[Cloud9blue]

First thing first, THIS FORUM IS AWSOME!!! (including the Off-Topic area ) Really appreciate every forum member for their contribution and love for BMW.

Anyway, here is my question. It's about getting auto insurance, something not really car-related, but definitely essential.

Well, i have been driving in Vancouver since i was 17. I just came to Chicago a year ago to studying in college. I don't have an American or Illinois driving license at this time, but will after I get a job on campus so I can apply for a security number that will allow me to get a driver license (never thought getting a driver license can be this complicated...).

The whole process shouldn't take more than a month, so I am looking forward to placing my order on a E92 335i no later than end of this year. But as I said, I am from Vancouver, Canada and is rather confused by number of car insurance companies there are in States (the province that Vancouver is at only have one auto insurance company). So I am wondering how much should the insurance cost me and which company are good and which are to avoid. It would be great that anyone similar of my ago could share their story on auto insurance. Some of my insurance related information are listed below.
- Male, 19, College Student (high GPA in a top private university)
- Driving since 17, clean record (no accident, no speeding, nothing )
- Canadian license and Chinese license (lol, weird, i know)

By the way, any of you Chicago guys can recommend me some good dealerships in this area? That would really help too. (Any of them do pickup? I don't have a car at here...)

(and please, don't flame me because i look like just another kid getting a bimmer at such a young age. i am aware that i am fortunate to have all of this. I am a responsible person and definitely won't end up crashing into a house like we have seen from the kids with that white M3 few weeks ago .)

[JSpira]

Your best bet is to call around to State Farm, Allstate, etc. plus the company that has the BMW NA tie-in, Liberty Mutual.

That´s the only way to proceed - shop around.

[rzm3]

Try GEICO for sure. Most other companies have high premium for young drivers with expensive cars When i renewed my M3's policy I called a couple other companies, and the cheapest was $1100+ vs. $758 GEICO.

BTW i have a chinese license too.

FYI, when I was 20 w/ 335xi coupe, it was $714 per six months.

GL!

[flicks28]

Yes, you will have to call around and make sure you ask the insurance companies if they recognize a Canadian drivers license. I mainly work with people who are foreigners in the United States and they pay absolutely insane car insurance rates and alot of these people have driven in their home countries for more then 20 years. Many times car insurance companies in the US consider them "new drivers" and assign a new driver rate to them. I have seen yearly rates of USD2500-6000 depending on the individual. In fact, 2 guys I know are paying $1035/month right now for an approx. $40K car. However, you need to call the insurance companies and ask if a Canadian drivers license "counts."

[z4mber]

I am also a foreigner. Anyway I do not need a SSN to get a driver license, not in California. All i need is to prove that I have a student visa for a school here and the i-20. I have been tdriving for 4 years and I used to own a 08 x5 and a 07 mini, my insurance is 920 for half year. I think it really depends what insurance you use and your location. Being a foreign student should not bump up your insurance price. However you are very young and insurance might be expensive for a sport car.

Also when i go to my insurance company, they never ask am I a foreigner or not. I just show them my california ID and that's it! Maybe you should just give you US information unless they ask about your Canadian citizenship

[Universal_Magnetic]

dont forget to get an LOE (letter of experience) and a drivers abstract for your driving history. that way they can/should credit you for however many years of driving experience you had in BC. you should probably get these yourself and then fax them over to the insurance company you decide to go with, because from personal experience ICBC does not give LOE's to brokers without the clients consent or having the client on the line (im in insurance broker in ontario btw)

[yoyeewee]

Originally Posted by rldzhao

Try GEICO for sure. Most other companies have high premium for young drivers with expensive cars When i renewed my M3's policy I called a couple other companies, and the cheapest was $1100+ vs. $758 GEICO.

BTW i have a chinese license too.

FYI, when I was 20 w/ 335xi coupe, it was $714 per six months.

GL!

Yes...call GEICO (800) 841-3000

Call them now, they're open 24 hours!

[Cloud9blue]

thanks everyone for their help!

Originally Posted by Universal_Magnetic

dont forget to get an LOE (letter of experience) and a drivers abstract for your driving history. that way they can/should credit you for however many years of driving experience you had in BC. you should probably get these yourself and then fax them over to the insurance company you decide to go with, because from personal experience ICBC does not give LOE's to brokers without the clients consent or having the client on the line (im in insurance broker in ontario btw)

and i will look more into that while i am still at vancouver.