1. DEUTSCHES ALLRAD-FUSO FORUM
20. April 2017
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Hello Fuso Friends,
I just finalized my Fuso and motorcycle insurance for the USA & Canada. Knowing that it isn't easy and also very costly I did some more exploration to get better deals.
First I got an offer from Thum Insurance for the USA and MTCI in Canada, here what they offered:
- Thum: Full cover for 1 year, $15.500 and for half year $9.500. Both with very high deductible of $12.250 per claim. Based on vehicle value of $240.000
Liability only up to $500.000: $3.100 for 1 year and $1.900 for half year
- MTCI: they offer liability only for 90 days in Canada, cost $1.592 CDN
Both prices are absurd and these companies are misusing the situation that it becomes more difficult by the year to insure your own (non US & Canada) vehicle as a foreigner. Main reason why its becoming more and more difficult has to do with on-line insurance buying. In this highly automated environment of "big business" is no room for special cases and unknown risks anymore.
But with help from an American friend I found a much cheaper way to conclude your insurance for these countries.
I made the deal with Progressive Insurance on-line through their website and with much help of their live chat function with highly knowledgeable specialists. Note that the on-line chat function only works during EST office hours.
There are 3 things that you have to arrange upfront:
- International Drivers License for the drivers, I bought mine in Holland with ANWB. You can probably do with ADAC.
- A correspondence address in the USA with telephone number, everything goes on-line so they do not really need it but if you don't have it the process will get stuck. I used the address of a good friend in Houston TX, but you can use almost any address as long the owner of the address agrees that you use it. There are no liabilities or consequences at all for the US address inhabitant.
- Determine the actual value of your vehicle without any taxes ( so no "mehrwertsteuer")
When you access the Progressive Internet site ( https://www.progressive.com/ ) from outside the US, make sure you use a VPN connection otherwise they don't allow access for safety reasons.
The deal I made with Progressive for the Fuso ( as Motorhome Class A) and the BMW motorcycle carried on our camper:
- 1 year insurance directly on my name and my wife as co-driver, Motorhome value at $210.000 (no taxes)
$3.200 yearly premium with a deductible of $5.000 per claim, if you want to go low with your deductible to $1.000 the premium will go up with around $1.400
With this premium I have a full cover insurance protecting against almost everything that could happen.
- For our motorcycle (BMW F800GS) with actual value of $12.000 full cover is only $240 for one year
Everything is finalized and payed, they know I am a foreigner and the vehicles are non-US, you only have to fill in the VIN numbers of your truck or motorcycle.
We will ship our camper from Hamburg on 24 February with Caravan Shippers directly to Halifax and around 11 March we will hit the "snow" roads in Canada.
The deal with Caravan Shippers wasn't bad either, they ship with ACL Line and this line sails every week to Halifax and Baltimore. We payed €4.600 all inclusive and with insurance. Seabridge (being the "shipping standard" asked around €1.600 more for exactly the same.
If anyone has a question or wants more info, I happy to share and help !!
Branko & Ingrid (TUTFuso)
5. März 2017
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Thank you for the interesting article. This got our full attention because we are planning to ship our Fuso in September to Halifax. One point of discussion is at moment the costs for transfer, insurance, flights and….
Our detailed planning starts in March when we are back home.
Thanks for the help we would like to accept, if any question comes up.
Greetings from Segovia, Spain
Roland and Gaby
20. April 2017
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Fusologe sagt
Thank you for the interesting article. This got our full attention because we are planning to ship our Fuso in September to Halifax. One point of discussion is at moment the costs for transfer, insurance, flights and….Our detailed planning starts in March when we are back home.Thanks for the help we would like to accept, if any question comes up.Greetings from Segovia, Spain
Roland and Gaby
Hi Roland & Gaby.
When you need more info on all kinds of "America Preps" stuff, drop me an email.
Have fun in Spain.
Branko
16. Oktober 2017
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Hello Branko,
I want to comment something to your experience with Progressive insurance. I was myself in contact with them through an agent. I got a quote from one agent, too. The price was very attractive. The offer did include our Fuso RV and our motorbike for one year Canada, US and Mexico for about 2,5k$. After that I had a phone call with sea bridge and we talked about all issues for the shipping from Hamburg to Halifax. The vehicle insurance was one point. They told me that you will get a vehicle insurance if you provide a US address (I do have one) but in case of an accident you will need them, they will not pay because its a european Vehicle with european technical Standard and registered in europe. After this important Information I made an additional request to Progressive through another Agent. I clearly made them understand that I have a european vehicle that I want to read in the insurance contract that they will pay in case of insurance. This agent was honest to me and I received following answer:
" Unfortunately, our carriers require that the vehicles be located and registered in the US so we’ll be unable to provide you with a quote."
Do you have fixed in your insurance contract that Progressive cover all demages for your european Fuso registered outside US?
We plan to ship to Halifax this year 11. of may (we maybe must postpone because of the Coronacrises), and I am really interested About your experience. I read About the shipping Company Caravan Shippers. This is very interesting, too. I did not know About them.
best regards from Spain,
Ralf
20. April 2017
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Hi Ralf,
We checked this all directly with Progressive during their online chats and the agent assured me that it was no issue.
Also checked their condition forms and there is nothing about the registration of vehicles noted, also I had to give my vehicle VIN and that number clearly indicates that it is a non American registered vehicle. Was no problem and VIN was accepted for both the Fuso and motorcycle.
I even discussed the value number to put in, discussing that the German VAT had to be deducted from the ensured value.
Best what you can do go to their website and talk to them directly through the chat option, ask them the same questions again and you can safe the chat sessions for your records. Make sure you have an international drivers license (obligatory in US) and their website works only if you connect through a VPN connection, otherwise they block you from Europe connections. Chat option is only available during week days working hours EST time.
On Caravan Shippers, we are very happy with them and they did a flawless job. Much cheaper then Seabridge.
Collected our Fuso in Halifax 5 days ago without a scratch, was straight forward procedure. Ask both companies for a quote, you can compare and they both use ACL shipping line. So no difference there. Only expect delays in shipping, our ACL ship arrived 5 days later than planned.
Good luck !!
Branko
7. März 2020
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Hello,
For us, the estimate is 160 € less than Seabridge for our 46 m3 vehicle.
We are waiting to purchase our insurance with Progressive for a cost of $ 1,600
20. April 2017
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LES FUSOTISTES sagt
Hello, For us, the estimate is 160 € less than Seabridge for our 46 m3 vehicle. We are waiting to purchase our insurance with Progressive for a cost of $ 1,600
Great, when are you planning to ship ??
Please note that Canada is also now rapidly introducing limitations for access and travel. All restaurants, bars, public places are closed now.
7. März 2020
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Hello,
The departure is scheduled for FUSO on May 22 in Antwerp. Given the health situation in the world will surely be delayed.
20. April 2017
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LES FUSOTISTES sagt
Hello, The departure is scheduled for FUSO on May 22 in Antwerp. Given the health situation in the world will surely be delayed.
The ship schedule is probably still reliable and the ship will sail with your truck. The problem will be to fly and get into Canada as a person !
And also to bring your truck to Antwerp as long the travel bans are active in Belgium.
We have no problem when you would come to Nova Scotia, we are stuck here and by end of May probably somewhat lonely 🙁
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