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Trip Paperwork Covers all documentation, carnets, customs and country requirements, how to deal with insurance etc.
Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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Photo by Marc Gibaud,
Clouds on Tres Cerros and
Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



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  #1  
Old 17 Jan 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by spellytheman View Post
Thanks

Thus with a UK bike and usual insurance giving 90 days cover to EU countries I can just turn up at Croatia / Bosnia border and then Bosnia / Serbia border and take pot luck at that point. If I don't get in it is not too bad to re route and go back to Croatia (trip is from Dubrovnick to Budapest)

Paul.
That's true..."in general" you could re-route back from Bosnia-Serbia border crossing, to head north thru Bosnia across Croatia into Hungary/ Budapest.

From Dubrovnik, I assume you will want to ride via Mostar & Sarajevo.
In that case, if you still want to "try" Serbia border crossing, I suggest you use Bosnia Rte #M19 north from Sarajevo in direction of Serbia border at Mali Zvornik, rather than Bosnia Rte E762 east from Sarajevo in direction of Serbia border at Dobrun.

If you're then denied/ turned away at Serbia/ Mali Zvornik, it's relatively easy to get back on main Bosnia Rte #18 north toward Croatia border. Although the Rte E762 Serbia border is a "major" crossing, in 2010 that crossing did not even sell the required Serbia insurance, and I had to re-route South to get into Serbia at what was then the only crossing selling the required insurance. Further, at any Serbia border other than major motorway, you may have to wait/ delay for a local insurance agent to be called to come sell you Serbia insurance, before Serbia will allow you to enter. Not a problem if you're just ambling along, but a hassle if you're on any kind of "schedule".

Of course, that was 2010, and conditions change all the time.
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  #2  
Old 17 Jan 2012
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Michael,

Thanks for all your great information above. I decided again for this trip to go with Mototouring (didn't see Doug's offer in time ) and will pick up additional insurance at specific borders as needed along the way. The main reason for doing it this way is that I am not totally convinced that familiarity with the Green Card as an insurance document is universal (by road police especially) ... even if in fact the coverage is valid.

You mentioned that most countries issue a similar-looking green form, even for country-specific coverage. Hopefully that practice will continue to become more widespread. In 2010, the supplemental insurance I bought at the border going into Turkey was issued on something quite different. If the Green Card becomes universally issued, then it will make matters much simpler... just buy the coverage you need for the countries you need.

We can dream at least.
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  #3  
Old 4 Feb 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sam I Am View Post
You mentioned that most countries issue a similar-looking green form, even for country-specific coverage. Hopefully that practice will continue to become more widespread. In 2010, the supplemental insurance I bought at the border going into Turkey was issued on something quite different.
Hi Samuel:

The insurance I bought at the Turkish border in September 2011 was documented on a form that was EXACTLY identical to the 'green card' form that I posted a picture of above - the only difference was that there was only one 'country' listed in the coverage area, and that was Turkey (TR).

I visited Ukraine and Romania about 4 years ago, long before Romania joined the EC, and both the Ukrainian and Romanian border officials were familiar with the 'green card' format of insurance. On that particular trip, I had purchased my coverage from Motorcycle Express, because they provided coverage for both RO and UA.

Michael
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  #4  
Old 14 Feb 2012
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Hello everyone

I've been trying to catch up with the information on this thread.

Can anyone confirm if this is the current situation for a UK-registered bike currently in Spain and needing a green card, sharp-ish, as i've just realised my UK insurer will only cover me for up to 90 days per trip:

  • MotoTouring don't offer policies to EU-registered bikes
  • To use UCI you really have to apply in person, in Italy
  • Stefan Knopf's prices have rocketed but he still offers green cards
  • ..... errrr, that's it.

Thanks in advance and hope you're all smiling.
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  #5  
Old 15 Feb 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike View Post
...Can anyone confirm if this is the current situation for a UK-registered bike currently in Spain and needing a green card... ...Stefan Knopf's prices have rocketed but he still offers green cards...
Mike:

I strongly suspect that the insurance that Knopf sells is exactly the same cover as what MotoTouring and others are selling - in other words, it is insurance cover for motorcycles registered (plated) outside of Europe that are being temporarily operated in Europe.

This whole discussion - all two pages of it - is about obtaining European insurance coverage for motorcycles registered outside of Europe, for example, motorcycles registered in Canada, the USA, Australia, etc. that will be used in Europe for a short period of time. This type of tourist coverage is NOT OFFERED for vehicles that are registered in EC member countries such as the UK.

Your inquiry sounds like a much more straightforward 'domestic insurance inquiry'. It doesn't really fit the context of what is being discussed here. I suggest you contact your existing UK insurance underwriter. It is probable that they will extend your coverage outside of the UK (but within the EC) beyond 90 days if you pay them more money. In the unlikely event that they will not, I am sure that there are many UK based underwriters who routinely offer insurance cover valid for more than 90 days touring in the EC for UK registered motorcycles.

Michael
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  #6  
Old 16 Feb 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PanEuropean View Post
Mike:

I strongly suspect that the insurance that Knopf sells is exactly the same cover as what MotoTouring and others are selling - in other words, it is insurance cover for motorcycles registered (plated) outside of Europe that are being temporarily operated in Europe.

This whole discussion - all two pages of it - is about obtaining European insurance coverage for motorcycles registered outside of Europe, for example, motorcycles registered in Canada, the USA, Australia, etc. that will be used in Europe for a short period of time. This type of tourist coverage is NOT OFFERED for vehicles that are registered in EC member countries such as the UK.

Your inquiry sounds like a much more straightforward 'domestic insurance inquiry'. It doesn't really fit the context of what is being discussed here. I suggest you contact your existing UK insurance underwriter. It is probable that they will extend your coverage outside of the UK (but within the EC) beyond 90 days if you pay them more money. In the unlikely event that they will not, I am sure that there are many UK based underwriters who routinely offer insurance cover valid for more than 90 days touring in the EC for UK registered motorcycles.

Michael
Mike:
+1 to Michael's comment above. (Not to restate the obvious; just to verify
that Michael's comment is more than just his opinion.)

If your bike is registered in the UK, you need to contact/ discuss your insurance cover options outside the UK with your current UK broker/ underwriter, or with other UK brokers.
Knopf (ADAC/ Arisa), MotoTouring (UTI), and similar sources discussed in this thread, are available only to non-EU, non-UK rego'd vehicles.
Good luck.
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  #7  
Old 20 Feb 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CourtFisher View Post
Mike:
+1 to Michael's comment above. (Not to restate the obvious; just to verify
that Michael's comment is more than just his opinion.)

If your bike is registered in the UK, you need to contact/ discuss your insurance cover options outside the UK with your current UK broker/ underwriter, or with other UK brokers.
Knopf (ADAC/ Arisa), MotoTouring (UTI), and similar sources discussed in this thread, are available only to non-EU, non-UK rego'd vehicles.
Good luck.
PanEuropean, CourtFisher,

Thanks for your replies.

This issue came up because my UK insurance company won't cover me for a trip outside the UK lasting more than 90 days. I'm in Spain and no insurance company here will offer me full or green card cover either.

Having used Knopf in the past (2 1/2 years' worth of green card cover) I went back and checked. Stefan confirmed that the green card issued by ADAC/ Arisa via Knopf does provide cover for a UK-plated and registered bike.

I might not like the attitude of my UK insurer. I might not like the 150% price hike at Knopf in the last three years. But it appears to offer me the necessary cover that I can't get anywhere else.

I hope this clears matters up for anyone else in the same position. (Or, if you have a UK insurer offering a better deal, please let us all know.)

@warrigal 1
Not sure I can help. Without looking back through the thread: where is you bike registered? Are you in the UK at the moment?
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  #8  
Old 17 Jan 2012
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I had already put Mali Zvornik in as crossing point heading towards Novi Sad after Mostar / Sarajevo so will go with your route advice.

Have almost booked a ferry from Bari to Dubrovnik - no reefs on that route.

This is a great site by the way !

Paul.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CourtFisher View Post
That's true..."in general" you could re-route back from Bosnia-Serbia border crossing, to head north thru Bosnia across Croatia into Hungary/ Budapest.

From Dubrovnik, I assume you will want to ride via Mostar & Sarajevo.
In that case, if you still want to "try" Serbia border crossing, I suggest you use Bosnia Rte #M19 north from Sarajevo in direction of Serbia border at Mali Zvornik, rather than Bosnia Rte E762 east from Sarajevo in direction of Serbia border at Dobrun.

If you're then denied/ turned away at Serbia/ Mali Zvornik, it's relatively easy to get back on main Bosnia Rte #18 north toward Croatia border. Although the Rte E762 Serbia border is a "major" crossing, in 2010 that crossing did not even sell the required Serbia insurance, and I had to re-route South to get into Serbia at what was then the only crossing selling the required insurance. Further, at any Serbia border other than major motorway, you may have to wait/ delay for a local insurance agent to be called to come sell you Serbia insurance, before Serbia will allow you to enter. Not a problem if you're just ambling along, but a hassle if you're on any kind of "schedule".

Of course, that was 2010, and conditions change all the time.
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  #9  
Old 24 Jan 2012
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last time I was in Macedonia, it was 50 euros for 2 weeks.
albania was about 25 a month.
serbia is always a gamble, sometimes going in the smaller checkpoints, they either dont ask to see insurance, or if they do, when I hand em my green card. sometimes they dont notice that SRB is X'd out, sometimes they do.
At the big main crossings, they always check, & hold your passport until you come back & show them you bought it. I think they get a kickback.
Oh, and you will save money by first going to the bank & exchanging for Serb Dinars, and paying for the insurance with them, as the insurance guy will give you a crappy exchange rate.

Sam, you gonna come visit us in Bulgaria again this year? We'll be having another travellers meeting, hope you can make it!

Doug
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  #10  
Old 24 Jan 2012
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Hi Doug...

Probably won't make it that far south this year, but if the timing is right, well distances are not all that great... Would love to attend. Of my 6 or so HU meetings, the Bulgarian meeting was my favorite by far! Highly recommended to all who can make it.

I'm sorry I didn't see your post before I bought my Green Card insurance, but I will keep you guys in mind for the next time.

Hi to Poly.
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LinkBack to this Thread: https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/trip-paperwork/here-where-you-get-cheap-34822
Posted By For Type Date
Here is where you get the cheap european green card insurance - Page 6 - The HUBB This thread Refback 12 May 2010 11:38
getting insurance for riding 'round Europe? - ADVrider This thread Refback 29 May 2009 13:56
Australians done europe?? BIKE INSURANCE!?? - ADVrider This thread Refback 21 May 2009 07:59
Australians done europe?? BIKE INSURANCE!?? - ADVrider This thread Refback 20 May 2009 22:24
Greencard & export from Dubai advice needed - ADVrider This thread Refback 13 May 2009 14:30
Greencard & export from Dubai advice needed - ADVrider This thread Refback 3 Apr 2009 10:44
Registering an Oz bike in UK? - The HUBB This thread Refback 23 Sep 2008 15:30
European car insurance - The HUBB This thread Refback 22 Jul 2008 08:10
Insurance re-entering Europe - The HUBB This thread Refback 2 Jul 2008 09:50

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