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Do I need European 3rd party insurance in Africa? Do I need European 3rd party insurance in Africa?
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Trip Paperwork Covers all documentation, carnets, customs and country requirements, how to deal with insurance etc.
Photo by Alessio Corradini, on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, of two locals

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Alessio Corradini,
on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia,
of two locals



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  #1  
Old 16 Mar 2008
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Do I need European 3rd party insurance in Africa?
Hi,
I collected my US registered bike in Germany and I'm now on the French Spanish border, heading to Morocco and down to Namibia. I decided not to get a Carnet but rather purchase insurance and borders. I've been reading that people take out 3rd party insurance in Europe before the leave. I have a green card from Germany for 1 months and I'm anxious to know if I should extend it for my whole trip. It will be a bit complicated since I'm sooo far. Is there a reason for me to have it or will I be fine with the insurance at borders.
Thanks,
Assaf
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  #2  
Old 16 Mar 2008
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Insurance
Hi assafdv,

I guess you are talking about insurance for your bike. Have a look on your green card, if there ist "mk", I guess, printed on it, then you can go also trough Moroocco. If not, ask your insurance company to send you a new green card where it is printed, it is usually for free, but you have to ask.

Don't extend for your entire trip. After Morocco you have to buy anyway insurance at the border, because the European green card is not valid there (there means everything South of Morocco/Western Sahara).

Have a nice trip and enjoy Africa.

Lalli
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  #3  
Old 16 Mar 2008
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er...this sounds risky
Quote:
Originally Posted by assafdv View Post
Hi,
I collected my US registered bike in Germany and I'm now on the French Spanish border, heading to Morocco and down to Namibia. I decided not to get a Carnet but rather purchase insurance and borders. I've been reading that people take out 3rd party insurance in Europe before the leave. I have a green card from Germany for 1 months and I'm anxious to know if I should extend it for my whole trip. It will be a bit complicated since I'm sooo far. Is there a reason for me to have it or will I be fine with the insurance at borders.
Thanks,
Assaf
Two points, a) Carnets aren't about insurance they are about DUTY and b) In most cases you will need local insurance. The lack of the former will seriously effect your ability to get your bike across borders and the later is just a silly police tax that you will never be able to claim on should you have an accident but you will invariably need to have.

Euro insurance works in Morocco (even without a greencard - they just don't seem to care) and once you get to Senegal you can get a Carte Grise which will get you most of the way to the Congo (if you get the right one). Euro insurance will not be valid anywhere else on the west coast route. The only people who will object to a lack of insurance are the police you always meet about 200yrds over the border into that country who then feel they have the right to all your money!

Seriously though, a carnet is a must on the west coast route. Talk to more people on this site before setting off!
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  #4  
Old 17 Mar 2008
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Thank you very much for the wonderful information. Now I understand the insurance part much better.

As for the Carnet, I've read all I can on the Hub and thought that it was narrowed down to ZA, Kenya and Egypt as carnet must haves. Is this not the case? I intend on skipping these countries. Bringing my motorcycle back home is a long way and an expensive process and I would like to have the option (just an option) of transferring it over to someone else (us citizen) as I'm not sure that I'll be going back for a long while.
Thanks again,
Assaf
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  #5  
Old 17 Mar 2008
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Exerpt from my carnet application form:

Countries in Which the Carnet de Passages en Douane (CPD)
is Required (1)

Africa
(2)

Benin, Bophuthatswana, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroun, Central African
Republic, Chad, Ciskei, Comoros, Congo, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau,
Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Libya, Malawi, Mauritania, Namibia, Niger, Senegal,
Somalia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zimbabwe.

I hope this helps you

Kenny

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Old 17 Mar 2008
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Oops!!!


Sorry- I forgot the footnote
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Old 17 Mar 2008
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(2). In certain African countries, the CPD is not officially required, but is often used to
facilitate temporary importation
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  #8  
Old 17 Mar 2008
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I've read several past posts regarding the Carnet issue and understood that it is very helpful, but in most countries you can get by by paying the "deposit". I know that it's more of a hassle. Have things changed?
My situation is that I don't know where I'll end up and really don't want to be stuck with a bike I have to return to the US.
BTW, it's a 640 ADV and I'm loving it so far (Germany, France, Spain).
A
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  #9  
Old 23 Mar 2008
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Doesn't really matter whether you have a carnet or not - you'll still be stuck with a bike you need to get out of the country. It's true that most countries other than Senegal do not require you to use a carnet though it is much simpler if you do (and therefore well worth it). If you don't use a carnet, your bike details will be written into your passport and you'll be required to pay the same punitive import duties if you leave the country without it.

If you're not a national of the country you're importing to, you'll have to pay big duty. The carnet is just a really convenient way of promising that you're not going to import...

Things can be got round though - in rather different circumstances a resourceful american chap donated his (knackered, non-runner) bike to the Cameroonian customs officers in exchange for them stamping it out of the country in his carnet. Genius...

HTH
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