dunno if I'm repeating a post anywhere, but this company does 30+ days for motorcycling on appropriate licence
Best Buy Travel Insurance – Single Trip, Annual Multi-Trip, Backpacker, Cruise


Holidaysafe Travel Insurance Blog: Motorcycle travel insurance

might be worth contacting if you are doing a long trip, which seems to be one of the issues with bog standard travel insurance.

medical ONLY
 

I'm after medical only insurance for south, central and USA. Not bothered about 3rd party or bike for the reason Ted said but also I don't want luggage/money/cancel/theft/etc/etc.
All I want is if I stack it (or Caf does AGAIN ;)) a hospital will sort me out without charging me, or if they can't because it's only a local clinic get me somewhere that can if it's real major injury, must include injuries whilst riding motorcycles over 650cc.
Anybody brought anything like this recently? We'll be away for 18 months.

Cheers
Pete

Call Navigator and tell them what you want... It's a real person at the end of the phone, not a faceless website with three million pages of small print.

Laughter, the best medicine
 

I have been reading this thread in hopes of gaining some small insight

into buying motorcycle insurance and health care insurance myself, a legal

foreign resident of Spain.

I discovered that "BUPA", (GB) no joke that is the name of the company,

offers a transfer from an existing medical health care insurance to "BUPA"

at a discounted rate.

We bought into MEDICUS Health Care Insurance while riding SA for several years and then living in Buenos Aires,

Argentina. So I called "BUPA" and discovered that "BUPA" owns "SANITAS,"

a respected Spanish Health Care Insurance company and could indeed

transfer our South American policy into one of their own, for a very

reasonable monthly cost. This has something to do with "BUPA" underwriting

cost of insuring a "new"

client verses a client previously covered under an existing policy.

Anyway, here is the funny part. When I finally got around to the real

question... of whether "BUPA" covered medical costs if I were injured while

riding my BMW motorcycle, the very British, very curt, BUPA agent replied:

"Mr. G......., we here at BUPA do not care what you have been up to, we just

pay your medical bills." xfiltrate

Me and my girlfriend are looking for our trip from Lithuania to Malaysia (passing Iran and Pakistan) for a reasonable priced travel insurance.
It's not easy. Most companies that are mentioned here are only for UK citizens.

Anyway I found a link of travel insurances for Europeans:
Travel insurance for Europeans / EU residents | Globe Spots
- Columbus Direct: only insures motorbikes up to 125cc
- Multinational Underwriters: Cheap. As far as I can see there are no restrictions for motorbike travelers. They don't cover Iran.
- World Escapade: As far as I can see there are no restrictions for motorbike travelers. They don't cover Pakistan.
- World Nomads: No option to only cover medical. For me rather expensive (and don't want to insure luggage).
- Worldwide Insure: Not covered from claims resulting of motorcycling.

I'm thinking about taking the insurance of Multinational Underwriters and for the time in Iran (3 weeks) have a package as well at World Escapade or World Nomads. If someone has experience with Multinational Underwriters or World Escapade I would be glad to hear your oppinion.

Johan

Hi
 

Hey,

I've been reading through all the posts on the HUBB for travel insurance and appreciate all the advice!!! So I just thought I would post my 2 cents as well, (no point in hours of research going to waste)!!!

So,

I found the main problem's with finding suitable travel insurance for long term motorcycle touring are:

1. Finding a company that allows you to ride a bike over 125cc

- a lot of companies state in the small print that the bike can not be over this size and as far as I have read, a lot of people get caught out with this one when it comes time to make a claim,


2. Riding the bike as your MAIN form of transport and NOT just as an 'activity'

- A few of them state that you can only ride them as an activity and so you need to check that its cool to ride it everyday if you so desire


3. Allowing you to ride over 31 days consecutively.

- The Annual multi-trip policy which I know a few people have bought only lets you ride abroad for a certain amount of days usually ranging between 31 -45 and then you must return to the UK before going out again. So a Single trip policy, backpacker, explorer or long stay policy is required.


4. Lets you extend your policy whilst your away

- This one's interesting as a lot of companies i spoke to will only let you purchase travel insurance from them as long as you are in the UK as you purchase.

- The reason this is an issue is that in my personal case, Im leaving in a few weeks for a trip to the Middle East and the minimum amount of time im gone is 6 months, max being a year. I dont want to have to pay money unecessarily as Im not sure how long I will be away, so if towards the end of my six months i decide I want to carry on for another 2 or even 6 months I need to be able to purchase my insurance without flying home!

- One insurance advisor told me that you may have a problem if for example you brake your leg before the six months is up and then you want to renew. BUT i double, triple and cross referenced this and If you do brake it whilst insured the rule is that your insurance will cover it but when you renew that new insurance will not pay out for anything related to it. (sorry its so long winded) But you dont have to worry as your initial policy would take care of it anyway!!!


*side note, the general rule with companies that allow you to extend whilst your away is that you MUST purchase BEFORE your current policy has expired.


5. A policy which doesnt cost more than your bike!!!

The first company I phoned yesterday was Carole Nash and they told me that for 1 years travel im looking at £900 ... Obviously hearing that depressed the **** out of me as i guessed that was the bench mark... I thought that maybe its because im only 23 Years old that its so high, but as I phoned more and more companies the price seemed to drop to the 600 and then the 400 and 300 mark!


In the end I narrowed the companies down to Navigator Travel and The Post Office (believe it or not - it was the very last company on my list of 30 odd)

As a chap on here stated Navigator are very helpful as its straight through to a bloke but then again the post office is too!

Navigator gave me an annual price of 250 for silver and 314 for gold
Post office gave me 340 or 370

the two are roughly the same with the post office offering slightly better payouts BUT heres the big difference....

If you have a PERSONAL ACCIDENT whilst on the bike and lose or seriously damage a limb etc Navigator will not pay you a lump sump - Nada

whilst the post office will pay 30,000 ....

In the end I went with the post office for a 6 month policy for £160 quid which I am free to extend for another month to six at any time within my current policy.

Right thats about it, any questions happy to help :D

Andy Davidson

I just spoke to a really helpful chap at the Post Office who offered me cover for a 10 month trip in the Americas (inc. USA) for £382. I feel safe going with the Post Office, slightly more reliable than most companies, the cover looks good, and it covers my medical and travel insurance all in one (including medical evacuation).

I'm going to go back through all the small print again, but looks as if it is the policy that I'll go with!

another sad reminder about why good travel insurance is needed:

BBC News - Rescue bid under way for Bali crash man Richard Plummer

Home - Richard's Appeal

If anyone in the Bali area can assist, I'm sure the family would be eternally grateful, same for anyone else who may have a few bob kicking around perhaps?

i use www.flexicover.co.uk as they have a range of information on the different medical circumstances etc. ideal for sourcing information before you go away.

Apologies if anyone has already mentioned this company - it's a long thread...

I used a UK company called MRL Insurance for our long term cover and will definitely use them again.

Cover was very well priced, they do long term cover globaly, and it is aimed at independent travellers rather than package holiday cover.

As part of thier service though they have a contact centre, and if you are in any kind of trouble or emergency and can reach them, they will act on your behalf and make phone calls to friends/relatives and arrange for your problem to be fixed - they will also send cash by express courier to wherever you are in the world (as long as a courier can reach it I guess). Thankfully something we never needed but it was very comforting to know that if we had an empty tank of gas, no ATM's and no dollars left we wouldn't be there for long.

Post Office
 

Driven me mad trying to get insurance. I posted earlier about the "Final Hurdle" catching me out each time... Being over 65....Bike over 125....trip over 30 days...etc....finally thought I'd sorted it with Hayman( recommended by me above) only to be told that as Mauritania is on the UK Govt Foreign and Commonwealth office "No Go" list..ie advice is not to travel at all...the whole policy is null and void.................Thanks to folks above for recommending the Post Office....insurance sorted in about ten minutes on the phone. NO cover whilst IN Mauritania...but no problem with the rest of the itinerary.....ie Morocco ...south western Mali ...B-Faso..Benin....back to Senegal and the Gambia. Cost £485.....but cover is excellent...

UK Post Office
 

I've just insured through the UK Post Office.
First of all I tried the company advertised by MAG. That would have been fine until I had to own up to having an accident within the last 3 years. They then said they couldn't provide cover for motorcycling. If they had given me the free motorcycle upgrade I think the maximum trip length would have been 1 month, which is all I want at the moment.
So I checked the Post Office web site. It doesn't mention motorcycling, but does say you can declare extreme sports such as skiiing and golfing (GOLFING????) so I had to ring up to ask about motorcycling. They assured me that travelling by motorcycle is covered within their standard policy and no mention of a cc limit. So I've got an annual world wide policy (excluding Americas) cover for both us with a single trip limit of 1 month for £108. It can be upgraded to cover the Americas and for trips of up to a year when we require it.
It looks like getting insurance gets progressively harder as you get older and especially when over 65. Also the older you get the more medical history you have to declare which gives them the chance to either charge more or add exclusions for pre-existing conditions. Unfortunately there's no point in being less than honest when applying for cover as giving them the slightest excuse to avoid paying out if you make a claim means you might as well have saved the cash and taken a chance in the first place.

I’ve been desperately trying to find an insurer that will allow you to extend your policy longer than 12 months and while you are already on your travels and after searching thru god knows how many, think I have struck gold!
Company is called Globelink and they provide all the standard covers at a good rate and also, you can extend your policy when you’re away (as long as it’s before the current one expires!)
Here is their website https://globelink.co.uk/

Do you know if UK Post Office insures also EU residents, not only UK residents?

Today checked with ADAC in Germany. They offer max 24 month travel insurance and it has global coverage (includes also USA).
Price is 1170€ for 24 months (for persons over 27 years), 450€ for 12 months (if you are below 27 years old, then it is cheaper).
According to ADAC staff, it does not have any limitations for motorcycle size.
Does anyone have experience with ADAC travel insurance?

http://www.adac.de/produkte/versiche...t/default.aspx

I fully agree. It's important to pickup a travel insurance before you depart. Save the insurer Hotline telephone number for easy assess.

World Nomads
 

A current thread about World No... nads is providing an update, as at April 2012, here:- http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...d-nomads-48863

Go Walkabout Travel Insurance
 

Being old, very old, travel insurance is getting harder to find, however, one of the many advantages of being retired is that you have time to search the internet and I have found a company called "Go Walkabout" which almost seems too good to be true giving me a quote of 400 pounds for 288 days in the Americas riding anything that is covered on my UK license. Anyone have any info on this lot? Ride safe.

Hello Maria:)
I see you are an expert in travel insurance area. :thumbup1: What would you say of Globelink international?
here they are - Cheap Travel Insurance for EU Residents - Annual Holiday Insurance
I appreciate your advice :helpsmilie:

Hi Leeloo,
sorry to disappoint you but I am not really an expert.

When I was preparing my trip I did a lot of research and put my finding in this thread.
I do not know the insurance you mentioned.

Regarding travel insurance I usually look at few things:

- Does it cover MC over 125cc in teh coutries I will travel through and what are the restrictions;

- Who is the underwriter (for example I avoid AXA but this is personal preferences!);

- Do the broker answer the phone straight away or is it a complicated messagerie (to be discarded: you do not want to spend 1 h on the phone, on the other side of the planet, going through 1000s of menus if you have an emergency!);

- I also inspect the details of the medical insurance (which is the main reason for the insurance for me, Id on;t care about the rest!) : what does it cover, how much, does it include repatriation etc...

- reputation....

Price in such case is totally secondary to the above. In case of bad crash my health would be worth more that few quids saved on the premium...


Cheers,


Maria

travel insurance
 

Thank you Maria!:)
Anyway your advices helped me and I have done a research as well!

Best wishes!

Just to give a quick update in relation to this topic. Not sure if anyone else mentioned this already but I got a reply from Carole Nash today, that they no longer provide travel insurance. Bugger.

And yet their website is still advertising travel insurance..?

Do they just make stuff up if they don't have the answer in front of them..? :thumbdown:

To be honest, that's the way I felt when I got the reply. It's like they couldn't be bothered. Their initial response was this: "Thank you for your enquiry however we would be unable to provide insurance for this trip."

When quizzing them why they are unable to provide insurance they then said they don't do travel insurance at all anymore. Frustrating.

edit // just rang them and asked to speak someone in their travel insurance department and was then told they don't have a travel insurance department anymore as they stopped offering this about a year ago. so all legit after all.

I'm not trying to prove you wrong, honest..!

But just to illustrate why we struggle so much to get a straight answer, their website still offers travel insurance..!

Travel Insurance | Carole Nash

I'm actually with Carole Nash for my regular bike insurance, maybe I should give them a call :confused1:

Post office travel insurance
 

I was looking for travel insurance for a 12 months trip and have just phoned the post offices' helpline to check that they cover for continuous motorcycle travel which they do with no 125 cc limit, although I will be on a 125, and their on-line quote is £408 for worldwide cover excluding North America, pretty reasonable.

I think I've posted this about 10 times on this thread LOL

Navigator Insurance....

Based in Manchester and reachable by phone to talk to a actual broker, not a telesales rep.

They are cheap and will cover you for over 125cc.

I've always used them and never had a single problem.

I've just been on the phone with Richard at Navigator travel insurance and their situation is this,

They can issue 15 months travel insurance no problem and have to check with the underwriters for 18 months but it is possible.

The insurance he offers include motorcycle travel as standard

However they have to tell the underwriters that you intend to return to the UK at the end of your insurance period (He's happy to tell them even if you don't). However currently at the end of the 15/18 month period to renew you have to be back in the UK.

He is currently trying to get a renewable insurance from the under writers but this could be a year away.

Hope this helps somebody.

:thumbup1:

I've used them too, very easy to deal with and cheap. Think I've recommended them a few times as well, LOL.

bier

An insurance frame of mind in the UK
 

It's not exactly travel insurance, but it is little wonder that the whole issue of insurance comes into question when this kind of claim is made:-
BBC News - Norfolk police officer 'sues garage burglary victim'

Still, there are some very dangerous occupations in place nowadays and we all need to be compensated for our own actions.

:offtopic: but not totally so.

Well, I've just done as I said I would above.

For up to 15 months duration 'Longstay' insurance covering EU, Eastern Europe, Turkey and Russia...! I have just been quoted £212.18 for two people.

I've looked over what's included and all the major things appear to be there, including the all-important medical cover, valued at £10,000,000 including repatriation.

Obviously I'd question them a lot more carefully before purchasing but it seems like a good deal.

I can't explain why others have been told travel insurance is no longer available though..:no:

Hmm messy! It would not fill me with much confidence.

Like many others here, I will stick with Navigator... you speak to a real human being and their covers are pretty good and competitive.

I have used them many times, for long or short trips although (finger crossed) I have never made a claim so far!

Thought I'd update this sorry saga.

I don't suppose anyone here will be in the least bit surprised to hear that when I rang back to '"purchase " the quote turned out to be wrong...:rolleyes:

After once again going through every country we would visit I was quoted over £600.00...:laugh::lol2::laugh::lol2:

So another vote for Navigator...:thumbup1: Good value, easy to deal with and they actually know what they're talking about..:cool4:

Navigator insurance started in the middle of the tirp!
 

Hey there

Just to let you know that Navigator also can insure you from the middle of your trip (when you have already left your residence country) with no problem. :thumbup1: customer service is really good.

ride safe
Bernhard

Hi folks,
just though I’d post here to also recommend Navigator Insurance. I purchased 12 months worldwide travel insurance with them yesterday (very cheap –just over £400 for a couple), spoke to a lovely lady called Yvonne on the phone who confirmed that my policy covers both me and my girlfriend - who is riding pillion, for using our motorcycle (700cc Transalp) as our primary means of travel. The policy covers all medical expenses in the event of an accident. The only thing it does not cover is personal injury while riding i.e. loss of limbs.
So to give an example of this - if I have an accident while riding and need to get my leg chopped off I won’t get a lump sum for losing my leg, however I will be covered for the expense of the doctor hacking it off!
I hope this helps and saves people the hours of research and weeding through the fine print that I've just done!
Happy trials and safe riding!

Sounds good
I have AA travel insurance made sure it covered me riding any size cc (it does) it is unlimeted travel throught out the year but only up to the Urals i.e. got to keep left side of the urals lol


Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

Hi all,

Just to update that unfortunately Navigator travel UK no longer seem to be doing motorcycle insurance for over-landers. As of the time of writing, coverage is limited to 14 days only. More so, insurance must now be booked before you leave the UK, and so policies cannot be bought once you've already left the UK. Given Navigators excellent reputation, this is most unfortunate news.

I spoke to Richard the other day and he confirmed that they are negotiating with another underwriter and should have an answer next week, and so fingers crossed they can work something out. He said that the previous underwriter scrapped the policy because of the "ridiculous" amount of claims, and that because the entire thing had become disastrously unprofitable due to sheer number of claims.

So that's it for the time being - Navigator do have something called an "Adventures" policy but can be in excess of 1000 GBP for six months, and much more depending on "age, location, type of road, etc". I'm going to call the Post Office and AA tomorrow and will post my findings back here.

Updated:

So called the POST OFFICE, seems okay - quoted* for:

Motorcycle used as primary means of travel.
No restrictions on engine size but no racing or taking part in a competition.
Policy must be bought BEFORE you leave the UK / cannot be extended (maximum coverage 1 year).

Quoted £355.22 (I'm between 21-35)

Will call AA tomorrow!!!

* NB this was for "Long-travel Trip" not the "Explorer" -- according to the nice lady I spoke to on the phone it seems the only differences are in the amounts you are insured against i.e. 5 million vs 10 million, respectively. The latter is more expensive but given that the biggest payout was 2 million for health you would have to be pretty unlucky to run up a bill past 5 million.

This is sad news.. They were always so good. Too good to be true.

I wonder where all the claims came from...

I would of happily forgone luggage, equipment cover just to know I can be re-repatriated if I have a bike accident etc.

What are the alternatives now ??

Ted out of curiosity are you talking about being re-repatriated if you are injured like broken leg or in a coma ect ect or are you also talking about being re-repatriated if the worst was to happen?

The Post Office sounds all good Ted and ticks all the boxes so far but it is annoying that you need to be in the UK and one year isn't quite enough! Navigator was great for these reasons and it was also reassuring as they were tried and tested. Let us hope that negotiations go well!

If anyone else has some experiences with the Post Office it'd be great to hear from them!!!!!!

?c?

Does anyone have (positive or negative) experiences with Allianz Global Assistance?

regards
Patrick

All I want is to know I can get proper treatment for serious injury... I've seen broken bones diagnosed/set 'on the cheap' in Africa. They just don't have the training, equipment etc. Sadly, life is cheap in many places.

If I'm dead......Just shove an acorn up my bum, throw me in a hole and water me a few times a month.

I don't see the use or ornament for 85kg of rotting carbon to be flown around the world at great expense.

:smartass:

More updates:--

Phoned AA, more or less the same as The Post Office but you can extend while your out there. So if you're buying a year it doesn't really matter - that's all you're gonna get. Their maximum policy is 365 days though you MUST be in the UK when you purchase the quote. This seems to be the norm, rather than the exception.

Interestingly:-

I asked

"Does the travel FCO's warnings have any impact on the policies?" Short answer = absolutely! Long answer =

If they find out you've driven through an area which has been declared dangerous by the FCO it will invalidate your entire policy, so if you did 9 months in South America and stacked your bike in Argentina, but they somehow knew you crossed the boarder from Ecuador to Colombia, you would not be covered. Likewise, obviously if you had an accident in this area you would be on your own.

Here is the official advice:-
Can anyone clarify what they mean by 'rural' i.e. are they just talking about the boarders in general or...?

If so, no doubt if they had to payout a big claim i.e. 2million they would be looking for every excuse not to. If they asked to see you're passport and then saw the stamps at a Ecuador/Colombian boarder crossing, you'd be ****ed :) And so this is why I hate travel insurance companies. I'm going to call Navigator back next week and see what they say, but as far as the AA and PO are concerned, if you're enter Colombia and the area can be defined as "Rural", you're not covered.

Updated:-

So the AA ---- here we go. The main difference is that the representative said that the FCO warnings have no effect on the policy i.e. representative said "if commercial airlines fly there we will insure you*". I got quoted 240 quid for a year on the backpacker policy, again with no restrictions on motorcycle used as primary means of transport, assuming insured has full license, wears a helmet and keeps to 'public' roads.

* even Iraq one wonders?

I called back Post Office and asked the same question and got a different answer - that time I was told that while you will not be covered in given areas which went against FCO recommendations, if you did pass through without issue and later made a claim in, say Chile, this WOULD be covered.

Doesn't exactly fill you with confidence. Lets hope navigator get their act together.

Both are insured by AXA UK PLC.

Hope this helps!

Navigator
 

Just an update on Navigator. I confirm what was said by ridetheworld. Richard was told today (25/02/2014) that the will have something in place that will fit for my single trip to central Asia, in the next 2 weeks.

I may not hold till then as I need an insurance doc for my Kazakh visa application. I'll investigate alternatives.

I haven't read the entire thread, so apologies if this has already been mentioned, but I recommend UK/European residents contact David Grist at HC Travel. They have a motorcycle specific, "Biker's Travel Insurance" that may suit.

Single trip from 1 to 365 days, up to 75 years old ...

I called in to see David last week, they no longer offer that cover. Underwriter has changed it's terms. It looks like this is happening a lot.
We are struggling to find any cover for 365 days or more.

Sadly I called them this morning and I have bad news! Their main page says up to 365 days but when you continue for a quote, it is only for 2 months max for single trips! I confirmed this over the phone and their main page need update :frown:

InsureAndGo
 

As we will travel on a couple of small 125 to Mongolia I extended my research.
Not of much confort for anyone on bigger bikes (and we have bigger bikes too usually!) but InsureAndGo insure up to 125cc included, and when I phoned they confirmed I could be covered if I travel 4 months on the small 125 (as long as T&C are respected - i.e. wearing helmet etc...)

So I will buy that one for my single trip. I hope by then Richard at Navigator will have found an underwritter to cover bigger bikes for long trips!

No help to us, as we are non-UK residents, but I've found a company called Holiday Safe, who do Motorcycle Holiday Insurance for UK citizens : Motorcycle Travel Insurance - Bikers Travel Insurance Policy.

I was doubtful, so I put in the details for myself and Roynie for a fictitious 115-day trip for worldwide cover (inc. US and Canada) and, sure enough, they gave me a quote. Now all we need to do is find someone who will cover Irish or French residents ... :(

Has anyone had an update from Navigator/Richard? My wife and I embark on a multi-year trip on 18th June and I'm really struggling to find a policy that extends beyond 12 months and/or can be extended whilst you're actually away.

Cheers
Steve

Yes see here: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ood-news-75169

Navigator found a new underwritter.

Hi Maria,

thanks for the reply, I'd missed the new thread.

Great news :thumbup1:

Cheers
Steve

If you are on the road or antediluvian(ish) have a look at the Atlas travel insurance web site, I fall/fell into both categories and this lot sorted it. The person who communicated with me was:

Zane Beaty ZBeaty@hccmis.com

Ride safe.

Already abroad, and over 125cc
 

Hi,

Apart from Navigator (who have refused to extend), anyone out there know of travel insurers who will insure once out on a trip? Need a further six months and riding a motorcycle over 125cc. UK Resident

Thanks

Could you provide a link? I have found a company called Atlas Direct, but my internet browser (Firefox) seems to think the site is dodgy and won't let me get a quote.

ETA OK. I've got it. Atlas Direct are a completely different company. The Atlas Travel Insurance policy is offered by HCC Medical Insurance Services: http://www.hccmis.com/atlas-travel-insurance/.

I can only suggest World Nomads, who will renew while you're out on the road. I'm not sure about starting a new policy tho'.
worldnomads.com. 01702 427219.
No good if you're over sixty, as I was disappointed to discover.
The other option is to find a company that insures ex-pats.
Geoff

Having just read throught the Atlas Travel website it looks like they may be what you're looking for as they will insure you after your trip has started.

Like most I have been having problems re-newing my Ins. I have been on the road now for 3 years. For the first year I used 'Carol Nash' which I found out at the end of the year only covered me for 1 month. Glad I didn't claim!
For the last 2 years I have been with 'Navigator'. All very good but now they have lost their ability to re-new when out of the country. Richard emailed me ...

"Hi Brian,
This could be a problem. Where are you now? Are you in the UK or still overseas?
We have lost the facility to start policies for people who are already overseas, due to fraudulent claim activity and cannot extend your existing policy, as it has lapsed.
We also have a maximum duration of 18 months for one trip. We used to get round this, by issuing a second policy while passengers were overseas, therefore starting again. However, since we lost the facility to start cover after departure, this is no longer an option.
Regards - Richard"

This is unfortunate so I began searching. Lots of people suggested 'WorldNomads' so I emailed them. Vanessa Dunn emailed....

"Unfortunately, this policy does not extend to cover you if you are motor bike touring or your motor bike is the main mode of transport. It can't be added, even for an additional premium".

I do think this is different for people of different residency.

I tried 'true traveller' 'trailfinders' '1cover' and a few others. All with the same outcome. Can't start a policy out of the country or CC to big.

I think on this thread 'HCCMIS' was suggested. I sent Zane Beaty a butt load of questions and he assured me the policy covered all my concerns.
So that's who I have gone with. Just hope he is true to his word and I never have to test him.
Hope this sheds some light

Just starting to look into this for our own trip as we have been away now for over 16 months. Our current policy expires in December and I suspect will not be renewable. We're from the UK.

I've just taken a look at HCC medical and found the following exclusion in their policy

"6. Ownership, possession, control or use of any automobile, motorcycle, ATV, off-road vehicle, watercraft, aircraft, parachute, parasail, glider or any other motorized, gravity-induced, or self-propelled vehicle or craft of any kind."

For reference the quote can be found here http://www.hccmis.com/docs/at_doc_specimen.pdf under article 3 near the bottom of the document.

On that basis I'm not convinced that HCCMIS are the answer in the event of a claim :(

Still struggling to find a policy that can be started once the trip commenced and also covers motorcycling as the main activity or purpose of the trip. Anyone have any other ideas?

Cheers
Steve

Well I too have run into an insurance problem

I am insured with World Nomads Australia, They will cover me for motorcycle touring, however they will not cover personal liability if I injure someone or damage their property. I am mainly concerned about Europe, how can I get third party in Europe? My bike is French registered and apparently green cards are only issued to non-EU registered bikes. European insurance companies don't seem to want to insure me as I am not a resident.

Hi Wanted,
I am Australian with a Irish registered bike. last year I tried to renew my insurance from an Irish Insurer, but every available obstacle was placed in my way. Ended up obtaining insurance from a Croatia supplier. Have not got the supplier details on me in OZ but Martin from www.motofeirme.com. would probably inform you. The document took some time to arrive at an English address, but a copy is sent by email, which I copied and carried with me.
Regards Ben.

If you have a French registered bike, it MUST be registered in your name to be legal and before you can get it insured by a European based Insurer. In France you must have a residential address ( permanent or holiday home) before you can register it here. In fact strictly speaking a bike must be registered to you, before you can get any Insurance, unless you have written permission from the owner, and even then the registered owner pays the insurance and you become named rider/dual owner. Under European Law a European registered bike not registered in your name, still belongs to the previous registered keeper. You would be well advised to re register the bike in your own country into your name and then use someone like TourInsure for your European cover.

That's not quite correct; green cards can be obtained for non-EU bikes separately. For EU-registered bikes, they are a free and intrinsic supplement to your mandatory insurance. Most of the time traveling inside the EU you can get away with not having the Green Card on paper, and you have to request it separately from the insurer if you want the paper version.

Can you point me to a source on that? Here in Estonia, I'm pretty sure ownership and registration are entirely separate things. Ownership passes at the point when the sales contract is signed and the money handed over. Registration is between the new owner and the government. You can show up at the licensing authority office with a sales contract and the vehicle registration document, and register it in your name; or the old owner can confirm online that they sold it to X person, that person can confirm they bought it and pay the fee, and registration is complete.

insurance
 

Just sharing some advice

26 year male, 3 month south america trip

1/naviagator- approx 240 quid

2/Carol nash- 240 quid

3/Marks and spencer- 140 (wouldn't have thought to try them except saw on this forum!)

Now first 2 were geared at bikers. However marks and sparks will cover you for any vechicle abroad that you have full licence for at home if you have insurance for this.
call them up and they were very helpful, told them touring on motorbike for 3 months and they were happy with this. no engine restrictions - so if anyone is looking to tour their triumph rocket this is the place!

Thanks and a quick reminder
 

Many thanks for your excellent post. I would also like to remind people that they should all check the Foreign Office (or their countries advice) to see if warnings are given for the areas people intend to travel. Insurance companies will NOT COVER YOU for areas that are deemed unsafe.
It's well worth asking your insurer if this applies to areas that are safe at the time of purchasing insurance but later become dangerous.

Remember those insurance fu$%ers will do anything not to pay!!!

Which Motorcycle Insurance company gave you cover for a UK registered bike being used in Sth America? I couldn't find one that exceeded the limits of the EU, though that was back in 2009, and I doubt very much they will pay out if you have an accident even if you have local insurance, Hire vehicles probably the exception.

Just noticed this is an old post!!!!

For the UK...

Just bought motorcycle travel insurance from HolidaySafe - one of their underwriters is a biker. All the usual stuff. Looks pukka.

who's the underwriter?

Anyone know of an insurer who will provide legal 3rd party road insurance for a non EU registered bike (owned by the rider) used in the EU?

Tourinsure seem to be the best for medical expenses but I'm thinking legal requirements?

Here http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...et-cheap-34822

Update on companies offering WW medical insurance for bikers?
 

My medical insurance is up for renewal. Last year when I tried renewing my policy with Navigator, I was told they could no longer get policies for us (too many claims had made policies uneconomic for insurance companies).

I bought a policy with Tokyo Marina HCC. I was about to renew it until I read all the angry reviews from policy holders trying to get a claim out of the company.

I'm a UK citizen currently in Mexico. Any ideas of a good insurance company to call?

Cheers,

Bob

I work for a medical assistance company so when you phone your insurance company with a problem, it is usually someone like us you will talk to.
Tokyo is one of the ones we deal with, I am on the medical side so don't get too involved in the nitty gritty of policies but my wife does. She says Tokyo can be a bit of a pain, we don't have any delegated authority so everything has to go through them, this makes the policy difficult to verify and slow to confirm cover, which means your potentially picking up a bill for thousands in the initial stages. They also ask for details of your previous medical history from your GP for almost everything which again can cause delays. They are also quite picky about the policy detail and related medical history.

Of the ones we deal with Endsleigh are good as they let us just get on with sorting stuff out so you get action quickly, don't pay and claim though because their claims department are a pain and take ages, let us deal with the hospital direct. We aren't sure if the cover motorcycling.

Maven/Aon is another good one that does cover bikers.

Aviva products and RSA are also good.

Be aware though that any claim for a condition that may be related to previous medical history will require us to check with your GP for most companies which may cause delays, so be prepared to have to lodge a deposit of potentially several thousand pounds with the hospital.

It is also a condition of most policies that you must be registered with a UK GP, so make sure you are still registered and keep your registration active.

Don't assume the hypocratic oath exists in other countries, it doesn't, if you can't pay then they will quite literally dump yoou in the street to die in some countries.

Declare everything so at least you know if there are any exceptions and there won't be any nasty surprises..

Read the policy documents carefully to ensure you aren't doing anything you might be excluded for, this might include travelling to certain countries, riding certain motorbikes, not taking your malarial tablets or indulging in a prohibited activity such as quad biking, or staying beyond the trip limits of the policy (most high street policies are limited to 31 days, and they will check).

Don't believe you can pull the wool over the insurance companies eyes, they employ special investigation teams, they've seen it all before and whatever your scam is, you won't be as original or clever as you think you are!

Don't underestimate the costs of treatment, bills of hundreds of thousands of pounds are not uncommon, so make sure your covered for what you are doing

Hope that helps

I bought our insurance with Navigator in January as we are off to Africa in two weeks. The motorcycle off road one.
Two years ago we used them too for Central Asia, and although we did not claim, as we did not use the excess, we called the underlying insurance, for some hospital stuff that we had, and they were very good.
The premium is rather expensive, but they cover biking for 4 months, even in non paved and off road. Worth it should the SHTF!
Cheers,

We're the currently only supplier of such a product i EU, for Eu registered motorcycles owned by non EU residents

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...een-card-93020

cheers
Dooby

Lobagola is currently the only provider of such coverage as a registered tour operator and insurance provider.

We have been part of the moto and 4x4 community for long time, and many people know me as Dooby, here but also on ADVrider (we have dedicated thread there), Kiwi biker, Overland sphere etc.

All inquiries will be handled through our direct email: borderinsurance@lobgola.com very fast and efficient.

We're also on of the founders of Trans Euro Trail project known as TET, so if you plan to ride in Balkans you can send inquiries if you need any type of support.

Regards
Dooby

Travel insurance for on and off road
 

Hello all,

I'm currently on a RTW trip and was struggling to find insurance that would a), allow me to take it out after I'd already started travelling and b), cover both on and off road.

Obviously I booked at this page, bit with the latest post 2 years ago it wasn't much help.

After a fair amount of searching, I found these guys:

CMS Ltd. <- it's a link

After a bit of back and forth with Paul (who works there) I confirmed all the details I needed and now I'm insured.

This company has the added benefit of being American owned which means it's not influenced by FCO travel restrictions. The only restrictions are, if there is a level 3 rating on the Centre for Disease Control website for a given country, you are not covered for that particular issue. If there is a level 3 or above rating on the US State Department website for civil unrest, you are not covered for political evacuation or terrorism issues.

All seems fair enough to me, better than British companies that won't cover you for anything at all if there is any FCO advice against travel in a country.

Anyway, if you're interested give Paul a shout ������

Navigator in any case is underwritten by TIF Group who have very poor service reviews.

The best one I've found (on paper - not bought it yet) is Big Cat who are happy to insure older travellers on motorcycles for extended trips.

I'll be interested to hear what becomes of your inquiries.

I’ll have to bookmark them as they do seem to tick all the boxes. Hopefully no catches like they don’t pay out or answer emails?

Thanks for all the info guys. I am planning to ride in South America and then part of the TAT, all being well 2023. Just in the early stages of planning dates, shipping, routes and insurance of course. :thumbup1:

Thanks for the tip off re CSM insurance. Have got in contact with them regarding our trip - nice to see someone is willing to cover over 30 days still.

I have deleted my recommendation on CSM. I had the need to contact them and the only way you are able to get hold of the insurer is via telephone to a USA number and during business hours. Not useful when you are in deepest Africa. Any chat/e-mail function does not get a response.

The broker CSM no help what so ever, so the 'proof of the pudding, is in the eating' as they say. I will not use CSM again.

Travel Insurance contd 2025
 

Update on insurance Jan 2025:
On Tomcat's suggestion I checked out BigCat and all seems ok, the insure up to 69yrs and extended trips and only need the first activity pack for motorcycles over 125cc.
The only caveat that I could see that might affect some but not myself is only riding on roads no off road.
There didn't seem to be an activity pack that covered this.
Has anyone had experience with any others that allow big bikes?

I assume you know that by ‘roads’ they mean official roads whether they are sealed or not. I don’t think any insurance covers for riding motorcycles not on a road unless it’s specialised for something like motocross.
I’m guessing that it’s a bit like skiing off piste?

Correct.
Few months ago I got insurance for Laos and I always double check. As long as it is a road, even a very bad road, it is ok. True off roading is not covered.

I usually use Navigator as they are competitive in pricing. But I will check out BigCat for our big next trip.


One word of warning. Some insurances may cover motorcycling, of any size but… read carefully the contract or call them before buying. Most limit to only 15 days, even if you buy for months!
Best double check direct with them.

Funny how this thread is still going strong 20 years after I created it! Maybe I should celebrate! beer