The Limos.com Forum Has Moved!!!

I've been on a bit of a wild goose chase trying to find limo insurance. Does anyone know any good insurance companies? Also, any ballpark estimates on what to expect?

Thanks,
Mike,

Then why are you posting here pilgrim ?

quote:

Originally posted by kevin999:
Hi
I don’t have so much idea regarding this subject. Just I suggest you to take steps accordingly.

quote:

Hi
I don’t have so much idea regarding this subject. Just I suggest you to take steps accordingly.

What does this mean??????? Very bizarre post. I can't help but wonder with the post time being 1:35am if one had too many cocktails......

Hi
I don’t have so much idea regarding this subject. Just I suggest you to take steps accordingly.

I sent him an email. I prefer hard research to pure speculation. It is funny how these old posts pop up !

Honestly guys, I don't think Mike made it. His question was posted here in 2004! It has been over four years since he posed the question and away he went. Probably chose the wrong insurance broker!

quote:

Originally posted by Mike Berg:
I've been on a bit of a wild goose chase trying to find limo insurance. Does anyone know any good insurance companies? Also, any ballpark estimates on what to expect?

Thanks,
Mike,

Mike, being a fellow san diegan, I suggest Scott Greenwood(714)744-4119. My buddies in the business have used him for years and I've been with him for over 2 years. Super knowledgeable, friendly, reliable and will take personal time to help you with your specific questions and needs.

Hello, I certainly agree with you. Thank you very much for sharing your information. It was really very helpful for me.
Thanks for sharing your information

quote:

Originally posted by Wade Randolph:
Okay I've held my tongue for long enough. Phil if your service is go good why didn't you at least give me a quote after I sent you all of my information? You seem like a nice guy and all but I would have at least sent me an email saying I could not quote. Just to drop the ball like you did with me is not what I call service. It seems like every year there is an insurance agent here that wants to quote on everyone's insurance but then drop the ball.

Wade, I told you that I was not able to find a company that could do better than what you already had and some of the markets had been blocked. I found a company that would have the same premium, but with a liability deductible of $10,000 per occurrence. You were fine with a liab. ded. as long as the premium were much more affordable and the coverage the same. If you would have had a claim, you would have automatically paid from the first dollar up to $10,000 for each claim. Placing you in a position where you have the potential to pay out money instead of having a company pay the first dollar would have not been good on my part considering the premiums were the same. The only reason to provide someone with a liability deductible is 1) They have loss control issues (you do not) 2) The premiums they are paying will decrease to an amount that justifies having the liability deductible. This is why you never received a firm quote from me; not because I dropped the ball.

Louisiana is a tough state for operators, as you know, because there are a very limited number of companies that write there due to the legal climate, and you, at this time, are insured with a company that provides the best rate for the coverage.

Okay I've held my tongue for long enough. Phil if your service is go good why didn't you at least give me a quote after I sent you all of my information? You seem like a nice guy and all but I would have at least sent me an email saying I could not quote. Just to drop the ball like you did with me is not what I call service. It seems like every year there is an insurance agent here that wants to quote on everyone's insurance but then drop the ball.

I wanted to stay out of this because I am not here to simply advertise. I am on this forum because I absolutely love the limousine industry. This forum is a learning tool for me and on some occassions I am able to provide insight from an outside perspective as a non-operator.

I want to start by saying that I agree 100% with Jims statement:

quote:

Originally posted by Limo Scene:
To experience good customer service in this industry, you actually have to have your policy renew three or four times to make sure your agent gets all the filings dones in a timely manner with the proper endorsements, wet signatures etc.

Your agent must clearly define to the carrier your safety programs, hiring procedures, radius of service etc. to get you the best rate. A general insurance agent isn't even going to think of these things.

But service goes much further than just insurance and filings and you all know this. The way in which you conduct your business and treat your customers has a lot to do with it.

If you are on time and don't wreck with a client you can still lose an account due to the reservationist being rude, phone calls not being returned, cars being dirty, etc. to another limousine operation.

We have numerous large accounts that simply moved their account to us to service due to lack of service, phone calls not being returned in a timely manner if at all, vehicle and chauffeur additions not being processed in a timely manner, and CSR's not being respectful to them. At Kiely, Hines, a $10,000 account is treated just like a $250,000 account is treated, with respect, competent and prompt service.

We provide much more than just transportation insurance, yes this is a large part of our organization, but Kiely, Hines & Assoc. has operated since 1884 and is able to insure anything; therefore having one broker instead of two or three can save a lot of time and headache. When you buy a warehouse to store your cars, or an employee benefit & healthcare plan, investments, or even a personal insurance program to compliment your commercial program, we are able to provide the coverage and program neccessary.

Service extends well beyond insurance--as long as your agent is competent in regards to commercial transportation insurance and more specifically, public auto insurance.

And as Sal stated, the lowest priced program does not mean that all you are doing is saving money. Everything from the AM Best rating of the company, the coverage afforded, whether or not the policy is admitted or non-admitted, the policy exclusions and the premium needs to be taken into consideration prior to binding coverage and paying a premium for the policy.

I'm sorry, you missed my point exactly. What I was trying to say is with PUC filings, airport filings of both liability and W/C issues, wet signatures etc. selling limo insurance is a whole other ball of wax. It is not like selling personal insurance, life insurance and the likes which is why you can't go to your local State Farm or Farmer's Insurance agent and buy insurance for your limousine business. It is totally out of their league. So to experience good customer service in this industry, you actually have to have your policy renew three or four times to make sure your agent gets all the filings dones in a timely manner with the proper endorsements, wet signatures etc.

Your agent must clearly define to the carrier your safety programs, hiring procedures, radius of service etc. to get you the best rate. A general insurance agent isn't even going to think of these things.

After nearly two decades in the biz as a writer for the magazines and an operator, I have changed insurance agents three times and learned the lesson of what constitutes a good agent in the industry. That was my point.

quote:

Originally posted by Royal 1:
I may have just started in the Limo industry. However,if you would have read the post that I made, you would have read that I have had insurance for other purposes. To be exact, from a personal insurance agent,(life insurance, homeowners, and auto.) So I can speak from experience. I know good costomer service from bad. Isn't that what we (limo company owners/employees) strive to offer? I know I do.

No disrespect intended, but I think you will find that commercial insurance and personal insurance are two completely different animals.

For example, when I started out-admittedly not that long ago-, I got quotes ranging from $15,000.00 to $5,500.00 per car, and I didn’t go with the least expensive, for good reason, based on specific industry knowledge held by my agent. The right agent knows what questions to ask, and what information to give the underwriter to get you an equitable rate, and the right coverage.

"Good Customer Service" in the sense of attitude, prompt return of information and low rates does not necessarily a good commercial insurance agent make.

You need an agent that knows the transportation industry, and in particular the limousine business. Good customer service is fine, but you need an agent with experience and industry knowledge, or you could be royally screwed down the road.

I may have just started in the Limo industry. However,if you would have read the post that I made, you would have read that I have had insurance for other purposes. To be exact, from a personal insurance agent,(life insurance, homeowners, and auto.) So I can speak from experience. I know good costomer service from bad. Isn't that what we (limo company owners/employees) strive to offer? I know I do.

Just curious Royal, you say you "just started" so what experience do you have with what is good service or not in the insurance business? Just curious as it was a profound statement you made.

Phil is a great guy and obviously very knowledgable and in touch with the industry through his regular posts here.

I merely made a recommendation based on experience - but I have experience.

Look for the November Issue of LCT and my article on buying insurance and WHY the lowest rate is not always the best rate. It will be a four page feature loaded with insurance information.

Phil at Kiley, Hines and assoc. I tried TIB. Got much better rate and not to mention service above and beyond anything that I have ever experienced in any insurance industry (personal/business). He really knows this industry.

Transportation Insurance Brokers (TIB)

Ask for Mark Freeark. (800) 248-2877
He has been our agent for nearly two decades.

Ahem.........

Limo Insurance King, a member here at Limos.com.

Ask for Phil.

Kiely, Hines & Associates
Providing insurance to the transportation industry since 1884.
Phil T. Brun
1-800-295-1897 x-2756
502-569-2756 Direct
pbrun@kielyhines.com

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