Are you searching for insurance for your church bus? We can help you save money by connecting you with three insurance agents who specialize in insuring church buses. They give you their best offer and you pick the one that works for you.
What’s included in a Church Bus Insurance Policy?
A lot of things can happen during a church function that you don’t expect. Accidents happen. That’s why it’s crucial to find an insurance plan that keeps you and your church members safe. After something bad happens, you want to be sure you’re covered.
Automobile Accidents
Most automobile accidents aren’t major. A car bumps into you or you bump into them. Whatever happens, the person at fault is expected to pay for the expenses incurred by an accident. That’s where auto liability insurance comes in. If you or your driver is responsible for an accident, your church won’t be held responsible for paying for the other car’s repairs. The insurance company takes care of it.
Something important to note for churches is that this coverage is legally required. Not only that, but the government requires vehicles over a certain weight to have stronger coverage. A small church van will need less coverage than a full-on bus. It’s important to speak to an agent who understands commercial auto insurance so your church stays on the right side of the law.
Injuries
Say you’re transporting a church group of mostly older members and one of them slips and falls on the bus. Whether you or your driver are at fault or not, you can be held responsible. That’s why churches need to include medical payments insurance in their coverages. It expands your insurance to include injuries sustained by your church members while they’re riding on your bus. It’s smart to have for them and you.
Lawsuits
Not everyone’s a saint, and people are known to sue. It’s smart to bundle your vehicle insurance with a robust general liability insurance policy. This coverage will keep you covered if someone is ever hurt on your church property or accuses you of slander for whatever reason. A lot of things are covered by general liability, so it’s smart to talk to your insurance agent about what all it can protect you from.
How Much Church Bus Insurance Coverage Do You Need?
The amount of coverage you need depends on how big your buses are and where you drive. If your bus has seats for more than 15 passengers and you take it out of state, you are required to have an insurance liability limit of at least $5,000,000.
If you have mostly smaller buses or just church vans, your insurance might not need to be so big. It depends mostly on your particular state. You might also be permitted a lower limit if you own a smaller bus that carries fewer than 15 passengers.
What to look for in an agent
The best way to pick an insurance agent for your church is to compare several agents at once. When you’re talking to your agents, it’s important to be on the lookout for a few different things.
Cost – This is a big one. Just because you’re a church doesn’t mean you can always find the best price. Make sure to ask your agent whether he has any discounts for religious organizations. Sometimes they do. And sometimes they can give you a cheaper price if you pay in yearly installments or bundle all your coverage through a single company.
Availability – Not all insurance agents can be reached on Sundays. It’s important to find someone who has 24 hour claims service seven days a week. If you’re ever in an accident, you need your agent to be ready for your call then and there.
Rating – Whichever insurance company you elect to get must be reliable. If you ever need to file a claim, you need to know that your insurance company will be able to reimburse you. To see how a potential company stacks up, you can check out rating agencies like A.M. Best that independently verifies the reliability of different companies.
