Gray Market Auto Insurance Requirements Question

[Boxer_Airhead]

Hello, Newbie question here. I just purchased a '81 911SC (euro). My insurance company (Liberty Mutual) is requesting a copy of the US EPA release for "import" letter from the US DOT (or something ridiculous like that).

This 911SC I believe was imported to the US in '81 and has been an Arizona car since at least '95. The most previous owner purchased this car last year from AZ and brought it to California...registered the car/insured the car...and now sold the car to me (also in CA). The car passed smog and I have the DMV Title.

Can anyone please share their experiences w/insurance of Euro cars? I requested full coverage from my insurance company..is that why they want so much documentation? I called Geico for a quote and they require no documentation but will not provide full coverage...they claim they can't put a value on a gray market car.

Thanks for your help!!!

-Myles

[SuperClyde]

Your really at the mercy of each insurance companies whims... This treatment is generally only with respect to full coverage- which is where value of the vehicle is relevant. Good luck...

[Oh Haha]

I have State Farm and had no issues with mine being a Euro. I had mine appraised by an independant source and they insure it for that amount. Might be time to check with another insurance company.

[Gene Wilkes]

Ditto! State Farm and NO ISSUES!!

[Jayt]

I've had mine for 8 years and changed insurance carriers twice with no issues..I'm currently with Travellers. They insure to replacement value based on Excellence Mag, and PCA valuations.

The possibility of it being ROW car has never been mentioned. I wonder how your insurance company even knows it is gray market?

[RDR911]

Also have my Euro insured with State Farm for the past 20 yrs. in two different states. Never any problems.

[SuperClyde]

Isn't State Farm pretty expensive? I don't have any tickets, accidents or claims and they wanted an outrageous sum...

[Boxer_Airhead]

So I went to my local insurance office and they told me that the call center had it all wrong. Their is in reality no problems with me getting full-coverage for the Euro-911 with Liberty Mutual, and I don't need any special documents either. My agent told me that California doesn't require the forms I previously mentioned and obviously the call center didn't know that. My agent also recommended getting an independant appraisal (like Oh Haha did) and taking lots of quality photographs of the car showing its condition...that really is the best idea if the car gets stolen and the claims adjuster has nothing else to value the car with.

[Sheetal2010]

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Buy Car Insurance

[edgarcia737]

Go with Collector Car Insurance.

[Oh Haha]

I have State Farm coverage for appraised value on the 911. (It costs less per month than our Grand Caravan and the Protege.)

When the deer hit the 911 this summer they were fantastic and took care of every detail without hesitation.

We have all of our insurance needs covered by them and our agent is a great guy.

Oops- I misssed that I already replied to this post. duh.

[dicklague]

USAA - never had an issue.

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by Boxer_Airhead

Hello, Newbie question here. I just purchased a '81 911SC (euro). My insurance company (Liberty Mutual) is requesting a copy of the US EPA release for "import" letter from the US DOT (or something ridiculous like that).

This 911SC I believe was imported to the US in '81 and has been an Arizona car since at least '95. The most previous owner purchased this car last year from AZ and brought it to California...registered the car/insured the car...and now sold the car to me (also in CA). The car passed smog and I have the DMV Title.

Can anyone please share their experiences w/insurance of Euro cars? I requested full coverage from my insurance company..is that why they want so much documentation? I called Geico for a quote and they require no documentation but will not provide full coverage...they claim they can't put a value on a gray market car.

Thanks for your help!!!

-Myles

When I brought mine over I was told to keep the documentation together w/ the ownership docs, the only time I was ever asked was at the initial US registration. Insurance has never asked even though my car was assigned a funky VIN at that initial registration.

[fastfredracing]

I also have two ROW cars, and have had several different insurance carriers over the years. The fact that they were euro cars has never once been mentioned.

[mpeastend]

Go to a new insurance company. I have a ROW car & issue never came up (I have Hagerty- very good company BTW). Sounds like Liberty Mutual doesn't want your business.

I wonder how your insurance company even knows it is gray market?- by the VIN Jayt.

Only issue I have had with VIN was on initial registration & then for yearly inspections. The computer doesn't like the ROW VIN & has to be overridden. It always displays something like "this vehicle may be subject to an audit, etc."