How do you Wrecker owners insure your truck? - Steel Soldiers::Military Vehicles Supersite

houdel · 02-28-2008, 12:45

With my new M125 wrecker soon to be here, I've already started looking for insurance for it. As a little background, when I insured my Deuce my regular insurance company, Auto Owners, did not offer HMV insurance and wanted to sell me a commercial policy at some $800/year. My local State Farm Agent wrote me a HMV policy for a whopping $150.56/year which included $100,000/$300,000 PL and $100,000 PD, plus collision and comprehensive coverage with a declared value of $6000 for the truck. The policy is written for "Limited use antique/classic". (I know a quite a few of you have HMV insurance for considerably less, but Michigan has some wacky assessments which drive the price up quite a bit).

So I went back to State farm and asked what can you do for my M125 wrecker, with very limited use of the wrecker attachment, as at MV events where another vehicle breaks down and needs a tow.

After some investigation, he said they can write me the same HMV policy with a declared value for the truck of $25,000 for just under $300 per year, but they will not provide wrecker operation coverage. He said I could use the wrecker on my own property for moving my own stuff around, but if I were out in the public using the wrecker and something happened, my tail would be left hanging in the wind.

I asked about limited use wrecker coverage but they don't offer such an animal, only full wrecker coverage at about $1000/month!

Obviously I don't want to spend that kind of money unless I were in the towing business making money at it. Is anyone aware of a "Limited Use/Good Samaritan" wrecker coverage at a more reasonable rate? Especially such a policy which would be valid in Michigan?

No.2Diesel · 02-28-2008, 15:58

Gulfway!!

Recovry4x4 · 02-28-2008, 16:33

I'd not be too worried about it. If you were going to tow something, most of the time it would be on a towbar and that wasn't excluded. Other than that, Gulfway!

joec · 02-28-2008, 18:14

I asked about limited use wrecker coverage but they don't offer such an animal, only full wrecker coverage at about $1000/month

Thats about right for Comm coverage..!

houdel · 02-28-2008, 19:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Recovry4x4

I'd not be too worried about it. If you were going to tow something, most of the time it would be on a towbar and that wasn't excluded. Other than that, Gulfway!

I'll ask him about that. As he put it, the concern was not lifting or winching something, the real concern was that if anything attached to but not a part of my truck in any way broke loose and caused damage, my liability insurance would not cover it. I can only guess the lack of liability coverage would extend to a breakaway of a vehicle on a towbar to even a broken winch cable causing damage while pulling out another MV stuck someplace.

chevycrew · 02-28-2008, 22:25

I would not even ask about tow bars... I would ask if it is OK to tow a "trailer"

73m819 · 02-28-2008, 22:32

i have haggurty for the 819 $108 per year

houdel · 02-28-2008, 23:18

But the big question is, do Gulfway and Haggarty include WRECKER OPERATION liability coverage, not just VEHICLE OPERATION liability coverage? Ask your agent, I would suspect your liability coverage does not include use of either the wrecker boom or your winches! Certainly not for $100-$200 a tear for insurance.

clinto · 02-29-2008, 06:59

Not to hijack Houdel's excellent post (his question is one i have wanted an answer to as well) but this is something the MVPA should be helping us with. They have enough members (= clout) to contact an insurance company and get some kind of insurance that would be applicable in this case.

Macanie · 02-29-2008, 07:34

I have a couple of antique wreckers (49 Studebaker and 55 Dodge ) and have the same trouble. My insurance won't cover anything behind them unless it is on a trailer.