Insure bike itself for theft and damages, Central and South America
 

Hello! With just days left on my trip i came to the realization that i want to insure the motorcycle itself in case of theft/damages. This has proved harder than expected. I know i'll buy liability insurance at the borders in each country. But not all will include theft and damages to my bike.
I'm trying to insure the bike as a personal effect/property, even going as far as seeing if i can insure it as a watch (it does have a watch on it after all bier )
Anyone having any luck with this? Any ideas?
Travelers who has been in Central America, did you have any theft/damage insurance on your bike?
It's a US/California registered bike (V-Strom 650 2018).
My travel insurance covers all medical and other things, but not a motor vehicle.

I've never talked to anyone who's had comprehensive insurance in Latin America. From time to time someone comes on here and asks, just as you're doing, but i don't remember anyone coming back afterwards and saying yes, they had it--much less that they collected on it following theft or damage.

if you succeed in purchasing such insurance, come back and let everyone know. If you actually collect on your policy at some point, post here and you'll be famous.

As for personal experience, I've never had, nor looked for, comprehensive insurance outside the US and Canada--this includes riding in ~60 countries on various continents. So far I've probably saved enough money to buy several VStroms....but I haven't had to, because nothing applicable ever happens.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark

Self-Insure
 

Self Insurance is 99% likely where you'll find coverage.


After six rides around the world, three of which included South America and one Central America, and numerous Mexico journeys, the one lesson I've learned and write about in my book MOTORCYCLE TOURING: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW (not pimping a sale here) is never take a motorcycle into a third world country (and I'd add today anywhere outside the USA) that you can't afford to lose to fire, theft, confiscation, damage....


I've never found a common insurance company to insure my motorcycles for what you are hunting. That said, with big $s you might be able to do custom coverage, but at an expense closer to the value of the motorcycle.


Trying to cover it as "personal effect/property" will simply give an insurer a reason to not pay when/if you file a claim. There a plenty of those stories on HU, the "not pay" tales...so not a recommended way to try and slip it between the lines of the application....you'll pay for coverage, maybe sleep better, but it's a Fool's Sleep - I've been there, slept well, but foolishly spent $'s for the sleep. Swill would have been cheaper.


I'm also a very small owner of a mega insurance company where I see other owners and management smile when annual management bonus checks and owner dividends are paid out. They frown when claims are paid....that's the ugly truth of the underbelly of the insurance industry.


I'm just the messenger here, so "Please don't shoot me!" keepcalm



"Dr.G" Chief of the World Adventure Affairs Desk, CITY BIKE Magazine, researching adventurous affairs
Sole Sensual Survivor: www.greataroundtheworldmotorcycleadventurerally.co m