Mula
Super Nomad
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Registered: 8-16-2011
Location: San Nicolas y Lopez Mateos
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Short Term US Auto Insurance for Dakota plated vehicles
O.K., so once again, has anyone come up with a reasonable way to have US insurance - for a short trip to the US of A (2 weeks) with a Dakota plated
vehicle.
The agent suggests Geico's monthly premium - which would be fine at $39.20 USD per month on a 6 month policy. And they suggest just cancelling the
policy when you don't need it any more.
I hesitate to do this because I think after a time or 2 of this, Geico would not be amiable to giving us another policy. So for long term, down the
road - maybe this isn't good.
Any ideas?
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DavidE
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Mood: 'At home we demand facts and get them. In Mexico one subsists on rumor and never demands anything.' Charles Flandrau,
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I do it all the time with GEICO Mula. Every year for the last seven. But I go a couple of months at a time for medical purposes.
A Lot To See And A Lot To Do
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Mula
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Great, I guess we will try it, then.
I was optimistic.
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Mulegena
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David, do you cancel the policy every six months or keep it current?
Also, I understand the policy must be associated with a US residential address.
Its best to apply on-line and not give details, I've found: I had Geico for years and maintained it annually. About a year ago I made the mistake of
speaking with a rep on the phone and mentioned that the car is housed in Mexico most of the time. I explained that I need coverage when I drive the
car into the US. The representative cancelled my policy then and there-- how dare I do such a thing!
I've since reinstated my Geico coverage on-line without speaking to a representative.
"Raise your words, not your voice. It's rain that grows flowers, not thunder." ~Rumi
"It's the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." ~ Aristotle
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oladulce
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I discovered another disadvantage to starting up Geico for a US trip, then canceling when we return to BCS. The rate went up significantly when I
applied for another policy 6 months later. I'm assuming this is due to the fact I'd cancelled the previous time after only one month and our info was
still in their system, but I don't know for sure.
I posed this question on Mexico Connect forum and received a few replies with a solution that seems to be working for us so far: Start up Geico before
your trip to the US and when you return, call them and tell them you'd like to put the vehicle in "storage".
This will keep your policy active but reduce your monthly payments to a very reasonable "comprehensive coverage" only. This is to cover the car "in
case a tree falls on it while parked, etc" according to Geico. The agent will ask where the vehicle will be "stored"- I used a relative's CA address
since that's where we'll be driving on trips NOB. i'll call them prior to our next US trip and activate the full policy again.
We have a South Dakota mailing address for a US domicile and SD plates on the vehicle and Geico didn't have a problem with "storing" the truck in
location other than the residence address I gave them.
Of course the fact we live in BCS is never mentioned...
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Mulegena
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minor hijack
Oladulce, what are the advantages of a South Dakota mailing address? Why and how do you get one and how do you get your mail and packages to Baja?
You can u2u if you want or I can open this in another thread.
Thanks.
"Raise your words, not your voice. It's rain that grows flowers, not thunder." ~Rumi
"It's the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." ~ Aristotle
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Mulegena
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Thank you, Oladulce, for your u2u.
Back to topic:
This lady can sell short-terms US policies to US plated cars as per DENNIS.
Elena Bretts of Ensenada
646-178-5715
646-178-4394
646-112-0496
"Raise your words, not your voice. It's rain that grows flowers, not thunder." ~Rumi
"It's the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." ~ Aristotle
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tiotomasbcs
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Location: El Pescadero
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A related question. Can I get AAA auto ins from the state of South Dakota?? To register my Tacoma I needed no SD address but it stays down here. I
want to SD my travelin vehicle. Maybe I'll call Al Janckowitz in San Jose del Cabo to see what his clients do for ins when returning NOB w/ SD
plates. Geico/storage sounds good. Thanks. Tio
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Mula
Super Nomad
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Location: San Nicolas y Lopez Mateos
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Robert and Anita Jankovics in Cabo got my SD plates for me and advised me to do the Geico thing for 6 months and cancel after 1 or 2 months - for USA
insurance.
My truck stays here in Mexico full time except for 1 week in January and 2 weeks maybe in August. I have the Discover Baja Mexico insurance by the
year for it while here in Baja.
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tiotomasbcs
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Mil gracias, Mula! Answered my question w/o phone call. Bob Janckowizc not Weird Al!! Thanks for the info. Tio
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oladulce
Super Nomad
Posts: 1625
Registered: 5-30-2005
Location: bcs
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Because of the experience posted in March by "choyero" I'm hesitant to continue using the start-and-cancel method for short term US insurance with
Geico http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=59054#pid7086...
When i applied for the same Geico coverage a few months after I'd canceled a "one month policy", the premium went up $180. Not a huge amount but I'm
thinking it was a sort of penalty or a red flag because none of our other conditions had changed. It would be interesting to know if anyone else saw
an increase when they tried to re-start with Geico. If cost went up $180 each time I started up a new policy it would soon surpass the cost of
maintaining full annual US insurance!
To put our vehicle in "storage" with the insurance company while it sits in Mexico 95% of the year, costs $11/month. Cheaper to keep the policy active
and in "storage" than to have it jump up $180 each time or risk being denied coverage after a few times.
We only make a couple of trips NOB per year too and until i figure out a better option, it's worth $11/mo to me not to think about it the rest of the
time.
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choyero
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oladulce,
I may try that too $11/mo is a lot less hassle, that is if they let me set up another policy. I was denied last time around. Allstate hooed me up
though.
I've used gieco, statefarm, farmers and now allstate, on the 6 month and cancel policy. gieco automatically denies you if they know they car is in
MX. The other agents have been very helpful in person, the problem has always arisen at the underwriters the agent calls.
In the past I have been able to bypass "the not having current us insurance issue" by providing copies of my fm2, mex driver's license, and copy of
current mx insurance.
Heading up in a few weeks, hope my current allstate agent Kevin hooks me up again.
Which reminds me, I just received a lost refund check from 4 yrs ago from a canceled 6 month insurance policy from statefarm, the check was outdated
by a few yrs, but a quick call to statefarm got another check cut.
I'm going to see if allstate can do a storage fee, screw gieco.
I dont have anger management issues, I have idiot management issues.
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choyero
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Registered: 4-21-2011
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I also tried contacting this lady that dennis gave a few times
This lady can sell short-terms US policies to US plated cars as per DENNIS.
Elena Bretts of Ensenada
646-178-5715
646-178-4394
646-112-0496
but, I never received a reply.
...next
I dont have anger management issues, I have idiot management issues.
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Mula
Super Nomad
Posts: 1663
Registered: 8-16-2011
Location: San Nicolas y Lopez Mateos
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The storage route, seems to be the way to go.
Keep us posted Choyero.
Thanks.
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Mulegena
Super Nomad
Posts: 2412
Registered: 11-7-2006
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Sorry, the directions are cryptic-- no, they're kinda lousy
There's a business on the highway in the south-San Quintin/Old Mill turnoff area that also sells short-term policies. Its on the east side of the road
in a small stripmall near a Jersey Milk sign. Yes, I actually did find it given these directions-- I must be a birddog.
They, too, will write up a policy but I found it cheaper to go with Geico.
"Raise your words, not your voice. It's rain that grows flowers, not thunder." ~Rumi
"It's the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." ~ Aristotle
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oladulce
Super Nomad
Posts: 1625
Registered: 5-30-2005
Location: bcs
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I contacted Dougherty & Assoc. in Sioux falls (our former US insurer) and asked if their GMAC/ Good Sam policy had a "storage" option and she said
it was possible. So it sounds like other insurers can do it, but we're all the last to know. The secret is, don't mention the "M" word 
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