Help - USA insurance for Europe citizens

[pweigand]

Hi everybody!

We are now in New York and tomorrow we have to clear customs. We thought that we have all the necessary documentation needed but it seams that we need to get USA insurance to get cleared from customs.

We have contacted a dozen of agencies including the once written here:
motorcyclexpress - left a voice mail and waiting for reply
sunrise - sent email and waiting for reply
and we have called:

allstate - don't offer
rider-insurance.com - don't offer
state farm - don't offer
Geico - better to call insurance broker
garden state - no answer
grano - don't offer
monak (progressive) - said that motorcycle has to be registered in USA
browne insurance - left voice mail
roth (staten island) - will call me

So do you maybe know any other agencies that we can ask for insurance?

And another thing, some of them said that our International Drivers Permit isn't valid in the USA, how can that be? Or they said that we need to register our motorcycles in the USA to get nonresident insurance, and that doesn't seam to be possible because even if we wanted to do that, we can't get our motorcycles from customs to go and register them without insurance, we would be stuck in a loop!?

Please, if anyone has any experience, give us a few pointers, we'll be very thankful for that.

--
Irena and Petar

[Zigeuner53]

they will do it online/over phone
You don't need to register here
int'l drivers license is valid
all you need is proof of insurance through email or fax from Fernet

here's from my link:

I just spoke with Fernet Insurance of Florida.

They handle overseas riders insurance for USA and an ID card for Canada, if you bring or buy motorcycle in USA, then insurance is valid in Canada - but they do not write for Canada specific.

To qualify you must have a motorcycle endorsement from any country.

They are an agent for Dairyland Insurance, and Progressive Insurance, and have a lot of experience with motorcyclists AND groups coming from overseas.

Here is the rates as "sample"

For short term policy , Dairyland insurance, on either USA or foreign registered motorcycle is =
1-30 day = $100.94,
or up to 59 days is $$140 USD,
both policies can be extended - but the cost is the same for each extension.


For US registered bikes and foreign a 1 year policy with Progressive is =
$123 for the entire year or less, depending on motorcycle size, pay the entire year, when you leave simply cancel the policy and Progressive will refund the balance via check or refund to credit card.
You will need a US address for this one, so that the policy can be mailed to you.

You will need, as I said, a US address... if needed or use mine until I get overwhelmed.


There are a few states that the insurance company can not write to, that is if you import or buy a motorcycle in these states, you cannot obtain insurance. BUT, the insurance DOES cover you in these states - you just can't import or buy in them is all - New York and Georgia.

Here is the linky:
http://www.fernet.com/overseas_visit..._visitors.html

It's my understanding that you CAN'T BUY INSURANCE anywhere at USA borders.



Zig

jameson2wheels@gmail.com

[pweigand]

Hi.

Thank you very much for the explanation and quick help. We'll contact the agency which you have provided us right away.

In meantime, Irena has called riders international ( again, but got through to another agent) which have an office here in Springfield, NJ (1 mile from our current location) and in general they said over the phone that they can provide similar services as you have described so we'll head there right away to see in first person if that will work out.

Thank you once again.

Irena and Petar
--
Earth on wheels -> Earth on wheels - Earth on wheels