Canada and US motorcycle insurance that is renewable

[Fantastic Mrs Fox]

Not sure if anyone can help/has been/is in the same predicament.

Me and my husband are off on our big motorcycle trip in a month today we have been fine getting ourselves insured but we are encountering a bit of a problem to get our bikes insured. There are a few places that will help us but will only offer temporary insurance for 6 months and it is non - renewable. The snag is we are planning to spend a year in Canada as we were able to get work/travel visas and will be working for the ski season. Then the plan is travelling for a year and a bit in the US so 6 months non-renewable insurance is not ideal really.

I have tried Motorcycle Express, am waiting to hear from Tour Insure and also Progressive Insurance based in the USA but need us to have a permanent mailing address where mail could be sent to in the US and the vehicle would be kept, which is impossible to do if we are travelling.

Any ideas?

[markharf]

My initial response is that you can't stay for a year in the USA: visa rules forbid it. Maybe you'll elaborate on that?

The simple fact is that you need an address to purchase insurance. Since there's no way around that part, you might as well focus on it. Don't ask about insurance: ask about someone who'll allow you to use their address. When that's settled, buy from Progressive (or whoever you choose).

I'm not sure about this, but I suspect "non-renewable" just means you'll have to take out a new policy every 6 months. Not the end of the world.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark

[Fantastic Mrs Fox]

If you get a B2 Visa (can get 6 months to 3 years) you can and no restrictions how many times you go in and out of the US - we have an interview at the embassy next week so fingers crossed gets approved.

Know need an address for insurance most places are fine with me putting a UK one other than Progressive, but as we are in Canada for a year first (working a ski season for 6 months) and working and travelling for 6 months after don't think will really work for us will def use them when travelling in the US though I think so that's when I will see if someone will allow us to use thier address. Oh yeah know can take out a new policy every 6 months but will have to be with different companies, but is going to be quite expensive that way and a little more hassle will resign ourselves to doing that if really have to it looks like. Waiting on a few other insurers first so maybe will be in luck....

[markharf]

My understanding of the way a B2 visa works is that you normally get 6 months on entry and can extend for 6 months. I'll be interested to hear differently.

My understanding of insurance purchased in the USA is that you need a USA address. Insurance is regulated at the state level, so everyone who wants to sell insurance has to have a state-approved policy for sale only to people who live within that state. Policies therefore vary (in coverage, cost, procedures, etc.) by state, so when I purchase as a resident of Washington State I get a different policy at a different price from someone with a California address.

Again, my understanding is that you can purchase successive policies from the same company every six months.

All my information should be considered highly suspect, since I'm a US resident and only know how things work for nonresidents indirectly.

Good luck and safe journey!

Mark

[Fantastic Mister Fox]

I think we should have been clearer at the out set, We have a 1 year visa for canada through the IEC program and we are getting B2 visa to allows us to travel in the states for longer than the 90 days at a time. All in all we'll be in north america for approx 18 months but wont be have a permanent residency in any one place.

We need a longer length of time on the B2 Visa as we'll be in Alaska in May 2014 for a few weeks before coming down to main land USA in september after crossing canada, we have Visa Interveiws this thursday.

Anyway back on topic does anyone know an insurer that may be ble to help us.

[Warin]

You have a job in Canada to go to? Then ask the employer if you can use their address while you are there/or sort yourselves out. Then once there establish your residential address and change the insurance address to that then.

Will that work? Should be good for the time you are working... then 6 months on the tourist insurance...