Well, I'm still in search of reasonably priced plowing insurance- if anyone knows of good companies/brokers for plowing insurnace, please let me know!

Now, my question is, for me to have plowing insurance, does my truck have to be registered as commercial? Right now it just had regular NJ plates.

Thanks,
Matt

How it works in MN, is that you just have to have commercial insurance.

The company that I'm with, as long as plowing is less that 25% of your gross income, you don't need a rider that covers plowing.

 

i dont know how you jersey guys do it becaus eyou have commercial tags but here in pa no the trucks are all im my name and the ins is is my name combined with the biz name

 

How it works in MN, is that you just have to have commercial insurance.

The company that I'm with, as long as plowing is less that 25% of your gross income, you don't need a rider that covers plowing.

Wouldn't happen to be State Farm insurance (that's what I have) would it?

 

Wouldn't happen to be State Farm insurance (that's what I have) would it?

Oh, God. I hope not, but sounds like something they put out.

It sounds good, until you actually need it.

 

In New Jersey, it looks like registration as Commercial is not related to the insurance, but what you use the vehicle for:

You would likely fall under "Code 11": http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/Commercial/Commercialvehicle.htm#11

 

Wouldn't happen to be State Farm insurance (that's what I have) would it?

Absolutely not...

I run through Allied Insurance, a branch of Nationwide Insurance.

They've paid all my claims so far in the 6 years I've run with them.

I've got (2) new trucks listed as commercial, with 500k / 1M limits, about 100k in equipment, a 2M in liability rider, all for about $5500 / year,

So far they've fixed a $2500 claim on a truck, a $1600 window, a $4500 gas station sign and right now fighting a slip and fall at a location that is entirely not my fault, clearly spelled out in the service agreement. I had a special notation in the agreement about an area on a property and the property owners signed off on it.

I would never EVER have State Farm or Allstate.

 

In New Jersey, it looks like registration as Commercial is not related to the insurance, but what you use the vehicle for:

You would likely fall under "Code 11": http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/Commercial/Commercialvehicle.htm#11

GOOD POST MICK!

And i am with you on statefarm,

You might try to go to a underwrighter (agent) someone that quotes several differ companies

 

GOOD POST MICK!

And i am with you on statefarm,

You might try to go to a underwrighter (agent) someone that quotes several differ companies

That's what I do... every year I call him up and ask "Is my company still cheap??" He usually says yes, however there are times when certain insurance companies are targeting different types of clients, so you'll get a break on certain coverage.

We were with a certain company for our personal use vehicles, Progressive was always about $500 / year more. Then 2 years ago, Progressive came in at $450 / year less, so we switched.

You should always check, but not switch yearly.

 

i thought its called state fraud

 

i dont have commercial auto right now. i have a few quotes for commercial. dont have commerical plates.
called my current company yesterday and asked them what would happen if i banged in someones garage door and didnt have commercial insurance. she said the homeowner wouldnt be liable but they werent sure if they would be liable or not either. depended on if i filed taxes as a business and how many accounts i had etc.etc. and that she would have a claims specialist get back to me. they never called back.
found this little law on the books of my state.

Title 24-A: MAINE INSURANCE CODE
Chapter 39: CASUALTY INSURANCE CONTRACTS
Subchapter 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS

§2903. Liability absolute when loss occurs

The liability of every insurer which insures any person against accidental loss or damage on account of personal injury or death or on account of accidental damage to property shall become absolute whenever such loss or damage, for which the insured is responsible, occurs. The rendition of a final judgment against the insured for such loss or damage shall not be a condition precedent to the right or obligation of the insurer to make payment on account of such loss or damage.

comments? (im sure ill get a couple)

 

Firstly it depends on the law of the jurisdiction but,

If you are fibbing to your insurance company they have the right to cancel the policy.

They have a right of 'subrogation'
Roughly that means that, yes, they will pay the money to the person injured or the property damaged BUT having done that they will go after the person responsible.

NOW if you have fibbed to them and not told them that you are plowing with that pick-up truck you bought for personal use, you no longer have a contract with them ('cause you lied to them) and they will be coming back after you for the pay-out. (In another life I used to be a subrogation officer at an insurance company and would hunt down low-life that would screw around on their policies and collect back from them the money paid to the innocent injuried person.)

In regards to the Maine statute it means that you don't have to sue somebody in court just to get the money back. eg Mrs Smith won't be pleased that she had to go to small claims court, waste a day just to collect for the $65 window you broke with your baseball, just admit that you broke the window and get on with it.

 

Thank you, heather lawn spray. There are many posts on this subject. So, would you say if someone has Commercial insurance and personal registration (not commercial plates), they have effectively "lied" to the insurance company and, by not having commercial plates, would be a good reason for the insurance company to deny the claim?

 

Again depending on the exact rules of the jurisdiction and the procedures of the company, generally they don't care if the vehicle is commercial or not ie if one uses a car for business (travelling salesman) it doesn't need commercial plates BUT it should have a commercial policy.

All they are interested in is collecting the right amount of premium for the risk there are taking

Think about it. Spending half an hour driving back and forth to work is probably alot less risky than 12 hour in a snow storm battering things with the plow

Commercial plates or not are the jurisdiction of the state or province

If you will note on the application the insurer doesn't ask for the plates just the VIN

 

My insurer doesn't care how the truck is registered only what it is and what it is used for.

 

Thank you, heather lawn spray. There are many posts on this subject. So, would you say if someone has Commercial insurance and personal registration (not commercial plates), they have effectively "lied" to the insurance company and, by not having commercial plates, would be a good reason for the insurance company to deny the claim?

Minnesota doesn't have commercial plates.

Only that the vehicle has commecial insurance is what matters.

I pay roughly $2,000 / year to insure my trucks. My wife's minivan is now down to $400 / year.

If I put my truck on a personal policy, then I would save myself about $1500 / year, but the first time I hit someone with a plow on, pulling a trailer, that would be the end.

 

mkwl, you live in NJ, rates have to be as bad as where i live in NY.it hasn't even snowed enough in this area to afford insurance.i checked with some local agents, as soon as you mention plowing , they say sorry we don't insure that..or the policy is so high that plowing isn't worth the time and effort.bigger plowing operation i assume can afford it because they have many accounts mostly commercial.

 

I live near you and I just started plowing last year. First many insurance companies will give you a hard time saying you have to be 25 to open a commercial account and plow. Yea I know thats rediculous, thats what I said to them. Your about my age correct? Im 19. I found that Progressive commercial is very good, as long as your 18 they said no problem. Thats why I went with them. As for the commercial plates and registration that just goes with hand and hand with the commercial insurance. Just go to the mvc and show them your commercial insurance, they will give you commercial plates, no questions asked. And the registration will not be commercial until the following year when its renewed( they charge double of a regular registration something like $115). That pissed me off haha, well what you going to do. O and tell me about that amber light permit, when you get it im curious. Hope this helps a lot.

Mike

 

We need commercial liability ins for the type work we do.
I/we are wrong to call it commercial vehicle ins.
Your /our plow trucks do not meet the requirements.
If your vehicle does have commercial plates you will need a CDL, and a log book limiting you to 11hrs behind the wheel.

MN traffic law definitions,
169.01
Subd. 75. Commercial motor vehicle. (a) "Commercial motor vehicle" means a motor
vehicle or combination of motor vehicles used to transport passengers or property if the motor
vehicle:
(1) has a gross vehicle weight of more than 26,000 pounds;
(2) has a towed unit with a gross vehicle weight of more than 10,000 pounds and the
combination of vehicles has a combined gross vehicle weight of more than 26,000 pounds;
(3) is a bus;
(4) is of any size and is used in the transportation of hazardous materials that are required to
be placarded under Code of Federal Regulations, title 49, parts 100-185; or
(5) is outwardly equipped and identified as a school bus, except for type A-I and type III
school buses as defined in subdivision 6.
(b) For purposes of chapter 169A:
(1) a commercial motor vehicle does not include a farm truck, an authorized emergency
vehicle, or a recreational vehicle being operated by a person within the scope of section 171.02,
subdivision 2 , paragraph (b); and
(2) a commercial motor vehicle includes a vehicle capable of or designed to meet the
standards described in paragraph (a), clause (2), whether or not the towed unit is attached to the
truck-tractor at the time of the violation or stop

Commercial plates are not needed for our plow trucks .

 

Firstly it depends on the law of the jurisdiction but,

If you are fibbing to your insurance company they have the right to cancel the policy.

They have a right of 'subrogation'
Roughly that means that, yes, they will pay the money to the person injured or the property damaged BUT having done that they will go after the person responsible.

NOW if you have fibbed to them and not told them that you are plowing with that pick-up truck you bought for personal use, you no longer have a contract with them ('cause you lied to them) and they will be coming back after you for the pay-out. (In another life I used to be a subrogation officer at an insurance company and would hunt down low-life that would screw around on their policies and collect back from them the money paid to the innocent injuried person.)

In regards to the Maine statute it means that you don't have to sue somebody in court just to get the money back. eg Mrs Smith won't be pleased that she had to go to small claims court, waste a day just to collect for the $65 window you broke with your baseball, just admit that you broke the window and get on with it.

i dont fib to my insurance company at all. i tell them i plow snow. i tell them i did plow commercial/industrial lots and now i work other jobs so im only plowing some driveways. nothing big that is my main source of income. they tell me it wouldnt be worth me buying a commercial policy unless im running many accounts and is a main source of income. i ask them if i hit something will they cover it. they say they arent worried about me plowing my family/friends that they are concerned over other people. they dont respond over if they will cover it or not. they also only have vehicles listed without plows on my id cards. ive talked to them on four occasions. doesnt seem to be going very far. the agent i talked to last time said she knows lots of people that plow without commercial insurance and between her and me she wouldnt worry about it. she also said she didnt handle commercial policy so if i decided to go back under commercial she couldnt help me. i could keep the same company but she wouldnt be the one servicing my account. i hope she logs down every time i tell them i plow snow and when i bought the last truck that i told them it had a snowplow. course if i had a accident the logs of my snowplowing would probably get erased from the computer.
lie to the insurance company? your kidding right? they are the masters of the game. lol

 

i ask them if i hit something will they cover it. they say they arent worried about me plowing my family/friends that they are concerned over other people. they dont respond over if they will cover it or not. they also only have vehicles listed without plows on my id cards. ive talked to them on four occasions. doesnt seem to be going very far. the agent i talked to last time said she knows lots of people that plow without commercial insurance and between her and me she wouldnt worry about it. she also said she didnt handle commercial policy so if i decided to go back under commercial she couldnt help me. .
lie to the insurance company? your kidding right? they are the masters of the game. lol

You need a new agent as she is lying to you.
You can only plow your own property not your "friends" also....
Your agent is no master of her profession.

Give this guy a call, tell him SnoFarmer sent you...
Matt Gustafson
Lake Superior Agency
217 N 59th Ave W
Duluth, MN 55807
(218) 624-7730 x201
fax (218) 624-1964

You need ins to plow even if you plow for free.

 

We need commercial liability ins for the type work we do.
I/we are wrong to call it commercial vehicle ins.
Your /our plow trucks do not meet the requirements.
If your vehicle does have commercial plates you will need a CDL, and a log book limiting you to 11hrs behind the wheel.

MN traffic law definitions,
169.01
Subd. 75. Commercial motor vehicle. (a) "Commercial motor vehicle" means a motor
vehicle or combination of motor vehicles used to transport passengers or property if the motor
vehicle:
(1) has a gross vehicle weight of more than 26,000 pounds;
(2) has a towed unit with a gross vehicle weight of more than 10,000 pounds and the
combination of vehicles has a combined gross vehicle weight of more than 26,000 pounds;
(3) is a bus;
(4) is of any size and is used in the transportation of hazardous materials that are required to
be placarded under Code of Federal Regulations, title 49, parts 100-185; or
(5) is outwardly equipped and identified as a school bus, except for type A-I and type III
school buses as defined in subdivision 6.
(b) For purposes of chapter 169A:
(1) a commercial motor vehicle does not include a farm truck, an authorized emergency
vehicle, or a recreational vehicle being operated by a person within the scope of section 171.02,
subdivision 2 , paragraph (b); and
(2) a commercial motor vehicle includes a vehicle capable of or designed to meet the
standards described in paragraph (a), clause (2), whether or not the towed unit is attached to the
truck-tractor at the time of the violation or stop

Commercial plates are not needed for our plow trucks .

Fine fine fine.... I can get technical too, you're right, it's not called "Commercial Vehicle" insurance.

It's a policy that covers my vehicle for commercial uses. also it covers more than just myself if someone else is driving the vehicle.

Is that better???

 

Fine fine fine.... I can get technical too, you're right, it's not called "Commercial Vehicle" insurance.

It's a policy that covers my vehicle for commercial uses. also it covers more than just myself if someone else is driving the vehicle.

Is that better???

Wellxysport xysport

It will only cover the other people if they are "listed" on the policy as a driver.

 

Wellxysport xysport

It will only cover the other people if they are "listed" on the policy as a driver.

Not so... they covered the gas station sign when my dad backed into it plowing.

They were told he was plowing. He's not listed on the policy at all.

Only me, and I have 3 trucks listed, (2) 2006 and a 1999 Dodge. If it was a problem, the ins. company would be all over me.

I've been audited twice in 6 years with this company, where they send you a form, you have to fill out all the info of equipment, etc., much like a list the bank wants to keep on file.

 

You need a new agent as she is lying to you.
You can only plow your own property not your "friends" also....
Your agent is no master of her profession.

Give this guy a call, tell him SnoFarmer sent you...
Matt Gustafson
Lake Superior Agency
217 N 59th Ave W
Duluth, MN 55807
(218) 624-7730 x201
fax (218) 624-1964

You need ins to plow even if you plow for free.

nope. all set. i just gave my other halfs (girlfriends) sister a call and asked her. shes a agent also.
she said:

a. they have to cover whatever damage/injury is done when the plow is on the truck just as if it wasnt. once its attached to the truck its covered. (at least in maine). even when on a personal policy. if im plowing her driveway (the agent)this winter and hit her car. my insurance has to cover it and it is not optional.
b. the insurance company cant come back on me for any claims paid as long as the vehicle isnt registered commercial or to a business entity, a business advertisement is not on the side of the vehicles, i do not advertise in the phone book for snowplowing, i do not advertise in newspapers or anything else and it is not considered a separate business entity beyond myself.
c. many people in the state have snowplows. a snowplow on a vehicle is a assumed liability meaning its assumed that the owner will plow snow and the insurance company is required to accept that liability if they are to take on a policy in which the policy holder notifiys them that the vehicle has a snowplow.

she also said the reason my insurance i have now wont come out and say they will cover it (which they have no choice to by law they have too) is because they dont want to encourage claims on a personal policy for snowplowing. but they will cover it. and i shouldnt worry about it. the most that may happen is they could not renew the policy. shes put through claims before on snowplowing damage/accidents on a personal policy.

so no. im not getting the commercial insurance back. keep in mind though that im not really running twenty trucks like some of the guys on this board, im not doing commercial, and this is really more entertainment for me than anything else.

 

nope. all set. i just gave my other halfs (girlfriends) sister a call and asked her. shes a agent also.
she said:

a. they have to cover whatever damage/injury is done when the plow is on the truck just as if it wasnt. once its attached to the truck its covered. (at least in maine). even when on a personal policy. if im plowing her driveway (the agent)this winter and hit her car. my insurance has to cover it and it is not optional.

You are not covered and they do not have to cover you.
You need to ask a proper ?'s

b. the insurance company cant come back on me for any claims paid as long as the vehicle isnt registered commercial or to a business entity, a business advertisement is not on the side of the vehicles, i do not advertise in the phone book for snowplowing, i do not advertise in newspapers or anything else and it is not considered a separate business entity beyond myself.

If you plow regardless if you have a business or advertise.
You are setting your self up for a big fall.
You can be sued and have to pay fro every thing your self.
They will take every thing you have.
GET a CLUE.

c. many people in the state have snowplows. a snowplow on a vehicle is a assumed liability meaning its assumed that the owner will plow snow and the insurance company is required to accept that liability if they are to take on a policy in which the policy holder notifiys them that the vehicle has a snowplow.

BULL.

she also said the reason my insurance i have now wont come out and say they will cover it (which they have no choice to by law they have too) is because they dont want to encourage claims on a personal policy for snowplowing. but they will cover it. and i shouldnt worry about it. the most that may happen is they could not renew the policy.

Bull

so no. im not getting the commercial insurance back. keep in mind though that im not really running twenty trucks like some of the guys on this board, im not doing commercial, and this is really more entertainment for me than anything else.

1 or 100 trucks it does not matter.

IF you plow residential drives or Parking lots or roads
it is COMMERCIAL work..............
If you are for hire or you plow on someone else property even for FREE you need INS as your GL, INS will not cover you ..........

"my other halfs (girlfriends) sister" or not.

"and this is really more entertainment for me than anything else."

Then your "opinion" means nothing.

You are a hazard.
You should not be plowing.