Temporary Bike Insurance at Russian Border
 

Hi everyone,
We have just travelled through the Polish/ Ukrainian border and were asked for our green card at the border post- when i have travelled this way previously i have been allowed into Ukraine to purchas the GC at the office sited at the petrol station. The border guards at first insisted we walk out to the GC office, purchase the GC and return to the border post to continue our way with our motorcycles. In the end they relented and allowed us to proceed on our bikes to the GC office to purchase our GC. Within a 1/4 mile of the office we were challanged by the police and upon seeing our newly purchased GC were waved on.

Can anyone tell me if we can purchase shorterm insurance for Russia in the Ukraine before the borderpost- would smooth things over somewhat ;-) Thanks for any information received.


Henry

I imagine it is a bit different at each border post, but in the past I have been able to buy insurance for Russia between the two border posts. I'm pretty sure that insurance is also generally available at or very near the Russian border post (inside Russia) and that it should not be a problem to wait until you get to Russia to buy it.

If nothing else, however, I think things go faster at the Russian border if you already have insurance, so I usually try to buy insurance before reaching the Russian border post.

I have entered RUS by road many times but only from Finland, Estonia, and Latvia (also Lithuania into Kaliningrad).

Apart from the first time 5 years ago, in each case I have gone through all the border controls and checks without having Russian insurance.
No one ever asked for it and whenever I asked where I could buy it, I was told at the shops/offices/fuel stations that surround the inside of RUS borders or in the first town.


Sure enough, almost every shop was selling it. I have bought it from a tiny office only selling insurance, a petrol station shop and even in a DVD shop!
Note: these 'shops' are often small huts or converted containers! Look for "страхование"

Insurance
 

Hi
Russia is member of international Green Card System. You don't need any insurance for your car/bike in Russia if you have GC. Look at your GC, there are all countries in GCS.

Bartosz

In my experience as of a year or so ago, not all insurers include Russia on their green card, so you should certainly doublecheck. I assumed that the OP had already done so.

Thank you for the info and your time:thumbup1:. UK insurance wouldn't include RUS on GC:(.

Henry
Travelling East.

Hi! That's true, my Swiss green card has a cross on Russia, but I don't have any insurance in Russia, nobody told me to buy one at the border, you think I should need one? What does it covers exactly?

Thanks for your help. I still have a long way to Ulaan Ude, I will be in kazan tonight

David
zimiontheloose.ch | Rock'n'roll Motorcycle Adventure!

I would definitely try to get it, it covers your liability for accidents, etc. This is good, but moreover, many police will ask for it, and if you don't have it there is a good chance you'll have to pay a bribe or face some other problem (bike impounded, etc.). They also might ask for it at the border when you leave, although I'm not sure.

The Russian word for insurance is страхование, there are signs for it all over the place. Now that you are in the interior though, it might be harder to find somewhere that insures foreign bikes (not sure about this).

Came in via Sakhalin and don't have any insurance.
 

As the title says I bought my bike in from Japan to Sakhalin and was not asked for or directed to anywhere to buy insurance. Now in UU and heading for Mongolia. Am I likely to be asked to produce evidence of insurance at the border on exiting? Is there anywhere in UU where I can buy Greencard Insurance that will cover me here and through Europe?

I've now exited Russia many times and don't think I've ever been asked for insurance upon exit.

Not sure if you can get greencard insurance in UU--I doubt there is much demand for it--but you shouldn't have any problem getting Russian third party insurance in UU or any other Russian town. Some insurance agents might get confused and tell you that they can't issue insurance for bikes with foreign plates, but in my experience most of them will do so (at least in Moscow and near the borders).

I was at that border crossing a couple of years ago but don't recall if there were any insurance booths at/near the border. When you exit, you might want to scout it out, and either buy insurance then or on your way back in.

i actually think you will be able to get it in UU. I recall buying some once inside Russia when previous insurance ran out. A local biker took me to an insurance agent and away we went.

I bought 3 months' worth coming in from Georgia. The first few buildings inside Russia, on the right, cost around EUR 20. Quick and easy,

Thanks
 

Thanks fr the replies, I'll be here for another couple of days and scout out what's available.

As I wrote already in another tread, I definitely got stopped in Russia and directly asked for the insurance papers.

So I would not rely on that that you dont get stopped for that.

Came over the border at Semey today. Although I'd already bought insurance coming in from Georgia, the guys I was with needed it. Exactly the same, first buildings on the right, simple, and cheap.