Motorcycle Insurance in Europe

[DaveMurphyEng]

Evening all.

I'm planning on riding my motorbike from Saudi Arabia back to the UK - my home country - later this year. I've read through various sections of the forum about insurance but most threads relate to personal insurance rather than motorbike insurance.

Now I'm happy to ride home with the risk that if something happens to my bike, it happens and I won't be covered, but what do I do, especially in Europe, about 3rd party liability? Surely throughout Europe it's a legal requirement to have a minimum level of insurance (like it is in the UK).

I'm a British passport holder and the bike will be on Saudi plates - will I need to get international insurance cover for the bike from Saudi or are there any UK/European companies that could provide a policy? It's a Ducati Scrambler, so not an uncommon model.

Cheers in advance.

[andyredz]

It may be worth contacting a UK bike insurer, eg Bennett's or MCE, and talk to them. You will need minimum third party in Europe, but some other countries you can buy an insurance note at or near the border. You would need to do a search on here to get country specific info.

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[Pongo]

Insurance for Europe must be made in advance, ( you can't buy it at the border), and it won't be easy to get a European Insurer to cover a non European registered bike. As always it's better to get an Insurer where the bike is registered to Insure it for International travel. Having said that, there is a German company that will insure overseas registered bikes ( forget the name but someone here will know it- I think it's Tourinsure GMBH). Quite expensive, but could be what you're looking for.

[dooby]

Uhm have to disagree, or should I say info provided in your post is not true.

So for the sake of providing useful info, green card/border insurance or third party liability can be obtained in advance (my company is providing the service in advance among others too), and we always advise to do the paperwork in advance and have the original in your hand when arriving to the border.

It's doable for the European insurance company to insure motorcycle that is holding non EU plates, or should I say that should not be a huge of a problem (third party liability that is).

Very soon we're going to provide purchase of other green cards needed to travel along the Balkans in advance, including Turkey, so process at the border will be easier and streamlined.

Dave let me know if you have any more questions.

Cheers
Dooby

[caferacer]

I too am looking for European motorcycle insurance for a foreign owned bike (canada) and I tried calling Lobagola and the phone number is no longer in service. I agree tour insurance out of Germany IS EXPENSIVE 500 euros for 2 months 3rd party and comprehensive but it all I’ve found, any other options available???

[AnTyx]

Comprehensive? That sounds about right.

Comprehensive (KASKO) insurance for motorcycles is expensive to begin with. Short-term comprehensive insurance, where you have a high potential of making a claim (a holiday with constant riding) and the risk is not spread over a year's worth of payments, will be doubly expensive. Your risk is not amortized over your long relationship with the insurer across multiple vehicles, either.

Look at what small-deductible insurance is like for motorcycle rentals. Tens of euros per day.

[dooby]

Originally Posted by caferacer

I too am looking for European motorcycle insurance for a foreign owned bike (canada) and I tried calling Lobagola and the phone number is no longer in service. I agree tour insurance out of Germany IS EXPENSIVE 500 euros for 2 months 3rd party and comprehensive but it all I’ve found, any other options available???

Hi caferacer,

Uhm as far as I know we’re operating and just this morning we had clients from New Zealand leaving the premises in their Toyota’s heading to Iran with our green card insurance and other support provided.

You can call us on following numbers if you need to discuss directly/live:

+385 1 5801 990
+385 1 4311 070

email: borderinsurance@lobagola.com
mototours@lobagola.com

Cheers
dooby

[PrinceHarley]

Originally Posted by andyredz

It may be worth contacting a UK bike insurer, eg Bennett's or MCE, and talk to them. You will need minimum third party in Europe, but some other countries you can buy an insurance note at or near the border. You would need to do a search on here to get country specific info.

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July 2019, I have been in contact with Bennetts, with whom I have insured in the UK in the past.
My question to them was that I am bringing an Aussie registered bike to the UK and will be putting it on a UK registration when I arrive, so will they insure me on the VIN while I sort the rego out.
The Bennetts drone tells me they will only insure on a UK registration number.
I point out that to GET a UK registration number you have to have insurance.
Drone repeats the same message.

So I really wouldn't bother asking Bennetts any questions that are too difficult.

[mark manley]

Originally Posted by PrinceHarley

July 2019, I have been in contact with Bennetts, with whom I have insured in the UK in the past.
My question to them was that I am bringing an Aussie registered bike to the UK and will be putting it on a UK registration when I arrive, so will they insure me on the VIN while I sort the rego out.
The Bennetts drone tells me they will only insure on a UK registration number.
I point out that to GET a UK registration number you have to have insurance.
Drone repeats the same message.

So I really wouldn't bother asking Bennetts any questions that are too difficult.

Funny that they should say that as they insured my imported Honda 125 on the VIN number while I got it registered, that was about 4 years ago, try Carole Nash.

[PrinceHarley]

Originally Posted by mark manley

Funny that they should say that as they insured my imported Honda 125 on the VIN number while I got it registered, that was about 4 years ago, try Carole Nash.

Thanks Mark. I do currently have a live enquiry with Nash. We shall see. There's always ADAC for short term insurance too, I believe.

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[oldwildworld]

I know that for italy a tour company offer an online service for greencard insurance
Mototouring - GreenCard insurance for non european vehicles.
It looks like you can get a quote right in the website and get the actual greencard via mail, hope it helps, I know the pain when you can't get a insurance easily at the border!

[PrinceHarley]

Originally Posted by oldwildworld

I know that for italy a tour company offer an online service for greencard insurance

Mototouring - GreenCard insurance for non european vehicles.

It looks like you can get a quote right in the website and get the actual greencard via mail, hope it helps, I know the pain when you can't get a insurance easily at the border!

Sounds interesting. Thanks.


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