Safeco: Vehicle Eligibility

The rules for eligible vehicles in the Safeco private passenger auto programs.

Garaging Address

Entering the address where the vehicle is principally garaged will allow the system to automatically assign the proper rating factors.

For students with a vehicle away from home, you should rate the vehicle at the policyholder’s principal garaging address.

Model Year

The model year is determined by the vehicle’s original manufacturer. If the vehicle is rebuilt or structurally altered, the model year of the chassis determines the model year of the vehicle.

Recreational Vehicles – Safeco Only

Antique autos, classic cars, trailers, and motor homes are eligible for participation in Safeco’s Recreational Vehicle Program and are written on our auto policy. Please refer to our Recreational Vehicle Product Guide for details.

Off-Road Vehicles

The following off-road vehicles may be written in Safeco’s Off-Road Program:

• Dune buggies
• Snowmobiles
• Some miscellaneous-type vehicles
• Any other vehicles not licensed for road use

Please refer to our Off-road Product Guide for details.

Salvage Vehicles

Vehicles previously totaled, salvaged, restored, or reconstructed are eligible for both liability and physical damage coverage if all drivers on the policy qualify as good drivers, as defined in California Insurance Code section 1861.025 and the vehicles insured are private passenger type, as defined in section 660 of the California Insurance Code.

Unacceptable Makes/Models

These provisions do not apply if all drivers on the policy qualify as good drivers, as defined in California Insurance Code section 1861.025 and the vehicles insured are private passenger type, as defined in section 660 of the California Insurance Code.

Other Unacceptable Vehicles

• Vehicles garaged outside of this state for more than 10 months of the year (unless student is away at school, and parents are written in state on same policy)
• Custom-manufactured, kit, limited edition, replica and exotic cars; self-assembled, plastic, aluminum or stainless steel bodies
• Buses or vehicles used as a primary residence
• Vehicles used in racing or speed contests or in responding to emergencies
• Estates, receiverships, partnerships or corporations cannot be listed as a named insured, but may be listed as an “additional interest”
• Vehicles titled or owned/leased on a long-term contract by a partnership or corporation. Please see Unacceptable Business Use for additional information.
• Commercial type vehicles such as step, panel and cut- away vans; flatbed, stake beds and dump trucks or those equipped for snow plowing, including pickups and vans greater than one-ton-rated load capacity
• Vehicles which require a state or federal motor carrier permit to operate
• Vehicles with aluminum or stainless steel bodies
• Modified vehicles other than conversion vans (such as hot rods, cars with special suspensions, etc.) This includes modifications which substantially increase the performance of the vehicle
• Grey market vehicles – grey market vehicles are vehicles manufactured outside the United States (usually in Europe) that do not meet U.S. emission and safety standards. Grey market vehicles that have been upgraded to meet U.S. emission and safety standards may be eligible if they are approved, prior to binding, by an underwriter and we obtain a copy of the vehicle registration verifying the local jurisdiction’s Department of Transportation safety requirements and Environmental Protection Agency emission standards are satisfied

Symbol Rated Vehicles

Most vehicles are assigned Safeco symbols for rating both liability and physical damage coverages. The system will assign symbols for you based on the vehicle identification number (VIN), year, make, and model.

For new model year vehicles that are not yet listed in the Symbols pages, assign the prior year’s symbol for the same make and model. If this is the first year for this model and no prior year match is available, assign the symbol of a similar make and model.

Vehicles designed for sale or intended for use outside the United States, grey market vehicles, are rated using the same symbols as would be used for comparable U.S. vehicles. A grey market vehicle without a comparable U.S. vehicle is not eligible for our markets.

Pickups with a Canopy

Canopies or camper shells are typically fiberglass shells attached to the back of a pickup and are not equipped with sleeping or living quarters. Canopies are considered equipment as long as they are attached to the pickup and are covered for direct or accidental loss if the pickup carries comprehensive or collision coverages.

Pickups with Camper Body

A camper body is a body equipped with sleeping or living quarters that is designed to be mounted on a pickup. Slide-in campers with sleeping or living quarters must be listed and rated separately on the policy as a camper. The pickup used to transport the camper is rated separately as a private passenger vehicle. Please refer to our Recreational Vehicle Product Guide for details on rating a camper body.

Physical damage coverage for campers is excluded on the contract unless indicated on the declarations