Insurance...
 

...I figure this must have been done to death, but I´ve searched a few times and can't find anything recent or relevant, so...

What´s the story with bike insurance in South America? I'm in Quito but hope to be on the road in the next few days (though the Turtle's Head beckons this evening!), and really don´t fancy having no insurance from here to BA. I went without in much of Central America, but reckon my luck will run out eventually.

Alastair

Unless you are a resident of one of the Mercosur countries, you ll have to subscribe to a new insurance in each country. Police rarely check it tho. I got controlled only in Mendoza, the police chief insisting on his officer especially on the insurance since he saw this was a foreing plate. Since it s a major "border" town, i guess he was looking for a reason...to get an easy bribe.

They don´t tell you at the borders about insurance but you do need insurance in every country. You are rarely asked for insurance even if you are stopped by the police. However, sometimes they do ask and people have had there bikes taken from then until they purchased the insurance. Colombia near the VZ border and northern Peru are notorious for police stops asking for insurance. Still I have travelled through Col, Ecd, and Peru (so far) without insurance, although I was ask to show my insurance in CO and Peru.

A company in Argentina sells insurance that covers most of SOuth Am but I forget the name.

We had to get some insurance in Argentina, only as a requirement to get the bikes out the port warehouse, we never bought any more after that. I did get hit once by a car in mexico, but it was his fault and i did more damage to him than he did to me, so i rode off, leaving him in the traffic.

I'm just curious though, has anyone actually ever had to make a claim when travelling in Mexico, South or Central America, and if so, was having the insurance worth it? As we (by that, I mean adventure motorcyclists) expect to dump our bikes now and then because its lots of fun going too fast on dirt roads, I'm guessing the main reason for having insurance is for 3rd party liability, for say accidents involving other people/their property?

Thanks for all the replies, guys. My issue (which I should have explained!) is not so much whether it's a requirement. It's that I really want to have third party insurance.

Does anybody know a provider?

I'd also be interested to know whether anybody has actually needed to make a claim...

Insurance
 

For cover in the Mercosur countries, try Mapfre: SEGUROS MAPFRE . They have offices in most sizable towns throughout the Mercosur countries and should be able to help.

Hamish

Check AIU American International Underwriters
 

Hi,
I understand your point. And travelled with the policy of AIU for Middle and South America. They cover third party liability as well (if you want it) theft... O.k. so in some countries I was forced to buy on at the borders although I could show mine, so I had a double coverage... The costs depend on the bike value and the time you are looking for.
Cheers
Ras