Expat Car Insurance

[TimLambert7]

I moved to Philly in August 2017, have been driving lots since then (girlfriend's car) and various work vehicles. I took my time to get my license and passed the test on May 21st of this year. I'm 25, Civil Engineer, no previous accidents anywhere.

I'm right on the cusp of buying a Mk7 GTI but the insurance quotes are bananas.

Geico are the cheapest, they do a basic policy which includes no collision or theft coverage, for $92 a month ($600ish for 6mo). Or they do a $500 excess on Theft and Collision for $185 a month.

State Farm is even more bonkers. They quoted $2500 for a comprehensive policy for SIX MONTHS.

The website doesn't ask many questions, and no consideration is given to the fact I held UK license since 17.

Please help. Do I speak to a broker who may consider my history or am I just screwed?

Thanks

[satans worm]

Prob screwed, I pay 1400 for 6months on a audi s5 2012, and I’m 46 and this was my 3rd renewal ( ie I have been driving here a year) based in NY
Insurance is not cheap in America it seems

[The Moose]

It's not cheap.

Try Progressive.

We had been with Progressive for nearly 11 years. The gap between Geico and Progressive was getting larger and larger and this latest renewal I changed to Geico.

Good luck!

[TimLambert7]

Thanks to both of you. I’d figure I was a bit screwed.

I will try a progressive quote now.

My other option is my Uncle who lives in upstate PA, he offered to put me on his multi car policy. Just trying to figure out what the situation is here with having a car insured at a different address to where you live, I know it’s ‘frowned upon’ in the UK.

What I’m annoyed about is that there’s no way of getting my prior driving experience considered. I’ve had my US license for 2 weeks but have been driving 7 years.

I’m amazed they offer policies here that don’t include any theft or collision cover. Seems mad to me.

[ExitLeft]

I’ve been here 18 years and am 54 and those insurance rates aren’t bad I’m afraud. Age of the car seems a bigger factor than what it is or anything about you. My older Bentley Arnage is $100 a month but my daily driver Subaru (which is new) is more like $130 ditto my sons Jetta. But my Spyker is only $80 a month even though it would cost a fortune to repair.

Maybe try quotes with older cars.

I was with Chubb when I moved over - good policies and easy to deal with. Then I went to Progressive but last year switched to Liberty Mutual who were good to work with and cheaper.

[The Moose]

TimLambert7 said:

Thanks to both of you. I’d figure I was a bit screwed.

I will try a progressive quote now.

My other option is my Uncle who lives in upstate PA, he offered to put me on his multi car policy. Just trying to figure out what the situation is here with having a car insured at a different address to where you live, I know it’s ‘frowned upon’ in the UK.

What I’m annoyed about is that there’s no way of getting my prior driving experience considered. I’ve had my US license for 2 weeks but have been driving 7 years.

I’m amazed they offer policies here that don’t include any theft or collision cover. Seems mad to me.

Spend some time and understand what you're buying - read all the fine print (to be honest, that would be my one major piece of advice for someone used to the UK). There are not the same consumer regs here as back in the UK - it is very much each consumer for them selves. It actually makes it clear why juries award such insane payouts - the little guy always takes a kicking from the big guy...so when the shoe is on the other foot...!

You have many different levels of cover that you can choose from. I think Geico call them Comprehensive and Collision (or similar).

I have found the agent driven insurers to be more expensive, less efficient and less helpful.

With regards to your driving experience outside the US...if it didn't happen in the US, they don't care!

Good luck

[TimLambert7]

ExitLeft said:

I’ve been here 18 years and am 54 and those insurance rates aren’t bad I’m afraud. Age of the car seems a bigger factor than what it is or anything about you. My older Bentley Arnage is $100 a month but my daily driver Subaru (which is new) is more like $130 ditto my sons Jetta. But my Spyker is only $80 a month even though it would cost a fortune to repair.

Maybe try quotes with older cars.

I was with Chubb when I moved over - good policies and easy to deal with. Then I went to Progressive but last year switched to Liberty Mutual who were good to work with and cheaper.

Spyker?? Very interesting. I’d feel rude not to ask for a picture. What a thing to own.

Thanks to you and other folks. I’ve now found and bought a car. I added my uncle (US citizen and 35 year resident) and it brought it down to $204 a month with 750 deductible on comp and collision. When 6 months come see up I hope to see a drop in premium so I can increase my level of cover a bit.

One of my biggest learning experience in the US has been how everything is very carefully developed to be too complex for the average person to understand so they can utterly screw you over. I don’t think I’m a complete moron, plus I was genuinely curious, and I really struggled to understand a lot of the insurance options. Id bet a tiny fraction of drivers actually understand their cover. It’s mad really.

[unrepentant]

Your credit score also impacts insurance rates. If you are a credit "ghost" then they will load the premiums.

[muhnkee2]

Hey,
I am in Phoenix, recently moved to the USA, i used a broker to arrange my insurance and its significantly cheaper than a straight google search. I am happy to share his details if you would like to give that a try. To be clear i havent ever actually met him, i am not in business with him and wont make any money, its just a straight reccomendation!
Cheers,
Greg

[TimLambert7]

Geico policy just renewed, it's gone up $1 to $198 a month.

This is for a 3 year old golf GTI that I have done 4k miles in 6 months, so it's a little frustrating. I keep it in a covered garage in a gated community too. Am I shouting at the clouds or is it madness?

Those of you that have used brokers, what do you think they can do to lower it? Do they ask about foreign driving experience? I can't imagine much worse than a car insurance salesman here but maybe I should do it.