central and south american insurance

[deanosky]

hi, anyone know any good insurance to use for central and south america I have seen people talk about sanborns for mexico but what about the rest, does any insurance actually cover you for theft.
thanks

[Sjoerd Bakker]

Sanborn's and nearly all othe r insurers will for MOTORCYCLES offer ONLY third party liability insurance. NO theft , fire , colision.
If you do find one that offers such for motorcycles you will discover that it is very costly, as they assume you will lose the bike probably , and they have to recover costs.
Best have the bike all paid for , in your name and be able to absorb the total loss , if such should happen. Be prepared to pay all repairs out of pocket, or buy another bike on the road, or fly home.
That said, if you ride defensively and not at night , park it in hotels or guarded facilities you should not need such insurance.
It is like a western movie where the cowboy roaming around has to put down his trusty steed when it breaks a leg , just not as sad.

[deanosky]

Thanks for the advice.
Getting excited about the trip hoping to head off from san diego at the start of august through central america. wwooooooo.

[Bill n Sue]

At each border, you will be able to pick up cheap insurance for the number of days/weeks that you planning to stay in the next country. It´s cheap everywhere except Colombia/Venezuela border for some reason - gotta by 6 months (non re-fundable) worth from the only shop in town that sells insurance to motorcyclists. I never claimed on this insurance, so cannot say whether they are worth investing in. At some (not all) of the borders, you may not pass without proving that you have insurance.
Good luck with your trip. Keep us posted

[nanagosa4]

I just did an extensive post at my blogging site for all border crossings in CA (except for Panama) that also includes insurance. Yes insurance is very prohibitive, and if you can't afford to lose it (hopefully you wont') then don't take it. Some countrys like Costa Rica will require it, but its not very expensive just for there requirements. It doesn't do you too much good for property. Anyway my blogging site is freedomthrumovement.blogspot.com I still have several posts on my trip to do yet, and then I want to really organize the site better but for now if you willing to do a lot of scrolling, there is a lot of good information there....
Happy travels down there, watch your wallet (not just physically wise either), everyone especially borders are places for government sanctioned, organized crime as I call it.....especially Guatemala, and Honduras......

[TravellingStrom]

Originally Posted by nanagosa4

I just did an extensive post at my blogging site for all border crossings in CA (except for Panama) that also includes insurance. Yes insurance is very prohibitive, and if you can't afford to lose it (hopefully you wont') then don't take it. Some countrys like Costa Rica will require it, but its not very expensive just for there requirements. It doesn't do you too much good for property. Anyway my blogging site is freedomthrumovement.blogspot.com I still have several posts on my trip to do yet, and then I want to really organize the site better but for now if you willing to do a lot of scrolling, there is a lot of good information there....
Happy travels down there, watch your wallet (not just physically wise either), everyone especially borders are places for government sanctioned, organized crime as I call it.....especially Guatemala, and Honduras......

Thanks you very much for this info. I will be travelling doen there this year, so I am sure it will be useful.

I am currently in Indiana, heading to Ohio then Michigan tomorrow, so I have a long way to go yet.

Cheers
TravellingStrom

[Remco]

Nanagosa, very interesting blog!! Do I conclude correctly you did not take insurance in mexico? I am in Laredo at the border now, spending the night. I have been to one office which quoted me 2 months insurrancw @880 usd! for my hondaxr650l. A 2nd qoute came to 350 usd.

[AndyT]

Originally Posted by Remco

Nanagosa, very interesting blog!! Do I conclude correctly you did not take insurance in mexico? I am in Laredo at the border now, spending the night. I have been to one office which quoted me 2 months insurrancw @880 usd! for my hondaxr650l. A 2nd qoute came to 350 usd.

I use Adventure Mexican Insurance Services - Online Mexico Insurance when I go to Mexico. Liabiity only (third party) is about $40/month or $135/year. I have never tried to get full coverage. I have also never made a claim, so I don't know if they actually pay out. You can do the application online, and they email you a policy to print out.

[buyarbi]

Has anyone else paid $ 240 more or less to get into honduras or Guatamala.
Can someone give me an idea of cost for crossing into Columbia. I am planning on going through next September and will try embasys for info based on these prices.
Thanks Bill

[Sjoerd Bakker]

Except for the one , ONE , occasion where I let myself get scammed I never paid more than the required amount around $45 us to get into Honduras. Learned my lesson then about fake documents some ¨helper¨tries to sell you. Insurance ( if you get it) is sold not at the border, you will have to find it elsewhere. Insurance IS sold and enforced at the borders of Belize , Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
Remco if you still have the time consult Mexican Auto Insurance - Lorenz Insurance - Since 1921 they can sell you a DRIVERS LICENSE insurance policy for a whole year for about $180. With this type of policy you do not need to give them any information about your vehicle, the policy is made out in your name and your drivers license number. You can bring any bike or car you choose. The expensive quotes you got are,I bet, vehicle nominated policies which cost a lot more than $180 if you stay longer than about 34 days . Other companies too offer DL policies but you need to ASK specifically for them, they do not seem to volunteer such info.

[Remco]

Thank Sjoerd for your advise. In the end I got a deal with Sanborn or 180 days 100$.
Good to read about the rest of Middle-Americas.

It is going to be tricky at each border for me anyway, as I don't have the motor title on my name, I couldnot get it properly registered in Texas. But I have a lot of documents now instead to compnsate to impress folks :-).

[Sime66]

[quote=Sjoerd Bakker;256419]Except for the one , ONE , occasion where I let myself get scammed I never paid more than the required amount around $45 us to get into Honduras. quote]


Damn right! Whatever they ask you to pay at the Honduras border, argue, argue, argue and keep arguing until it becomes approx $40. (It will).

The only Central American countries that will force you to buy insurance at the border are Costa Rica and Nicaragua, and they'll both be about $15.

I got stopped by the cops in Honduras and they wanted to see every bit of paper I had, including the receipt for the $3 passport-stamp charge. Amazingly I still had it. Then they tried to fleece me for not having reflective strips on my luggage. I waited until they got bored of me saying "I don't understand" in English, and shooed me off. They DID NOT ask to see my insurance, which was ideal as I didn't have any.