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Bike insurance requirements for Nth & Sth America Bike insurance requirements for Nth & Sth America
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Trip Paperwork Covers all documentation, carnets, customs and country requirements, how to deal with insurance etc.
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
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Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #1  
Old 4 Jan 2014
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Bike insurance requirements for Nth & Sth America
Hi all
Set off in 3 months for 18 month expedition of Nth & Sth America. Can you advise what is the requirement and recommendation for bike insurance on these continents? We will have separate medical and repatriation insurance.

Appreciate people's experience and knowledge. As per username we are 2 Aussies riding 2 triumphs.
Thanks in advance!!
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  #2  
Old 4 Jan 2014
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I am reading that for Mexico, Central America and Sth America you need to get the local insurance at the border???
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  #3  
Old 5 Jan 2014
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My info is old, but since no one else has replied, I'll give it a shot. In 2006, I rode from the USA through Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia Argentina, and Chile.

I had been to Mexico several times before and organized liability insurance, which is all I ever carried, through www.mexadventure.com. Mexico does not recognize insurance from foreign countries, only Mexican companies, and I think there are only a few of those. There are many resellers, the above website being one.

Nicaragua and Costa Rica required purchase of insurance as part of the border crossing procedure, and it was easy and cheap to buy.

I air freighted my bike from Panama to Colombia, and had to buy insurance before I could get the bike out of customs. It was reasonably priced, but I had to get a local to direct me to somewhere I could buy it. I think Colombia was the only country I was asked to show proof of insurance once I got past the border area.

In Argentina, I bought a policy that I was told was good for the MercoSur countries. I had my doubts, but was never asked to show it, so who knows.

The other countries, I had no insurance either because it was not required, not available, or both.
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  #4  
Old 13 Jan 2014
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Thanks Andy
Appreciate you time in replying. I guess we will see what is required at each border. Wanted to check that we didn't have to organise before leaving home.
Cheers
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  #5  
Old 13 Jan 2014
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If you want more information, do a site search on these forums. The reason no one is responding is because the subject is so often and so exhaustively addressed. Plus: the rules are different for each of the dozen or more countries you'll be passing through. There are lists of requirements all over the internet, including country-by-country pricing and GPS coordinates of insurance offices. Google is your friend.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark
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  #6  
Old 13 Jan 2014
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Thanks Mark - Yes helpful. Have been a little bogged down with shipping bikes, what we need to pack, what routes and what to see, bike mods for trip etc etc, obviously still a lot of research to do. Complete beginners here. Although have to say we hear so many conflicting stories eg. RAC tells me I need a Carnet for Central and Sth America yet the consensus on HUB and some experienced travellers is that it is not necessary. So these are the type of issues everyone has to work through. Slowly finding my way around the forums! Getting close to leaving so trying not to panic.

Appreciate the guidance
Dave
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  #7  
Old 28 Jan 2014
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Hi
My wife and I are planning a trip of the Americas Nth - Sth starting in August. We are hoping to be down in the south somewhere in the spring and would like to ship our bikes to Oz.
Have you organised shipment back? If so how? Where from?

Thanks for any info.
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  #8  
Old 2 Feb 2014
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Location: Cairns, Australia
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We are currently doing a journey around N and S America and we too come from Australia. Mark is right, there is plenty of info out there to do a search on.
HOWEVER - when it comes to insurance for us Aussies, it can all be done on the ground here. There is no need for a carnet (RAC) have no idea, call the AAA for the real info. As for insuring the bike against theft etc then I could not find a company willing to do this for an Australian registered bike. We simply have medical insurance (just make sure it covers 'dangerous' activities such as riding a motorbike over 250cc)

If you have any specific questions then please PM me.

Good luck, shipping the bike is a pita!
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Mark and Carlie - a three year jaunt around the third rock.
www.rtwbymotorbike.blogspot.com.au
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