Bike Insurance for Australia & South America
 

Hi all,
Am heading off to Australia for two months later this year then onward to South America (Columbia, Equador, Peru, Chile, Argentina) before coming back to the UK.
Trying to investigate third party bike insurance requirements for the trip, where each country requires it.
Any advice/guidance would be great thanks?.

Cheers, Ian

Third party insurance, called a 'green slip' is compulsory in Oz and for my 650 costs about $300 - $400 per annum. The insurance is issued by larger insurance companies such as Alianz.


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In Oz, there are three types of vehicle insurance. The one that is compulsory and is either included in your registration cost - as in Western Australia, or a mandatory prerequisite for getting registration as in NSW where it is known as Green Slip insurance.

This just covers death and injury to people involved in an accident and driver has no cover or limited cover.

Second stage is third party damage cover which covers you for the damage you do to others' property.
Then comes full comprehensive which covers your car as well.

Last type will be very expensive as normally there will not be any No-claims bonus available

In Central and South America, liability insurance is either compulsory (even though proff is rarely asked for) or very highly recommended. Four countries in the north have their own insurance schemes and you will have to get it at the border. It is possible to get one policy to cover most if not all of the S American countries. Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Uruguay and Paraguay is one such block although you will have to search to get the multi-country cover as they normally just give you cover in one country by default.
Peru is a little more problematic as there are stories that they only offer 12-month cover at a crazy rate, but others get a month or two for a reasonable price. We got ours from La Positiva, but because we came into Peru from Bolivia had to risk a long drive to get to the first place that sold it. Risky because of possibility of accident, but risky because the police know it and find foreign vehicles to be easy pickings. I;m told Positiva also cover Ecuador but I will find out for sure when I renew tomorrow in Cusco

Carnet required for Australia, but not sure if for bikes as well as cars, but not for the Americas

Magic, cheers Tony. Will be traveling on a carnet. In Aus where do you apply for registration/green slip on arrival ?.
Just looking to be legal in all countries.

Cheers, Ian

If you goto the Australia/New Zealand section of the HUBB there is a comprehensive thread about insurance - which in Australia varies State by State for overseas registered vehicles.

Yes, Roger has the best idea as it may/will vary depending on what state you arrive in. (it is a bit of a pain for the locals too having different rules between states)

With a carnet I imagine there would be no requirement for registration (which may be impossible anyway if it can't be proven to comply with the Australian Design Rules), but third party liability insurance will probably be needed just as it is in Central and South America

Roughly its the following;


Arrive in NSW - no requirements to insure or register, the State takes on your third party injury liability.


All other States have varying forms of registration or overseas registered vehicle permit which varies from paying a fee to having a full compliance inspection and then paying a fee. Third party injury liability insurance is included in the fees.


Vehicle insurance can be bought online and is valid in all States.


Theoretically arriving in NSW is the simplest and due to an agreement where the States have to recognise each other's road laws/registration its likely that you don't have to bother about permits in other States. But arguing that point could be difficult in the Middle of Woopwoop.


I should add that all States require foreign registered vehicles to substantially comply with vehicle roadworthiness, headlamp dips left, orange indicators, white lights to the front, red lights to the rear, horn, tyre depth, etc etc.