Insurance for West Africa
 

Does anyone know a company who will insure vehicles in West Africa? I don't actually have a bike but Overland Cruisers suggested I ask this forum as i have depleted all other avenues I can think of trying to find out how to insure our Toyota whilst travelling West Africa.....
It is a South African registered 4x4.

Hi Claudia. I've come at this topic from the other end (Europe rather than SA!) and in general terms it is possible to get some Euro insurers to extend your normal cover to include Morocco (if you're lucky) but no further.

For other WA countries you are supposed to buy vehicle insurance from a local company as soon as you enter each one. That's a lot of policies and there are some references in other posts here about being able to buy policies covering a number of WA countries. Have a search through the archives here. There's lots of info on the topic.

Hi Claudia!

You can get the insurance for Maroc on the border...not cheap!

Most of the other West African countries (french speaking!) are covered with the Card brune.
If you need insurance there will be a way to buy that at/near the border!

Have fun traveling!!


Werner

Insurance for West Africa
 

Try this company, we had no trouble with our motorbikes, they cover every state in Africa. www.alessie.com/

Hi Claudia, you get an insurance policy that covers several West African countries, ECOWAS. Economic Community of West African States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It is cheap, can’t remember how much, maybe 30EUR for 2months. Should be able to pick one up as soon as you enter the first city through the ECOWAS countries without problems.

Mine ran out so I modified my old international insurance certificate for Morocco with new set of dates and it only said “International Insurance” at the top, then printed it out and made it look dirty and used. Never had insurance since. I showed it a couple of times to the police who accepted it rather than having the hassle questioning it at length and used photocopies of it when applying for all my visas without any problems but I was a lowly biker and we get picked on less.

Reckon you would never get success trying to claim on the ECOWAS insurance for your own vehicle (except for major problems) and for me on a bike the chances is less of anything major happening that I could sort myself. It’s your own call…but don’t sweat too much about it, you can get insurance on route.
Duck

Insurance for West Africa
 

Hi

Remember a valid insurance serves a purpose. It is not just so you can avoid getting a ticket or hassle by the police.
I see too many people just focused on the police when talking about insurance.
Buy the insurance and should the accident accure, you have done your part to cover your damages.
I saw a guy get mobbed in Congo after hitting a girl with his scooter, it is not a nice sight. Imagine a foreigner without or with a fake insurance, you think the police will help you or your embassy will...?
After that episode I am not riding without insurance...

Buy your insurance like you do back home and respect the laws, it comes cheap in most countries...

There is an insurance office in Nouadhibou, Mauritania about 12 Euros per. month for all the Ecowas countries (motorcycle). They also sell it at the border, but the price is a bit more steap.
If you get stopped on your way into Nouadhibou, tell the officer you going to pick up the insurance, they are usually very nice and understanding.

Africa and its people are great ;oP

Cheers

Mick
ATWJ - mhoey.eu

Is there a contact email address for alessie.com insurers? they don't have it on there web site.

on the site it is alessie@alessie.com