ambulance" as the body type on the title. And some of them just have E350, E450, F350 or F450 on the title. When the Cutaway or Chassis is sold by the manufacturer, there is no way for them to know what the truck will end up as. But when it is titled to the final consumer, they pretty much have an idea of what the truck ended up as. I rest my case.
Now, we can get into a discussion of registration and titling requirements, if you like. I am a registered Texas car dealer also.
I just got covered today. I told the insurance company I wanted to add a 2003 Ford e450 cutaway to my existing policy and gave them the VIN. They asked a little bit about the truck and I just said it's a cutaway with a box on it (nothing about an ambulance) and that it would be for my personal use so I didn't have to out and out lie. They said they'd have to cover it as commercial and my policy is 106$ per year! I'm so relieved. I live in WV.
That's great ! It's very similar to the conversation I had with my carrier.
I just purchased an 1999 E350 Ambulance in Wyoming. I drove it back to NC where I live.
My Wyoming Title stated that the vehicle was an Ambulance. I had called my StateFarm agent and gave them the VIN number to which gave me temporary insurance for the drive home. I told them it was going to be a Truck but was current an Ambulance.
Fortunately I have a great working relationship with my StateFarm Agent.
Upon reaching NC, I went to the Title Registration office. They told me I had to meet with a DMV Officer to walk my "Truck" and approve the change on the Title --- AMB to Truck
I meet with the DMV Officer, I had to remove all none White Ambulance lights and disconnect the Siren and Radio. After I made these modifications, I was given a document that I took to the Title Registration Office to start the ReTitle process.
The Title office had to get approval from Raleigh to make the change to the Title. It was just a phone call. I also had to provide the length of the "Truck" - 19 ft... Once completed,,,, 2 hours (most the time standing in line waiting my turn.) I had a license tag, registration and a new title that would be mailed to me.
That completed, I had to provide pictures of the "Truck" of the exterior to StateFarm so enable the Adjuster to finalize my price for Insurance.
It maybe allot simpler now that the Title states that the Vehicle is a Truck. I am getting a quote from other insurance companies to see if I can improve my price. I will also be meeting with my StateFarm Agent next week to review my insurance, investigate the if the price would improve with Re"Title"ing the "Truck" and as an "RV".
I hope that this helps someone who is beginning this Campulance adventure...
Good info and I'm glad you got it sorted!
Wow thanks! I live in NC!
Hey David, we finally bought/got our ambulance. This time last week, we were driving back from none other than Long Island NY from where I bought it from. I did just as you stated. Prior to buying the rig, I had my insurance agent run the VIN and purchased 6 months of full coverage prior to even leaving to go and buy it. My agent stated that due to the weight of the vehicle (and before I turn it into a camping RV) it will just have to be insured as a commercial vehicle. Upon providing receipts of items bought and changes madeto make it into a camper, I can then have it reinsured as a camper. Great Videos on insurance, I'm glad I saw them prior to purchasing my rig.
That's great!!! Thank you for watching and commenting :)
I did the exact same thing. They insured mine as a box truck because that's what the title said it was. So when it's done and outfitted I'll have to re-insure it. My ambulance is a larger model FL60 extended cab and it has a larger box. I can stand in mine so the truck is heavier so my tag was more. My insurance is $200 per six months. I'll have to re-due that after it's a complete retro fit.
We just purchased our 1996 decommissioned ambulance last week from the 2nd owner (non-emergency non-profit group). We have State Farm. We never mentioned it was an ambulance but that fact was somehow tied to our VIN info which caused problems. First they wanted to insure it as a commercial vehicle even though we had no ambulance decals, painted all white, lights and sirens disabled. What helped us a lot was our argument that decommissioned police vehicles when sold do not have to be considered "commercial". We're still waiting a final response but it sounded like private was probable.
Good work! Hope your answer is OK!!
I think the weight of the ambulance is what triggered the ‘non-business’ commercial designation.
I would also caution against saying anything that is not true, because even though the policy is issued, they could possibly deny paying a claim based upon learning something that was not revealed when the policy was issued.
Insurance companies did not become wealthy by paying claims.
Thanks Iam moving forward with my buy......t
Excellent!!
David that is true to vin it before you buy. What I did through AAA as a motor home but I also needed renters insurance because I live in it at times.
That's the best (really only) way to guarantee that you can get coverage.
The other issue is if the insurance company decides the customer wasn’t totally honest about the vehicle or the use case they could cancel the policy.
Watching this vid from inside our ambulance on its first weekend out. I gave State Farm the VIN, told it was converted to an RV - zero problems.
That's great!!! You're part of the fleet!!!
I also purchased the Whizzy Wheel and is fantastic.! Saved myself hours of gruelling elbow pain! Thank you so much!!
Right! I was amazed at how that worked!!
What's that?
@@larryrobertson2150 It’s a rubber wheel that you attach to a drill and use to remove decals. I got mine on Amazon. It saved me a lot of time. It does wear down like a pencil eraser, but pretty cheap to purchase.
Comments below were very helpful. Thanks.
SO GREAT TO HEAR THAT!! Thank you to all the fleet for the comments!!!
Thanks for the informative video David. Working on closing on an International Navistar 4700. Series and body style is listed as "RESCUE" on the title. A little concerned that will appear on the insurer's computer but will follow others strategy and describe it as a cutaway truck. 🤞
An International is a great rig - if I did it over again...
Here in Kentucky I merely provided the VIN to my agent and had zero difficulty. We are insured through Safeco and proof of ins card merely says 1991 Ford and my state registration lists as 91 Ford E350 van with vehicle type listed as truck.
There is no me toon anywhere of the cutaway nor ambulance.
Insurance was easy for me, finding a mechanic has been a living hell!!!
I'm glad you got covered Wendy. Any Ford mechanic should be able to work on it as the mechanicals are just van mechanicals.
If you do another. Ask people who reply to add what state they are from and insurance company worked for them. Then those of us still looking could know what company in what state to call for the best results.
David, I did have trouble. When I put the VIN number in in multiple insurance vendor quote engines, it always would reject the VIN, as, unable to recognize the VIN. It occurred to me that it was coming up as a commercial vehicle possibly and a regular company wouldn’t insure, as a private vehicle. I resorted to calling a local agent, explained I was purchasing a “box truck”, for personal use. He was able to get me insurance, for that purpose, same day. I moved all of my vehicles and boat to his company. I picked my “box truck” up two days ago. The fun begins. The Whizzy wheel works great.
Excellent!! I'm glad you worked it out!
Love the whizzy!!
What's up lefty be safe to you and your dad
I'm a licensed insurance broker in Colorado ... I"m also looking for an Ambulance to convert for myself. I have access to a LOT of Markets (Insurance companies), so I"m 100% certain I can find insurance for it. I haven't researched it yet, but I think one of the challenges might be that it's classified as a commercial vehicle, at least at first (perhaps it can be changed to an RV, even if you tell them that's what it's for) but I would NOT recommend lying to, or concealing information from your insurance guy ... the fastest way to get your policy cancelled or claim denied is a Material Misrepresentation... (lying) to them. That VIN number tells a story and insurance underwriters don't miss much...the VIN may say E450 Van or Work Truck, but if something Happens to that "Van" and a claims adjuster shows up and sees a damaged Ambulance ...they may deny your claim because you lied about it (that pesky Material Misrepresentation clause). ...jus sayin...find a broker who can help you explore many markets ... captives like State Farm, Farmers, USAA ... may be able to do it, but they only sell their own products. Off the top of my head, as a broker, I can submit to as many as 25 different companies... and the services of a broker costs you nothing...
Good info thank you. I also believe it's because they're commercial vehicles.
Hey Steve, thanks for the insight. Are you licensed in Florida? I can use some help. Thank you!
I'm about to put my ambulance I bought into a garage for minor work,oil change,and inspection and I decided to talk to my insurance agent ahead of time about switching my insurance from my car to it when it's ready to be inspected....my insurance is going to be almost about 70$ a year less then the car lol the price and extras I got with it and things keep getting better with it amd things in general and im not even on the road yet
That's awesome!!!
Both American Family (my insurance co) and Progressive wanted to take it to an outside source with their underwriter.
I ended up going with Geico online. For some reason they couldn’t verify the vin number, but it still went through for $47 a month.
I needed insurance right away, due to parking it at a storage facility.
Geico seems to be a good company for coverage. Same thing happened to me and I had to call to add it.
I read somewhere geico would insure before and after conversion but they would not do that for me. Geico said i had to get it professionally renovated with receipts before they would insure it as an RV
That's unfortunate. I'm getting ready to change mine...
Hi David, I insured mine thru State Farm and did not have any problems. I can insure it as a private vehicle or as an RV when converted. I am in Virginia. I am picking it up this weekend, and I just insured it for 6 months. I am paying in monthly installment. I can alter the insurance at any time, including not having any or only have enough for damage by tree limbs, etc. If I am not driving it and am not parking it on city streets, I do not have to have it registered or insured. That will give me a bit of breathing room until I return home in August and begin work on the conversion. I will register it and insure it then.
Thats excellent!!
We are currently looking for a policy to cover a medium duty rig that we are interested in purchasing. We have multiple cars and a boat insured through AMICA. I contacted AMICA and told them about the proposed change to the ambulance (I know, I said the "A" word) to make it an RV. The only problem was that I will need a non-business commercial policy until it is converted, and AMICA does not have any commercial policies. The rep I spoke was super interested in this and compared it to van conversions that they have covered in the past. They are going to run it up the flag pole to see if they can cover it. Don't know whether it happen with them, but at least they are working on it. They also mentioned other companies like Progressive who cover this type of vehicle in case they are not ultimately able to right a policy for us. We'll see where it goes. Thanks for being such a great resource.
I hope you get it worked out without too much difficulty. Thank you for the comment!!
I said this in your last video on the topic but...
I had all kind of trouble getting insurance from ridiculous premiums to just refusing to cover it, Massachusetts is an absolute pain for insurance and essentially requires a commercial policy for anything that weighs as much as an ambulance does. What saved me was a person at progressive who listened to what I had and what I was doing and suggested a "non business commercial policy". I'm now paying less than $600 a year for full coverage with one of those "non business commercial policies" from Progressive. You have to use those words "non business commercial policy" it's not a well known way to insure and you need to tell them or run into the right person (like I did) or they may not know.
Excellent info and thanks for sharing again with everyone. This kind of info will help everyone in the future.
S. Willis, I know it's been a while, but your rig is not listed as an RV on your title?
@@ExceptTin The title calls it a Ford "E35SUP" which I believe is Fordspeak for when an E350 van gets cutoff behind the cab and turned into any type of utility vehicle. I just have passenger plates on it so the registration lists it as a passenger vehicle.
MA here too looking at options. Do you know if it is classified as a box truck or something else?
I found one with a blown motor.
I've got a crushed bus, with a good motor.
We've discussed this.
I'm just gonna go get it tomorrow, because it was just recently decommissioned , and, Will be gone soon, at the asking price.
Plus, my state doesnt require insurance, so, I have time to figure it out.
But, $2k, for a 2005 ambulance?
That's like free!! Grab it!
I did end up getting insurance. Had to get commercial coverage. Not much more than I was paying with my car. I did have to jump through hoops, but was worth it in the end.
That is great to hear, I'm glad you got coverage!!! Thank you Kim :)
I am still working on mine. Three companies in Canada have said absolutely not no matter how I approach them and no matter how good my driving record and that when I find a company that will, I will transfer all my other insurances to that company! I have a new plan to use my network ...will let you know how it goes! Vxo
Keep me updated!! Thank you :)
I just picked up a rig in Arizona last weekend, insured it through progressive as a commercial box truck and there wasn't an issue. It is a much bigger rig than a e350 or e450 though.
Great!!! Glad you're set :)
Great tip to ask the insurance company first!! Save time and money 💴 Best to get comprehensive even if Liability only is cheaper. The cheap comes out more expensive in the end!😕
It depends on what it is registered as when you buy it
On your survey, you should have a place where people can tell you why they couldn't get insurance? Then it would be cool if you could make a video where you can take those results and show people alternate ways to get insurance or how you can self insure your vehicle? The other question I have is, what do you do for health insurance not only for you but your pet? What type of issues can and do you face while not being in one local location?
So A couple days ago I got the stolen catalyic converter replaced on the amby as per what CALIF DMV wanted but also their website says if your truck like mine is 2006 or older and diesel weighing more than 14,000 lbs it is exempt from smog check. So I have this 2006 Ford E450 diesel with unladen of 15,000.... and the chat person there said I was exempt. Good news I guess. Was able to get basic Insurance (Viking/Dairyland) via CALIF requirements plus roadside for $100 a month. I know people have gotten for less elsewhere but not in Calif. I can deal with $100 monthly. So I'm more steps closer to getting it registered.
Excellent!!!
Update found out my unladen is actually 10,000 with a limit of 15,000 so will need smog. Im not doing anything else till dmv registration snafus due to sellers errors on forms gets resolved. Actually didnt need smog but did have to register commercial.
Were you able to get Liability and Collison with Viking/DairyLand? Also did you tell them it was an Ambulance. I am in WA state and having a hard time getting insurance. I want them to know it is was an amby to make sure I am covered Thanks!!
@@jimt4861 Dairyland is used to insurance weird farm stuff but couldnt hide it is an ambo because the VIN told them everything but they were great working with me. Got cheapest liability insurance required by State of Calif but any more would have made it too expensive per month. Im on an extremely fixed income and its my only vehicle but I do have a great driving record. Because of divorce and having to sell home and pay off the exes debt my credit was ruined. Im sure that hurt me too. But my credit is improving over time. When I can get mimimum requirements needed to change it to rv for non ambo registration I will. Its over 10 yrs old so against law to even use as an ambo but that still wouldnt change dmvs mind about that. In mean time Im doing what I need to to use it to camp/inhabit stealthwise in. Im not gutting or changing alot inside as I want to keep it industrial but steampunk it up alittle.
I had Geico coverage when i bought the rig 12/1/21. they called and cancelled me. they asked about the body style. I said an ambulance.....cancelled!!! It is a 2003 E-350.
That's frustrating! Have you got it sorted?
@@TheCampulanceMan I may have successfully renegotiated with Geico with the" it's a box" strategy
in BC Canada, the insurance rules are really insane. Ambulances are rare in BC, but they do exsist.
Every state in the US has its own set of rules for insurance on ambulances. Some don't treat them any different than any other work truck, and others don't seem to want to have them on the road at all...
I hope all who listened will take heed and do what you suggested before they purchase there box rig rv truck, snicker, snicker! Sounds like in other words don't mention the word ambulance when talking to your insurance people. Lefty, now don't you say anything 😆
I had to get commercial vehicle incurrence that is in wa. state but it was ez
Great, thank you!!
Just get RV plates and done ! Insurance is even cheaper than commercial insurance
This is the one topic that has me on the fence of purchasing an ambulance - Insurance. How about a definitive video where you video chat with actual insurance representatives from the various insurance companies that spell out to us what they require for coverage. That would put this issue to rest for the time being and give people the information they need to make a true informed decision.
After that, we can ask him to do all of our taxes for us, as well!
ok so i life in Indiana. My insurance agent told me that i only can insure the vehicle when i changed it to an rv. this means adding a sink and an bed. that’s my project right now.
At least thats not a lot of work for you. Thank you for watching and commenting!
Currently having issues finding insurance because the front end is a Kodiak and not a smaller van or pickup truck front end.
I hope you get it sorted out. You'll get covered :)
Hi! I said I would keep you updated on getting insurance confirmed so that I could purchase an ambulance to convert.
I did try all of your suggestions, however here IN Ontario, Canada, there has been a revamping of many companies totally against insuring retired ambulances. So, I decided to be totally honest and started working with an Insurance agent who chose to do the work. So now yes! I can get insurance but it is crazy expensive until it is converted to RV. Today I will look up details to convert as they differ province to province. The goal is to have everything settled by the 1st of August! Will let you know!! V.
Btw here we have to submit photos inside and out as well as supply an appraisal once converted.
Excellent! I'm glad you stuck with it and got it sorted :) Definitely different than down here!
@@TheCampulanceMan Thanks! Hopefully by beginning of August I will have all the info to move forward to purchase, insure, register, convert, and reinsure....ugh...so worth it though right? V.
What is "crazy expensive"?
Just because my first vehicle was a fast motorcycle in toronto, so Ive yet to see anyone in the comments pay enough to scare me off yet
@@dillonrogers973 The initial insurance quote is $6000 a year until it is converted to an RV. Right now I pay $1200 a year for my suv. I have zero tickets and a super squeaky clean driving record. It would probably be cheaper if I didn't live in Toronto. So far they have not given me any quote for when it is converted to an RV as they will await the appraisal first.
First, just came across this channel. Yeah, bought a ex-military ambulance 1 year ago and it was not the easiest to insure. Thanks to school bus conversion campers forum, I was told to contact an insurance broker directly and managed to find one who was willing to underwrite it as a RV (FYI- I had registered it through the city as a RV before this point so it was effectively a RV). It is ironic that the insurance companies will not insure ex-ambulances even though its a vehicle designed to carry injured people SAFELY from point A to B. So what is the deal? The deal = who are you to convert the ambulance to a camper/RV? Are you a certified electrician/carpenter/plumber who is licensed to make these kind of conversions (this was what I was told by one insurance person when they asked me questions over the phone). Also, be careful what you TH-camrs post because you could lose your insurance (or face fee hikes) if they see what you are doing to your rig. Yeah, my advice is not to give up and call insurance brokers, not the insurance company and their 1-800-too-bd4u phone lines.
Addendum - I believe in being completely honest and open about it because if you make a claim, the insurance company may find out anyway. Remember, the insurance companies like taking the money, not giving it out. Why play with fire and give them an excuse to refuse your claim? I just have liability on mine and I registered it as a RV so insurance is dirt cheap but I was completely honest saying it is was an ambulance. As is indicated in the video, the insurance companies are looking for business.
Can you put another link to that poll? Is it in your about section maybe? Because link is so long that on my tablet it can’t see whole URL. PC is not working, but I can fool it by typing in url thru a browser on iPad & not the app. Done that many times.
It's on the community tab of my channel if you scroll down a bit :)
👍👍👍
Another question is:
Do specific companies insure them?
Is it a state by state issue?
It's state by state and also depends on who you get on the phone :)
I purchased my ambulance last week I had a bit of trouble. I can let you know a national company that will insure.
Yes please share your experience here so future owners can benefit:)
@@TheCampulanceMan direct auto will insure the vehicle. You have to insure the contents separate unless you re-title as an RV. I’m working on that now. More to come…. I look forward to meeting you on our journeys I need a sticker for “The Wondering Zen Den” much love from Satellite Beach, Florida!!
@@werslackers If possible, email me when you've completed that insurance coverage for your vehicle contents. I'm interested in that :) See ya on the road!
I went to progressive online and I never interacted with a human. Later, I upgraded to full coverage and spoke with a rep
don't want to give any wrong information but if you go to get insurance and you leave the word ambulance out of the whole conversation you will most likely get the insurance just tell them you have a van a cutaway or a work truck
Thanks Jeff - that word has gotten some folks in trouble for sure!!
Depends on the state! Mine, no way.
So you got insurance did you use a tag from a different vehicle to drive it home after you brought it from the seller or did you go to the Motor Service Center beforehand to get a temporary tag to drive it?
The guy I bought it from let me leave his tag on for the drive home. I did have ins coverage for the drive.
@@TheCampulanceMan ok my state requires the seller to remove the tag when they sell to private buyer or trade in to a dealer.
@@squidtrader7973 Yes, I mailed his tag back to him. I was planning to drive with no tag, proof of insurance, bill of sale, and title. If pulled over most will allow you to drive on with that proof.
@@TheCampulanceManis this a safe way to do it? I just bought one in NY and need to drive it back to CT, about 6 hours. I can get insurance, bill of sale, and title, but would be a heck of a lot easier if i did not have to get registration sorted beforehand.
@samanthamaxson6409 Carry proof of insurance and bill of sale. If you happen to be stopped you should be ok - just say you just bought it and are taking it to your home state to register it. Insurance is the thing that you need...
appreciate the heads up, here in Canada they make you jump through many hoops and they still consider it high risk and can be very expensive, according my broker. looks like i will be going cargo trailer.
I've heard from other Canadians that had to go through quite a bit of red tape but were able to get insured. I can ask for info from them in an upcoming video to help out...
@@TheCampulanceMan , thanks, that would be helpful.
i was as quoted 6-$8000.00 a year for Commercial insurance from My Insurance Broker, affiliate of CAA. Hours on the phone getting nowhere, and being questioned in a manner to control everything at an absurd level. Clean driving record, with no tickets in past 6 years.
@@sabotage6301 , I did eventually find coverage, basically started asking people who had their rigs listed for sale how they managed to get coverage and went that route, btw I live in Ontario where it is especially difficult to find coverage, hope that helps, good luck.
@@theroadnottaken9378 I'm in Ontario as well. Could you DM me who you went with and what you said / route taken, commercial, RV etc.
I tried to click the link to the poll. It said that I have to do it from my computer... I’m not going to fire up the computer for that..
I have a 2001 Freightliner FL60 Ambulance. I did have a difficult time getting insurance in Arizona. I was able to get it insured through Geico. I had to get a commercial insurance policy until I can get the box converted into an RV. It’s definitely not cheap... Once I can get it titled as an RV, the insurance goes way down.
what is better between geico and progressive ? or do you have another preferred company ? I tried to call like you did and add the ambulance to my insurance , geico told me after they got the VIN that is a commercial vehicle and they have to transfer me to another department that only works over the phone, so I could NOT get a quote online like I usually do. After I talked to an agent she gave me a quote of $2000 per year. And that is liability only and the cheapest they had. Does that price sound good to you ??? for me it was a little expensive if I only go camping couple times a year. Thank you so much for all the videos and info !!!
That is a high price. Tell them its a non-business commercial policy. You should be at 400/yr or less. Stress that you're not using it for business purposes.
I pay $236 per year just liability for $2 mil coverage. I suggest finding an insurance broker who does school bus conversions as they are more common than ambulance conversions - how do you find one? Go to online forums like Skoolies and ask if any one lives in your area and who they talked to to get insurance. Otherwise, call insurance brokers and ask them if they do insurance for converted vehicles to RVs. If the bring up commercial insurance, say ... its for an RV, I am not running a business.
@@TheCampulanceMan yes , I kept on telling them that it's not for business and I will only probably use it couple times a year. I feel like the Geico lady either didn't know what she was doing or was just trying to rip me off. Thank you for the info !
@@alporan9087 Thank you , I appreciate the suggestion !
How much does it cost? Are you paying it monthly or are you paying for it once a year? You have a home base too so what happens if you don't? What happens if you don't tell them that it's an ex-ambulance though and then you get it insured and then get into an accident and then they find out that it's an ex-ambulance?
I was just wondering, How much of the striping and original ambulance paint can you leave on the bus ?
Some ins. companies want lettering removed. The striping is not typically a problem.
Yes no problem for me you have to call around I got progressive
I bought an E450 Ambulance last week and took a gamble on being able to get it insured. I just called my insurance agent and have the exact same conversation with them. Yes, it's a 98 Ford 7.3 Diesel E450 Van with a "box" on the back with only $115k miles. I got a great deal as I wanted the 7.3. The Insurance agent couldn't pull up the VIN in the regular system so that stumped them initially. Then she said basically it would have to go under an RV policy. It could not be added to my regular auto policy. She ran the numbers for an RV and with my coverage level it's costing me $640 for the year. I needed to get it done so I can then go get the title and tag. Im going to have the title as an RV so that I won't have any future problems. Im then going to shop it around and see how much cheaper I can get it. Im also going to be doing some clips of my conversion process to post soon.
Excellent!!!
What company ?
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