Attention: State Farm Insured Owners - Off Road Use

**Crawlin95** · 01-07-2009, 10:52 AM

This is a must read for everyone who has State Farm Insurance and use their vehicle off road.

Quick Disclaimer: I am providing all the information I have found through my research. I believe I have all the facts but this is mainly an FYI for all owners to double check their policy. Also, by no means, would I use insurance for something small that I broke having fun in my FJ, however if something major did happen, a claim would be filed.

It started out as a simple question to my agent asking if they covered off road issues. The initial answer was "yes, but we won't cover any towing if you are not on a mapped road". I was happy with this answer and went on my way until I got a call from her a few days later. Turns out she called the claims office just to double check.

Edit, Also, I asked about the "pleasure vs. competition" differance and was told both were changed in the policy update 8 months ago. Sorry, forgot to add this.

Claims told her that used to be the policy but about 8 months ago, they changed it. They said "If you intentionally take the vehicle off road and break something or even total it, the policy holder is liable for the full bill.” Well that concerned me so I posted a thread here asking a few questions. Everyone told me, including some insured by State Farm, that they would be covered no matter what. Some even called their agents to double check.

With this info, I pushed back on my agent as well as called the claims office myself and spoke with a manager there. Both confirmed what my agent originally told me regarding zero coverage for off road use.

Now, roughly two months out from my next trail ride, I want to insure coverage so I’m looking to change my insurance to something that will stand behind me if something major happens. It sucks as I have auto, home, and life insurance through State Farm and have been with them for almost 15 years now. My parents have been with them 25+ years as well.

Even if the 4 or 5 people plus the agent are wrong that I spoke with, I have no desire to try to fight this if something were to happen, so......any suggestions on companies before I start shopping around? USAA?

Insurance Info:
Full coverage for almost 15 years through State Farm.
I have multi-line and multi-car discounts as well.
Policy is held in Memphis, TN but I was told this was a national State Farm Change, not local.

cwillis · 01-07-2009, 11:22 AM

I just called my State Farm agent and she said that as long as it was for "pleasure" and not "competition" i would be covered. But when i get home i'm going to read the fine print.

**Crawlin95** · 01-07-2009, 11:23 AM

Quote:

cwillis previously said:

I just called my State Farm agent and she said that as long as it was for "pleasure" and not "competition" i would be covered. But when i get home i'm going to read the fine print.

Thats one thing I forgot to add, I asked this same question and they said both pleasure and competition have both been changed in the policy update 8 months ago. I'll add it to the above post now.

Ranger92 · 01-07-2009, 02:27 PM

The info you got was probably correct, however, double check was is meant by "off road"... most companies will consider anything visible on a map as a trail as a "road". For insurance purposes a lot of times off road means driving through the woods with no visible trail, which you shouldn't do from a tread lightly standpoint anyway

Eidt: Disclaimer - I used to work in insurance and have posted on the topic before but it has been a while and I cannot provide any definite information on anybody's coverage and policy regardless of the carrier. In the end only your ganet can give you the right info

Blackened Voodoo · 01-07-2009, 03:51 PM

I use Allstate. After reading this thread, I called just to make sure about my coverage. Nobody at the local office was sure so they called the claims office. They replied that I would be covered just as if I were "in a parking lot or on the highway".

Wholesalestunna · 01-07-2009, 03:55 PM

I have state farm and am pretty pissed... I got my 6 month statement for JUST my FJ and my bill is $630... I just got a quote with geico with the same coverage and they quoted me at less than $450/six months.

Does anyone know about geico?

**vhram** · 01-07-2009, 03:57 PM

Im going to have to read my policy also , been with state farm along time but weve been thinking about changing ,sure wouldnt like a bad surprise.

Sean K. · 01-07-2009, 04:13 PM

USAA dropped me for merely mentioning I was going to go recreational 4wheeling.

They said, "We only insure vehicles for conveyance to and from work or school"....no ****, that's really what they told me.

**** USAA. They can suck my ****.

But, at least I'm not bitter.

Sean

Grendel · 01-07-2009, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Wholesalestunna previously said:

Does anyone know about geico?

I've used Geico for many years and while I don't know about their "off road" policy (but will now find out about it), they have been great. About four months ago my wife backed into some guys little Honda with her big Suburban and damaged the Honda's fender pretty good. No damage to her bumper at all. Geico called after the person called our insurer and asked if everyone was okay and if we needed emergency services. Nice. Surprisingly our rates didn't go up after that and I think there was about $1200 in damage to they other guys car.

Now...to go dig up my policy to see about "off road" for the Toy.

**Crawlin95** · 01-07-2009, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Sean K. previously said:

USAA dropped me for merely mentioning I was going to go recreational 4wheeling.

They said, "We only insure vehicles for conveyance to and from work or school"....no ****, that's really what they told me.

**** USAA. They can suck my ****.

But, at least I'm not bitter.

Sean

The agent probably saw some of the pictures you've posted here

But other than this, I've never had any problems with SF. Sucks but I want to make sure I'm covered. I even offered to pay more to have coverage but no go.