Estonia - Russia (Insurance)
 

Hi
Crossing into Russia at Narva, have already pre-booked my border crossing, only in the country for 5 days anyone know of Green Card insurance before we enter Russia, or which kiosks (and price) for a motorcycle we go to and their location i.e close to or on the border ? Thanks

Usually there is no way to buy one at the Russian border. You need to drive to the closest biggest city and search for insurance company (bigger the better). There sometimes ask or the translation of the documents, sometimes not.

As this is getting quite into a big problem for the last 2 seasons, we have been asked by Russian moto tour operators to provide a product, and we're working on one trying to get it into market as soon as possible.

Good luck and enjoy the ride.

BR
Dooby

What exactly do you want to buy?

Mandatory traffic insurance for Russia (OSAGO, or in cyrillic it's ОСАГО) - you can buy it at the border. This is a super-popular crossing point, there are services for foreigners.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intern...en_card_system - if you have British traffic insurance, you are already entitled to a free Green Card, which is valid for Russia. You presumably have it already if you are riding through Estonia. Go talk to your insurer and have them issue you the correct paper.

I had an insurance issue at the border
 

So I crossed from Estonia to Russia today.

The crossing part was straightforward, if a little slow due to the custom checks on cars ahead of me. I had no checks on my bike.

The issue was getting the basic insurance OSAGO. Alfastrah at the border but they couldn't issue me any despite much tapping on the computer.

When they input Triumph it brought up the old Triumph cars by another manufacturer (no mate.. its a Bonneville not a stag or a spitfire).

Got told they couldn't provide to go and ride to St Petersburg and try my luck there.

Any UK insurer doesn't seem to want to cover Russia despite them joining the green card system.

St Petersburg - sorted
 

The main Alpha offices in St Petersburg were happy to sell me OSAGO for the princely sum of £8.