Russia
 

Could some one tell me if there is an insurance company office at the russian border, on the road between Helsinki and St Petersburg ?
Is the road St Petersburg-Murmansk ok ?
thanks in advance for the info
corentin

Dear Legall,
I don't know about insurance offices. Never bothered during five years of riding around the world.
I rode from Murmansk to St. Petersburg, Moscow, and Sochi last August (2002) without any problems. Road is fairly good. You can do the trip in one (very long) day. I did it in two and one half with time to spare. Petrol available in every larger town. Also afordable hotels. Border crossing Kirkenes to Murmansk no hassles.
An enjoyable trip.

We got the insurance right at the border... should not be a problem!

Have fun in Russia

Jochen

Werner,
Russian rules have changed from the 1 July this year Insurance is required to be purchased. They gave outsiders a two month grace period. We crossed to St Pete on the 1 July without insurance but when we returned from Kazakstan we got hit (not much, only about $10 USD).
Cheers

we crossed from norway and rode to murmansk and then onto st.petersburg. the insurance was roughly 1.6 euro a day. reasonable enough.
werner mate. don't know how you could do murmansk to st.petersburg ýn one day, you would need great weather and a fairly quiet road, something we did not get.
the driving of ladas and smokey trucks makes your passage a little crazy and slow at times.

Thanks all of you for the info.
So, I entered Russia in July coming from Helsinki. No insurance office at the border (or not seen by me), and I made my 2-week trip in Russia without insurance. Next time I'll stop in Helsinki to get one at the insurance company noticed in the Lonely Planet guide.
Anyway, I went to St Petersburg (4 nights), and then the M18 road north to Murmansk.
- 2 nights in Petrozavorsk => Kijy island
- 1 night in Belomorsk
- 2 nights in Kem => Solevky archepelo
- 1 night in Apatity
- and 2 nights in Murmansk
- then Kirkenes in Norway, and south to Oslo, Sweeden, Danmark, Germany and France.
No problem at all.
Entering or leaving Russia was a matter of 15-20 minutes.
regards

Legall

What paperwork did you have to present at the Russian border, both going in and coming out?

Iain

2 thinks I was asked for when entering Russia:
- my passport with the russian visa,
- and the bike paper or bike ID, in french the "carte grise".
Nothing else, no "Carnet de Passage en Douane" is needed.
To leave Russia, they just stamped my passport.
Nobody at the border, in or out, has ever search inside my belongings.
regards