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Insurance cover in the Balkans Insurance cover in the Balkans
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It's going to be a long 300km...
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  #1  
Old 16 Aug 2021
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Question Insurance cover in the Balkans
I am UK based and planning a trip to Greece and am having trouble getting insurance cover for non-EU coun tries like Albania, Bosnia, Montenegro and North Macedonia? My current insurance wont offer cover for these countries Any advice
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Old 16 Aug 2021
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See this post - it's from 7 years ago, but the content is still valid, although prices may have changed.

Balkans Insurance - Here's the story, with details & sample documents.

Basically, you buy insurance on a "per country" basis when you cross the border into each country. This may require you to plan your border crossings to take place during the daytime at major crossing points - not in the middle of the night on back country roads.

It's a straightforward and trouble-free process at each border crossing. Bring small Euro notes (or local currency) with you, the insurance vendors "never have change", if you get my drift.

Michael
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  #3  
Old 16 Aug 2021
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I live in the EU and the Balkans are included in my green card insurance. So you might be able to use the same insurance you need for France etc in the Balkans.

(this is for IF insurance)
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Old 16 Aug 2021
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You'll need to do some homework in advance to be sure that your preferred crossing points do sell insurance. For instance, the main crossing between Croatia and Bosnia, the Neum Corridor, has no insurance sales.
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Old 16 Aug 2021
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Same as it ever was: some green cards include certain Balkan states, some don't. Same with Morocco. Many include some, but not all.

I assume the OP has shopped difference available insurance policies, and I assume further that specifics are in a state of flux post-Brexit. Regardless, the underlying issue remains the same--read the fine print (or at least the list of included countries on your green card), and respond appropriately.

Same also on border crossings--some sell insurance, some require a trip into town for your purchase, and some don't care, at least at times. It's not a given, and a bit of advance inquiry and/or research will pay off sooner or later if you're venturing off the well-trodden path.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark
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Old 18 Aug 2021
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Originally Posted by markharf View Post
Same as it ever was: some green cards include certain Balkan states, some don't. Same with Morocco. Many include some, but not all.
Past postings here in the forum suggest that UK insurers rarely offer coverage for non-EC countries - in fact, they often only provide insurance cover for the UK on their "basic" policies, and charge extra to extend coverage to include Continental Europe.

Insurers within Continental Europe tend to be more aware that their customers visit the Balkans and/or Morocco, and for that reason it is often possible to obtain extended coverage for those areas.

Keep in mind that in order to offer coverage in any country, the insurer has to be licenced to operate in that country. It's probable that the demand for Balkans/Morocco coverage from UK-based clients is so low that the UK insurance companies have decided that it is not worth the cost or trouble to obtain the licenses needed to offer coverage in those countries.

Michael
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Old 18 Aug 2021
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Calling Dooby- looks like you're needed!
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Old 20 Aug 2021
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PanEuropean View Post
Past postings here in the forum suggest that UK insurers rarely offer coverage for non-EC countries - in fact, they often only provide insurance cover for the UK on their "basic" policies, and charge extra to extend coverage to include Continental Europe.

Insurers within Continental Europe tend to be more aware that their customers visit the Balkans and/or Morocco, and for that reason it is often possible to obtain extended coverage for those areas.

Keep in mind that in order to offer coverage in any country, the insurer has to be licenced to operate in that country. It's probable that the demand for Balkans/Morocco coverage from UK-based clients is so low that the UK insurance companies have decided that it is not worth the cost or trouble to obtain the licenses needed to offer coverage in those countries.

Michael
Reason why this is happening for UK residents is that their own insurance pool is shrinking and is extorting money from the locals in very awful way.
So basically anything that goes outside of the regular needs will
be rejected as they have no interest.
UK has a very unique market same as in Ireland, very rude behavior towards clients, not to mention what is happening to tour operators and how they’re treated badly and for no reason really.

Brexit as well is causing more headache, but since 2nd of August green cars system has been recognized between EU and UK and that part at least is back where it was before.

BR
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Old 20 Aug 2021
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Originally Posted by Richardl View Post
I am UK based and planning a trip to Greece and am having trouble getting insurance cover for non-EU coun tries like Albania, Bosnia, Montenegro and North Macedonia? My current insurance wont offer cover for these countries Any advice
We can provide third party liability coverage for mentioned countries on separate base or as a part of EU coverage + mentioned countries.

We are registered insurance broker in Europe and also in UK as well.

You can pm me for details or email us:

insurance@lobagola-mototours.com

BR
Dooby
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Old 20 Aug 2021
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Calling Dooby- looks like you're needed!
Thanks for the heads up, much appreciated
BR
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