Ted-N-Ruthy
Branch, MI
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Joined: 10/11/2003
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We just set ourselves up with Escapees with a TX address because of what we read about tax advantages. Now I call my insurance agent and am told that TX has the highest motorhome insurance in the US. What have others found for fulltiming rates comparing your prior state to TX? I was told the rate would go from the current $900 for non-fulltime to $1000 for fulltime in NJ then go from the $1000 to about $1700-1800 when going from NJ to TX... Looks like maybe we should have picked SD. Just thought the advantage of Escapees was the factor SD vs TX but missed the insurance costs for the MH. We are now inquiring about auto insurance. TedNRuthy
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Robert McNabb
Sunny San Diego
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Joined: 06/25/2003
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As a longtime observer of NJ insurance problems (I'm an insurance broker) I'd question your agent's statements until/unless he provided a printout of that quote. Have you already obtained your tags and driver's license in Texas? You'll need a TX license in order to obtain TX insurance. Once you get a TX address, tags and driver's license, your NJ agent can't help you unless he's licensed by the TX insurance department.
Your post doesn't really address whether you are "officially" a TX resident. You're still identifying yourself as a NJ resident in your sig.
Bob & Annie in sunny San Diego
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JSowders1
Emery SD
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Joined: 08/31/2002
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I changed from WA to SD and saved about $800 on my premiums for truck and trailer.
2000 1T Ford PSD SC Dually 2WD
2005 Grand Junction 35TMS
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Ted-N-Ruthy
Branch, MI
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Joined: 10/11/2003
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Sorry Bob and J for not replying sooner. We are closing on our house Thursday and this weekend was busy. We are establishing a domicile in either SD or TX using a mail forwarding service address once we are fulltiming starting Friday. As I said I had picked TX but am now questioning this choice verses SD. I am making some calls today to get some more insurance info. I just assumed that once I left NJ my rates would drop almost wherever I went. Any others have any experience with shopping TX verses SD for auto and MH insurance? Thanks TedRuthy
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elh0146
Sioux Falls, SD
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Joined: 01/13/2002
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Ted-N-Ruthy wrote:Sorry Bob and J for not replying sooner. We are closing on our house Thursday and this weekend was busy. We are establishing a domicile in either SD or TX using a mail forwarding service address once we are fulltiming starting Friday. As I said I had picked TX but am now questioning this choice verses SD. I am making some calls today to get some more insurance info. I just assumed that once I left NJ my rates would drop almost wherever I went. Any others have any experience with shopping TX verses SD for auto and MH insurance? Thanks TedRuthy
First, I'm very surprised that you're waiting until AFTER you've sold your house to set up a mail forwarding service! That was something we did about 3 months prior to starting fulltiming so that we had lots of time to notify everyone of our new address (don't forget the IRS!). What happens to your mail between the time you sell your house and when you set up a mail forwarding address?
As for insurance rates, when we started fulltiming, we started out using the Escapees mail service in Livingston, TX. When it was time to purchase new vehicles, we moved to South Dakota because the tax we pay on new vehicles in South Dakota is only 3% compared to Texas' 6-1/4%. We also found that our fulltimers insurance went down when we made the move. Recently (within the last 6 months or so), I checked on insurance rates again for Texas. While the auto insurance on our toad would be about the same in Texas, our fulltimers insurance would have been about $400 per year MORE.
However, I've also read where some people's insurance rates went up when they made the move from Texas to South Dakota, so I think it depends on a number of factors.
What I would suggest, is for you to call several of the insurance agencies that handle several insurance companies and get quotes for both Texas and South Dakota (be prepared to give them at least a Zip Code for each state) for YOUR situation: AON Recreation Insurance; Explorer RV Insurance; Miller RV Insurance. You might also want to contact Foremost Insurance Group and Good Sam VIP (through GMAC).
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WTTCS
freedom , U.S.A.
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Joined: 07/28/2003
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A lot of what I have read here is nonsense.
Im a Texan, have been all my life, I married a lady from Georgia and moved there for 4 years. We had progressive fulltime insurance, moved our residency back to Texas. When I called progressive to change address, I was told that they would have to transfer my file to a Texas office. They did. The rates went up slighty. After settling down, I called around and found that Explorer of Ohio was and IS a lot cheaper for better coverage than Progressive or Geico would quote and write. When questioned about our driver license, I gave my Texas drivers license and she gave her Georgia license. They asked for VINS and NEVER was I asked about base plates. Fact is I kept Georgia plates on my 5er till they expired 9months later. No one has ever requested or demanded that my wife change her license to Texas, however when they expired , she did. Simply walked in , surrendered her license and was issued a Texas license on the spot , no test no nothing but $16.00.
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Kirk
Livingston, Texas.
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Joined: 06/17/2001
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Ted-N-Ruthy,
In actual fact, Texas is about the middle of the fifty states in insurance rates. As I recall, I think that they are # 27. In any case, your agent lied, as most sales people do. As to comparing with SD, when I checked on rates in each state, my insurance total for our motorhome and toad would increase by about $150 per year if we changed to SD. The two are close enough in rates that some people do drop slightly, others like myself increase some. I have not heard of any that saw a major change between the two. The main advantage to SD is the lower sales tax if you buy a new RV. The advantages to Texas are things like Escapees, and Livingston it the only place where you will find people all understand what a fulltimer is and how we live. Texas is the most RV friendly state. Voter registration is easier, and your Escapee address will fill the needs of all state or national government functions. Not true of SD. But it is a close competition. The other state that is also very competitive is Florida, where the Good Sam mail service is located. (My motorhome costs about $850 and the CR-V about $800 per year) I would guess that your pusher will run around $1400, but keep in mind that this will include a fulltimer clause, which I would bet your present insurance agent doesn't have, or even know about!
Good travelin! ........Kirk
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Classagal
Richmond MI
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Joined: 12/09/2003
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Just bought insurance for fulltiming for our 37ft triple slide and it ram us $1300 for the year with Tx address. Is that to high we went with Aon. Progreggive was 1600 anothe insureance was 1500. Any in put would be help full. Is that a average or have we paid to much?
2004 Southwind 37FTC Triple Slide
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Liberty toad 2004
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FullTimin Wannabees
Tennessee
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Joined: 03/01/2005
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Ted & Ruthy - (I copied my answer from Escapees forum over here...)
I have been getting quotes on insurance based on SD and TN with just about every insurance company that people on this forum have recommended, but only two of those thru Texas and with that info...I decided to go with SD. Texas is just way to high for our motorhome coverage...although I would have loved to have Escapees to take care of my mail forwarding, etc. We are still members of Escapees though and intend to stay members...
With that being said...
Here are some comparisons of all the insurance companies quoted -
This was on a 2004 County Coach Allure, 40' motorhome and 2000 Jeep Cherokee Limited
Quoted for Fulltime, All of these were quotes for SD, only getting Texas from two, then discounted Texas due to expense. Several companies told me that Texas was the most expensive for FT insurance. GMAC will write insurance in Texas, but not for fulltime.
GMAC 1-800-325-1190 Least expensive quoted No Texas FULLTIME INS. Available
Explorer 888-774-6778 Next to the least expensive
Farm & City - 800-331-1520 Third least expensive
Miller Insurance - 800-622-6347 Fourth least expensive
Foremost was way out there...
Now since you have different RV and vehicle, your quote will be different and also it will depend on your driving record. They also get your SS# and Bday now and all that has something to do with your quote. I was actually getting dizzy after talking to several companies, due to all the stuff they throw at you. Also, tell them places you are associated with...like Good Sams, FMCA, Escapees, etc. Some agencies give discounts for that. If your vehicles have OnStar, Alarm Systems, etc. that makes a difference.
If you need more info, Private email me and I will be happy to answer what I can.
Class A Gal - You would almost need to call different insurance companies and give them your specific information to get a good idea about costs. Everyone is different...based on different vehicles, etc.
Take care and good luck. Anne
Safe travels,
Anne & Henry
Bandit - Jack Russell Terrier
Ready to be FullTimin
Full Timing Class of 05 - Quartzsite Jan. 06!
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