Bike Insurance for Baltic States, Russia, Ukraine, Slovakia and Czech Repbulic

[mattcbf600]

Hey all - sorry to drag this one around again, I've gone through a few of the older threads but I need a little more up to date information.

First of all I've got 'European' cover on my bike insurance - I've talked to the firm and that covers me in every country within the EU and Switzerland. But I'm worried about what I do when I enter the Baltic states (are they covered by the EU now?) and in particular Russia, Ukraine, Slovakia and Czech Republic - is it just a simple case of buying insurance at the border?

Cheers for the help in advance.... pints will be bought at the June meet :-)

m

[Tony P]

All the countries you mention, including the Baltic States, are now in the EU except Russia.

Your UK insurance should automatically cover you for basic legal minimum in all EU countries, possibly restricted to a limited number of days per year, unless you specifically get the insurance extended to include yourfull UK cover (as the old Green Card days)

You buy insurance for Russia in towns close to the approaching border crossings or even at the border. It is not too costly from figures I read on another HU thread recently. You buy it for the period of months you expect to be in the country.

I have no idea of the extent of actual cover (RTA? comprehensive?) but it satisfys the police.

[mattcbf600]

That's fab - thanks for that - but is the Ukraine and Slovakia really in the EU? I thought they were due to join... but hadn't yet - guess I should spend more time watching the news ;-)

m

[Tony P]

OOps - sorry.

Ukraine is not although they are hoping to join. There are no Visa requirements for UK passport holders just turn up and show your passport.

Slovakia is EU see -List of European Union member states - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[mattcbf600]

hey hey - that's fab - cheers for the info Tony :-)

m

[mdmystko]

For Ukraine you will need a Green Card listing UA as covered countries because your national insurance does not work outside EU.
For Russia, insurance is readily available right before the border, on the non-Russian side. I'm not sure how easy would it be to buy Ukrainian insurance in case you don't have a Green Card.

Kris

[henryuk]

same applies to entering Russia from the East, just buy your insurance before the border, all borders will have something (might be a guy in a shed!) selling inusrance, it's cheap.
Russia is great, even th epolice aren't too bad as long as you have a laugh with them. I did managed to get arrested for drinking vodka once though, no idea how that happened!

[mattcbf600]

lol! Cheers guys - that's a great help... it's only a small trip - but it's a start and we're flying a little blind.

m

[5 Eyes]

Just like to confirm that Slovakia and the Czech republic are definitely in the EU and there is no prob with insurance.
The are not yet in the Schengen area so there is a border crossing. However from 1st jan 2008 this will be gone too and there will be no border check point.
Slovakia is a lovely country to ride in but the cops have been very active since the last 6 months. a usual fine is about €60 ( 2000 SKK).
The north part of the country is the most beautiful .
Crossing into Ukraine is a real pain in the ASS no matter what insurance or docs you have. be prepared to wait at least 6 hrs no matter what crossing you use.
If they hand your pasport back and say a page is missing simply put $10 in it and the page will "re-appear"

I know slovakia and Poland well if you need any help

[Les K]

Last year I travelled down through the the Czech Rep, Slovakia etc, etc on my way for a tour round Turkey and had to have a specific addition on my normal insurance policy to cover me there. So much so that I had to change my insurance company to ensure I was covered. Things may have changed since last October, but I think you need to check with individual insurers as they varied a lot.

[Dirkdxb]

Originally Posted by Les K

Last year I travelled down through the the Czech Rep, Slovakia etc, etc on my way for a tour round Turkey and had to have a specific addition on my normal insurance policy to cover me there. So much so that I had to change my insurance company to ensure I was covered. Things may have changed since last October, but I think you need to check with individual insurers as they varied a lot.

Hi Les,

What exactly did you need in addition to your normal insurance? I will be cruising in these places soon as well and wouldn't like these kind of surprises.

Thanks

Dirk

[michaeltharme]

Originally Posted by henryuk

. . . . I did managed to get arrested for drinking vodka once though, no idea how that happened!

In Russia!!!! I thought drinking Vodka was a national sport

[Les K]

You don't need anything special. It was purely because my insurers wouldn't cover the Czech Rep or slovakia, even though they did the rest of Europe. I changed insurers and paid a premium to have these countries added; along with Bulgaria, Hungary, Bosnia and Turkey. Having all the correct paperwork was needed at many of the borders, but little bother at the Czech or Slovak borders; a cursory look and waved through. It surprised me that I had to specify all these countries, it was Highwayman Insurance who insured me! Don't worry it perfectly do-able!!

[nigel_tailyour]

I found this office in Ukraine in Lviv. I rode through Poland and then made a bee-line for Lviv to get the insurance. It was only £20 (in 2013) for 2 weeks.
The office is
AXA Ukraine,
Lychakivska 47
79010
Lviv
+38 097 486 5585
Mr. Okesand
r.samsonov@axa-ukraine.com

They are open the usual office hours.