September 22, 2024
California Overland Faces Uncertain Future
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Owner Joe Raffetto Shares Struggles with Insurance Crisis
In a candid message shared on Facebook, Joe Raffetto, owner of California Overland Desert Excursions, informed the community about the significant challenges his business is facing due to an insurance crisis. Known for offering unique off-road desert tours in the Anza-Borrego Desert, California Overland has operated with an impeccable safety record for nearly two decades, but that hasn’t been enough to protect it from the ongoing insurance fallout affecting the state.
Raffetto explained that earlier this year, just as the busy season was approaching, his long-time insurance company abruptly ceased covering Jeep tours. Despite never having a claim, Raffetto found himself in a high-risk category that most commercial insurers now avoid. The result has been insurance quotes coming in at six to seven times the previous premium—a cost too great for the business to sustain.
“We’ve always had a perfect safety record, but that didn’t seem to matter,” Raffetto said. “It’s been a real shock, and we’ve had to cease operations while we figure out the next steps.”
The insurance issue reflects a broader trend in California, where many insurers have left the state or become risk-averse due to the rise in natural disasters across the country. Raffetto noted that while he has found a potential solution, it comes with difficult decisions. California Overland now has three options: pay three times the previous insurance rate to maintain operations, reduce their fleet to just three vehicles under a more affordable policy, or shut down the business entirely.
While these options are being weighed, Raffetto expressed his gratitude to the Anza-Borrego Foundation and others who have helped him during this difficult time. He plans to make a final decision in the coming weeks and thanked the community for their continued support.
“We had hoped to be planning a special 20th anniversary celebration next April. But right now, we’re focusing on survival,” Raffetto added.
This development leaves California Overland’s future uncertain, as the once-thriving business now faces a decision that could redefine its operation or bring it to a close. The community is urged to stay tuned as Raffetto continues to explore options for keeping the desert tours alive.
**Important Message from Joe, Owner of California Overland**
Hi Everybody!
Some of you may have noticed that there has not been much activity here for quite a while.
That’s because we have been dealing with a big challenge.
Unfortunately, just as the high season was approaching in February we suffered an insurance crisis. Our insurance company of almost 20 years stopped covering all Jeep tours—despite us never having a claim and a perfect safety record.
Many of you know that a lot of insurance companies have left the state. And with all the natural disasters around the country apparently the ones that remain have become extremely risk adverse. Despite our immaculate safety record, we somehow ended up in a category that most commercial insurers do not want to cover.
When the broker finally found a company, the quote came in at 6 times what we were paying before while a second insurer was close to 7 times!
Because, at this point, we were at the end of the policy, we had to cease operations.
As we’ve navigated this path, a few other brokers have taken up our cause as did the Anza Borrego Foundation. I’m very thankful to them, each of whom have worked hard to support us in keeping the business alive.
All that being said, California Overland is now faced with making a difficult decision:
1) Paying 3 times our previous insurance rate to keep the business intact as is.
2) Keeping a reasonable premium offered by one insurance company only—although that drastically reduces our fleet to 3 vehicles (Excursion Van and 2 Jeeps), substantially changing our business model.
3) Or lastly, ceasing operations and liquidating the business.
While we are working on this I wanted to let you in on it. It is a torturous decision. We had hoped, instead, to be planning a special 20th anniversary celebration next April. But you are part of our wonderful community and it feels good to let you in on all this. I am shooting to make my ultimate decision in the next two weeks. So please stay tuned. And thank you for all your support now and over the years!
Joe Raffetto, owner
California Overland Desert Excursions
"Roughing it at its Finest"
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