The '91 Eagle... called into service

[Russell Street]

I asked my insurance company about loaning my hearse for a funeral. They said that since the FH was making money on the funeral there would be a $125 surcharge even though I was not charging anything for my hearse. They also said I could only do this 4 times a year.
Mike

What part of I'm doing this out of respect, love, or just general friendship with the deceased don't these damn people in the insurance business understand??? Not everybody is out to make a buck on everything that they do in life. Heartless bastards anyway!!!!

Pardon the language, but this one really poked a stick in a sore spot with me!

 

[Todd Merrifield]

Dwayne and I have the same insurance agent, and he saw no problem with it. Any problems would likely be on the funeral homes side, or if they had let Dwayne be the lead car (there you would run into problems with stopping traffic or running red lights). Under the circumstances it was a noble thing to do, and not done for hire. If it weren't for a family member or friend, and he was just renting out his services to the funeral home, it might be different.

Sorry about your loss, bud.

 

[Mike Boyer]

Dwayne and I have the same insurance agent, and he saw no problem with it. Any problems would likely be on the funeral homes side, or if they had let Dwayne be the lead car (there you would run into problems with stopping traffic or running red lights). Under the circumstances it was a noble thing to do, and not done for hire. If it weren't for a family member or friend, and he was just renting out his services to the funeral home, it might be different.

If thats the caes ( stopping traffic ) then let the FH lead car take the lead and the Hearse follows and have a member of the FH ride in the hearse. whats the difference if you borrow a hearse or rent it ??

 

[Dwayne Brooks]

If thats the caes ( stopping traffic ) then let the FH lead car take the lead and the Hearse follows and have a member of the FH ride in the hearse. whats the difference if you borrow a hearse or rent it ??

That's what the funeral home did. They had a "lead car" that was a van with amber strobes all over it and YIELD - FUNERAL signs on the doors. The van went first and dealt with all he traffic, followed by the pastor, then the hearse.
The difference between using our hearses out of kindness and respect vs for profit/for hire is HUGE. When you rent your hearse it throws the coach into a COMMERCIAL status because you're using the hearse for profit, and receiving payment for services. This throws you into a commercial category in the insurance company's eyes... and the law. I offered the hearse because it meant alot to me to see Lawrence off in a way he'd love and appreciate. It saved family a measly $300 for providing our own hearse, and I wouldn't dream of accepting a penny for what I considered a privilege.

 

[John ED Renstrom]

there is a lot of difference in you using your car verses you renting your car for commercial purposes. the transporting of a body is were most people get hinged on. but in reality there is no difference in you taking the deceased to the grave then you transporting the widow to the same place in the same procession. had you elected to drive from the home to the place of interment obeying all traffic laws and not going against the normal flow of traffic no lead car, parade permit or police escort would be necessary. it just that most people don't have a vehicle that is capable of loading the casket. the fact that you were able and willing to do this for them meant a lot to the survivors. You included. doing something for a friend helps one accept the loss. knowing that they would have done the same for you makes it special. we get together again I'll relay the story of my cousins transporting there father some 1000 miles for interment in the family plot. it involved fishing poles a pickup and one indignant individual who called the state law on them.