Insurance coverage for 7x Series imports to USA?

[peterb]

Hello All
For those of you who have imported 7x Series trucks into the USA, specifically those with RHD and short VINs, what company(s) have you used to obtain insurance coverage? I do not have a truck yet but want to hear what you have learned with your imports. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks
Peter

 

[Heychris]

Hi Peter,
Did you buy the truck and find an insurer? I'm in the same position.
Regards
Chris

 

[Chester]

USAA, no issues, this one is LHD, not sure if that makes a difference.

 

[Gun Runner 5]

State Farm has never had an issue with my RHD vehicles. I present them with a professional appraisal letter and insure them for a know value.

 

[jfrench]

Just went through this with my now old insurer Allstate. They changed some rules forcing me to look elsewhere. I had my '83 BJ42 with them and now they said things are different. Called around to several big names, collector car insurers and even spoke with a broker. State Farm is who I landed with. No significant hoops other than a photo of the title and data plate sent to them to get it and it's a reasonable premium. I'm told they will work hard to find comparables in the event it's totaled and that "it's not my money so I want to pay out as much as I can". I'm going to get an appraisal as well. No mileage restrictions or daily driving limitations, can use off road, covers anything attached to vehicle such as aftermarket bumpers, winch, etc.

Progressive wanted $3200/yr for an agreed value…friggin' insane

 

[Gun Runner 5]

State Farm took my appraisal letter plus a hand full of photos and never looked back. Both of my 70 Series are insured for a "known value" so there shouldn't be any issues in the event of a total loss.

 

[jfrench]

so there shouldn't be any issues in the event of a total loss.

Famous last words...

Agreed that State Farm seems to play ball the easiest. Hopefully none of us will find out what will actually happen in the event of a total loss.

 

[Devils Paw 80]

My Canadian model '85 Bj70 state farm insurance card simply said 1985 Land Cruiser, so I'm guessing it was viewed as just another 1985 Land Cruiser. Well, it is after all. RHD might be another story, though with a liability application I bet they wouldn't even notice it. I had mine for two years, with minimal liability coverage.

 

[Gun Runner 5]

That is why I went the appraisal / known value route instead of trusting the judgement of an insurance adjuster. I didn't want the to come up with a value of $500.00 for a 25+ year old Toyota.

 

[NM Frontier]

I use GEICO and just told them it's a 89 Land Cruiser, told them I imported it from Japan so the vin was short, after a five minute hold to talk to a manager I was good to go.

 

[peterb]

My agent is a pretty straight arrow and got all the info on my truck - he considered it "gray market". I got coverage through Progressive.
Those of you that obtained appraisals, who did you use?
Thanks
Peter

 

[Gun Runner 5]

Peter, P.M. Sent

 

[Shes Mad]

My Canadian model '85 Bj70 state farm insurance card simply said 1985 Land Cruiser, so I'm guessing it was viewed as just another 1985 Land Cruiser. Well, it is after all. RHD might be another story, though with a liability application I bet they wouldn't even notice it. I had mine for two years, with minimal liability coverage.

Mine says 1985 Toyota BJ74. I have stated value coverage. My state farm agent came out and took pics before and after I finished it, asked questions, etc. Of course, it is LHD now.

 

[Shes Mad]

My agent is a pretty straight arrow and got all the info on my truck - he considered it "gray market". I got coverage through Progressive.
Those of you that obtained appraisals, who did you use?
Thanks
Peter

Time for a new agent if that is what he thinks

 

[Gun Runner 5]

I assume every insurance company has a "vintage automobile" division that can understand something as unique as a 70 Series. I have insured 6 RHD Cruisers and several more RHD Land Rovers and have never encountered an issue.

 

[jfrench]

Time for a new agent if that is what he thinks

"gray market" means something different to insurers than it does to us. I had that conversation with a few of them. It doesn't mean illegally imported but rather just a non-US vehicle that's in the US.

And be careful with stated value, that just means they know what you think it's worth, not what they would necessarily pay out in the event of a total loss.

 

[Gun Runner 5]

I allowed my son to drive my Land Rover Defender 90 on occasion and unfortunately one of those occasions resulted in a wreck. Despite State Farm finding out that many of the major components on a Defender were not available from a Land Rover America they still paid for a very expensive repair. They actually relied on some of my sources to get parts that otherwise couldn't be sourced through normal venders. Perhaps they will screw me at some point in the future to recoup some of their money but so far so good.

 

[Estancio]

State Farm insures my BJ70 in the USA. When I imported it from Canada, I had absolutely no trouble with insuring this LHD.
Plus my insurance premiums dropped by about half.