So what kinds of insurance / papers will I need then ??? - Horizons Unlimited

***Touring Ted*** · #1 9 Feb 2006

Im getting very confused to what I should/must takeout before my 6 month trip of South America concerning insurance, visas, carnets etc for South America. Could anyone tell me exactly what I need ?.. Iv scoured these pages more than allot and get very contrasting answers. Id appreciate advice from people who have done what im wanting to do..

1)Bike insurance - Im fully comp on my UK policy, do i get worldwide cover from them or is that with a travel insurance company ?

2)Carnet - Yes or no ?? - I hear no more than yes but i dont want to be deadended at a border.

3)Personal insurance - Any recommendations ?

4)MOT's & Tax - Do I need any documents to prove my bike is road worthy ?

5)Driving licience - Will my UK licience allow me to ride everywhere ?

Many thanks in advance.

**Dan 23** · #2 9 Feb 2006

Hey Ted,

How is it? Magnum? Can't decide whether you're a big fan of big guns, big Harris Specials or big posh choc ices?

Nice thing about Latin America is that the paperwork is generally fairly simple - all you need is your V5 (original, laminated is a good nerdy idea) and your Brit licence. No MOT, no road tax. And no, your Brit fully comp won't cover you outside the EU.

No carnet needed anywhere - it actually seems to cause more confusion when it's produced. But it is absolutely NOT needed anywhere in Latin America.

Bike insurance varies - US and Canada insist, the Canadians are particularly keen on impounding bikes without it. Mandell Motorcycle Express will sort you out for a good price and no hassle.

The only other country that insists on insurance is Nicaragua, and it's easily available at the border for about $10 for a month.

As far as I know, worldwide bike insurance is too complicated and expensive for most riders to bother with - park inside, carry a big lock and try not to bin it.

Suerte, Dan Walsh

[This message has been edited by Dan 23 (edited 10 February 2006).]

***Touring Ted*** · #3 9 Feb 2006

Im a fan of all three

Thanks for all the info. VERY useful indeed and taken on board.

Looks like it will be cheaper than I expected then... !!

Thanks allot for the info mate.. Very useful indeed.

Quote:

Originally posted by Dan 23:
Hey Ted,

How is it? Magnum? Can't decide whether you're a big fan of big guns, Harris Specials or posh choc ices?

Nice thing about Latin America is that the paperwork is generally fairly simple - all you need is your V5 (original, laminated is a good nerdy idea) and your Brit licence. No MOT, no road tax. And no, your Brit fully comp won't cover you outside the EU.

No carnet needed anywhere - it actually seems to cause more confusion when it's produced. But it is absolutely NOT needed anywhere in Latin America.

Bike insurance varies - US and Canada insist, the Canadians are particularly keen on impounding bikes without it. Mandell Motorcycle Express will sort you out for a good price and no hassle.

The only other country that insists on insurance is Nicaragua, and it's easily available at the border for about $10 for a month.

As far as I know, worldwide bike insurance is too complicated and expensive for most riders to bother with - park inside, carry a big lock and try not to bin it.

Suerte, Dan Walsh

**quastdog** · #4 10 Feb 2006

Some travelers have recently posted that vehicle insurance is now required for Chile and Argentina.

**Dan 23** · #5 10 Feb 2006

I was in Chile and Argentina in 2005 and no insurance was required or ever asked for. I am aware that there are problems in northern Argentina with bent coppers, but only on one notorious and well-publicised route.

The point is still the same - just go, and worry about the paperwork later, it's not that important or interesting.

**Sjoerd Bakker** · #6 10 Feb 2006

As a frequent Central America traveller I must point out that Dan23 is only partly right for this region.
Belize and Costa Rica also insist that you buy their third party public liability insurance at their border before they will process you through. Prices are reasonable.
Today I entered Belize and the choice was to pay BZ$14 per day or BZ$29 for a week.
Belize however is the only country in CA which takes it very seriously that you have insurance and right after the border a few km you will encounter a police inspection asking you to show proof of insurance, and random checks anywhere thereafter. The other CA countries and Mexico are very lax in this .Even though insurance i s supposedly required by law I have never, in 27 years of trips here and enduring numerous roadside police checks , been asked to show proof of insurance.If one were to be involved in an accident this would obviously be different.

**quastdog** · #7 10 Feb 2006

Sorry Dan 23, but I believe your info may be dated.

In this same forum, there's this thread - posted by beddhist & sheonagh:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb...ML/000837.html

Information from January 12 and 20, 2006. Insurance required in chile and argentina; at least for Chile, mandatory requirement implemented in September 2005.

I also read this on another person's blog from a few days ago, trying to cross from Chile into Argentina - was turned back at border. He was able to purchase Argentine insurance in the last town he passed through.

Indeed, just go and deal with it there - you have to buy from Chile and Argentina.

[This message has been edited by quastdog (edited 10 February 2006).]

**Dan 23** · #8 11 Feb 2006

I mis-led Ted. Sorry, Ted. I am out of date. Still nothing to worry about, though.

***Touring Ted*** · #9 11 Feb 2006

No problem Dan, still a big help.

Many thanks to all..keep it coming

**Tim Campion** · #10 25 Feb 2006

After numerous crossings between Chile and Argentina without any mention of insurance, my luck ran out at the remote crossing of Puerto Rodolfo Roballos.

The Argentine official refused to let me pass without international insurance (and, of course, there was nowhere to buy it near this outpost.)

I think he took delight in ruining people's day! He had turned back another motorcyclist the day before.

It was a five-hour, very tedious detour to Chile Chico, where I was able to buy "insurance" at a grocery store! $20 for 30 days. At the nearby crossing, no one asked to see it, but I showed them just to feel I had gotten something for my $20!

No official has since asked to see proof of insurance (in 5 or 6 subsequent crossings.)

**diariosde** · #11 21 Mar 2006

I carry my green Eu-Insurance card and in the one incidence I was asked to prove the bike to be insured I produced this. Policemen to my experience (and customs officials too) have no way of proving the validity of a foreign document, although I suppose things might get hairy in the case of an accident - although there are reports stating that these situation can also be resolved with fairly little money.

Karl