Off road insurance coverage?

[Jeepeto]

I had a 2013 JTUR w/35s and wheels +2in lift + Gobi rack + a few other minor mods. I'm in NJ and insured through Geico. I didn't think about getting modifications insurance and fortunately I never had to use it. I sold that and bought a 2020 Jeep Gladiator (JTUR) which had more mods...37s setup w2.5in lift, king coil shocks/lift, warn winch, bed rack, sliders and armor and a few minor mods that added to about $15k in mods. Geico insured this based on VIN but after owning it for a bit I decided I should get modifications insurance. Geico didn't know what to do at first but finally I found someone to take a list of the modifications and value. My added premium was only about $115/yr and all was fine for 6 months.

I just received a letter from Geico stating that they won't insure my JTUR anymore because "The following Acceptance Criteria was not met: Unacceptable Vehicle Type". In summary their reason is "The insured auto is modified or changed in conditions so as to increase the risk substantially."

I know this doesn't relate to the off-road coverage debate but I found it odd that they initially insured it but then later decided it wasn't worth the risk (which to me indicates (but doesn't prove) that they think I was taking it off-road). BTW, I also have 3 other cars, a boat and a motorcycle insured through them. I guess I'm shopping.

This seems overly complicated to me. Boo Geico. I walked into Allstate and requested $25k extra insurance and they didn’t so much as ask for a receipt or list of mods or anything. If you’re paying the premium why wont they cover it. That’s stupid.

Also, I’d try to ask for your money back for the last 6 months of extra modification coverage. Just on principal

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[Muddzy]

This seems overly complicated to me. Boo Geico. I walked into Allstate and requested $25k extra insurance and they didn’t so much as ask for a receipt or list of mods or anything. If you’re paying the premium why wont they cover it. That’s stupid.

Also, I’d try to ask for your money back for the last 6 months of extra modification coverage. Just on principal

Agree with stupid and complicated. That's why I think they believe I'm going off-road with it - they think that increases the risk too much. When I called Geico they basically said the agent shouldn't have covered the modifications (winch and larger tires were the triggers) but they didn't catch it until underwriting reviewed it. I'm fully covered for all mods until the termination date.

BTW, in all other aspects in the over 13yrs I've been with them, Geico has been great. but they definitely are not mod friendly in NJ.

 

[AcesandEights]

I had a 2013 JTUR w/35s and wheels +2in lift + Gobi rack + a few other minor mods. I'm in NJ and insured through Geico. I didn't think about getting modifications insurance and fortunately I never had to use it. I sold that and bought a 2020 Jeep Gladiator (JTUR) which had more mods...37s setup w2.5in lift, king coil shocks/lift, warn winch, bed rack, sliders and armor and a few minor mods that added to about $15k in mods. Geico insured this based on VIN but after owning it for a bit I decided I should get modifications insurance. Geico didn't know what to do at first but finally I found someone to take a list of the modifications and value. My added premium was only about $115/yr and all was fine for 6 months.

I just received a letter from Geico stating that they won't insure my JTUR anymore because "The following Acceptance Criteria was not met: Unacceptable Vehicle Type". In summary their reason is "The insured auto is modified or changed in conditions so as to increase the risk substantially."

I know this doesn't relate to the off-road coverage debate but I found it odd that they initially insured it but then later decided it wasn't worth the risk (which to me indicates (but doesn't prove) that they think I was taking it off-road). BTW, I also have 3 other cars, a boat and a motorcycle insured through them. I guess I'm shopping.

It's not so much the use, but the risk in covering your mods. They are probably asking themselves if they can insure it as an actual cash value or a stated value policy. There are different types of policies and not all insurers issue both of those types; I'm not sure GEICO issue stated value policies. They probably looked at the list of mods and thought, hmmm, if that gets totaled, how are we going to make him whole. You probably get that every vehicle comes with a bumper...so how much value does an aftermarket bumper add? Every vehicle comes with four wheels and tires, so how much does four aftermarket wheels and tires add. If it adds what you say it adds, what you paid for the mods, that's not a typical policy, even with an aftermarket "rider". That's a stated value policy, and there are fewer insurers of stated value, and they are handled differently. I bet GEICO looked at the policy that was written, and yes, it would have been six month later when it renewed not when it was written, and said, whoa, we can't insure this the way he thinks he's insured.

 

[Jeepeto]

It's not so much the use, but the risk in covering your mods. They are probably asking themselves if they can insure it as an actual cash value or a stated value policy. There are different types of policies and not all insurers issue both of those types; I'm not sure GEICO issue stated value policies. They probably looked at the list of mods and thought, hmmm, if that gets totaled, how are we going to make him whole. You probably get that every vehicle comes with a bumper...so how much value does an aftermarket bumper add? Every vehicle comes with four wheels and tires, so how much does four aftermarket wheels and tires add. If it adds what you say it adds, what you paid for the mods, that's not a typical policy, even with an aftermarket "rider". That's a stated value policy, and there are fewer insurers of stated value, and they are handled differently. I bet GEICO looked at the policy that was written, and yes, it would have been six month later when it renewed not when it was written, and said, whoa, we can't insure this the way he thinks he's insured.

Seems like they should figure out how to make it work. Clearly, OP is considering shopping around to find a new policy that will cover his rig. It may need to be insured in a different way, under a different policy, and maybe at a different cost. But to flat out tell a customer, "hey, we can't do it" seems like a good way to lose customers.

Just my 0.02$

 

[AcesandEights]

True, but not all insurers provide all types of policies, because they can't (regulatorily or profit-wise). In most states, insurers have to have their policy types and rates approved by the state. Because insurance is state-specific, that means every state can be just a little different, so insurers have to figure out how to make a profit while providing 50+ (consumer and commercial) policies and rate structures. It's nuts the hoops insurance companies have to go through to even provide a policy in each state. It's not a very profitable business modeland only works because most states "require" insurance so there is a captive customer-base and enough customers to provide a small profit-margin that generates a large amount of dollars.

 

[Jeepeto]

True, but not all insurers provide all types of policies, because they can't (regulatorily or profit-wise). In most states, insurers have to have their policy types and rates approved by the state. Because insurance is state-specific, that means every state can be just a little different, so insurers have to figure out how to make a profit while providing 50+ (consumer and commercial) policies and rate structures. It's nuts the hoops insurance companies have to go through to even provide a policy in each state. It's not a very profitable business modeland only works because most states "require" insurance so there is a captive customer-base and enough customers to provide a small profit-margin that generates a large amount of dollars.

Fair enough. You clearly know more about the workings of the industry than I do. I’m just chirping from the sidelines. It’s frustrating from the customers side of this. You’d think if anyone could figure out how to do this the companies who make the policies would be the ones to do it.

?‍ Oh well, hope @Muddzy finds someone who will take his money.

 

[Muddzy]

I definitely don't know how the insurance industry works. But interestingly enough, when I called Geico to get the mods insured I asked them if I'm supposed to give them the retail value or the added cost value of the mods. It made sense to me to only have to insure the value over stock OEM. The guy didn't seem sure but finally said the added cost value over stock. So I gave him the additional cost of 37s over 33s, extra cost of king coil suspension over stock JTUR suspension, etc along with installation cost if the mods installation was more, or extra. The only non-stock items requiring full value were the winch, bedrack and a few other misc mods. But of course it didn't seem to matter how we assessed it. Like Jeepeto said, it seems stupid because all I have is a more expensive auto so why can't I get simply pay more to get covered for it? My only reasoning is because these specific mods make them they think I go off-road and that's a flag to underwriting.

 

[AcesandEights]

Off roading isn't (typically) an excluded act; although competition (racing) probably is.

 

[OutdoorGrant]

Be aware that you should be covered as long as you are on a road where street vehicles are permitted.

Most off-road trails in western US require a street-legal vehicle registration —i.e., a valid license plate— to be on them. By extension, they are considered regular roads like any other.

This is on the trail closest to me. Notice white sign that reads: “Non Street Lincensed Vehicles Prohibited on National Forest Roads.” Meaning, you need to be on a street legal vehicle to be on it. This is inside the Federally regulated Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.

Is there good wheeling on that road? I only drove it once up to the lakes (back when I had a cabin in Glacier).

 

[LDYDRVN]

There you have it: mall crawlers are in fact off-roading!

Who knew? ?

Wahoo, time to get my 1st badge ?

 

[SilentWorker]

Property damage liability coverage may cover repairs to another person's property if it was damaged in an accident involving your SUV. Comprehensive insurance will insure your SUV against damage caused by circumstances other than collision, such as theft or hail. Also, if you are injured in an SUV accident, the costs associated with your injury will be covered regardless of who is at fault. This is only the main list of what this insurance applies to, you can read the full list on Agile Rates.

 

[J_Winslow]

I rolled my TJ a full 360 in Harland Kentucky and just said it was raining and it slind down from the cabin to the field below... they honored the coverage cause I was at a "camp ground" which was true.

 

[AcesandEights]

That's the first time I've heard of campground coverage. Seems they'd have covered it if you told them the truth too, since it's just a collision loss.

 

[RKB]

3 years ago in Ouray I rented a Rubicon you had to get them copy of insurance. My agent had told me I was not covered off road with Pekin Insurance but rental company in Ouray said no problem all the mountain passes are county roads so you will be covered.

Also I know of 2 Lexus GX that wrecked on Hells Gate when one rolled back and smashed in to the other one. Both were covered by insurance.

 

[spartacus216]

This topic has been discussed here before. I'm not sure I would be taking insurance advice from the internet. I'm gonna go out on a limb here but, if you are worried about insurance covering your jeep off road you prolly shouldn't be taking your jeep offroad.

A responsible person PLANS for the unexpected. So, these are great questions.

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