Finding it impossible to get French insurance on a French bike
 

I own a French registered KTM 1190 that I took out of the country to Africa in 2016, since then it has been used overseas and also left in storage. I have shipped the motorcycle back to France now, but no insurance company wants to insure me because there is a gap in the insurance.

I don't understand what I have to do to get insurance, due to Covid I have been in my home country of New Zealand for the last 2.5 years, for which I have proof of "no-claims" car insurance, I have a valid motorcycle license, the bike is French, but nothing.

I am going back to France in June to do some riding and I feel like I have no options to get insurance, I just don't understand the logic. Illegal to ride without insurance, but refused insurance everywhere?

Any ideas?

You're trying to get insurance remotely from NZ? They are probably spooked by that. Once you get to France, grab the bike's paperwork and your passport, go to an insurance (agency or broker) office, show them the documents and say "What do we do about this?".

I agree with AnTyx, I think that if you address the matter in person at an insurance broker, you should have better luck.

Having said that, I can appreciate that you might be reluctant to show up in France, having travelled all the way from NZ, not knowing with certainty that you can get the bike insured.

I think it might work better if you try to find an English-speaking insurance broker, and send them a letter or email setting out all the details, including copies of your prior French insurance documents and your current NZ driver licence.

Insurance matters often get very tricky when the vehicle owner's driver licence is issued by a different country that the vehicle is registered in. Life would be simpler if the moto had a NZ plate, for example.

Michael