Buying a Bike in UK and travelling Europe

[Piran]

I am Indian National and plan to fly down to UK with my wife, buy a second hand bike and ride for over a month touring Europe. From what little i have read on several forums my biggest challenge is getting the vehicle insured for use in UK and Europe.

Need advice on all aspects of purchasing the bike and most important how I can have the bike insured in UK and EU. I can make an address in UK available but don't know any one who is a motorcycle rider.

Any suggestions would be most welcome as D day draws closer and am clueless.

[g6snl]

I am not connected in any way with these guys and have not used them ( don't need to) but may be worth a look?

Motofeirme | Ride your bike, in Europe!

[jordan325ic]

I am a US citizen who bought a UK registered motorcycle. I had the same problem. Don't bother contacting UK companies, they will not insure non-residents.

I insured my bike using rtwdoug's recommendation in this thread:
heres how to get a Europe Green card (insurance) - ADVrider

They cover the bike for EU, including (importantly) the UK. In 2014 it was 140 euro for 3 months.

You will need all bike documents showing the bike in your name to get this insurance.

[chris]

Originally Posted by g6snl

I am not connected in any way with these guys and have not used them ( don't need to) but may be worth a look?

Motofeirme | Ride your bike, in Europe!

Originally Posted by jordan325ic

I am a US citizen who bought a UK registered motorcycle. I had the same problem. Don't bother contacting UK companies, they will not insure non-residents.

I insured my bike using rtwdoug's recommendation in this thread:
heres how to get a Europe Green card (insurance) - ADVrider

They cover the bike for EU, including (importantly) the UK. In 2014 it was 140 euro for 3 months.

You will need all bike documents showing the bike in your name to get this insurance.

Martin at Motofeirme (Based in the Republic of Ireland) is a top bloke with an excellent reputation. He uses rtwdoug to get his bike insurances for his customers.

[Piran]

Thanks will check out the leads.

[Piran]

Originally Posted by jordan325ic

I am a US citizen who bought a UK registered motorcycle. I had the same problem. Don't bother contacting UK companies, they will not insure non-residents.

I insured my bike using rtwdoug's recommendation in this thread:
heres how to get a Europe Green card (insurance) - ADVrider

They cover the bike for EU, including (importantly) the UK. In 2014 it was 140 euro for 3 months.

You will need all bike documents showing the bike in your name to get this insurance.

I got in touch with them. They informed me that they can indeed insure a non EU motorcycle for me and the insurance would be valid.

What I am confused about is :- Is a motorcycle registered in UK considered as non EU and will the green card insurance be sufficient for me to legally ride the motorcycle in UK.

Thanks in advance for your advice.

[Kayjay]

Uk is included in Green Card insurance. Its not considered non EU

[Kayjay]

Best would be to hire one why buy it for a month.

[Kayjay]

Piran am from Gujarat

[jordan325ic]

Originally Posted by Piran

I got in touch with them. They informed me that they can indeed insure a non EU motorcycle for me and the insurance would be valid.

What I am confused about is :- Is a motorcycle registered in UK considered as non EU and will the green card insurance be sufficient for me to legally ride the motorcycle in UK.

Thanks in advance for your advice.

The UK is part of the EU, maybe they didn't understand your question?

Anyway, green-card insurance is just the standard insurance card used all over Europe, the insurance card itself will indicate which countries the insurance is valid for.

For example, Bosnia was not listed under the countries the insurance worked in, so when I got the Bosnian border I had to purchase insurance for that country.

Normally green-card insurance covers the entire EU (and a few Eastern countries). However, when I was looking many insurance companies would cover me for every country EXCEPT the country the bike was registered in, meaning after purchase I would have to tow the bike to the border to be legal.

Not sure exactly why that was, but that was NOT the case with the Bulgarian company I listed. In May 2014 I was able to insure my used, UK-registered motorcycle with cheap green-card insurance that included the UK as well as the rest of the UK.

[Piran]

Got a reply back from them. They too cant insure a UK registered bike. This is meant only for Vehicles not registered anywhere in the EU. So would work if i want to transport my bike from India.

[Piran]

Originally Posted by Kayjay

Piran am from Gujarat

Kayjay. Great to know. I travel to Gujarat at least once or twice a month. We should meet up. As regards renting. Though my current trip is planned for just over a month I plan to keep the bike and use it again for further trips.

So far have not managed to find a rental which can compare with the purchase and sale option. Of course subject to insurance.

[Kayjay]

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