Insuring a Euro Mercedes Benz...has anyone else tried? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

lietuviai · #1 10-08-2004, 05:24 PM

I recently found out my insurance company will drop all of my coverage if I don't remove my 230CE from my policy. My agent added it to my policy recently but later found out about this by a memo he got from them. My insurance agent also found out that there aren't very many companies out that will insure "gray market" cars. He also said that I won't be able to get full coverage anywhere. Has anyone else had the same nightmare?

#2 10-08-2004, 05:40 PM

No, I've had my Euro 190D insured for 5 years with no problem. And I'm pretty sure the original owner had it fully insured before then. I don't understand why they wouldn't insure yours.

whunter · #3 10-08-2004, 08:18 PM

Because they don’t fit the actuarial data charts and don’t have DOT impact test data.

Check all the fine print in your policy.

Most agents do not know whether or not a company covers grey market cars.

The majority will not cover them.

Some require a certification inspection or import qualification paperwork.

There are a few that require a special rider to cover unqualified equipment.

A friend paid his premium for fifteen years, had an accident, not his fault.
The insurance denied all claims, sued him for fraud and won, he ended up paying $158,000.00 in damages, court cost and other victims vehicle repair.
In the end, he scrapped the car because no insurance company would cover it for any amount of money.

Palangi · #4 10-08-2004, 08:42 PM

State Farm covers mine. The vin number does confuse them though. I have to take a picture or a rubbing of the vin every time renewal comes up.

whunter · #5 10-09-2004, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Palangi

State Farm covers mine. The vin number does confuse them though. I have to take a picture or a rubbing of the vin every time renewal comes up.

Sounds like the agent has mislabeled your car in their database, if you ever have a claim, it may be a nightmare.
The flip side is, if you contact the parent company and clear it up, you may have no insurance...

turbodiesel · #6 10-09-2004, 12:02 AM

No problem with my company.. it has a US vin number.. yours should too.

rwthomas1 · #7 10-09-2004, 11:08 AM

I "knew" someone who built a musclecar a long time ago from three wrecks that ended up having title problems. Not due to theft or anything like that, just paperwork issues. No way to register the car or insure it. "They" ended up buying a 1 year older, rusty, worthless hulk with a clear vin# and swapped the vin# plates. Now I certainly wouldn't recommend this as a solution but it may be the simplest and cheapest way to fix your problem. Purchase a US spec junker and trade papers. Now I know someone will chime in that if you ever get caught, get in a wreck, etc. you will be in deep trouble. Highly unlikely. Most people don't know the difference between a Euro and a US spec car and even if they do it is also farily common for people to swap Euro bumpers, parts, etc. onto US spec cars to get the "euro" look. It would be very difficult to prove anything. Best of luck, RT

#8 10-09-2004, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whunter

Sounds like the agent has mislabeled your car in their database, if you ever have a claim, it may be a nightmare.
The flip side is, if you contact the parent company and clear it up, you may have no insurance...

Actually, my Euro 190D was rear-ended about a year ago (my wife driving) and insurance covered the entire cost (nearly $2000) of repairing it. No questions asked. And they definitely knew it was a Euro before the repair was finished--the body shop had to order a new rear bumper from Germany, since the car has a factory trailer hitch--not available in the US. They had first installed a US bumper--covering the hitch--and I refused to accept the repair until they made it right. The insurance company backed me 100%.

lietuviai · #9 10-09-2004, 12:56 PM

I'm very dissappointed with my current insurance company so I have my agent shopping around for rates with other companies. According to my agent, in the state of Washington there aren't very many companies that want to insure grey market cars. It might be different in other states. I had a feeling there were going to be problems when they entered the VIN#. They called back saying that nothing came up or it came up as a different year model. For insuring purposes they need a copy of my title to show that the car has actually be registered in the US.
I would like to eventually get full coverage for the car. Those of you who have full coverage, what companies do you have? I'd like to let my agent know.

euroamg · #10 10-10-2004, 03:26 AM

Any pics of your mercedes?