Got insurance. Yes, it's misleading. However when I called them, they're going through Progressive, as Dairyland pulled out.

Weird. There is a thread on the facebook page at the moment. A bunch of us trying to find insurance. Everyone who has foned progressive directly so far has been told that progressive does not currently offer insurance to foreign registered bikes unless they are going to be registered as a us bike within a month of the policy. So you would not be able to claim from them.

Maybe they have changed their policy in the last couple of days? Has your agent checked the fineprint? Or have progressive confirmed this?
Any chance you could post a copy of your policy?



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Don't talk to Progressive. Call Fernet.

OK, I've been trying to get some clarification on this for the past week or so and keep hitting brick walls and getting different info.

Fernet are agents for Progressive so you'd think they would know but I have my doubts. Cheryl at Fernet is off sick and a girl called Phyllis is doing her job. She has heard of the social media chat and when pressed, Phyllis says she doesnt really know if the cover will be live. She's working hard but I'm not she really knows what's happening but no one has told her that progressive will not insure.

I spoke with Jens at Lion Insurance today who I've also been dealing with. Jens is a progressive agent and he categorically told me that Progressive WILL NOT insure foreign bikes in the USA. He has no idea how Fernet are doing it but when progressive find out that a bike is foreign registered and you do not live there, they will cancel the policy so you will be f*cked. They will refund you the money but that doesn't help if you aren't insured. He's been at it for years and I'm inclined to believe he knows what he's talking about.

After this, I called Progressive directly and spoke to a guy who asked all the right people and he confirmed Progressive will not insure us. Foreign vehicles are regarded as transient and cannot be insured through Progressive.

Quite how Fernet are doing this is anyones guess as they only use Progressives online applications. Phyllis told me they never speak to them. Now I'm not saying they do anything illegal but I do wonder if they are filling in teh forms as if the US address we give is our home address. If this is the way they do it, the policy would be null and void in the event of an incident.

As far as I can see, no one will currently insure foreign vehicles in the US and Canada so if anyone knows different, shout up.

I've dealt with Phyllis several times through this whole flustercluck. She is, I've found, not the brightest bulb. I've had to steer her straight on several screw ups. I have a policy and written confirmation, from Cheryl, that it's good to go. Wish Cheryl had picked a better time to go sick.

That's really interesting as I've been told by progressive that they do not cover foreign vehicles and Lion has confirmed that.

Did you get a 12 months policy?

As Cheryl explained it to me, (and DO NOT TALK TO Phyllis) Progressive will create a policy. However, you may eventually get a letter (at your US mailing address, sister in law in my case) querying that the bike isn't registered in that mailing addresses state. Nothing happens (apparently) after that though. You don't get a follow up letter saying the policy is cancelled as the vehicle isn't registered in the state where the policy lists you.

Apparently Fernet have been doing it this way for a while, mainly for foreign RV travellers, without issue.

The policy DOES have your VIN clearly stated, so it COULD be argued they've checked the VIN and found it to be foreign. It does also say (in my case) "foreign driver's license".

Yes you have buy a 12 month policy, but it's 'pro rated' so you get back what you don't use.

I did have cause to call progressive, as my online logon didn't work, and they didn't raise any red flags during our long discussion.

Until there is a letter, or communication, stating "you're foreign, so is your bike, so the policy is cancelled", they (Progressive) are duty bound to provide that coverage.


Do I want to put it to the test? Hopefully I won't have to. Just have a nice easy, non eventful, ride across the US with an insurance card in my pocket.

The other option is to cancel the entire trip and wait until some other company steps up with a definitive "we welcome foreign riders" policy. ( Dairyland!), whenever that may be...

The 'back up' plan, if my Sis in Law ever calls me to say she's received a cancellation, is to head to the nearest U-Haul, and truck the bike to safety..

If I were on my own, I'd go for it but I have a trip with 7 other riders from Anchorage down to San Francisco and I can't tell them they are 100% covered which is my dilemma.

I've been using Fernet for 13 years and never had an issue when they insured with Dairyland as they had a section set up for insuring foreign vehicle and would provide policies to suit the length of the trip.

From my understanding, they aren't duty bound to provide cover and can cancel if everything isn't correct. They have a 90 day cancellation policy in which they can just pull the cover and return your money.

The issue with Fernet at the moment is the fact that Cheryl is off sick which seems long term. Phyllis hasn't a bloody clue to be honest and I can't risk my customers cover based on the word of someone who can't/won't confirm if we are covered or not.

I've been riding and taking groups out there for 13 years and never had a problem like this before. Knowing the way the US system and authorities work, I don't have your faith that all will be OK in the event of something nasty happening.

Good luck on your trip mate and hope all goes well.

Just had this email from Fernet so as of now, they aren't doing any insurance so according to my findings, there isn't an Insurance compnay in the USA willing to insure UK and European bikes.

Hello Chris,

As of now, you are correct, we will not be able to offer you insurance through Progressive.

We apologize for this inconvenience.

Thank You,

Cheryl Dudek
Fernet Insurance
1950 Lee Rd #107
Winter Park, FL 32789
1-866-768-7558 FAX
1-800-391-8144 Toll Free
321-972-1865 Local
customercare@fernet.com
www.fernet.com

Good luck with yours UKjeeper.

I called Cheryl as soon as I heard this. It seems this has been a recent development due to Progressive tightening things up even more.

Fortunately I seemed to have just got in under the wire, as my policy is still good. Cheryl will tell me if things change, but for now, i'm good.

Sorry to hear your trip is in jeopardy. Hope you get something sorted.

Hi all
-just joined this forum & read your words on this issue-thank you.
-Was embarking on a road trip to Canada in August & suddenly getting insurance was a problem.
-used Motorcycle Express last time - they use Dairyland Insurance (as other agents/companies do) as the insurer/underwriter & this is the response today I got from Motorcycle Express:

"There are no insurance companies providing this coverage presently. We could have a new one ready end of July. Dairyland withdrew 5/20/2018''

Hmm-hope they are right! back to the planning table!

What to american servicepeople do when they freight in a foreign plated vehicle back from their overseas posting?

What do Canadians and Mexicans do when they drive into the USA? There must surely be someone out there offering some form of insurance?

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https://fernsforays.wordpress.com/

AFAIK, all Canadian insurance is good in the USA, just as all US insurance is good in Canada. I don't know what servicepeople or Mexicans do.

It's utterly barking mad but at the moment there isn't a US company who are prepared to over coverage to European bikes. They have a different process for Mexico and Canada. They will insure a UK licence on a US bike, a US licence on a UK bike but not a UK licence on a UK bike and in the words of our American friends.........go figure!! Dairyland have claimed it's GDPR rules but I think there is more to it.

It's screwed my upcoming trip to Alaska but all is not lost as I'm hiring a few bikes and just doing a nice 2 week loop around Alaska. We normally ride down to San Francisco so that's out.

It's a crazy situation but I'm told it will be resolved shortly.......whatever that means!!

Latest

Just heard from Motorcycle Express today - they are working on an alternative insurer & may have news later this month

This doesn't help riders with trips/groups planned I agree

Lets see what happens