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Europe Topics specific to Western and Eastern Europe, from UK to the Russian border, and south-east to Turkey.
Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



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  #1  
Old 28 Oct 2011
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Originally Posted by BruceP View Post
Ask yourself how pissed off you would be if an uninsured driver/rider crashed into you.

In Europe (the EU bit) you will not see any border crossing, apart from entering the UK. But it is *very* likely that you will be stopped by the police and asked for it at any time. And they get upset when people don't have it.
I agree that having insurance is a good thing, but I would disagree with your point about being stopped by the police. I had insurance when I drove a Land Cruiser on Australian plates from Italy to the UK and around the UK a bit but I was never once stopped. I didn't even have to show any documents other than my passport when I entered the UK which surprised me.
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Old 28 Oct 2011
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Originally Posted by misterpaul View Post
I agree that having insurance is a good thing, but I would disagree with your point about being stopped by the police. I had insurance when I drove a Land Cruiser on Australian plates from Italy to the UK and around the UK a bit but I was never once stopped. I didn't even have to show any documents other than my passport when I entered the UK which surprised me.
You don't have to be stopped these days..

There are cameras that read your plates automatically and a cop car can run your registration just by sitting behind you in traffic que.

Have insurance in Europe.. It's a world of pain if you get caught without it. You can't fake/bribe your way out of anything in Western Europe.
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Old 28 Oct 2011
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Originally Posted by *Touring Ted* View Post
You don't have to be stopped these days..

There are cameras that read your plates automatically and a cop car can run your registration just by sitting behind you in traffic que.

Have insurance in Europe.. It's a world of pain if you get caught without it. You can't fake/bribe your way out of anything in Western Europe.
Number plate recognition doesn't work for non EU registered vehicles. I don't know if it's been changed since I lived there but the congestion charge cameras in London didn't even work for non UK registered vehicles.

Also for things like speeding you can't get penalty points on non EU licences.

Personally though I would have insurance in Europe, it's not worth the risk of being caught without.
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Old 29 Oct 2011
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Originally Posted by misterpaul View Post
I agree that having insurance is a good thing, but I would disagree with your point about being stopped by the police. I had insurance when I drove a Land Cruiser on Australian plates from Italy to the UK and around the UK a bit but I was never once stopped. I didn't even have to show any documents other than my passport when I entered the UK which surprised me.
In the UK they actually need a reason to stop you, from experience I have been stopped at road side checks in France, Spain and Germany. They always asked to see vehicle and insurance docs.

I've ridden around the states twice, but only stopped once. And all docs were needed.

It only takes 1 stop.
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Old 29 Oct 2011
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Originally Posted by BruceP View Post
In the UK they actually need a reason to stop you, from experience I have been stopped at road side checks in France, Spain and Germany. They always asked to see vehicle and insurance docs.

I've ridden around the states twice, but only stopped once. And all docs were needed.

It only takes 1 stop.
But that reason could be anything from checking your tax disc, a popped tail light or a "Vehicle matching this description was reported in a crime"..

I've been stopped LOADS of times in the U.K. No reason given. Coming up to Christmas, there is usually plenty of drink driving checks etc.

The U.K especially is a total 'Big Brother' state. The only people with rights in the U.k are Albanian goat herders in Caravans with a boot full of cemtex.
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Old 28 Oct 2011
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Originally Posted by Seversky View Post
so how badly do i need insurance if i am going to just ride the bike for a month through europe then sell it afterwards? i mean if i dump the bike im just going to say oh well, pick it up and keep riding, or try to find something else to ride. so how often will we get stopped/ do we need it at border crossings?
as always any advice would be appreciated!

To go without insurance is madness because if you get stopped even once there is every likelihood that not only will you lose the bike, you will also get a huge fine or worse. The chances of you being stopped in Europe is high.

I dare not even consider the consequences if you hit something or god forbid, someone. Someone hit in me 1991 and fortunately for them they were insured. Part of the settlement was that I was awarded 18 years loss of earnings, that was less than half the final amount. I was a police officer at the time and was on a good salary. Imagine how the rest of his financial life would have been if he was not insured.

Under no circumstances ride a bike in Europe without insurance.

Steve
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  #7  
Old 24 Mar 2012
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Originally Posted by vstrom10 View Post
Hi Guys, I am planning to take my V Strom to the U.K.and Europe for the northern summer in 2012. I am at a loss to find a Company to sell me Third Party and Comprehensive Insurance for my bike. Any information will be greatly appreciated.
Regards and Thanks, Mike.
The grand-daddy of all threads for this subject:-
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...et-cheap-34822
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