Great News!!

Epic Insurance is now licensed to do business in the following states:

South Dakota
North Dakota
Montana
Minnesota
Iowa
Arizona

Those of you with auto's, RV's or homes in any of these states are now eligible for coverage with us. Please contact me for a no obligation quote!

RV Replacement Cost

I wanted to quickly post some information regarding Total Loss Replacement Cost and Purchase Price Guarantee coverage. This mostly is going to refer to National Interstate/Triumphe and GMAC clients.

The common explanation for Total Loss Replacement Cost coverage is that if you have a total loss during the first 5 model years, the company will replace the RV with a new one of like kind and quality. OK, that seems simple enough. However, one of my clients who always keeps me on my toes pointed out that if they elect not to replace the RV, then the settlement is based upon Actual Cash Value of the RV at the time of the claim. She is correct and I think this is important to understand.

Likewise, Purchase Price Guarantee coverage which takes over after the 5 model years states that if you have a total loss and replace your RV with one that cost equal to or more than the one you lost then they will give you back the purchase price of the RV that was lost. If you elect not to replace the RV, then once again the settlement is Actual Cash Value.

Finally, let's be sure to understand that 5 model years means current year plus the next 4 model years. For example a 2008 model would have the Total Replacement Coverage for the current model year of 2008, then 2009, 2010, 2011 and through the end of 2012.

Expanding My Horizons.......

Those of you who are my clients or follow the blog understand my committment to the RV business. When we started this agency, my focus was on transferring my existing clients over from the old agency and to continue to develop new clients.

Now we are coming up to our 2 year anniversary!! I have transferred most of my clients and have met many absolutely fantastic new clients. I was so lucky to have many of them stop by for a face to face meeting which is just so much fun!

However, with the national exposure that I have attained through this blog and several other wonderful people passing on my name through different forums, I have also had to turn away some nice full-timers who aren't domiciling in SD at this time. Also, I have had several long-time clients settle down in AZ, TX, and FL and that forced them to change agents since we do not have a license to write insurance in those states.

It's not a difficult process for us to get licensed in other states. All of my companies are willing to jump on board with me to do this. Most of the big RV insurance agencies have licenses in all 50 states. Obviously, if I do start working with other states, I would have to do some heavy national advertising otherwise who would know I even did it??

So in the interest of working smarter and not harder, I want your opinions on this matter. Are you currently a full-timer residing in another state? Do you buy through one of the big RV agencies? Do you feel like a number and would you rather have a genuine business relationship with an agent that you know is going to make sure you are taken care of? In your opinion, what states would be the best option to move into? Do you care where your agent is located as long as you can reach them anytime? Shoot me a comment to help me decide where to go from here.

That's A Discount!!!

We have all seen Progressive's "FLO" screaming "That's a Discount" on TV. Well in conjunction with rate changes in South Dakota, it appears that the companies are also adding discounts. This means that if you have been a long time client of Progressive or many other companies for that matter, you may not even know that you are eligible for additional discounts on your policy. After all, they aren't going to tell you that. So I am. Here are a few of the discounts available:

Educational Discount: Everyone is going to default to a High School Graduate Education level. If you have a attended college, completed college, have a trade school or vocational school degree, or completed Masters or Graduate Degrees those are all a higher discount. However, I have noticed that the discount is small, but why not take advantage if you can. (Progressive Only)

Paperless Discount: Many of you have this already, but those who don't and are willing to use email to receive your billing notices, add this discount as it can be significant. (Progressive Only)

Homeowner Discount: You don't have to actually live in it. This discount does not include mobilehomes or park models with Progressive however, GMAC is letting me apply this discount to park models. (Progressive and GMAC)

EFT: If you don't pay in full and receive billing notices, just go on EFT and save yourself a bunch of money. Call me to sign up. (Progressive and GMAC)

Driver's Safety Courses: 55 Alive, RVAA RV Safety Course, AAA has a course and also if you have a CDL "That's a Discount" with some companies (Progressive, GMAC and National Interstate/Triumphe all have some type of discount for this)

RV Club Membership: Lot's of discounts available here with GMAC and National Interstate. Progressive does not offer this. Good Sam, Camping World, FMCA etc (National Interstate/Triumphe and GMAC)

Manufacturers Club Discount: Winnebago, Newmar, Georgie Boy, Holiday Rambler, Gulf Stream, Freightliners RV Club, and many many more!! (National Interstate/Triumphe)

Alarm Discount: Audible alarm system your RV?? That's a Discount! (National Interstate/Triumphe)

Original Owner Discount: If you are the original owner of your RV, this is a 10% discount! I have to add this manually so if you don't see it on your RV renewal, and you are the original owner, call me to get it added. (New with Progressive Only. I have been adding this to my qualifying renewals and it has been significant)

Looking Forward to Fall!!

Wow, I just noticed that I haven't posted on the blog since June!! Totally unacceptable. My only excuse is that I have been absolutely crazy with weather related claims. Never is my years in Sioux Falls, have I seen the weather we have experienced this summer. Now, we did get through without too much hail which was nice but the rain and wind made up for it.

South Dakotan's like their summer weekends. We work hard and we play hard. Most of us have a summer property or have family or friends with places at the lake or on the river. I don't think we had one weekend without some type of storm all summer! My family did manage to make a few trips to the river this year. Our wonderful neighbors, Tom and Joy Garrison built a place in Pickstown and we get to invade it once in awhile. Both times we were there we watched storms roll in from Nebraska. The first time in June, I was absolutely amazed but the intensity of the storms that go through Wagner, Pickstown, Yankton. One minute I was sitting on the porch in my lawn chair gabbing it up and the next we were tossing the lawn furniture, grills, toys etc into the garage to keep them from blowing away. Paid a few awning replacement claims from that storm. The second time we were there, the entire campground was closed because it was under water!

I do want to thank all of my Full Timers who took the time to stop by my office while traveling through South Dakota this summer. It is always so nice to finally put a face with the name and voice that I do business with all the time. I promise that I will get back to work on the blog and try to get out more RV insurance information to you!

New South Dakota Driver's License Requirements

As of December 31st, South Dakota joined several other states to comply with a federal mandate to tighten up some rules to obtain a South Dakota driver's license or even to renew your current one.

Some of my clients are having some difficulty renewing their licenses so I want to just post the new regulations. Since I am doing a copy paste here, you will probably need to refer to my sidebar on the blog to link up the Driver's License Bureau to print out some of the specific forms.

I noticed they have a Residency Affidavit out there now specifically for full timers which should cut down on some red tape hopefully. Please review these guidelines before making the trip to SD to get your license or renew it


Effective December 31, 2009 federal regulations require anyone applying for a new, renewal, or duplicate driver license or identification card will have to provide the following documents listed below (photo copies are not acceptable).

I . You will need one Identity Document. NOTE: If your name is different than the name on your identity document, you will need to bring additional proof of your legal name. Acceptable documents for proof of a legal name change are a certified marriage certificate (issued by a state vital records agency), a certified adoption document, or a certified court order authorizing a name change (such as a divorce decree). If you have had multiple marriages, you will need to bring similar documents providing legal proof of each name change. If you have any questions please call our office at 1-800-952-3696.

An Identity Document to prove identity, date of birth, and lawful status is considered to be one of the following:

Certified U.S. birth certificate issued by State or County (hospital birth certificates are not acceptable)
Valid unexpired U.S. passport
Certificate of Naturalization
Certificate of Citizenship
Valid unexpired permanent resident card
Valid unexpired employment authorization document
Foreign passport with valid unexpired U.S. Visa with I-94
(For phone numbers and addresses to write for Vital Records, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w.htm.)

II . You will need one document to prove Social Security number. Only the documents listed below can serve as proof of Social Security number (document must include your full social security number):

Social Security card
W-2 Form
SSA 1099 Form
Non-SSA 1099 Form
Pay stub (must include name and social security number)
(For information on how to apply for a social security number or replacement card, please visit http://www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber/. )

III . You will need two documents to prove your residential address. A parent's proof of address is acceptable for a minor child. Please bring two of the documents listed below (each must contain your current address):

Utility bill
Credit card statement
Pay stub or earnings statement
Rent receipt
Phone bill
Transcript or report card from an accredited school
Bank statement
Mortgage document
Tax document
Homeowners/renter's insurance policy
Other items will be reviewed by licensing personnel
If you are unable to provide proof of residency please call for exceptions 1-800-952-3696
PO Box addresses are acceptable in areas not assigned a street or 911 addresses
Address Exceptions:

Minors - If a minor does not have two documents proving residency the parent may provide two forms for them.

Living with someone else - An individual residing with another person may have the other person sign a "Consent for Use of South Dakota Address" form and present two residency documents belonging to the person they reside with.

Living within an Organization or facility - A letter from the organization or facility (on their letterhead) stating the individual resides there...

People who travel full time - If you are using a mail forwarding address the applicant must complete the "Residency Affidavit" and provide one document proving their temporary address (campground or RV park receipt). If they have friends or family in South Dakota and will be using their address they can complete and follow the instructions on the Consent for Use of Address Form.

Military and Military Dependents - Can use out-of-state address on their license and provide two documents proving residency that include the out-of-state address.


Our examiners have the right to question any documents and request additional information prior to Drivers License or ID Card issuance. These new rules will help to establish a more secure driver license and will help address our shared concern about national security, identity theft, and highway safety.

If you have any questions, please call the central Driver Licensing Program office at 1-800-952-3696.

Medium Duty Tow Vehicles

I've had several calls lately regarding insurance on Freightliner and other Medium Duty Tow vehicles used to primarily tow fifth wheels. Apparently, there are some "issues" with insurance companies on these vehicles.

I have insured Medium Duty tow vehicles for several years and I can tell you that there are only a handful of companies that can insure these correctly. When insured correctly, you should have no limitations on when coverage will or won't apply. One client said their policy would only pay if the RV was hitched to the truck at the time of the accident. Well, we got rid of that policy immediately. If you are going to spend the dough to get one of these bad boys, you do not want to be limited on how you can use it.

Another client had Progressive auto insurance and called his agent to add his new Ford 550 to his auto policy. The agent took the VIN number and added it to the policy. The client started receiving lots of mail from Progressive telling him that his VIN number was invalid and that they were not able to locate his vehicle. They wanted him to send photos etc. After dealing with this for about 3 months, he called me and I figured out what had happened. Progressive does insure Medium Duty tow vehicles BUT, they are insured under a Motorhome policy not an auto policy. That agent should not have added it to the auto policy in the first place, they should have started a new Motorhome Policy. Also Progressive will require the Fifth Wheel be insured with them in order to insure the Medium Duty.

GMAC and National Interstate both insure Medium Duty Tow's no problems. No restrictions. Most of mine are with National Interstate right now, but GMAC has been quite competitive on them. Now, I am a National RV agent for GMAC and there are only a handful of us out there. National RV agents have a different pricing structure since we do virtually all RV policies and Medium Duty's are a part of that.

My clients that have made the move to the Medium Duty tow vehicles have never looked back. I had the opportunity to jump in one of these last summer and I was impressed with how comfortable it was. So, if you have a Medium Duty tow or are considering one, please make sure that you have it insured properly. There should be no restrictions on how you use it as long as you are not using it for business use. The cost of insurance is based on the current value and I would say that the average annual premium for a newer model is somewhere between $800 and $1000 per year in South Dakota so not much different than a 1 ton dually.