Insuring a Euro car - running into some problems in Oklahoma
 

Still thinking about the Euro 280SL, but another concern is my insurance company. I can insure it as a classic, but I really can't do that honestly since I plan on driving the car to work, etc. My insurance company (Farmer's) can't find the VIN and so they can't insure it. I have found a lot of companies that will insure it as a "Classic", but what do you do if you plan on regularly driving a Euro?

My agent can insure it as a 380SL (liability only), but he is concerned that it might cause problems at the tag agency - the VIN numbers will match but the title will probably specify a 280SL and the insurance documents a 380SL.

Anyone else ran into this? Other suggestions for companies?

ryan

I'm fairly certain that some of the Classic Insurance guys will insure regardless of miles driven yearly. Have you called and asked a few of the biggies? It'd be worth it.

Biggies?? I'm not very familiar with these companies...


ryan

My insurance company had a similar "computer moment" with my gray market 2.3-16 with the non-US VIN. It took them about a week to sort it out, but in the meantime they had issued me insurance and a temporary card while they worked it out.

No problem here in Florida. State Farm are probably used to grey market vehicles here though.

I work for Farmers, and we have no problems insuring Euro Cars....



What is their problem? Vin too short?

My uncle works for Shelter and also handles my insurance.

I have no problems tagging the SL with the gray market VIN. It actually shows on the card as a 500SEC because that's the closest match to the model and body type. All they seem to care about is the correct VIN.

Shelter insurance and I have set an agreed value on all 3 of my cars as well, with no mileage restrictions. All I had to do was email some pictures.

The VIN is not listed - I don't think it's too short, but the 280SL is not coming up on their computers.

What I am thinking is that most of these gray market cars are insured "under" the closest US model - and as long as the VIN number matches (title vs. insurance papers), then you're fine. Which means, if I only cover liability I shouldn't have any trouble - both in case of an accident and in getting it tagged in OK.

Thoughts?

ryan

Euro Insurance
 

I bought my SL in 1998 and went to AAA in California
directly from the seller's store.

They could not find a vin # and would not insure
it for collision. I did not put up a fuss and got it
insurred for liability etc.

So ive saved the insurance costs for past ten years.
Im sure they would not have insured it for the purchase
price at the time anyway.

Sturg
'84 280SL 5 speed stick 191k

Its like an old car in general, they are all not in the database. They can select Mercedes-Benz for the make of the vehicle, and where it asks you for the model, they can select other model. When they press next, it should ask them to enter in the model information, and that is where they can enter the grey market info of it being a 280SL.

If they have problems with that, I think you need to find another agent....

Easy way out. That's just what they'll do. I bought a 280 SL in SC and brought it to Canada. It took my insurance company a couple of weeks...with prodding....to get it solved. But they did. Then I switched companies.
All that hard work for nothing.
My new company was quite happy, though.
So was I...75% cheaper.

Insurance companies tend to lock up when presented with older serial numbers, even those that are US cars.

Anything prior to 1980 (I think) when the standardized format was introduced, wacks out the computer.

I remember my father trying to insure a 77 6.9 10 years ago. We had a complete paper trail on the car, and it showed it being delivered new in Baltimore, Md. BUT, because it did not have the expected sequence, the insurance co. declared that it MUST be a grey market car......

I've registered a few grey market cars with my insurance company over the years, and all they care about is the DOT and EPA release paperwork.

Jim