Insurance for Africa

[moderationmike]

Hi,

After months of asking this question I have finally found the answer so I thought I'd save those are intersted the hassle.

Alexander Forbes Insureance Agency (http://www.afiaws.com/) based in London will insure vehicles for anywhere in the world - they normally do diplomatic and expat insurance but will do private trips.

I sold my old banger last year and have a 1 year old Landy which I intend to do a 4 month trip round West Africa in from Nov. I'm more concerned with a complete write-off or theft/fire than little dents which is why I've been after insurance. These guys are very efficient and I had an answer in two hours after filling in the forms on their website.

They only give premiums for 12 months but if I cancel the policy after the trip (4 months) they would only charge 45% of the premium (that means you get 65% back but this is in the event of no claims). They can do insurance for one or any driver and accepted "no claims bonus" from my current insurer.

Hopefully this will save you the 50 phone calls and emails I've had to send in the last 4 months.

Cheers

Mike

[Susan Johnson]

Mike

Thanks for that information!

Can you advise what the annual insurance premium was, relative to the value of your vehicle?

From their website, "We cannot provide cover for vehicles used in the UK, United States of America or Canada and we do not provide third party liability cover for which separate arrangements must be made."

I will write to them and see how they feel about motorcycles!


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Susan Johnson

"It matters not what goal you seek
Its secret here reposes:
You've got to dig from week to week
To get Results or Roses."
Edgar Guest

'One world, two wheels'
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

[moderationmike]

What they are saying is that if you have a vehicle in the UK or US/Canada then you should get local insurance for it - it will be cheaper anyway! They specialise in insuring vehicles outside of their country of registration.

I've only got some hypothetical numbers out of them as yet but here they are anyway.

A £20000 Land Rover Defender 110 with £2000 of fitted extras insured for Mainland Europe and the whole of Africa for any driver - £1595 for 12 months.

Since my trip won't be more than four months they would only chrge 45% of this amount in the event of no claims which works out to £558. There are four of us so thats £140 each or £30 quid a month per person which is very reasonable I think considering the risk of insuring in Africa.

Hope this helps.

Mike

[Sam Rutherford]

You can also try www.alessie.com,
they do Africa (and rest of world), and do motorbikes. I suspect their rates are fairly competetive.

Dutch company, very friendly and (obviously!!) speak perfect English.

Sam.

[Susan Johnson]

Mike

Please keep us apprised of how you get on with Alexander Forbes Insurance, and also if you can get any references from customers. Their Marketing Manager, Stephen Hodson (sonofhod), has just posted a fairly blatant promo for the company on every topic that mentioned vehicle insurance. He doesn't have his e-mail listed in his profile, but their website is listed.

I've written to him to tell him we don't normally allow companies to promote themselves on the HUBB while pretending to be travellers (advertising has to be paid for and be obviously an ad, so people don't think they're getting the info from an independent source). I'll let you know what response I get, but I will be interested in how you get on with them.

Cheers
Susan


[This message has been edited by Susan (edited 14 June 2002).]

[Erik D.]

I talked and mailed them yesterday to see what they would come up with. The reply came within a few hours. Unfortunatly it's a bit too expensive in our opinion... At least for the whole vehicle. I presume that you can get them to insure a smaller sum (perhaps half or something) thus getting at least something back if things go bad...

heres what he wrote:

"Dear Mr. Delphin,

Thank you for your submitted details on our website in respect of cover for
your Landrover Defender 110 TD5 across Africa.

Based on a limited insured of GBP 34,000, the annual premium payable will be
GBP 3,155. There will be an excess (deductible) on the policy of GBP 1,000.
In respect of a total loss, theft or attempted theft of the vehicle and/or
fitted accessories, Underwriters shall not be liable for the first 1,500 of
each claim.

Driving will be restricted to you and Mrs. A Delphin only and I have
incorporated a discount accordingly. If any other drivers are required,
please submit their details for consideration.

Please note that use of the vehicle in the country of nationality/permanent
domicile of the assured is excluded, unless advised and agreed in advance.

Windscreen/glass cover will be included up to a limit of GBP 300 each and
every claim and this will not be subject to the policy excess.

The geographical area of cover will be Mainland Africa, and, as you are
aware, this quotation is for accidental damage fire and theft risks and does
not include Third Party Liability Insurance. This insurance must be arranged
locally to comply with local laws and regulations.

Cover can commence immediately upon receipt of your instructions and payment
of the premium can be made by sterling cheque, credit/debit card or bank
transfer.

If you are able to obtain an alternative quotation at a more favourable
premium with similar terms, please let me know and I will ask the
underwriter to match the difference.

I hope that you will find our quotation to be acceptable and if I can be of
any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Regards,

Ricky Downs
New Business Executive
Alexander Forbes Insurance Agency Ltd
1 Seething Lane, London, EC3N 4NH
A member of the Alexander Forbes Group.
E-mail: downsr@aforbes.co.uk
www.AFIAWS.com
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7488 1388 ext 3379
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7283 9877"


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[This message has been edited by Erik D. (edited 14 June 2002).]

[Sam Rutherford]

Just to mention it again - (I don't work for them though!), it would definately be worth giving Alessie (www.alessie.com) a try. they do issue third party insurance for the whole of Africa.

Sam.

[Terry Davies]

Alessie will give you cover for the number of months you need. The quote I got from them last year was a lot cheaper than Alexander Forbes

[Pete Sinclair]

For my 110 CSW quotes are . . .

Alessie GBP 3400 for 8 months comprehensive insurance with GBP 1600 deductible from each claim.

Alexander Forbes GBP1361 for 12 months comprehensive insurance(40 per cent refund possible after 6 months claim free cover) with GBP 600 deductible from each damage claim and GBP1200 deductible from theft claims.

Both based on vehicle value of GBP20000

Hope this helps,

Pete.

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Pete Sinclair.
Alnwick to Botswana
http://www.a2b.uk.net