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Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

I haven't been everywhere...
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Photo by Hendi Kaf,
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  • 1 Post By packers
  • 1 Post By PanEuropean

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  #1  
Old 6 May 2016
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Green card- including the Balkans

I'm planning on a trip with a couple of friends next month. The route is something like Holland / Germany / Austria / Slovenia / Croatia / Bosnia / Montenegro / Albania / Greece / Macedonia / (maybe) Kosovo / Serbia and then back somehow. We've not really planned a route and just plan to take it as it comes (we've done this before a few times).

I'm insured with CN but for some reason they couldn't get me insured with Aegis and I'm with Aviva. Aviva won't offer a green card for Albania/Macedonia/Kosovo (I don't think anyone does for Kosovo) and want £55 for Bosnia and Montenegro, all else being covered by default.

Rather irritatingly my two friends don't have this issue; so I'm the only one that has to worry about buying insurance at the border.

I've looked around this site and googled a little but haven't found anyone selling green cards independent of annual insurance that covers the 'Balkans'.

Does anyone know anywhere that I can buy cover for Albania / Macedonia / Bosnia / Montenegro (without renewing my UK bike insurance!)

Thank you.
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  #2  
Old 6 May 2016
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Hello, and welcome to the HUBB forum.

It is generally not possible to buy one insurance cover that includes all of the former Yugoslavian countries. Instead, you buy insurance at the border of each country as you enter the country.

This post explains it in detail: Balkans Insurance - Here's the story, with details & sample documents.

Michael
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  #3  
Old 8 May 2016
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Thank you, great post and answered a lot of questions (and stopped me doing something stupid like changing insurance mid year!)

Unfortunately it is what I feared!

I wanted to avoid keeping my friends hanging around at borders and being restricted to using main border crossings. They've been very reasonable though and have agreed as long as I take on cooking duties they won't object too much...

Looks like I have no choice this year, but hopefully next year I'll be able to separate my green card from my annual insurance thanks to Dooby!
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  #4  
Old 8 May 2016
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You might want to contribute to this thread in due course.
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...eriences-63707

I am less than content with CN - I used that broker last year for the first time - and I shall be looking around for another broker during my next renewal.
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  #5  
Old 8 May 2016
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Quote:
Originally Posted by packers View Post
I wanted to avoid keeping my friends hanging around at borders...
The process of getting the insurance at each border is pretty quick. If you keep your documents (motorcycle registration, driver licence, passport) together in one place, and you have payment ready (lots of small denomination Euro notes and coins), it only takes about 10 to 15 minutes at each border crossing.

Honestly, the time taken to get the insurance didn't bother me at all - it gave me a chance to get off the bike and stretch a bit. Your friends will probably appreciate the stretch break as well - a border crossing is a logical place to pause and consult maps, etc. to confirm the routing ahead of you in the new country.

Michael
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  #6  
Old 9 May 2016
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Quote:
Originally Posted by packers View Post
Thank you, great post and answered a lot of questions (and stopped me doing something stupid like changing insurance mid year!)

Unfortunately it is what I feared!

I wanted to avoid keeping my friends hanging around at borders and being restricted to using main border crossings. They've been very reasonable though and have agreed as long as I take on cooking duties they won't object too much...

Looks like I have no choice this year, but hopefully next year I'll be able to separate my green card from my annual insurance thanks to Dooby!
It's always nice to have someone along the way that's taken cooking duties

We'll try our best Packers, totally understand the possible problems at borders and delays that go along.

Dooby
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  #7  
Old 14 Jun 2016
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PanEuropean View Post
The process of getting the insurance at each border is pretty quick. If you keep your documents (motorcycle registration, driver licence, passport) together in one place, and you have payment ready (lots of small denomination Euro notes and coins), it only takes about 10 to 15 minutes at each border crossing.

Honestly, the time taken to get the insurance didn't bother me at all - it gave me a chance to get off the bike and stretch a bit. Your friends will probably appreciate the stretch break as well - a border crossing is a logical place to pause and consult maps, etc. to confirm the routing ahead of you in the new country.

Michael
Would you do that in a London-India? Thanks!
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  #8  
Old 14 Jun 2016
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Merhaba,

Some green cards may not cover some countries on your europe route and green card insurance sold in all european countries arent the same, doesnt cover same countries,all european or member countries..for.eg.. some doesnt cover Turkey while covering İran or azerbeyjani which are all in the 48 members..Country codes for the covered countries are written on the back page and uncovered country codes has a cross mark on as seen in the photo included.

PanEuropean has great posts in his blogs and here explaning how to buy insurance for the noncovered countries in europe..These are some former yugoslavian countries.

Nop.insurance available in all gates.
All the best..
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Green card- including the Balkans-yesil-kart-sigorta.jpg  

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  #9  
Old 21 Jun 2016
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I've just done Montenegro/Bosnia/Serbia and it took no time at all at the borders - not even 5 minutes. The only Time I had to queue was Montenegro, and that was because there was a massive queue at the passport bit - not the insurance bit. I've never had the right money, and I always got change too. In Montenegro I even paid with a mixture of Euro and Kuna.
General system is as others have said: passport control, leave passport, drive over, get insurance, walk back, get passport. Turkey was a different story though.................
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  #10  
Old 16 Aug 2016
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Hello Bonnie 25

Could you please give more information on which border crossings you used to enter/exit Montenegro and Serbia and how much you paid for your green card cover for each country

I'm heading in that direction next week

Cheers
Rob
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  #11  
Old 29 Aug 2016
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Green card Bosnia Herzegovina Montenegro Serbia August 2016

Some current information on buying green card in the balkans

Bosnia at Kamensko crossing with Croatia
€7 for 7days - also 17 days available for €17

Montenegro at Hum crossing with Bosnia (M18)
€10 for 15 days
Also enquired about buying for Bosnia if heading that direction - €30 for 15 days

Serbia at Gostun ossing with Montenegro (E763)
Wasn't asked to produce insurance or bike documents at border and had some difficulty finding insurance office
Border police officer assisted to locate office and ask about insurance
€100 for 30 days !!! - told this is minimum time period
Police officer said this is too expensive and told me to "go and drive carefully" - which I did
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  #12  
Old 20 Aug 2019
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Bike registered in someone else's name? Border insurance possible?

Hi
I've read the threads but don't know the answer to this:
- I'm planning on buying insurance at the (Balkan non-EU) borders of Albania, Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro next month.
- But the bike is registered in my friend's name.
Will they sell me insurance at the borders?
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