Hi all,
Am quite new to all this but got the heads up from Maria. I know I am replying to her posting back in 2006 but I am sure you'll all agree that travel insurance is as relevant now as it was then. We are actually overlanding with a 4x4 and will be starting off from Montreal all the way down to South America, so I hope this is ok, seeing as though this is a motorcycle forum

After several days of calling and web surfing, I finally decided on 1 Stop Travel Insurance. Why? Price. I paid £283 for both of us for 12 months (excluding personal belongings and excess). I did this on line after reading the small print and was all done in 15 minutes. I am now covered (whatever that really means).

World Wide Insurance came in second at around £370 for the both of us. Similar cover so price was the decider.

I have to say that I really wanted to go with Navigator. I really like their business and the fact that they were down to earth and honest. I enjoyed their website and found it easy to understand. They even have a fools guide to the small print which is a good read: Things you should know about travel insurance, but probably don’t

It's an honest assessment of the rip off that is insurance. I also spoke to a really compitent and very nice guy (didn't get his name). You do speak to experts, not just call centre folk, which makes a difference. If price is not such an issue (their 12 month cover came in at £264 each) then I would really consider them.

I hope I made the right choice. Just like someone in the thread, 1 Stop just seems to good to be true, I am waiting for the catch. I hope I don't regret not taking Navigator, or else, I hope I will never actually need to use it anyway. Isn't that what we all want?

I emailed Travel Nation/roundtheworldinsurance.co.uk to get the same agreement as Ollie did above for my trip down the West Coast of Africa in a 4x4.

Travel Nation replied that they would +not+ cover me.

I pressed them on why not and the owner of the company phoned me and we had a constructive conversation which I will paraphrase below and Haydn the owner said he will add his comments from his side in another posting.

Briefly:

- Current policy owners will be covered.
- Travel nation were apparently unaware that overland travelers like us were using their polices for these kinds of trips (even though people like Ollie had emailed them and received the replies posted above - I was just doing the same and wanting the same reply in writing like Ollie).
- This decision is on my trip - they felt it was too much of a risk compared to somebody back packing around Australia for example ( a drunk 19 year old is less of a risk than a teatotaler like me! I'm insulted ;-).
- They may cover your intended trip, but suggest you email them first to recieve a yes or no.
- They will put a note on their website shortly to make this clearer.
- Their policies are really aimed at 'normal' travel use rather than 'niche' travel like us overlanders.
- I suggested overland travel is not so niche anymore and they look into creating a policy for us. They are only a small company and this probably wouldn't be possible for them.
- They suggested getting insurance through Campbell Irvine. I noted that this was much more expensive!

I'll add anything else I have forgotten if I remember it!

So, the search goes on for me at least - shouldn't have sent a bloody email......!!!!

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Kiwi, 7 years around Africa. Overlanding channel:https://www.youtube.com/c/roamingyak

Once again I have just renewed my medical only travel policy with "1 Stop Travel", £277.00 for 10 months all world, a UK based firm with a web site and once again I re-emphisised the fact that I was traveling on a big bike and was a pensioner. They were, once again, happy with this and, once again, a very good price. Ride safe.

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Mike
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Mike is riding the twisty road in the sky

Yip, but the other key factor is the FCO list. Half(?) of my intended route is through countries listed on the FCO website, so I want cover in those countries as well.

I'm happy if it excludes the actual part of the country with problems and/or the thing (car jackings for example) that the FCO warns about. But if I slip over whilst walking on flat ground then I'd like to be covered for that regardless of it it happens in Morocco (not on list) or Nigeria (on list).

And that's why Travel Nation were good as they offered that cover.

Still, my last two trips were without any insurance and I'm starting to remember why now!

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Kiwi, 7 years around Africa. Overlanding channel:https://www.youtube.com/c/roamingyak

so far so shit for me, money supermarket came up with just 2 quotes for me, each greedy f**ker wanting just under a grand, and bikers travel insurance (tgic) want the same, or 650 if i don't wanna do any snowboarding. Essential travel (axa) want 341 with an excess of 650 and personal liability isn't covered cos the bike makes it a grade 3???? and carole nash has just managed to take 30mins to confuse the hell outta me. Muchly hating all insurance people!!! now in dire need of a fag and a lay down.

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***Sorry, can you repeat that......Err what was that again***

I went with Navigator Travel Insurance. No Personal Liability either, but I don't mind that. As long as I'm insured for medical/hospital costs, that's fine with me.
You can take out vehicle insurance/3rd party liability insurance in most countries anyway, if you really want to (I did so in Iran, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia).
Everything else (i.e. long-term effects on your own body): life insurance? (Personally, I don't have one)

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http://www.panomoto.com

i would love to do that, but i think if i went without life insurance and the best cover i could find, my parents would come find me and kill me, or actually hide all paperwork so i couldn't leave, until i sorted out the kinda cover they want me to have. No choice really, unless i wanna be riding in my garden pretending it's the sahara....

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***Sorry, can you repeat that......Err what was that again***

I have just got off the phone to Navigator Travel (0161 973 6435 - In the UK).

What a thoroughly delightful and helpful experience....

The bloke talked me through all the policies and instead of pushing me onto the most expensive, actually pushed me onto a cheaper but more comprehensive package.

£138 for 7 months accross Africa. He said it covers ALL sizes of motorcycles and the underwriters for the policy DO NOT exclude travel to the FCO countries.. Although,

"You are not covered for the specific reason that the FCO warns about"

Eg. If the FCO says there are bandits on the border of Sudan and you then get robbed by them, you're not covered..

If you fall off your bike and break your leg in the same place you would be, even though you are in an FCO warning zone..

THIS IS WHAT MANY COMPANIES DONT TELL YOU... Many will just refuse you due to where you are... Navigator doesnt do this on "most" of their policies..

Dont bother booking online, phone them up and get the facts and the info..

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Wait till you read the small print Ted :confused1::confused1::confused1:

Actually if it's all that your post suggests it might be then they may well be the first port of call in the future. I've had soooo much trouble finding out of Europe travel insurance for my bike trips in the past - either hoping any claim will be for something not bike related or not bothering at all.

Well, im not the first.. There are a few recommendations on the hubb for them.

I have all the documents in PDF form if anyone wants to read them over.

The bike IS NOT insured nor are 3rd partys. Thats the kind of insurance you pick up at borders.

Still, its half the price I paid for Endsleigh insurance for South America in 2007/8.

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Hi Ted

Would you mind sending the PDF(s) to me please, I am looking to sort this out soon. carinatauk@gmail.com

When do you go?

Sent !!

Our ferry to Santander is booked for 1st September ...

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.