I tried, unseccessfully to cross from ukraine (m-03/e40/50) into russia earlier.

The initial ukrainian border guard asked for the green card, when i went in the roadside hut the guy wanted 100 euro for a months rus ins/green card or 85 for what he said was the minimum of 15 daya,

Seems a bit steep, and besides i didet have have that cash on me, rode to some dePressing town and am in a motel, going to try again tomorrow morning.

Is that the going rate?, i read tony p's comment on another thread that i could gain entry without? and buy green card at the next town/ volgograd.

Should have sorted this before i left, any advice appreciated, ill check hubb before i leave in the morning

He is conning you!

It has nothing to do with Ukraine whether you have insurance for RUS or not! That is for the Russians!
He was trying it on to sell you something for his own personal gain by way of a commission -and, by the sounds of it, by huge overcharging.


Go back and if they try the same insist it is none of his business and you will deal with RUS when you get there. Demand to see the Senior Official if that fails. And make sure your vehicle is blocking the lane while all this happens...

And, I repeat from elsewhere, the RUS oficials do not look for insurance because you are permitted to buy it once inside RUS (ie. past all the controls). You can buy it in the border zone but you are also permitted to proceed to the next town and buy it there.

You will find RUS officials far more helpful than UA ones, but RUS ones are not anywhere near the top of the league.


In RUS, and away from the border, insurance costs about UK£10 - £12 per month for a moto (2 years ago) and about UK£20 to £25 per month for a car (current), depending on its power.

Be strong and take no nonsence from them ... and let us know the outcome.

But Volgograd is pushing it a bit for 'next town' from Ukraine. I think you will have some difficulty with that one!

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Thanks for the reply to Tony, i figured as much, being that the border guard and insurance hut man looked pally,

I was not asked for or offered green card at the Pl/ua border nor stopped by police on the way thru..

I had not planned on attempting he crossing yesterday, just kept riding as ukraine is pretty depressing and found myself at the border and went for a half assed attempt, lll go back in a hour or two and keep saying green card in russia, i have the energy for the games now

Will Update on next wifi

The other day entering from Georgia, I paid about 2500 rubles in Vladikavkaz for 6 months Green Card on my TT250R.

Best wishes - Alec

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I wanna go back.

To be clear - I am not talking about a Green Card.

A Green Card is an internationally accepted Certificate that a vehicle is insured in one country under an insurance policy issued in another country.

What I am talking about is a Russian road insurance for a vehicle (even foreign registered). The policy is issued by a Russian Insurance company and is exactly the same as every Russian road user must have. It only provides insurance cover for the vehicle in RUS.



Livotlout - sounds about right. A little under GB£50.

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I made it through the border, am now in volgograd.

Same border guard looked a bit sheepish when he saw me again this morning,
I realise my mistake now, i was presenting my passport to the initial guard that hands you the scrap of paper with your reg on, he has played up to the presumed authority i have bestowed him and tried to make a bung for himself and expensive hut man.

I still dont have russian insurance/green card cover, but i plan to rest here in volgograd for another day, ill see about getting a few months insurance before heading for the kaz border.

Russia is much nicer than ukraine so far, even a few wry smiles from the traffic police at their borders as i tracktor past on my XT, the roads are better and the driving is slightly better too.

Thanks for the advice tony, set off like a tiger in the morning, and the rus border officials were 'nicer' than the UA ones.

Don,

Have sent you a PM

Alec

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I wanna go back.

Добро пожаловать в Россию!
Well done.

That sounds like you get the first s in Moscow!
(If you come this way)


A salutory tale that hopefully others will learn from -
- know the border crossing process for the Countries concerned
- know the status and function of the 'official' you are talking to
- be able to recognise opportunistic suggestions
- take no crap


If anyone wants to know the the process in/out RUS from/to Latvia, Estonia or Finland, I can outline them.
More s?

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And to make things simple as you Tony also know Russia is a member of International Car insurance system

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ow-valid-40443

So if you have your green card aka certification that your vehicle is insured in your country you DONT need any additional insurance in traffic in Russia.

If you wish to get additional coverage in a form of voluntary insurance then it is totally up to you. I have always got my green card from my vehicle insurance company for free.

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Tirpse, Yes.
But the OP did not have a Green Card issued by his home insurer in UK, otherwise he could have silenced the 'gateman' at the Ukraine exit zone, who was trying to rake in an unofficial commission.

The standard UK Certificate of Insurance must, by EU law, provide minimum legal insurance throughout the EU.

But most 'mass market' UK insurers WILL NOT issue/sell Green Cards (and therefore provide cover outside EU).

Therefore many, if not most, UK vehicles get insurance at borders once outside EU. Its not expensive, for RUS at least - but then it doesn't provide much either, other than a piece of paper to satisfy the police.

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Thanks for info Tony. I always wondered why people from UK are asking of this Green card in most cases and buying vehicle insurances but this gives answer to it.

But is this like standart procedure (supported by law or just a common agreement by UK insurance industry) taken by british insurance companies as far as i understand if some nation is in "Green Card system" your vehicle traffic insurance is valid in all contries in belonging to Green card system.

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Tirpse, Hi.

This is a decision of the UK Insurance Companies. All they must, by Law, do is include 'minimum legal' insurance in all countries of the EU.

Most provide 'full policy' cover for a limited period (ie. theft, damage to own vehicle, as appropriate.) in the EU and 'minimum legal' for further periods.

Green Cards, when they were and are issued by UK Companies, are only valid for specified countries outside of the EU - not automatically for all countries.

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Basically as far as I know Carole Nash is the only UK insurer that will issue a green card, and you pay extra for it (how much depends on the countries you want it endorsed for) ... and I found their premiums more than double the current provider I have (BMW insurance)

So i am resigned to buying insurance at the borders - its what most UK travellers have to do.

For whats its worth, I also have my bike in Volgograd as well at the moment, and also entered Russia from the Ukraine about 3 days ago as well ... at the crossing I used, the Russians would not let my bike out of the border yard unless I had insurance. I had to walk to a series of insurance booths outside the border zone (in Russian territory) and buy there. The insurance policy number was even written on my customs form.

I bought 5 months insurance for about 2200 rubles. Thats about 44 quid.

My experience over 20 years of riding in the former soviet Union is that Russian officials are a lot less corrupt than Ukrainian ones. Ukraine and Kazakhstan are a lot more wild west like when it comes to officials. Russian border guys are, these days, very much by the book with road travellers.

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Another epic adventure? I was checking allready ADVrider but coudnt find any rr yet

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The beers a couple of days ago with Motoreiter and then later in the evening with Pate, Grom, Gelos, Che, Mishutka and others of 'Moscow Off-Road People' OFFROADPEOPLE- внедорожные приключения were not exactly an adventure - more a way of life!

So no report is considered necessary .....

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