We're leaving the roadster down here in Florida this summer rather than having it hauled back to Michigan. Last summer I didn't drive it much, and while it makes me a little anxious leaving it, I leave the rest of the fleet in Michigan for 6 months, it's cheaper to leave than drive or have it shipped, so that's the rationale. Anywho, I had a couple people tell me our insurance company (Hagarty) wouldn't be cool with that, so I called them to see if there was an issue with having it stored here (I was skeptical that it'd be an issue, but to make my wife happy, I consulted them). As I thought, it's no issue. They just wanted the address of the storage facility. I also made sure they knew we have our permanent address here in Florida, that the other cars stay in Michigan, and we have everything registered in Michigan. Again, no issue, the agent assured me they have many clients who do the same thing. Neither state cares whether the cars are registered somewhere else, we buy MI plates for the daily drivers with the FL residence on our licenses, and register the daily here in FL here. Just thought that info might help some other "Snowbirds" who have cars at both residences.
Pretty much what I do. Cars are licensed in Mi, but one stays in Az. State Farm lets me put them on storage for six months, although the Credit Union sort of freaks out if the car has a lien. I bought an off topic collector car that I license and keep in Az. State Farm doesn’t do collector insurance in Az, but have a relationship where Hagerty handles it. You’re telling me I should pursue the same arrangement with them. Thanks!
Yes. They assured me that many customers do exactly this. My wife had doubts, but today, April 9, 2025, I was right! I admit I'd had concerns that if a mishap occurred that there might be an issue with having the car in Florida, but they don't have restrictions about where it's used, although I am glad I informed them it's being used here. Under the restrictions and limitations of the YOM plate and Hagarty's policy about not using it for regular transportation.
I have State Farm on my cars. I usually keep 2 vehicles down there. I just call my agent and tell him and he puts them on what he calls “storage” then they usually send me a check for the difference. I have several cars so I’m regularly swapping back and forth like this too. They don’t seem to mind.
QUOTE="Russco, post: 15555478, member: 9943"]I have State Farm on my cars. I usually keep 2 vehicles down there. I just call my agent and tell him and he puts them on what he calls “storage” then they usually send me a check for the difference. I have several cars so I’m regularly swapping back and forth like this too. They don’t seem to mind.[/QUOTE] My cousin was an insurance agent, State Farm, and he complained about people dropping and adding cars, but that's what we pay them for. In Michigan we have our 2014 Chrysler and 2019 Ram, we drop the insurance on them, save for comp, while we're down here. Likewise when we leave here, we drop all but the comp on the daily we have here, a 2005 Avalon (which only has 20,000 miles), so that helps. It's a couple thousand bucks annually. I can see us getting rid of several cars in a couple years, so it'll be less hassle for our insurance agents.
So I'm wondering, which state is your permanent residence? I'm asking because we have a home in Florida also but are permanent residents of Alabama (driver's licenses/vote/homestead the home) but I keep a OT hobby car down there but it is registered in AL. I looked into registering in FL but the expense is MUCH higher then AL. Lucky for us it's a lot closer than MI (4.5 hrs drive) so we go whenever we have a break and spend a week or 2. There's a lot more going on down there for us gearheads than up here in AL...
Me too, I was going to register a couple vehicles in Florida but it was gonna be a hassle, including having to get Florida specific insurance. so instead I kept them registered In Illinois and will rotate the cars I have down there from time to time. I am registered to vote in Florida but don’t have the homestead exemption on my home there so I believe I’m still primarily an Illinois resident with part time residency in Florida. I am able to purchase and keep firearms there that way. I don’t know the legalities of doing it this way, but that’s how I’ve done it for the last 5 years or so.
Haggerty covers my enclosed trailer even though it is stored on a friend's property. They are a good company to work with I have found. Congrats on that argument win. You did us proud.
The Jalopy Journal
