a bit off-topic: driving insurance for K3 person in california
Oct 9th 2002, 7:43 pm
#1
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Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: San Jose, CA USA
Posts: 123
a bit off-topic: driving insurance for K3 person in california
My wife will be here soon on a K3 visa (the interview is Oct 21), and wondering if anyone in california has found a cheap and easy way for their nonresident spouse to be insured as a driver in this deep-pocket country.
(cheap is probably out of the question, but at least easy)
she'll be using a Thai drivers license for now, and im not sure if any insurance companies insure that. She'll be applying for a calivornia licence, but it could take a few months.
I have one of those insurance companies that will drop me if anything's out of the norm, so i am afraid to ask.
thanks,
Court
(cheap is probably out of the question, but at least easy)
she'll be using a Thai drivers license for now, and im not sure if any insurance companies insure that. She'll be applying for a calivornia licence, but it could take a few months.
I have one of those insurance companies that will drop me if anything's out of the norm, so i am afraid to ask.
thanks,
Court
Oct 9th 2002, 8:16 pm
#2
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 231
Re: a bit off-topic: driving insurance for K3 person in california
I cannot offer any advice on this however I am currently in a similar situation:
My husband who just obtained his SSN is applying for a license in CA and I am wondering if anyone knows how insurance companies figure this stuff out. He has his German licesne does anyone know if they take that into account?
My husband who just obtained his SSN is applying for a license in CA and I am wondering if anyone knows how insurance companies figure this stuff out. He has his German licesne does anyone know if they take that into account?
Oct 9th 2002, 9:41 pm
#3
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Posts: n/a
Re: a bit off-topic: driving insurance for K3 person in california
On Wed, 09 Oct 2002 20:16:22 +0000, Aliluv
wrote:
>I cannot offer any advice on this however I am currently in a similar
>situation:
>My husband who just obtained his SSN is applying for a license in CA
>and I am wondering if anyone knows how insurance companies figure this
>stuff out. He has his German licesne does anyone know if they take that
>into account?
I came to CA 9 months ago with with 16 years on my full UK license and
a full no claims discount. The first insurer we used said that it was
all irrelevant and all that mattered was my US driving record (which
was nothing of course). We accepted that and paid up. When we bought a
new house and moved, our new insurance agent thought that was wrong
though and did a little investigating. It turned out my UK driving
experience could be taken into account and as a result our new premium
was $600 less. The moral is, don't take the first answer. Find someone
who is willing to work at it because European driving experience can
be made to count. I would have thought even more for someone from
Germany because they, like Americans, drive on the wrong side of the
road
wrote:
>I cannot offer any advice on this however I am currently in a similar
>situation:
>My husband who just obtained his SSN is applying for a license in CA
>and I am wondering if anyone knows how insurance companies figure this
>stuff out. He has his German licesne does anyone know if they take that
>into account?
I came to CA 9 months ago with with 16 years on my full UK license and
a full no claims discount. The first insurer we used said that it was
all irrelevant and all that mattered was my US driving record (which
was nothing of course). We accepted that and paid up. When we bought a
new house and moved, our new insurance agent thought that was wrong
though and did a little investigating. It turned out my UK driving
experience could be taken into account and as a result our new premium
was $600 less. The moral is, don't take the first answer. Find someone
who is willing to work at it because European driving experience can
be made to count. I would have thought even more for someone from
Germany because they, like Americans, drive on the wrong side of the
road
Oct 9th 2002, 9:50 pm
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: a bit off-topic: driving insurance for K3 person in california
cbernard wrote:
> My wife will be here soon on a K3 visa (the interview is Oct 21), and
> wondering if anyone in california has found a cheap and easy way for
> their nonresident spouse to be insured as a driver in this
> deep-pocket country.
> (cheap is probably out of the question, but at least easy)
> she'll be using a Thai drivers license for now, and im not sure if any
> insurance companies insure that. She'll be applying for a calivornia
> licence, but it could take a few months.
> I have one of those insurance companies that will drop me if anything's
> out of the norm, so i am afraid to ask.
They can't drop you for asking the question, ESPECIALLY in California
As a K3, they can probably get a CA license. Did you check on this?
FWIW, before my wife got her Calif license, State Farm said she didn't
even
need to be on the policy, since she was driving on a foreign license and
was covered the same as anyone without insurance that was driving my car
would be. This was even as a PR. Once she got the temp license from
DMV, I had to insure her. She got a temp license without the road test.
I think she had 30 more days to take the road test.
> My wife will be here soon on a K3 visa (the interview is Oct 21), and
> wondering if anyone in california has found a cheap and easy way for
> their nonresident spouse to be insured as a driver in this
> deep-pocket country.
> (cheap is probably out of the question, but at least easy)
> she'll be using a Thai drivers license for now, and im not sure if any
> insurance companies insure that. She'll be applying for a calivornia
> licence, but it could take a few months.
> I have one of those insurance companies that will drop me if anything's
> out of the norm, so i am afraid to ask.
They can't drop you for asking the question, ESPECIALLY in California
As a K3, they can probably get a CA license. Did you check on this?
FWIW, before my wife got her Calif license, State Farm said she didn't
even
need to be on the policy, since she was driving on a foreign license and
was covered the same as anyone without insurance that was driving my car
would be. This was even as a PR. Once she got the temp license from
DMV, I had to insure her. She got a temp license without the road test.
I think she had 30 more days to take the road test.
Oct 9th 2002, 10:07 pm
#5
Just Joined
Joined: Oct 2002
Location: california
Posts: 4
Re: a bit off-topic: driving insurance for K3 person in california
Originally posted by cbernard:
My wife will be here soon on a K3 visa (the interview is Oct 21), and wondering if anyone in california has found a cheap and easy way for their nonresident spouse to be insured as a driver in this deep-pocket country.
(cheap is probably out of the question, but at least easy)
she'll be using a Thai drivers license for now, and im not sure if any insurance companies insure that. She'll be applying for a calivornia licence, but it could take a few months.
I have one of those insurance companies that will drop me if anything's out of the norm, so i am afraid to ask.
thanks,
Court
My wife will be here soon on a K3 visa (the interview is Oct 21), and wondering if anyone in california has found a cheap and easy way for their nonresident spouse to be insured as a driver in this deep-pocket country.
(cheap is probably out of the question, but at least easy)
she'll be using a Thai drivers license for now, and im not sure if any insurance companies insure that. She'll be applying for a calivornia licence, but it could take a few months.
I have one of those insurance companies that will drop me if anything's out of the norm, so i am afraid to ask.
thanks,
Court
Oct 9th 2002, 10:10 pm
#6
Just Joined
Joined: Oct 2002
Location: california
Posts: 4
Re: a bit off-topic: driving insurance for K3 person in california
you could try an insurance company called eastwood insurance who will cover her for therty days telephone number is1800/468-less
Oct 9th 2002, 10:12 pm
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: a bit off-topic: driving insurance for K3 person in california
Shane....would you mind telling us what insurance company you are using for
house/vehicle?
Thanks,
Eileen
.> It turned out my UK driving
> experience could be taken into account and as a result our new premium
> was $600 less. The moral is, don't take the first answer. Find someone
> who is willing to work at it because European driving experience can
> be made to count
house/vehicle?
Thanks,
Eileen
.> It turned out my UK driving
> experience could be taken into account and as a result our new premium
> was $600 less. The moral is, don't take the first answer. Find someone
> who is willing to work at it because European driving experience can
> be made to count
Oct 10th 2002, 12:14 am
#8
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: a bit off-topic: driving insurance for K3 person in california
Aliluv wrote:
> I cannot offer any advice on this however I am currently in a similar
> situation:
> My husband who just obtained his SSN is applying for a license in CA
> and I am wondering if anyone knows how insurance companies figure this
> stuff out. He has his German licesne does anyone know if they take that
> into account?
> --
> Posted via http://britishexpats.com
I still have my Dutch drivers license and was unable to find
an insurance with that. So I need a Arizona drivers license.
--
steg
> I cannot offer any advice on this however I am currently in a similar
> situation:
> My husband who just obtained his SSN is applying for a license in CA
> and I am wondering if anyone knows how insurance companies figure this
> stuff out. He has his German licesne does anyone know if they take that
> into account?
> --
> Posted via http://britishexpats.com
I still have my Dutch drivers license and was unable to find
an insurance with that. So I need a Arizona drivers license.
--
steg
Oct 10th 2002, 4:39 am
#9
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: a bit off-topic: driving insurance for K3 person in california
> FWIW, before my wife got her Calif license, State Farm said she didn't
> even
> need to be on the policy, since she was driving on a foreign license and
> was covered the same as anyone without insurance that was driving my car
> would be.
When we went to AAA California with my husband in June 2002, they told
us that, because I was his wife, I had to be on the insurance policy.
The coverage for "anybody who drives your car" would not apply to me,
because I was a member of my husband's household. This is apparently a
CA law. In MI, they didn't care whether I drove the car with a US or
international driver's licence and whether I was a member of the
household or not. The law in CA also changed recently for foreign
nationals, and you have to have had your US driver's licence for a
certain numbers of years to be able to get the "good driver discount".
They do not count your experience abroad, which is kind of annoying
(and expensive...).
Caroline
> even
> need to be on the policy, since she was driving on a foreign license and
> was covered the same as anyone without insurance that was driving my car
> would be.
When we went to AAA California with my husband in June 2002, they told
us that, because I was his wife, I had to be on the insurance policy.
The coverage for "anybody who drives your car" would not apply to me,
because I was a member of my husband's household. This is apparently a
CA law. In MI, they didn't care whether I drove the car with a US or
international driver's licence and whether I was a member of the
household or not. The law in CA also changed recently for foreign
nationals, and you have to have had your US driver's licence for a
certain numbers of years to be able to get the "good driver discount".
They do not count your experience abroad, which is kind of annoying
(and expensive...).
Caroline
Oct 10th 2002, 9:34 pm
#10
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: San Jose, CA USA
Posts: 123
Re: a bit off-topic: driving insurance for K3 person in california
I already called the DMV, she can get a license, but she wont be able to drive without insurance. Plus, her car happens to be a tiny VW with 200HP under the hood, so she NEEDS insurance!!! (leave it to a guy to buy the car)
There's a large community near my house that is loaded with asian businesses. Although they are mostly vietnamese and my wife is Thai, I am sure they are familiar with these situations and should be able to help.
Goodbye, cheap insuance. I'll miss you.
But, it's a good compromise since we are FINALLY going to be together after a year!!!
(leave it to a guy to buy the car) There's a large community near my house that is loaded with asian businesses. Although they are mostly vietnamese and my wife is Thai, I am sure they are familiar with these situations and should be able to help.
Goodbye, cheap insuance. I'll miss you.
But, it's a good compromise since we are FINALLY going to be together after a year!!!
Originally posted by Mrtravel:
They can't drop you for asking the question, ESPECIALLY in California
As a K3, they can probably get a CA license. Did you check on this?
FWIW, before my wife got her Calif license, State Farm said she didn't
even
need to be on the policy, since she was driving on a foreign license and
was covered the same as anyone without insurance that was driving my car
would be. This was even as a PR. Once she got the temp license from
DMV, I had to insure her. She got a temp license without the road test.
I think she had 30 more days to take the road test.
They can't drop you for asking the question, ESPECIALLY in California
As a K3, they can probably get a CA license. Did you check on this?
FWIW, before my wife got her Calif license, State Farm said she didn't
even
need to be on the policy, since she was driving on a foreign license and
was covered the same as anyone without insurance that was driving my car
would be. This was even as a PR. Once she got the temp license from
DMV, I had to insure her. She got a temp license without the road test.
I think she had 30 more days to take the road test.
Oct 11th 2002, 1:08 am
#11
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: a bit off-topic: driving insurance for K3 person in california
On Wed, 09 Oct 2002 22:12:26 GMT, "Eileen" wrote:
>Shane....would you mind telling us what insurance company you are using for
>house/vehicle?
>Thanks,
>Eileen
We're using the Southern California's AAA company for the insurance.
>Shane....would you mind telling us what insurance company you are using for
>house/vehicle?
>Thanks,
>Eileen
We're using the Southern California's AAA company for the insurance.
Oct 11th 2002, 3:56 am
#12
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: a bit off-topic: driving insurance for K3 person in california
I don't really know the California Laws, however my husband and I just
got me added to his car insurance. We just moved to Delaware and we
went with State Farm since they allowed myself to be on the insurance.
I still have a Canadian license and have not yet gotten my Delaware
license, I think I have to wait till I have an SSN. But since my name
is on the policy as well I'm going to try and see if I can get it when
my husband goes in to change his. State Farm didnt' seem that
expensive either. As long as we were going to get my Delaware license
it wasn't a problem. Which I'm greatful for. You might want to try
and call different Insurance companies to see what they offer for you
and your wife to be. That is why my husband did. Try State Farm if
they have it out there.
Cindee
got me added to his car insurance. We just moved to Delaware and we
went with State Farm since they allowed myself to be on the insurance.
I still have a Canadian license and have not yet gotten my Delaware
license, I think I have to wait till I have an SSN. But since my name
is on the policy as well I'm going to try and see if I can get it when
my husband goes in to change his. State Farm didnt' seem that
expensive either. As long as we were going to get my Delaware license
it wasn't a problem. Which I'm greatful for. You might want to try
and call different Insurance companies to see what they offer for you
and your wife to be. That is why my husband did. Try State Farm if
they have it out there.
Cindee
