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**scruffyscot** · #1 27 Apr 2015

Hello Everybody,

We are off to Africa at the end of June. Going to fly directly into Ethiopia and head South from there.

I have never done anything like this before so all planning has been via the various forums - mostly this one!

The only thing I have not found advice/opinion on is getting insurance for theft or damage to the motorcycle while in Africa.

The UK based insurers are not interested and from reading others' experiences it seems that the compulsory insurance to be purchased in each country is of dubious value and in any event is just for 3rd party liability.

Perhaps foolishly I have purchased brand new machines just for this trip so am already suffering from a little anxiety over uninsured theft.

Is there a solution other than never letting the machine out of your sight and using some visible deterrents like a disc lock?

Would appreciate any advice from you all.

Thanks
David

**mark manley** · #2 28 Apr 2015

I am not sure such insurance exists, you can get local insurance in Africa in the form of a comesa or yellow card and there is a thread here about getting it in Addis, as you have said this is third party only and of questionable value but it will keep police and customs happy.
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...rd-addis-71265
As to theft be careful about where you leave it particularly at night, find a hotel or guesthouse with off road parking and always lock the bike with a good lock, I prefer a steel cable lock. There is always a chance your bike will get damaged but that is part of the risk you take on a trip like this.

**Tony LEE** · #3 28 Apr 2015

UK insurers tend to have heart attacks even providing cover for a week in France.

Have you checked with ADAC? They might suggest an insurer even if they can't provide it directly. However if I was an insurer, your premiums would be 130% of the value of the bike. 100% certain payout plus 30% profit margin.

Will you need a Carnet for any of the African countries?

**Overland Tonka** · #4 3 May 2015

May seem mad, but how about a reel of fishing wire tied to the bike one end and your leg/tin can the other???

**jordan325ic** · #5 3 May 2015

As far as theft, get a good lock/chain and use it every time. They really just don't have access to high-quality tools that could defeat those measures. In my opinion expensive bikes are more likely to get stolen in many places in Europe than they are in Africa. The opportunistic thief in Africa isn't going to bother with something that will be difficult to steal, easy to spot and hard to sell. If you're parking the bike in the same place for weeks on end THEN you might have somebody make a plan. One thing I would be careful with is an alarm. In my experience people have no problem harmlessly using parked motorcycles for chairs. You may be running out to false alarms on a regular basis.

As for collision, you're likely on your own with the local insurance. It's not worth much. Go slow and remember you're invisible.

**Tiffany** · #6 3 May 2015

Sounds like a wonderful adventure

Basically you cannot get insurance against theft and thrid party issues for international travel outside of your home country/continent.
It's a cas eof getting insurance at each country that you arrive at, some will insist that you cannot enter their country without first buying insurance from an office/shack at the border post itself, in other countries they just say "get it at the first town" or sometimes nothing is said at all.

coming from countries where it is compulsory, it can seem like a big step intot he unknown, but you just get used to it as you travel.

have a great trip

**misterpaul** · #7 15 May 2015

Campbell Irvine provide overlander insurance against vehicle theft:

Campbell Irvine

I've no idea how easy it would be to claim should you need to, but the policy is there.

As others have said though the risk of theft of shiny new bikes in Africa is probably low.

**scruffyscot** · #8 16 May 2015

A fair mix of responses there but all helpful. I will be buying some decent locks and trying to apply some common sense from my limited fund.

Just out of interest I did contact a few companies based in South Africa - only via email as the contact numbers only work in SA. So far no response. If it changes I will let you all know.

Thanks to Mister Paul for suggesting Campbell Irvine. I had already spoken to them about travel insurance. Never thought to ask them about bike insurance…duh..

Cheers!