Insurance tractor voids insurance?

rollbar · Apr 21, 2006

I own a 4520 jd. use it for landscasping and general use in my carpenter trade,I recently was at my farm bureau insurance agency and i was informed that parking my tractor in my detached two car garage voided my insurance coverage on the building. they said i had to insure the garage as farm use and not a homeowner's "other structure" to insure the 24 x 24 building it would cost 200.00 a yearand would cover the 15,000.00 building. they told me to park it outside and my home owner's would cover up to 19,000.00 on the building! man what a bummer! only have a 1 acre lot!
anybody know what their homeowner's policy covers as far as parking a tractor in a separate garage?

Farwell · Apr 21, 2006

Time to search for a new insurance company.
IMO
Farwell

Ryno1 · Apr 22, 2006

Not sure what's going on with your insurance, I have Shelter and the agent prefers that I park the tractor and my boat in the barn (no garage).

8561 · Apr 22, 2006

( Time to search for a new insurance company.
IMO
Farwell )

Standard ISO (Insurance Services Office, writer of the standard homeowners policy used by the majority of companies) policy language states that any detached structure used in connection with a business is not covered by a homeowner's policy and must be insured commercially. Storing business related property (the tractor) means the garage is used in connection with the business, meaning no coverage. Check your policy, it will say the same thing.

Pooh_Bear · Apr 22, 2006

I use my 8N tractor mostly for just mowing my yard.
Move a little dirt sometimes. Mostly stuff you would do with a lawn tractor.
Nothing I have is used for commercial purposes of any type.
Wonder what that would do to my insurance.

Pooh Bear

8561 · Apr 22, 2006

Not a thing. Assuming you have a standard homeowners policy, you're all set.

dmccarty · Apr 24, 2006

8561,

( Not a thing. Assuming you have a standard homeowners policy, you're all set. )

Don't bet on it. Check the policy. Call the agent and/or company. My homeowners policy did NOT cover the tractor. With two different companies. I suspect this differs from state to state and company to company. My tractor has a policy for coverage. This is a home use tractor not something use for a business.

Later,
Dan

8561 · Apr 24, 2006

I'd love to see the denial letter or the basis for denial. I've yet to see a homeowner's policy that didn't cover a "motorized land conveyance used to service the property." The only issues I've ever seen were business or farm use, and the 2000 edition of the homeowner's policy says the tractor must be used "solely" to service your property. In other words, if you use it on someone else's property is will void coverage on the new form. I've adjusted claims in four states, although not in NC. I can't imagine what other limitations are in a policy that eliminates coverage for a vehicle that services a home.

Having said all that, it is always the best idea to check with your agent.

AndyMA · Apr 24, 2006

I lost a bunch of tractor equipment to a barn fire in Mass. The adjuster asked me if it was used commercially and I said no. He asked me to get a quote from my dealer on replacement value and repair cost which I did. He reviewed it then wrote me a check for the depreciated value and let me keep the burned but still usuable equipment. When I purched new equipment and submitted receipts I received the remainder of the replacement value.

Andy