Insurance for Australian Licensed Rider on a GB Registered Bike
 

Hi Guys,

I'm having real trouble finding a solution to my problem! I'm heading over to Europe from Australia later this year, and have organised a potential loaner bike from a rather nice gentleman in the UK while I'm over there to tour around on (GB, France, Italy and Switzerland).

Unfortunately we've run into a problem with insurance. His insurance company won't insure his bike with me as a rider as I don't have a GB license. I'm fully licensed in Australia, and therefore legally able to rider the bike as a visitor in Europe, but not get insurance for it!

One suggestion has been to be a bit vague as to my visitor vs residency status in GB and swap my AU license for a GB one, thereby allowing me to get insurance. I've emailed the DVLA in GB and their response has been as you would expect, if you're not a 'resident' then you can't get a GB license. Though they do state:

"Visitors or residents are not defined in motoring legislation and the onus is on the driver to determine - and prove, if required - their status."

My concern with this approach is that should I require the insurance and they find out I'm not actually a GB resident (even though I might manage to get a GB license) they won't pay up. Thereby negating the concept of 'insurance'.

So I'd prefer to find a more legit option. Does any have any experience with getting a GB motorcycle insured for non-GB resident/licensed rider?

Thanks in advance for any help you might have!

Cheers,
Andrew

Hey Andrew, did you find a solution to this insurance prob.
I am also intending to ride a GB bike across EU this summer.
Cheers.
Mark

The fact it is a UK Registered bike should make the process easier than a totally foreign set-up.

I would suggest contacting the larger UK bike insrance Brokers explaining things and add that you don't have a UK Licence but have a "Full International Driving Licence" for the class of vehicle.

My RUS Partner was included on my UK car policy on this basis. Insurers accepted the term but when I later asked the Broker (middleman) exactly what "International Driving Licence" meant as there seems to be no such thing. The Broker said they did not know either, but all was OK as the Insurers were happy with the Proposal Form containing her details and the term!

Along these lines, as the bike has a UK Owner it might be possible to include you as an additional 'named driver' on the policy of the owner - as in my case above.

Ah yes, and therein lies the rub Tony. I have contacted a myriad of UK insurance companies and explained my case to them. It seems almost a blanket rule they have "Non UK resident rider, no insurance". Regardless of whether the bike is owned and insured by a UK resident. As soon as I get on the bike, bye bye insurance!

BUT, I have found one company who seems willing, Aviva. This is the email transcript:

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Hi There,

I'm looking to travel over to Europe later this year from Australia, and have a friend in the UK who is happy to lend me his motorcycle while I'm over there to tour around on. Unfortunately his insurance company will not insure his bike if a non-UK resident is riding it. I'm a fully licensed motorcycle rider in Australia, and am legally recognised to ride in the UK (and also able to exchange my AU license for a GB should I take up residency as the UK recognises Australia as having a comparable system of licensing), but I'm having trouble finding a company that agrees with any of this and will insure his bike with me as a rider.

I was wondering if that is a service you can offer, or if you may have any ideas or contacts who would?

Thanks in advance
Andrew Knott

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Dear Mr Knott,

Thank you for contacting us regarding a motorcycle policy.

I can advise that with the information you have provided that if the DVLA in the UK are happy with the licence you have to ride a motorcycle in the UK then we can see no reason why we couldn't in theory insure your friends bike and then add you on as an additional driver. But once you have checked with the DVLA then your friend will need to contact our sales team on 0800 068 5637 to advise us of his driving history and to ensure yours is acceptable as well before we can comment any further.

I hope this helps but if you need any further information please do not hesitate to contact us again.


Yours sincerely,

Cherry Francis
Web Self Service
Aviva Direct

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So, I've currently got my friend in the UK chasing it up. I'll let you know how it goes, but it's looking somehwhat hopeful...

BTW, this is almost verbatim the reply I got from every other UK insurance company I contacted with the above email: "Unfortunatley we are not able to cover non UK residents, on any of our policies"

It is not really the province of DVLA - they only deal with UK Driving Licences!
As far as DVLA (or DirectGov - the Governments information website) is concerned a visitor can validly and legally use their 'foreign' driving licence in UK for up to 12 months. This is without any formality or notification to anyone.

Look at-
Driving on licences from all other countries, and students on a foreign licence : Directgov - Motoring
Visitors

Provided your full licence or international driving permit remains valid, you may drive vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes and with up to eight passenger seats. You will be able to drive for up to 12 months from the date of coming to GB.

It could be read that the 12 months restarts every time you enter UK so, as long as you have a foreign holiday or business trip, each year and set a new "date of coming to GB". Therefore you can continue indefinitly driving on the foreign Licence.

At the time of adding my Partner to my insurance I sent a photocopy of that Webpage, highlighting the above section, to the Insurance Brokers with the Proposal Form and a photocopy of her actual Russian Licence.
No problem.
Some four years after being added to my policy, still with her RUS Licence, they even settled a Third Party Claim following an accident she had driving my car!

What you see as a blanket rule is more likely a reluctance of the 'call centre' person to bother getting involved with anything outside the usual as it means more work.
Some UK Brokers operate on straightforward volume basis business and are only prepared to deal with 'standard situations' within a limited section of the insurance market - in this case Motor Insurance.
Other Brokers are prepared to work for their commission - old fashioned idea though it is!

I have had exacttly the same problem. I purchased a British bike and have been riding it around the Middle East but if I try to take it into the UE I either can't get insurance as I don't have a British License or if I can get insurance, they want to charge me 500% extra even though I have a spotless driving record!

I'd try to get added to your friend's insurance if you can. Let us know how you go as I will need to get the bike back to England :-)

Cheers
Helen

Andrew hate to crash your thread again, let me know if its inappropriate.

At the bottom of that DVLA link I think it contradicts itself.

International driving licences
Neither the United Nations nor any of its subsidiary bodies issues or authorises the issue of international driver licences. An international driving licence is not valid proof of driving entitlement in GB.


However id assume as long as you have your Aust. licence papers attached all would be acceptable.

Id think its worth adding that link to any insurance proposal forms as TonyP advised.

Helen do you own your own bike as I intend to ?

Mark

Hi Mark

Yes, I have found TP Insurance that will cover me in the EU but not the UK, so it will be fun when I get there. At this stage, I'm looking at transporting the bike in as then Im not riding it - silly really!! Can ride a british bike anywhere in the world on a spotless record - except Britian.

Now, if you want to go around the EU on my bike you are more than welcome - it's an oldie but a goodie.

Adastra -

Yeah id like to check that out.
If you like can you send info/pics to my email
choppaxs@hotmail.com
When do you expect to have you bike back in the UK.
I hope to be on the road by the end of the month.
Cheers
M