When you arrive in the United States, insurance companies treat you as a new driver, not because they doubt your experience, but because they have no record of it. The driving history you built in Brazil simply does not appear in their databases. There is a way to address this. Some insurance companies will accept a letter from your previous insurer confirming the period you were covered and whether you had any claims. This is known in the industry as an “experience letter” or “proof of prior insurance.
What the letter needs to contain
Not every document is accepted. The letter must come from the insurance company, on letterhead, and include some mandatory information:
- Your full name, exactly as it appears on your identity document
- Policy validity period, with start and end dates
- Declaration of claims during the period, even if the answer is none
- Name, phone number, and email address of the insurance company for verification
In practice, two or three years of proven driving without claims change the risk category in which you are classified.
How to request it from your insurance company in Brazil
The request is made through the customer service channel. Mention that you need a statement of insurance history to present abroad, and ask that the document also be provided in English, if the insurance company offers it. If they don’t offer it, a simple translation is usually enough.
Keep the original PDF. In general, the letter is accepted for up to one year after it is issued, and you may need it again for a renewal or change of insurance company.
When that doesn’t work
Not all insurance companies operating in Massachusetts consider international history. That’s why it’s worth getting quotes from more than one. An independent broker consults several companies at once and identifies which ones will take advantage of your letter of credit.