How do you insure your skoolie? Skoolie insurance is one of the most common questions people have when about bus life. It can be a bit tricky since your vehicle is not only a traditional bus, RV, or house and instead lies somewhere in between.
Will insurance cover personal belongings inside my school bus? Will they cover a self-built skoolie? Will they cover the bus if I live in it full-time?
Not to mention, many insurance companies have certain terms for school bus conversions. In this post, we’ll break down exactly what you need to know, along with a few insurance estimates and examples from a variety of other bus lifers. Let’s begin!
Keep Record of Every Purchase for the Bus
During your build, it’s very important that you keep all of your receipts and records of everything that goes into your bus. Many people will get caught up on only recording the bigger purchases rather than the small ones. However, those small ones add up over time and it’s equally necessary to report those too.
This step is something you’ll need to provide to the insurance company. When building a skoolie you can make a simple spreadsheet that keeps track of every purchase or return made so that it’s logged. It helps to break every section of your bus build down into categories as well. The more organized you are with every penny, the easier it will be when talking with your insurance company.
Take Pictures of Your Bus Conversion Build
In addition to the spreadsheet with a detailed breakdown of expenses, many companies will ask for pictures of your school bus conversion. Even if they don’t ask for photos it’s a good idea to take them for your own personal records in case you need them. The key areas to take pictures include:
- Interior (every angle possible)
- Exterior (every angle possible)
- Roof racks
- Bumpers
- Any color changes
- The full finished product
This is for the underwriting department so that they can identify the quality of work done along with all the proper records.
Register Your Bus as a Motorhome
Rewriting your insurance policy from auto insurance to a motorhome accounts for the pure cost of your bus, not including the labor that goes into it.
This does differ if you outsource and hire a company to complete the project, as then you would have an invoice paid to quantify the labor.
However, when done as a self-built skoolie, none of the labor is insured. If anything were to happen to your conversion bus, then you would only get the insurance payout for the cost of the materials and your bus.
How to Register Your Bus as a Motorhome
To say the least, it’s a bit of a process to get a commercial vehicle and retitle it as a private recreational vehicle. According to Rolling Vistas, it took them 10 months from the time they bought their school bus to get a Colorado license plate.
This process is different in every state, and what may be true for some, may not be true for you. This is why it’s important to contact your local DMV to get an idea of what you need to do. For example, some states will allow you to keep the bus yellow, while other states will require you to paint it.
To change your bus’s registration from a commercial vehicle to an RV, you’ll need to do a few things at your state’s DMV:
- VIN verification
- Certified weight slip (local cat scales are great for this)
- Emissions test
- Statement of changes from a bus to motorhome
In order for your bus to be classified as a motorhome, it needs to have 4 out of 6 following qualifying items (these may vary by state):
- Freshwater/sink
- Toilet
- Power/gas
- Refrigerator or icebox
- Cooking area
- Heating/AC
Insurance Options for Bus Lifers and RVers
Your home on wheels has a few different options when it comes to insurance. It’s best to talk with an agent to figure out the right choice for you, however, these are a few popular options many bus lifers go with.
Car Insurance
By going with traditional car insurance for your skoolie, you’re not accounting for the work done to the bus. However, you can add additional coverage (say $15,000) that is in addition to cover your modifications. Due to the fact that school buses were used for commercial use before, it may be difficult to even register for this type of insurance.
This one is a fine line for coverage, and make sure that you are open and honest with your insurance agent. You do NOT want to say your bus conversion is only a work bus, as that would be insurance fraud. Not to mention, you may not get paid if you were to get in a wreck, or have full coverage.
Renters Insurance
Renters insurance is a great way to insure all of your personal belongings. In order to take advantage of renters insurance in an RV or bus, you need to have a physical address you can keep on record. Many people use their family’s house, and then this insurance covers all belongings anywhere in the world. It’s quite affordable and comprehensive for all your stuff inside the bus.
RV Insurance
To utilize RV insurance, your bus does need to be registered as a motorhome (as stated previously). This is the best option for a bus as it’s cheaper than regular car insurance, and you have the benefits of RV coverage. That includes the build-out of the materials inside your bus (as long as it’s logged). Many people opt to go with Good Sam Insurance, however, they won’t cover a self-built bus, only RVs.
Personal Articles Insurance
Another type of insurance that covers your belongings is personal articles insurance. This will insure your stuff for anywhere from $10,000 to $25,000 worth depending on your policy. This includes luggage and personal items such as clothing, shoes, cookware, and other miscellaneous items. This is great for people with expensive camera gear or equipment as well that need the higher end of the coverage range.
Skoolie Insurance Quote Examples
Keep in mind that these scenarios are subject to change over time. Prices, companies, and laws may differ for you and by state and country. Be sure to do your own due diligence when selecting the best insurance that fits your personal needs. Here’s the list of examples from fellow bus lifers:
| Who | Insurance Company | Quote |
| Chad L Brown | State Farm | School Bus Title: $180/month |
| ColaVentures | State Farm | RV: $28/month |
| Living ZEAL | Geico | RV: $50/month |
Conclusion
It is possible to get insurance for your skoolie. The best route to take is to talk with an insurance agent to detail your specific situation. By only going for an auto policy online, you may not be getting full coverage in the event of a total loss.
In addition, it’s important that your bus fits the standards for RV insurance in your state if you want to go that route. You can register your bus as a motorhome and then get RV insurance.
It can be challenging to find a company that will insure a DIY school bus conversion. An insurance policy is possible as shown in the examples, yet you’ll need to find a company in your area that meets your needs.