How can I get a resonable insurance as a visitor?

[jsoderbe]

Hi guys,

I thought you might be able to help me figure out how to get a resonably priced car insurance?

I have a vacation home in FL, and would like to keep a car there so I don't have to rent all the time. I need to tow, and rental companies don't allow that, which is one problem. To pay $1500 for the rentalcar per month is the other problem.

So, I'm looking at crappy Ford Expeditions, or Dodge Rams, between $4-7 k. That would allow me to have only the minimum third party coverage, meaning I don't have to worry about loosing too much money since the car itself is not covered.

Imagine the surprice when I get a quote on over $3000 a year from Progressive! I checked the difference if I had a FL drivers license (I only have my swedish one), and it was only 30 %, which is less than anticipated.

So, anyone that could help me to figure out what to do? I don't believe all the people driving old beat-up cars pay that much money for the insurance....

I just need to figure out if it is possible to get a resonably priced insurance, and if so what I need to do.

Please let me know!


Thanks,

Johan

[id10t]

Get a Fl driver's license?

http://www.flhsmv.gov/ddl/geninfo.html

What do I need to bring to obtain a Florida Driver License or Identification Card?

Under Age 18

* United States Citizen proof of identity.
* Non-United States Citizen proof of identity.
* Proof of Social Security number, if issued Chapter 322, Florida Statutes, requires the Department to collect social security numbers for the issuance of driver license and identification cards.
* Proof of residential address
* Proof of completion of a Traffic Law & Substance Abuse Education Course or license from another state, country, or jurisdiction.
* Parental Consent Form - must be notarized or signed in the presence of a driver license examiner.

Age 18 or Older

* United States Citizen proof of identity.
* Non-United States Citizen proof of identity.
* Proof of Social Security number, if issued Chapter 322, Florida Statutes, requires the Department to collect social security numbers for the issuance of driver license and identification cards.
* Proof of residential address
* Proof of completion of a Traffic Law & Substance Abuse Education Course or license from another state, country, or jurisdiction.

New Resident

* United States Citizen requirements.
* Non-United States Citizen requirements.
* Other pertinent information regarding vehicle registration, tags, and titles.

[drcoastline]

Johan,

It's been a while since I wrote any personal car insurance and it is in NJ so some of this may be outdated or may not apply to other states. I'm also going to ask a few questions.

Q1. You live in one state but have a vacation home in another?
Q2. You have a Swedish license only. No international or US state Lisc?

When I did write standard auto insurance I had a lot of clients that would go to FL for the winter. While NJ was declared their primary residence it was not uncommon for our clients to go to FL and buy car insurance on autos they left in FL. Many could buy FL insurance and pay a rate 1/3 of what it would have cost in NJ. AS I recall FL had a snow bird clause. FL insurance carriers understood many drivers were only there for a few months out of the year and charged accordingly.

Also being from a tourist town we dealt with many foreign students. Students from abroad would come over for the summer to work. They would pitch in and buy a beater car together. We could get those with an international license insured but the premium was high. Generally one years premium for a 4 month period. Those with licenses from their country of origin would be told to hand in their license and either get a NJ or international license.

I am not sure if any of this helps but that is how it used to be in NJ some years ago when NJ auto insurance was tough. Good Luck.

DR

[nota]

in fla the car has the insurance not the driver

so form a Fla CORP it only costs a $100 or so
CORP's only asset is the car [helps if sued]

[johnsjmc]

I also own a home in Florida. I owned a Jeep and a Harley there for a couple of yrs. State Farm insured us about as cheaply as here in Canada . The minimum insurance required in Fl is much less than here and we did not use the minimum values. I think coverage was about $800 per yr for the Jeep and we could suspend it's coverage when we were out of the country. The motorcycle insurance is rediculously cheaper in Fl. Less than $150 per yr. Part of the cost difference is also attributed to the medical expenses portion of the coverage. Since you probably have travel insurance you might save something since your health insurance would cover the driver at least.
Be aware that obtaining a Fl drivers license requires cancelling your other license from home.. We chose not to do that but a Fl license might be what would work best for you .Then get a new Swedish license when you return home

[jsoderbe]

Thanks John,

That was very helpful. I can't understand why I got such a expensive quote? I'll call a State Farm agent instantly.

How did you suspend it? Do you need to go to the DMV? It looks like a night mare to me, spend the last day on my vacation in line at the DMV....


Thanks,

Johan

[stomachmonkey]

You can always "lose" your Swedish license, get a replacement and turn in the "lost" one to FL DMV.

[jsoderbe]

Nota, I do not know what a CORP is, please explain.

DR, thanks for helpful insights, I'm not a US citizen, I live in Sweden but have a vacation home in FL. We spend maybe 6-8 weeks there per year. And I can't get a FL license, unfortunately....

Id10t, can't get a FL license, and the difference isn't that big anyway.....

If anyone else have some insights, I would very much appreciate it!



Regards,

Johan

[johnsjmc]

We didn,t bother suspending our Canadian licenses but that was the requirment to obtain a Fl. license

[jsoderbe]

Ah, Stomachmonkey, that is an idea. Only thing is that we need to report lost license to the swedish police, and that means I have to lie to them, which feels very uncomfortable. Let's see what happens.


Thanks,

Johan

[jsoderbe]

John, I meant the insurance, how did you suspend that one? Maybe you have an insurance agent to recommend?

Thanks,

Johan

[id10t]

Originally Posted by jsoderbe

John, I meant the insurance, how did you suspend that one? Maybe you have an insurance agent to recommend?

Thanks,

Johan

When I used state farm my agent would suspend my insurance on the 356 when it wasn't running with just a phone call... he's since retired and we are no longer on SF. One of my coworkers husband runs a nationwide insurance agency, I'd contact them just because I know they are honest and helpful - Darr-Schackow Insurance :: Auto Insurance Gainesville | Homeowners Insurance Stuart FL | Self Storage Facility Insurance Florida | Leesburg Florida Insurance Quotes

[johnsjmc]

I was told Florida law requires insurance on any vehicle with a license plate. We removed the plate and were then able to suspend the insurance. We have a garage attached to the house so we were able to lock up the Jeep when we weren,t there

[jsoderbe]

Thanks John, where did you go with the license plate?

Id10t, I'll look into that, thanks for sharing.

Johan

[nota]

Originally Posted by jsoderbe

Nota, I do not know what a CORP is, please explain.

DR, thanks for helpful insights, I'm not a US citizen, I live in Sweden but have a vacation home in FL. We spend maybe 6-8 weeks there per year. And I can't get a FL license, unfortunately....

Id10t, can't get a FL license, and the difference isn't that big anyway.....

If anyone else have some insights, I would very much appreciate it!



Regards,

Johan

incorporation the act of forming a corporation
a legal form of limited personal liability protecting the owner
a business

[Deschodt]

I faced the same problems for my parents, who bought a house in FL and decided to buy a car... I'm starting to think renting is a better idea, honestly ;-) Between depreciation, DMV fees, insurance and maintenance of a car that sits 9 mo/ year, if I had to to it over again, I'd tell them to rent. Canadians have it easier since so many are "snowbirds" in FL that there are special provisions for them both in canada and in FL... Doesn't apply to others....

You *could* get a FL driver license BUT it would only be valid for the extent of your visa (3 months as a tourist?) so you'd have to do the line at the DMV each time... If your country is recognized by FL for an equivalence it's a formality, if not it's a driving test each time. Sucks if you only visit for a month....

Failing that, Progressive was about the only major insurance that took int'l driver license with a bit of a surcharge. In my folk's case, proof of insurance at home (Europe) duly written up in english kept the rate reasonable, higher than normal but less than yours... They've been insuring a new Mazda 5 for $1200 / 6 months full coverage with high limits, but since we cancel 1/2 way thru the policy each time to match the length of their stay, it's $200 a month give or take...

If anyone has a better solution, I'm all ears...

[jsoderbe]

Deschodt, thanks for sharing. I would be very interested in knowing more about their arrangement. Please PM or email at johan (at) autopower dot se if you could share anything more.

$200 is very resonable, I don't need to cover the car but would like to keep the limits for third party pretty high, for peace of mind. Inly thing is that Progressive has a 2 month minimum, which won't help me.

Maybe it's the cars I'm looking at that is expensive; Ford Expedition or Dodge Hemi Ram's, since I need the towing capability.

Regards,

Johan

[jsoderbe]

Hi guys, I think I found a loop hole! A friend of mine bought a hot rod, that he has parked in a garage in CA. He pay $350 a year for it!

My problem is that I dont have a garage, otherwise I would have bought a Porsche. But, I cant bare to have a Porsche pared under a tarp here, with all the moisture.

Anyone has a suggestion for a classic vehicle? Need to have AC, preferably tow package, and seat 2 adults and 2 kids.


Thanks,

Johan

[johnsjmc]

A V8 Mustang ( year really doesn,t matter. Early cars had rust issues but all vintages have V8 power ,AC,2 + 2 seating .They also should be able to tow 3 or 4 K