Australian insurance and other topics
 

I will be transporting my harley from California to Australia for about a month. The easy part has been getting the bike shipped to Australia. I am having a great deal of difficulty in getting insurance for my bike (comprehensive) while in australia. I have contacted my insurance company (USAA), international insurance companies and local Australian insurance companies with no luck. For the Australian insurance companies they need a local address, which is kind of difficult when you are just visiting.
I called one motorcycle dealer in australia and he seemed confused on the subject.
Any suggestions?

Also, do I need an international drivers license in australia?

Congrats on choosing Australia to go touring in - of all the motorcycle touring I've done I think that was my favourite ride. Take a look at my web page below and you'll find my trip journal along with some photos.

I'm not too sure about insurance. I know a co-worker was computer programming in Aus for two years and even though he had a permanent address, good job, etc. he had a hell of a time finding anyone who would insure his beat-up XS-650. I think it took him several weeks to get it insured.

Insurance: I rented a bike there so I don't know. I am pretty sure it's required and is something a cop would check for if you were stopped. Your best bet is to find someone state-side who does international motorcycle insurance; there are companies that do this so try going to a search engine and doing a look-see.

Licence: I'm pretty sure that for a short period of time your US motorcycle licence is fine. I was stopped by a cop only once and when I showed him my IDP, he said something like "What do I want to look at this thing for? Show me your motorcycle licence!" I think the company I rented from did require I have one, but that was more for ID then anything else. My feeling is that the IDP is useful in non-English speaking countries strictly as a translation help for the cops.


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Bruce Clarke
brclarke@islandnet.com
www.islandnet.com/~brclarke

I was surfing the web yesterday and came across this dealership in Sydney:
www.betterbikes.com.au

They have a page for tourists. When you see it you will realise that there is not much info there. However if they are really interested in the tourist business they might be able to help you.

Good luck

I recently shipped my bike to Oz for some touring and got insurance using my friend's home address where I was based. If you're shipping a Harley perhaps a Harley shop will let you use their address ? The insurers don't need to know that you don't live there.