Large Car Insurance Premiums
Oct 4th 2007, 11:24 pm
#16
Not living a 9 to 5 life
Joined: Jun 2002
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 11,061
Re: Large Car Insurance Premiums
Hi. I've just moved to Charlotte, North Carolina and I have been shocked by the premiums that I am being quoted for Car Insurance. For a not at all flash car I've been quoted around $1500 for 6 months- liability only. I've been told by brokers this is because they do not recognise my foreign driving experience.
Has anyone else encountered this & found any cheaper providers?
Has anyone else encountered this & found any cheaper providers?
http://www.ncdot.org/dmv/moving/newn.../newcomers.pdf
Do not hand over/give up your UK license even if the DMV staff ask you for it. They have no jurisdiction over your British license.
Oct 5th 2007, 1:30 am
#17
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2
Re: Large Car Insurance Premiums
I feel your pain. I assume you hold a full British driving licence? I didn't when I moved to NC which means I had to get my first full driving license in the US. In NC for the first three years of holding a full driving license, you're considered an "inexperienced driver". Age and gender are ignored. So, for the first year auto insurance for me and my spouse was over $3000! It dropped every six months (you pay for six months coverage at a time).
I was with Nationwide for the first two years. The agent was trying to pull a fast one on me and refused to lower the premium when she should have (because of some NC Dept of Insurance ruling) so I switched to GEICO and that's whom I've been with since then.
Be aware of all the minimum coverage that the state of NC imposes on auto insurance. Do not drive under-insured. There a lot of crappy drivers in NC. Are you the only person on the policy? Do you have a USC spouse? Maybe his/her driving record isn't so good and that's one reason why you've been quoted higher premiums.
I was with Nationwide for the first two years. The agent was trying to pull a fast one on me and refused to lower the premium when she should have (because of some NC Dept of Insurance ruling) so I switched to GEICO and that's whom I've been with since then.
Be aware of all the minimum coverage that the state of NC imposes on auto insurance. Do not drive under-insured. There a lot of crappy drivers in NC. Are you the only person on the policy? Do you have a USC spouse? Maybe his/her driving record isn't so good and that's one reason why you've been quoted higher premiums.
Does credit history play a big part in insurance costs?
NC Penguin - are you in Charlotte? The drivers are terrible here (might be related to the driving test being very easy).
Thanks for the advice about not taking the minimum insurance. I think I will take the defensive driving course - it will come in handy anyway.
Oct 5th 2007, 4:52 am
#18
Account Closed
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2
Re: Large Car Insurance Premiums
Thanks for all your replies. I should have mentioned I just passed by North Carolina Driving Test and did a round of quotes which came out higher than before I had the test (don't quite understand that)
Does credit history play a big part in insurance costs?
NC Penguin - are you in Charlotte? The drivers are terrible here (might be related to the driving test being very easy).
Thanks for the advice about not taking the minimum insurance. I think I will take the defensive driving course - it will come in handy anyway.
Does credit history play a big part in insurance costs?
NC Penguin - are you in Charlotte? The drivers are terrible here (might be related to the driving test being very easy).
Thanks for the advice about not taking the minimum insurance. I think I will take the defensive driving course - it will come in handy anyway.
Farmers charge an extra 10% for a non US License.
But it is highly unlikely that someone with ut a US license would qualify for their best plans.
A good credit rating can knock of quite a bit, but its better to have no record than a bad one.
Try getting a quote in the UK with a US license for some big numbers.
You ned a high liablity limit otherwise you will lose out on decent Underinsured/Uninsured coverage.
Oct 6th 2007, 1:34 am
#19
BE Enthusiast
Joined: May 2007
Location: Johns Creek, GA
Posts: 630
Re: Large Car Insurance Premiums
We're moving to Delaware in late January 2008 and have been investigating insurance quotes.
$1500 / 6 months for liability only seems very high, unless you are very young.
Progressive quoted us $1900 for good liability cover, collision, comprehensive and PIP for 2 drivers on a brand new VW Golf GTi. This was including a surcharge for using UK driving licences. We could reduce that by a further $200 by taking a high deductible on the collision element. They said that Delaware was a relatively expensive State to insure in.
State Minimum liability cover was $557 and decent Liability cover only was $804.
I think we will wait until we have our Delaware licences and save a further 10% by taking the defensive drivers course ($28 each I think).
I think the answer, as others have said, is to shop around.
$1500 / 6 months for liability only seems very high, unless you are very young.
Progressive quoted us $1900 for good liability cover, collision, comprehensive and PIP for 2 drivers on a brand new VW Golf GTi. This was including a surcharge for using UK driving licences. We could reduce that by a further $200 by taking a high deductible on the collision element. They said that Delaware was a relatively expensive State to insure in.
State Minimum liability cover was $557 and decent Liability cover only was $804.
I think we will wait until we have our Delaware licences and save a further 10% by taking the defensive drivers course ($28 each I think).
I think the answer, as others have said, is to shop around.
Anyway - i just got my car insurance for this too - Got quoted just over $1000 for 6 months with AIG International Services Membership (was quoted twice as much at Gico and progressive). Membership cost me $400, but with the insurance saving, it's paying for its self AND you get some extra stuff thrown in for free. Still, even $1000 is expensive compared to the £350 I was paying a year in the UK for a YEAR - even after writing a car off!
The only reason I can think as to why its so expensive out here is that Americans cant drive (at least in Georgia anyway). They are aggressive, selfish and scary! Probably because they all drive MASSIVE fuel gussling machines which make them feel invincible. OK - I am sure that there are some good drivers out there, but from my experience, they are very few and far between during the hours of 7:30 and 9:00 and 17:00 and 19:00 (sorry, 05:00 PM and 07:00 PM)...
Grrrrr!!!! Lets get rid of some of those traffic-light controlled intersections and replace them with roundabouts... Will make my trip work and back quicker and it will also provide some entertainment watching them trying to figure out how to navigate a roundabout (sorry, circle)... lol
Oct 6th 2007, 1:51 am
#20
Not living a 9 to 5 life
Joined: Jun 2002
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 11,061
Re: Large Car Insurance Premiums
Thanks for all your replies. I should have mentioned I just passed by North Carolina Driving Test and did a round of quotes which came out higher than before I had the test (don't quite understand that)
Does credit history play a big part in insurance costs?
NC Penguin - are you in Charlotte? The drivers are terrible here (might be related to the driving test being very easy).
Thanks for the advice about not taking the minimum insurance. I think I will take the defensive driving course - it will come in handy anyway.
Does credit history play a big part in insurance costs?
NC Penguin - are you in Charlotte? The drivers are terrible here (might be related to the driving test being very easy).
Thanks for the advice about not taking the minimum insurance. I think I will take the defensive driving course - it will come in handy anyway.
No. I live in Durham, in the Triangle. When I took my driving test, the practical part, behind the wheel, only lasted 7 minutes. I was so disappointed because I'd expected something more challenging than that.
Oct 6th 2007, 2:31 am
#21
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,190
Re: Large Car Insurance Premiums
Just got an insurance quote today from Geico for an s type Jag in AZ, they weren't sure of the exact model so gave a top rate of $750 for 6 months.
So I expect a bit less than that, this is for comprehensive with $500 deductible.
So I expect a bit less than that, this is for comprehensive with $500 deductible.
Oct 7th 2007, 1:44 pm
#25
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: The Big Apple
Posts: 1,834
Re: Large Car Insurance Premiums
Oct 7th 2007, 6:52 pm
#26
Concierge
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 46,390
Re: Large Car Insurance Premiums
You are not in NYC and NYC insurance is not $300 per six month period. Perhaps you have a motorized bicycle. We are in Westchester in New York State and we pay $1200 per month for two vehicles; one is a 2007 truck and the other is a 2005 car. Both are fully covered and includes $500 deductible and full glass coverage; roadside assistance and mechanic's coverage. And we, too, have GEICO. In fact I have had the same policy for over 30 years.
Oct 7th 2007, 7:14 pm
#27
Homebody
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: HOME
Posts: 23,181
Re: Large Car Insurance Premiums
You are not in NYC and NYC insurance is not $300 per six month period. Perhaps you have a motorized bicycle. We are in Westchester in New York State and we pay $1200 per month for two vehicles; one is a 2007 truck and the other is a 2005 car. Both are fully covered and includes $500 deductible and full glass coverage; roadside assistance and mechanic's coverage. And we, too, have GEICO. In fact I have had the same policy for over 30 years.
Oct 8th 2007, 1:07 am
#29
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: The Big Apple
Posts: 1,834
Re: Large Car Insurance Premiums
You are not in NYC and NYC insurance is not $300 per six month period. Perhaps you have a motorized bicycle. We are in Westchester in New York State and we pay $1200 per month for two vehicles; one is a 2007 truck and the other is a 2005 car. Both are fully covered and includes $500 deductible and full glass coverage; roadside assistance and mechanic's coverage. And we, too, have GEICO. In fact I have had the same policy for over 30 years.
Thanks for calling me a liar though - appreciate that
Oct 8th 2007, 3:03 pm
#30
Mr. Grumpy
Joined: Jun 2003
Location: Nashville, TN
Posts: 3,100
Re: Large Car Insurance Premiums
with minimum coverage my wifes shitty jeep was 120 for 6 months (now at about 175 with much higher liability limits)
even with higher liability limits my porsche is 430 for 6 months with my avalanche being 370 for 6 months
liability limits should not be at minimum unless you rent a house and have no assets for someone to potentially sue to for...
even with higher liability limits my porsche is 430 for 6 months with my avalanche being 370 for 6 months
liability limits should not be at minimum unless you rent a house and have no assets for someone to potentially sue to for...