Bike insurance bought in UK
 

Bennetts (0800 0563843-ask for"Ben") have offered me third-party-only insurance on 4 bikes(similar to the defunct 'Rider Policy')for £127.88 ($190) .This covers my Blackbird , Africa Twin , RG500 & Zeal . It includes 3months in EU,or, if more than 3months,the "national minimum insurance" of the country only will apply (?). I'm on full 5 years no-claims bonus .
Outside EU ,Bennetts advised that I get insurance @ the border ~
But is insurance always available at borders?

MANY countries don't have any use for insurance, especially for foreigners. In our trip around the world we had insurance in Mexico, required at the border and available, probably one or two Central American countries, the EU, Kenya, South Africa, and uh, uh, well, that's about it.

Even the USA and Canada didn't ask me for insurance proof, and at the time of my return my registration was expired by over a year, and I hadn't had insurance in almost two years.

I may have had it in Egypt and Libya, but since it was in Arabic I have no clue what I was paying for.

We tried to get it in Argentina, and wasted a day running around BA in vain. They thought we were crazy.

It's quite simple really - if you are required to have it, you can get it at the border for a small fee. Stupid they ain't - how better to make money? And then it's usually merely a ploy to line the border posts pockets. Worthless. Kenya is an example - they require it, insist it is good for Tanzania and Zimbabwe and Botswana. No way.

Botswana required insurance, looked at my Kenya document and laughed - and basically said "suckered you too huh?"

And I didn't have the right funds, so they just waved me through anyway. They didn't care. I think it was US$20 they wanted.

Documentation such as vehicle registration, bill of sale, and national and international drivers licence must LOOK GOOD, NOT expired, and be absolutely correct for numbers matching the bike and such. The carnet if needed must be REAL. The rest is unimportant. Draw your own conclusions. And relax.

I picked up a book called RIDING SOUTH by Gregory Frazier. He didn't even bother with insurance for Mexico, and rode all the way to Tierra del Fuego and back. The only country that asked for any proof of insurance was Belieze, and they wouldn't let him in the country without it. I think he bought a temporary policy at the border for about $20 US.

BTW Good book to read if you are planning a motorcycle trip to Latin America.

You can buy a copy from http://www.whitehorsepress.com at this address:
http://www.whitehorsepress.com/onlin...dData/FRAZ.HTM



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