Buying in Europe is possible in Ireland - here's how
 

From Motofeirme in Ireland, posted on the HU California group for some unknown reason...


Hi folks.
There has been a lot of controversy over the last few years about buying/renting/shipping motorcycles etc.
To clear this up read the following.

Buying in Europe is possible in Ireland as long as you have an address.
A cell phone (burner) is recommended.
With an Irish plated bike you are free to travel anywhere in Europe.

Insurance.
This has been a hot topic for years.
Green card providers have been supplying insurance for years to riders but unfortunately the insurance was not recognised in the home country ie Ireland.
We have discovered since brexit that many Irish insurance companies have dropped the eu portion of the license requirements as many brits are living here driving on now “non EU licenses”
This has now opened the floodgates as an American, Canadian, Australian also has a non EU drivers license and is basically in the same category as a UK citizen.
The resident status was the next hurdle but, legally, an insurance company has to quote regardless of residency even though they will tell you they don’t want to.

Insurance Ireland is the governing body over insurance companies in Ireland and will make sure you get a quote regardless of residence.

The following is an informational mail that, if followed correctly will garuntee you fully legal insurance for annual cover.
I recommend paying for one year in advance and not cancelling after a month.
This will lead to bad relationships with insurers and the more people that pay and hopefully don’t claim, the better the situation for everyone.
At the end of the day, all we as motorcycle travellers want to do is stay on the right side of the law.

How to get fully legal, Irish insurance on your Irish registered motorcycle.

GIVE YOURSELF AT LEAST 10 WORKING DAYS.

“You will need an Irish motorcycle plate number, an Irish address and an Irish mobile phone number”

You will need to contact 3 insurance companies by email instead of an online questionnaire as you will get a refusal letter by email promptly. If they decline your request, you want that decline letter to indicate the date when you applied, and if possible the time when you applied. You need that because Insurance Ireland, when they take your case, will pick the first company you applied to as the company they direct to give you insurance.

Insurance Ireland is the state body in charge of all the insurance companies that state that anyone with a license to drive a vehicle is entitled to a quote.

Sometimes the insurance companies e-mail back a decline letter that contains the reason for refusing you.

The woman you contact at insurance ireland is

camellia.tirniceru@insuranceireland.eu

Declined Cases Agreement
Under the Declined Cases Agreement, the insurance market must not refuse to provide insurance to a motorist who has approached at least three insurers and has not been able to obtain cover.
If you contact the Declined Cases Committee, they will usually approach the first insurer you tried to obtain cover from and will get a quote on your behalf.
You should keep track of the order in which you tried to receive your quotes, and keep a paper trail of refusal notices.

I suggest emailing

bikecare@axa.ie

Info@principalinsurance.ie

Info@libertyinsurance.ie

Email each one being upfront about your situation.
If you already own a bike here send, the plate number. “If you don’t already own a bike here contact me, and I’ll find a plate number similar to the bike your thinking of buying. Easily changed after you buy your own bike”

Also send proof of no claims from your current insurer and a copy of your driving record.
Then ask for a quote.
If you get a refusal letter, keep applying to the other company emails ensuring you ask for an email dictating reasons for refusal when and if they refuse to quote you. Repeat the process until you have 3 refusal letters.

It seems that AXA and liberty are giving the best prices.

Be upfront in your email, explaining you own a bike here and you want to get insurance to ride legally.

The following was a response to insurance ireland from AXA insurance after they confronted about the refusal letter.

"For us to quote we would require all the following in advance:
Completed proposal form (attached)
Copy of licence (Back and front)
Can you confirm that you are claims and/or convictions free in the last 7 years?
The logbook for the bike. (Tax book/Vehicle licencing certificate)
Please note that the above list is not exhaustive and further documents may be required or requested prior to providing a quote."

I suggest sending all the above documents in your original email to speed up the process.

--------------------

“Hello my name is [ ]
I am a citizen of [. ]
I have purchased a motorcycle here in Ireland plate number [. ]
I intend to use this bike to tour around Ireland and Europe for 1-3 months during the summer and then the motorcycle will be put in secure storage till my return next summer.
I enclose
My current driving record
A letter from my current insurer stating I am claims free for the last 3 years.
A copy of my drivers licence, back and front.

Thank you, I will await your decision on whether you would like to have me as a customer.
Please include a reference number if your happy to go ahead and I will use it on the online application.

Thank you.
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A follow up to this posting.
A few of my storage clients here at motofeirme have successfully gotten insurance using this scheme.
However, they have stopped as they feel the market is too small for the risk.
I urge you all, even your friends and neighbours to email the following insurance companies asking them for coverage.
Axa insurance.
Liberty insurance
Principal insurance

These are the three main insurance companies in Ireland and with enough emails going in they may see the market potential.
The main underwriters, FBD insurance are apparently the ones to blame.
I urge you to keep the emails coming in so we can ride legally and not worry about legalities.