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Trip Paperwork Covers all documentation, carnets, customs and country requirements, how to deal with insurance etc.
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  #1  
Old 23 Aug 2014
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Returning to EU on British-Registered Bike
Hi All

I've been reading around the forum, but haven't seen the answer (if it's there, please post link).

We are returning to the EU with British bikes. Our UK insurance has long run out, and so has the MOT.

Now we are returning to the EU, we need Greencard insurance. From what I understand, UK insurance legally extends to the EU and acts as the minimum 3rd party liability Greencard insurance. So, can I get UK insurance without MOT, or does that invalidate it (even if I do not ride on UK roads, where MOT is a legal requirement)?

Or could I simply get normal Greencard Insurance, like others do?
We will be entering Bulgaria by ferry into Varna. Can I buy at the border there?

Thanks guys!
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Old 23 Aug 2014
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I would expect your UK insurance to be invalid if the bike is not taxed and mot'd so perhaps the green card bought elsewhere might be better. Depending on how far you have to go upon your arrival back in the UK you could insure it anyway, book an mot at the nearest place to the port of arrival then tax it on-line or at the nearest post office. You can then legally ride it home.
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Old 23 Aug 2014
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I have to say that getting insurance in France seems much less complicated than the UK these days. I went into my local office (France) to ask how can I insure a bike that is in the UK and UK registered so I can ride it back to France. Ten minutes later I had four months insurance on it. and the good bit. If I don't buy the bike after the test ride the insurance will be annulled and I get all my money back.. all 32 Euros

Then again, for the moment at least France is ideal motorcycle country. NO MOT's, NO road tax. just insurance .
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Old 24 Aug 2014
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This IMHO comes down to a choice of paper or actual cover. UK insurers are bad losers. They will do anything to avoid paying out.

If you have a UK address, access to e_mail and a UK credit card just go online and buy. You then have third party cover. Book an MOT and you jump through another hoop. What you cannot do is start from the UK which gives them even more room to take your money and tell you to *****off.

The green card bought at the border will at least be clear on what it covers.

Specialist brokers do UK cover if you are say buying in another country, but you'll need deep pockets and patience. My old boss spent three weeks making calls in the UK for little progress. The car dealer in Germany sorted it in minutes.

If only the EU would let us buy insurance across borders like we do cabbages!

Andy
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Old 26 Aug 2014
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Ok, the guys at Motocamp Bulgaria said to just buy insurance at the border. So I'm just going to assume thats how its done.

There must be lots of riders who return to the EU from a very long trip, and since then their UK (or other EU country) insurance has run out. I wonder, do they just buy greencard insurance at the border as they come back into the EU?
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