Progressive Insurance - Warning to all travelers in North America
 

Hi, I've ridden my little UK registered Honda 250 Tornado from San Diego to the top of Alaska and across to Toronto where I've hit my first admin issue - insurance!

I've just found out that the policy I'd arranged through the excellent Cheryl at Fernet has been cancelled (during my trip) by Progressive insurance because my supplied V5 VIN number doesn't have enough digits for their form. I'm not kidding; and this apparently now constitutes an unacceptable risk.

Despite thankfully having never had any accidents claims or convictions in the last 30 years they will still not offer me cover or reinstate my policy. So, I'm still in Toronto with an uninsured bike as Progressive kindly cancelled my policy during my journey. They had written letters to my c/o address but nothing by email and I was eventually contacted by my my brokers (fernet by email) who were also kept in the dark. Riding in North America without insurance? What could possibly go wrong! I still have a long way to go and am hopefully heading towards Nova Scotia before down and eventually into South America.

Reading between the lines it would appear that Progressive no longer want to be insuring travelers (apparently due to recent claims) so I thought I'd put this on the HUBB for all those on the road to check your policies - not sure you'd ever want to be riding anywhere uninsured - but certainly not here!

My point of contact at Progressive; 'Shaun' is regrettably failing to respond to emails asking pertinent questions about my cancelled policy so please be aware and check yours if you have one.

Any riders out here using any other companies or have any suggestions as to how to overcome this minor blip (in an otherwise perfect cunning plan)?

I had this problem when getting insurance from Progressive for my UK registered R80G/S and was told by an operator to fill in the missing digits with lower case x's xxxxxxx, he did it for me and as far as I know I was insured.

Exactly my thoughts Mark but common sense hasn't unfortunately prevailed - my arranged insurance was invalidated at some point during the 4 months I've been riding so far with no common sense approach from Progressive about what is after all just an identification number for the specific insured bike.
If I was unfortunate enough to have been involved in an accident I'm sure there would have been 'issues' surrounding my policy should my bike have been inspected. I therefore thought it best to put something on here just in case other riders might unknowingly be riding without insurance.

A copy of my V5 and importation certification was supplied to Progressive before my policy was arranged and as a result I find their current approach to be less than professional and somewhat rude.

They are not responding to questions about my cancelled policy or indeed offering any other comments or suggestions to getting insurance cover.

Hopefully this post will prevent anybody else getting things - unknowingly - wrong.

So Progressive are breaching their contract?

If you contact them, should they answer your messages, then if you broach it in terms of breach of contract - they were furnished with all the information they had requested at the appropriate time - then they may be coerced into reinstating the policy - particularly if you reference the insurance ombudsman (I assume they are a UK based company). If not then you are no worse off.

I had a similar situation with an insurance company as I answered all their questions honestly and fully but they later realised that they had accepted a higher risk than they first thought and they tried to cancel the policy on me - they caved in when I kicked back at them as described above.

Either way I hope it sorted out very quickly so that you can enjoy the rest of your trip. Let us know how it pans out.

I assume they’re an American company, licensed in the state where he purchased the insurance. Without a local license to sell insurance they can’t sell insurance.

Some states have very helpful insurance commissioners. Some do not. However , the course of action you suggest is probably a goo one regardless.

Good luck!

Thanks for the messages and Progressive is a well known States based company which I have used previously when lucky enough to have been riding over here. The last time was on a Michigan registered 82 GL500 but it's my UK 17 digit vin number that's apparently causing the issue. Personally, I think this is just an excuse to cancel my cover and just wanted to give others on the road the 'heads up' on a possible issue.

Progressive are still failing to answer any emails and cancelled my policy whilst I was riding. Terrible unprofessional service.

If I get any response I will update this post.

Thanks once again for the replies and hopefully this post will help prevent others from falling into difficulties.

Simon:

I live in Toronto and have considerable experience getting European insurance for my Canadian bike (the opposite of the problem you have).

Let me know if there is anything I can do to assist you, or if you need a garage to temporarily store your bike, or a garage & tools to fix any problems. You can reach me by phone at the following number: six four seven five one five seven six four six.

FYI I leave Canada for Europe this coming Wednesday, so if you need anything from me, contact me quickly. I am in the Leslie Street and Steeles Avenue area of Toronto (northern limit of the city).

Michael

Simon did you get your insurance direct from Progressive or through Fernet? Either way you could try contacting Fernet and see if they can help you.
http://https://www.horizonsunlimited...-america-96022

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to reply to this thread, and also those who have emailed me privately - this is exactly what makes the Hubb such a great resource and I have nothing but praise for Susan and Grant and also those who help make it work. Top people!

As promised, here is the final outcome of considerable efforts made to be able to get back on the road - legally - and I hope that it's of help to others on the road or those soon to be.

I was fortunate enough yesterday to be put in touch with Chris at unchained tours who gave me details of a couple of companies who do quote. I have copied their details below and they are well worth checking out. Chris was a great help and clearly has a lot of knowledge and has himself had similar insurance difficulties.

www.segurogringo.com
www.motorcycleexpress.com

So, how have I resolved my no insurance issue? Well the suggestion came from the ever excellent Cheryl at Fernet who suggested that I 'try' to go direct to progressive and obtain a quote online. I must confess to have not held much hope in regards to this, but thought, despite not really ever wishing to give them any more of my money, I would at least try.

As my infrequent posts on the Hubb probably demonstrate, I'm not one for too much computer time, but did set up a new Progressive customer account so that everything could be received by email and had a go using www.progressive.com

When answering all questions, I did so accurately and honestly and even mentioned that I had previously had an insurance policy that was cancelled but I wasn't sure (and still aren't) when this was? I did however use a different mailing address (Pennsylvania) but now that I am registered for online use as a direct customer rather than going through Fernets (and having previously used a traditional mailing address in San Diego) it shouldn't receive any post.

The states insurance runs on Vin (frame) numbers and not on registration numbers as per V5 documents in the UK. These American title documents change when registering your vehicle in different states but each state has different rules which clearly shouldn't concern anybody just travelling through.

So, I entered all my personal information and the dreaded non compliant Vin number and was immediately rejected. I then played around with the letters and numbers and as per their website information substituted 0's for o's (No Two Ronnies humour please) and after about 5 or 6 attempts I was provided with a quote.

108 USD for Third party cover including breakdown - you couldn't make it up! It was easiest to use Paypal to pay the amount in full and before the screen changed its mind I was up and running.

My new policy is now very much valid and I am once again able to carry on with my trip.

This has been an interesting little period and I will add to this post if anything happens to my 'new' policy but suffice to say I have had no response whatsoever from Progressive in respect of questions I asked about my original policy.

Hopefully this information will be of benefit to others.

Simon

Chuffed that you have managed to sort it out. Amazed that it is with the original company. Nicely done.

As a matter of interest did they refund you the full premium that you had paid?

For those that are confused by the Two Ronnies reference it is to, I suspect, this sketch (possibly the best sketch ever):

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CNTM9iM1eVw