Malta - getting off the rock - green card insurance

[stenton]

I live on the island of Gozo, one of two Maltese islands. I cannot get green card insurance for my motorcycle through any insurer in Malta. There appears to be a cartel operating for MC insurance - I was 'warned off' when I first looked at insurance; was told not to talk with other agents, and advised that there would be serious consequneces if I attempted to comparison shop.

Never had such an experience in regards to MC insurance, in all my time insuring MCs over 36 years in 4 different countries. As an EU member country they really shouldn't be allowed to get away with this. But everything in Malta seems to operate on a different ethical base - much of which one can't help but conclude is informed by the hold the Mafia have on this place.

I eventually got 3rd party only (which is all they will do in Malta), at great expense (for what it is). I had to sign a statement promising that I would not ride my MC off the islands.

In looking at companies that do 'green card' insurance I find that they are very expensive (most of them being aimed it seems, at bikers coming to Europe from America). I need to be able, once COVID restrictions are legitimately lifted, to ride from Gozo, probably via Sicilia, Italy and France to the UK where my wife lives - and then return.

Do riders have any knowledge about how I can achieve this in an affordable way ?

If people want to know the companies I have already looked at - as a way of eliminating repetiion - I am happy to do that - and will in another post if asked.

with thanks, Stenton

[Tim Cullis]

My UK insurance green card provides comprehensive cover for Malta for up to 180 days per annum. Seeing as your wife is UK-based could you not obtain cover via the UK?

Here's a Malta-based company that says you have comprehensive insurance throughout the EU, https://www.atlas.com.mt/insurance/motorcycle/

Here's another, https://www.laferla.com.mt/motor-insurance/motorcycle

[mark manley]

As Malta is a member of the EU I would expect your insurance to automatically cover you for all other EU countries plus a few other in the scheme including the UK, I thought this was a legal requirement but could be wrong.

[stenton]

Hi Mark - Yes, that was my impression too - however, I am having difficulty finding documented proof of that. Malta manages to 'sidestep' or resist certain requirements/expectations, not just those to do with MC insurance.

Stenton

[stenton]

Hi Tim - Thanks for your reply.
Can't get UK coverage because bike is registered in Malta. I live and work here.

Both Atlas and Laferla originally turned me down for Malta insurance, never mind green card.

Stenton

[stenton]

Tim, I did take full advantage of the 180 days coverge when I arrived ! But I had to agree I would not use the MC to commute to work for instance, as that was not covered as an activity under the 180 travel clause. Then my 180 days were up..........

[PanEuropean]

Hi Stenton:

Wow, what you have described certainly sounds strange. I have no doubt that you have thoroughly explored the insurance options available to you in Malta and the result is the problem you have described.

I wonder if you might be able to get liability insurance cover for off-island activities by going down the same path that those of us who live outside Europe do (for example, what I do to insure my Canadian-plated moto when it is in Europe) - in other words, buy a policy that is intended for visitors to Europe.

There is a huge and long-running discussion about this process here on the HUBB - you can find that discussion here: Here is where you get the cheap European green card insurance. There is a similar discussion about how to obtain coverage for visitors to the Balkan countries here: Balkans Insurance - Here's the story, with details & sample documents.

When you click through to go read those discussions, don't start reading from the beginning of the discussions, or you won't finish reading until 2024. Pay attention to the dates of the posts, and scroll down and start reading at posts beginning in 2020 and later.

The suggestion to buy "visitor to the EU" insurance for a bike plated in the EU sounds kind of strange, and I don't know if you would even be eligible to buy this coverage, but it's worth looking into, especially if you only plan one or two off-island expeditions each year. This kind of coverage is sold in one-month increments (for the classic EU green card coverage), and in shorter increments (week or two-week) for the Balkan country coverage.

Be aware that all the different vendors who sell the classic EU green card insurance are selling exactly the same product - minimum third party liability insurance for the EU - so if you choose to buy this kind of coverage, choose your vendor based on price and purchasing (delivery of documents) convenience. There is quite a wide range of prices charged for the exact same thing, with Bulgaria being about the cheapest country, and Germany being the most expensive. Other countries such as Italy & Croatia are in the middle. The final price you pay is comprised of what the vendor pays their local insurance agency for the policy, plus whatever markup the vendor adds to cover their labour, postage, etc.

Good luck, and let us know how this plays out for you in the future.

Michael