Does your insurance co cover your POV with lights and sirens?

[CPDG23]

Let's talk about that 500lb gorilla in the corner....


Vehicle insurance.


It has come to my attention that many smaller departments will not provide any sort of coverage to members responding to emergency calls. Further more, many insurance companies will not cover POV's with lights and sirens without insane premiums or they flat out refuse any coverage.


So, unfortunately it seems that many volunteers across the nation are forced to hang up the blinkies or take great risks in responding, AKA: Get in an accident and lose everything once the lawyers find you.


What is your coverage like?


Does your department cover your response, are you not sure? Is this something that needs to be brought up at your next department meeting?


Are you 100% certain your private insurance covers you while running hot? Just because they don't mention it doesn't mean they will pay if and when the time comes.


This is a very hot topic that needs to be discussed.

 

[firefighter7017]

This is always something I've wondered about. We can't run hot in my state since we only have courtesy lights, but I have been curious as to who covers you guys that are classified as an emergency vehicle.

 

[vonirkinshtine]

This is always something I've wondered about. We can't run hot in my state since we only have courtesy lights, but I have been curious as to who covers you guys that are classified as an emergency vehicle.

I think a big part of it is "does your state classify POVs as 'emergency vehicles' "? Any SC members care to chime in? I'm pretty sure in SC POVs are "emergency vehicles" when used in response to a call for service with lights and siren.

 

[CPDG23]

I think a big part of it is "does your state classify POVs as 'emergency vehicles' "? Any SC members care to chime in? I'm pretty sure in SC POVs are "emergency vehicles" when used in response to a call for service with lights and siren.

I am sure a good rule of thumb is this...


If other vehicles are required by law to yield for you, your vehicle is considered an "emergency vehicle" under the law and as far as underwriters are concerned.


Courtesy lights are not much of a risk as technically they are supposed to be following all the traffic devices, speed, etc...

 

[paff2]

In PA the vehicle insurance is primary. Even though we as chiefs are considered "emergency vehicles" even in our POV. We have our company policy written to cover but were told it can only be secondary. I know some personal insurance carriers will add the extras to your policy but for a fee.

 

[gallagher073]

In September I stuck a deer around 2 a.m. while responding to an ambulance call. (Was not using lights or siren)


The deer did a fair amount of damage, 3K worth. Because it was a comprehensive claim (no fault) our F.D. insurance advised to claim the accident on my private policy and they would reimburse me my deducible. (Which they did)


In the event that I did not carry comprehensive coverage the F.D. insurance company would have paid the claim directly.


While responding (emergency mode or non-emergency) I am covered 100% through our departments insurance. We are even covered while returning home as well.

 

[CHIEFOPS]

My experience as an Allstate policy holder and reviewing other policies over the years is that you are covered as a volunteer ff/ambulance/rescuer if your POV is used for occaisional responses. I think they look at it differently if it's a "marked" vehicle because then it appears to be a full time emergency vehicle.

 

[rwo978]

TSFIYF:thumbsup:

 

[twodogs603]

Geico doesn't assign you points under certain circumstances. One of their exclustions is:


Emergency Use: Accidents involving the operation of a vehicle in response to an emergency if the operator at the time of the accident was responding to a call to duty as a paid or volunteer member of any fire department, first aid squad or other emergency responding agency.

 

[foxtrot5]

So long as I'm in compliance with state laws for emergency lighting/siren use then my personal insurance will cover me. I had to call my insurance company and get it in writing that they would, but they agreed to it. My department does not carry any kind of insurance for members who are responding to or departing the station. We are covered while on station property, while driving/riding the trucks, while operating at scene, and while returning to the station, but NOT in our POVs.

 

[JazzDad]

As defined in the Texas statutes, my POV is an emergency vehicle under some circumstances, and my use of lights and siren is clearly stipulated, as is how I can operate my vehicle. My personal policy covers me. Again, I am not doing this full-time and I am not being paid.


You have to check with your agent because every state and every carrier has different rules and regulations. Write down what your agent tells you, along with the date and time.

 

[CPDG23]

Can those of you that are covered by you personal insurance while running code please tell us who it is you use?


I would love to send some business their way.

 

[chief1562]

Thank God my insurence agent(he owns the franchise) is also a member of our Vol. fire dept.

 

[chief1562]

Can those of you that are covered by you personal insurance while running code please tell us who it is you use?

I would love to send some business their way.

Nationwide

 

[JazzDad]

 

[RobK]

In September I stuck a deer around 2 a.m. while responding to an ambulance call. (Was not using lights or siren)
The deer did a fair amount of damage, 3K worth. Because it was a comprehensive claim (no fault) our F.D. insurance advised to claim the accident on my private policy and they would reimburse me my deducible. (Which they did).

We recently went to this type of situation. The town used to cover 100% on their insurance if anything happened. New folks running the show ended that and we have to use our insurance and they will cover the deductible.


What happens to your rates if you have to make a claim? Yeah, it's great they cover the deductible but will your rate go up if you have to make a claim?

 

[doctorkjt]

does anybody know of an insurance company that will cover a pov/marked, used as my patrol car in texas. its currently under the city insurance, and has exempt plates, and is leased back to the city so it can be registered and used as a patrol car. want to outfit another pov, as an unmarked unit, and use it for another agency, but they wont insure it or register it thru the county....too much red tape. anyways, i can use it for work if i get it insured. i know some constables in texas utilize their cars the very same way, but i cant find out who insures the pov's. any info leading to the obtaining the proper insurance would be met with much enthusiasm and an honest 100 bucks as a reward IF i can get it covered. this is a no BS reward for your help thanks. kt.

 

[JazzDad]

Can't you ask a Constable's deputy in another precinct? Harris county constables have a lot of marked cars with regular plates, so (I assume) they are privately owned.

 

[ryan81986]

does anybody know of an insurance company that will cover a pov/marked, used as my patrol car in texas. its currently under the city insurance, and has exempt plates, and is leased back to the city so it can be registered and used as a patrol car. want to outfit another pov, as an unmarked unit, and use it for another agency, but they wont insure it or register it thru the county....too much red tape. anyways, i can use it for work if i get it insured. i know some constables in texas utilize their cars the very same way, but i cant find out who insures the pov's. any info leading to the obtaining the proper insurance would be met with much enthusiasm and an honest 100 bucks as a reward IF i can get it covered. this is a no BS reward for your help thanks. kt.

Check with some commercial insurance brokers. No personal insurance company is going to cover something like that.

 

[FSEP]

I want to bring this thread back to life... For those of you that run L&S in your pov while responding, do you are or department cover it? If you do, does your insurance department know you run L&S? Did your premium increase or decrease?


This is one of the challenges I'm facing with changing the L&S law in my state, so any help would be nice.

 

[Flashguy]

I locked this a while ago (sorry) But it had some good replies...


http://elightbars.org/forums/f23/auto-insurance-pov-19059/