New Green Card source
 

Rather than tag this on the end of one of the threads regarding green cards for Europe, I thought I'd start with a clean post... I've spent several weeks searching the Internet looking for reasonable insurance for my US-registered motorcycle while I'm in Europe. Upon stumbling on this site, I found confirmation of what I had learned.

Latest update is that the ADAC (German AAA) is still the best source for insurance while traveling in Europe, but they have recently changed their policy and you have to go in person to pick it up. This can be a problem. Besides the aforementioned, Knopf tours, found elsewhere on this list, I found Red Baron tours, which has even slightly better prices.

They offer $360/yr, which is $30/month, by my calculation. This is ever so slightly less than the $35/month offered by Knopf, and is the best deal I have been able to find. They can mail you the insurance papers in the US, before you start your trip.

I have no vested interest in this company, etc etc. For more information, write to redbarontours@t-online.de. I'll see how it goes...

Stefan (Knopf tours) goes and buys the green card from ADAC. Perhaps he lives across the street.

I was very happy with how quickly he did it for me, so for an extra 5$ a month, I'd give him a hearty recommendation.

I think that the two groups do basically the same thing, so it comes down to service and price.

As an update, GEICO gave me a MUCH better deal than either of the above. With proof of no claims in the past 5 years, it'll cost me a whole $167/year for liability while I'm in Europe. GEICO has an overseas division that insures both cars and motorcycles, and depending on the model and year, they may offer full protection (ie collision), something ADAC didn't offer. In my case, with my 21-year old faithful sidekick I didn't want collision, but I remember that someone was looking for it...

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Anyone interested in driving ANYTHING in Germany nowadays should at least think about the full cover thing, as law just changed and you could be made at least partly guilty for any accident with you, just because you were driving a vehicle.
This is meant for pedestrians, cyclists and anyone who is less powerfull or fast or protected - like kids.
So if you drive a car/motorbike/bycicle you can be responsible for a child that runs straight into your car (or whatever) just because you're sitting in something stronger/safer and you could've done nothing at all - and pay for it!

Not good, if you're the driver, but not as bad when you're the one overridden.

[This message has been edited by onlycookie (edited 28 October 2002).]

hey there, just thought I would add some info. I've also just done some research on the green card and other types of insurance. Stefan at Knopf Tours was extremely helpful and friendly and went out of his way to call me to explain some particular concerns I had that were difficult to reply to on e mail. I am planning a year long trip in June 2003 and I will probably be booking through Stefan. He has a good web site at knopftours.com and he replies to emails very quickly. Great service and I got his name from the Insurance section of Horizons