[oldcar]

Hi
We are planing to bring our 1922 Dixie Flyer to the US for the AACA 75th Anniversary next July. Can anyone advise us as to the requirements, insurance etc needed to drive a foreign (Australian) registered car in America?
We have booked our room at the Crown Plaza and advise anyone needing accommodation not to delay, at last count they had just 46 rooms left.

[MCHinson]

It looks like you need to obtain an international driving permit from your country before you leave. More information is located at this website:

Foreign Visitors Driving in the U.S.: USA.gov

Regarding your car, I would suggest that you will probably have to obtain an insurance policy from a US insurance company to be on the safe side. You could ask your own insurance provider to see if your current policy will cover your vehicle in the US.

As far as vehicle registration, I cannot determine if your current vehicle registration is sufficient or not. It would be almost impossible to obtain registration for it in any US State, as a non-resident. Most information on International Vehicle Registration that I can find is related to operation of foreign registered commercial vehicles.

Regarding driving with your current foreign license plate, I think you are probably OK but your country's embassy would be a good place to get information to confirm that.

[Packard32]

Remember, that here in the states, licensing and such are left to each state. Which states will you be driving in? I would imagine each state would have different requirements. ...B

[50jetback]

Originally Posted by oldcar

Hi
We are planing to bring our 1922 Dixie Flyer to the US for the AACA 75th Anniversary next July. Can anyone advise us as to the requirements, insurance etc needed to drive a foreign (Australian) registered car in America?
We have booked our room at the Crown Plaza and advise anyone needing accommodation not to delay, at last count they had just 46 rooms left.

I made some inquiries a few years ago and it seems the greatest difficulty is insurance.

Drivers license is okay but it is probably advisable to obtain an International License to keep everyone happy - these are issued by the RAC in your home state.

Vehicle registration seemed to be okay, no different to a Canadian crossing the border and driving in the US.

I had concerns about RHD but it seems that is okay in the US, in fact a lot of Rural postal vehicles are RHD.

I think there is also paperwork to say you won't sell the car and leave it behind in the US, although this may have changed with the " free trade " arrangements now in place between Australia and the US.

Let us know what else you find out, I may want to do a similar thing in the future.

[oldcar]

Hello and thank you all for your interest and suggestions.

I have sent an e-mail to Hagerty International (based in the UK) asking for a contact name in their HQ. They were extremely helpful with our insurance for Europe including break down cover. We did not need to use any of their services but one of the others in our party was amazed at the speed and depth of their service.

Bernie J.

[martylum]

I had an American car from the 50s in my shop for work after which the British owner planed to come over and drive around the U. S. I could not find an insurer who would cover the liability exposure or the ability to have the car licensed in my state, PA, for a foreign national non resident of PA. We hauled the car to a show on a trailer.

Seems like a tough nut to crack.

Montana will allow anyone to register their vehicle there but requires setting up a corporation which will own this vehicle. Seems Montana does not charge sales tax on registered vehicles so large motor homes, etc might find this attractive even with the cost for settng up the coropration.

I never got as far as the Montana insurance question.
Masrtin Lum

[oldcar]

The Dixie Flyer will be registered here in Australia. Rick Worm Hagerty's specialist in this field has sent me the e-mail which I think covers it all.*I think that it says it all.

Under the regulations of the USA, you can use your country’s drivers license for up to 12 months after entering the USA, providing your country is part of the Geneva Compact. Australia is, and most countries are- you can follow this link for any friends interested in checking: Driver Licensing - Geneva Compact Countries. You will want to make sure your license contains photo identification. An International Driving Permit is not essential but will make life easier if shown along with your home country license if you happen to get pulled over by the police. Always carry your license when driving - it is a legal requirement.
*
Cars imported into the USA by tourists can be driven on valid foreign registration plates for up to one year from the date of arrival, provided, again, that the country of registration is party to the UN Convention on Road Traffic (Geneva Compact). A foreign registered car must display the appropriate international registration plate at the rear. As for documentation required to bring your Dixie*
Flyer into the USA, your proof of ownership (we call this the Title here), registration are required, and there may be some other documentation to pass through Customs. This all can be handled by the freight agent you will use to handle the transport of your car to and from the USA (they will tell you what they need to process your car).
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We do offer temporary (up to 60 days) insurance coverage for foreign visitors to the USA who are coming here for the purpose of attending a collector car show/event/tour and related activities, including some pleasure driving. This event would quality for this program. This is an agreed-value policy including physical damage coverage and state required third-party liability limits. We can also cover your vehicle for the time it is on the ship to and from the USA as well.
*
I hope this helps, and let me know if you have any other questions. Feel free to share this information with any of your friends who may be thinking of coming over for the AACA 75th Anniversary celebrations. I’ll bet your Flyer would love to visit it’s birth state again!
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Best regards,
*
Rick
*
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Rick Worm, API* >>* Overseas Coverage Specialist* >>* Hagerty Private Client Services
P:* 888-460-6040 x8143* F:* 231.941.8227* E:* rworm@hagerty.com
WWW.HAGERTY.COM* |* 141 RIVER'S EDGE DR., SUITE 200, TRAVERSE CITY, MI 49684
*

[MCHinson]

Sounds like you have it well under control.