Buying a bike in UK, and riding in UK and Europe
 

Hi All,

My son is currently in London, England and wants to buy a bike and travel throughout Europe for 4 months and sell it when he leaves. He's picked out a bike he wants, and can get it registered in the UK. However he can't seem to get 3rd party liability insurance that he needs to ride in Europe. Ideally the UK too, but he can get the bike shipped to the port where he can take it on the train or ferry. The biggest issue is being a non-resident and only 20, and not eligible for the Green card. He's from Canada. The only thing he has found is £2000/week.

If anyone has any leads that would be helpful. He's willing to travel to continental Europe, if that would be easier.

Thanks for everyone's help.

You can get short-term insurance [in the UK] from BikeSure who are the motorcycle arm of Adrian Flux Insurance who specialise in imported/odd-ball vehicles and non-residents etc.

I'd suggest your son gives them a call and explains the situation. Note he will have to pay more than a UK resident would using a typical 'off the shelf' insurer, but it should not be prohibitive, as long as he is not a brand new rider - how many years has he held a motorcycle licence?

Jx

Only UK
 

Apparently they only do the UK. Which would be okay for part of it, but most of his time was going to be in Europe.

Good old Brexit eh?

Well, at least they will cover him for the UK portion - which is the main problem with a non-resident purchasing (or at least trying to insure) a vehicle in the UK... then he could just purchase a short-term policy from a EU insurer for the period he's abroad presumably? - Knopf Tours in Germany or similar (fwiw. Knopf Tours used to be pretty good value, but I fear their prices have probably gone up significantly these days too).

Jx

He's too young
 

That was his original idea. I got in contact with an insurance company that insures for tours and such. Bascially because of his age and lack of experience, he can't do anything. His license allows him to ride any size in Canada, but in UK/EU someone his age would be limited to 125cc. BikeSure would but the price was £2000/week. Once he's 25 he will be able to. Maybe 21, but more research is required if he wants to try again next year.

Thanks for your help. It's too bad that it's so complicated.

Very few UK insurers will cover a rider who't not on a UK licence. Bikesure were one, but I've heard different stories lately. Has he considered getting a UK licence? Still won't be cheap for a new rider but gets over the 'hurdle' of no UK licence.

JMo (& piglet)

You state "Good old Brexit eh?"

Could you explain how that is relevant and how Brexit has caused this problem?

UK riders have no problem with insurance covering EU countries.

This thread is specifically about a young Foreigner (Canadian) with limited experience trying to ride in the EU.

Facts probably don't mean much to you but the fact is that it was the EU that introduced the restricted motorcycle licences across EU countries. The UK is still sadly clinging onto that failed policy.

We continue to be blighted by misguided EU policy.

It's not a rhetorical question, really, please explain how this is a Brexit issue.

I agree, this never used to be a problem - however the OP (melcanda) has said that Bikesure only cover the UK now, and not Europe for some reason...

...and since this is a specific issue for them - ie. one of very few UK insurers which will cover a foreign licence holder it would appear that something, somewhere has changed?

Jx

fwiw. and not to derail this thread - since it would apparently be related to the son of the OP who does not have a UK licence, and would therefore be restricted to a A2 bike (plenty of good ones out there) if they were to take their test at age 20 - why do you consider the A1 and A2 tiered licencing system 'failed' and 'misguided'?

As Tomkat says - if BikeSure will only cover him in the UK (and at an excessive rate), and Knopf Tours won't cover him because of his age, then it would appear that his only option is to get a UK driver's licence and then buy an A2 bike and insure in the UK (even though he is technically a non-resident, he presumably has a student visa and an address for insurance purposes) - although the question remains whether he could obtain a test date in time for the proposed trip later this summer?

Or simply put the trip off until next year when he is 21, and rent a bike (complete with EU insurance cover) perhaps? - although that is likely to be very expensive for more than a couple of weeks.

Jx

Apologies to the OP as the history of the problem doesn't provide the solution she is seeking.

Since joining the EC in 1973 which was superseded by the EU in 1992 there have been many changes. The current situation was proposed in the European Third Driving Licence Directive (Directive 2006/126/EC)

Proposed in 2005/6 and introduced in 2013.

JMo (& piglet) asked "why do you consider the A1 and A2 tiered licencing system 'failed' and 'misguided'?"

It’s misguided because EU bureaucrats introduced legislation to address a problem that didn't exist. Accidents are not caused by the capacity or power of the motorcycle engine but rather the attitude of the rider.

EU bureaucrats were told by motorcycling groups that the legislation was unnecessary

Here is text from an Early Day Motion submitted in the UK Parliament in 2005, opposing the introduction of the EU directive.
“Motion text
That this House believes the European Third Driving Licence Directive was drafted without due consideration for good road safety practice, will introduce a second motorcycle test with little or no effect on road safety and will make a motorcycle licence a complicated and expensive affair compared with a car licence; further believes that this will reduce commuter motorcycling, creating greater congestion and more pollution, while risking jobs in UK motorcycle manufacturers such as Triumph Motorcycles; and calls on Her Majesty's Government to use its presidency of the European Union to oppose the second motorcycle test and changes to motorcycle licence access ages".

The EU were advised that it wasn’t good legislation but they sat on it for 7 years and then introduced it anyway.

It has failed because over a decade has gone by and it can be statistically shown it has had no effect on safety.

It has, however, had a detrimental effect on rider training and the motorcycle industry. Possibly that was the EU’s intention all along.

Not sure why this thread is in the Overland Bicycle Travel section..........

wrong thread
 

Sorry, that was my bad. I realized a bit too late.

thread moved to Europe

Hi there, I used Adrian Flux Insurance last summer for the UK & the EU, purchasing four months cover, about 700 pound... but it was legal cover. Contact them explaining where you are going, answering the pre-insurance form truthfully.