Light and Sirens - Insurance Question

woyster_00z71 · March 19, 2004

Hey guys...I know there are a couple Volunteer Firefighters, EMS folks, and others out there that have lights and sirens on their personal vehicles. I joined my local Volunteer Fire Department back in August and this upcoming August I will be eligible to put lights and sirens on my truck for responding to the station and in my personal vehicle to scenes.

Anyway, I have been told a number of different stories about insurance and the lights and sirens. I know you are "supposed" to tell your insurance company that you have put them on your vehicle however many I have talked to haven't done it. I have been told that they just want to know by a couple of guys and others have told me that they raise your rates. Heck, one guy told me to put them on and if I ever got in an accident to cut the wires to the lightbar and yank it off before the cops arrive.

So, does anyone know if your insurance will go up if you tell them? If so, does anyone have a ballpark figure of how much? I want to do this the right way and tell my insurance but if it is going to go up a whole lot, I may not put them on my truck.

Thanks for listening to the long post and for responding with any thoughts/opinions.

B.J.

99silveradoz71 · March 19, 2004

I would imagine the rates would have to go up as you're basically informing the insurance company that you're doing more "high risk" driving. Fortunately the city covers us when we work(pd), and they're able to handle accidents internally and just send a record of it down to the BMV. As for cutting the wires and taking off the bar, I wouldn't think about it.

tmf6902 · March 20, 2004

Just call your insurance company and ask. If they ask why make up some BS story, but they should be able to give you a better than ballpark answer.

antirice · March 20, 2004

dad's never told the ins. company, and I doubt anyone on our department has either, so I wouldn't worry about it

seadoons · March 29, 2004

I volunteer for an EMS organization and I personally have not put the lights or sirens on my truck. The risk of getting in an accident goes up drastically when you are running "hot" and that is why the insurance company wants to know about it. With greater risk comes higher insurance premiums. I haven't put them on there for many reasons:

1. This is something that I am volunteering to do, so I shouldn't be spending my own money on it.

2. Affects the look of the truck.

3. Chance of getting in an accident.

In my EMS organization, we have several "first responder" vehicles that we can take home with us. These are totally decked out with lights/sirens and have all of the stripes/EMS logos on them. They also contain all the necessary equipment for a first responder - Oxygen, Backboard, AED, etc.

I take these home with me - if I get in an accident with it, it is not my insurance that has to pay for it, my truck is not out of service to get repaired, and I am not burning my gas.