Hello Im sure this has been asked before, but I am getting very confused with green cards due to reading different websites saying different things.

The green card isnt a form or insurance? As my understanding was originally that it was.

Insurance, there is no way of getting international motorcycle insurance? I have to purchase insurance at borders? Its available at every border?

Im doing Uk to Australia if this helps?

Green card is insurance, insurance cover for your vehicle and not personal accident insurance for instance.
The UK insurers used to physically issue green cards "back in the day when no one from the UK travelled overseas". With the EU coming into play, you can see on your insurance cover note/insurance policy document a list of countries where your UK ins is valid for those countries (it has to be in accords with the EU "common market" regs and not because the ins companies are being generous to you); this is your modern version of the "green card".

Yea, once outside Europe, look elsewhere for insurance cover, if you think it is all important.

One common misunderstanding is: "green card" cover is for the minimum legal requirements of any country in which the insurance is valid. So, for instance, if you have fully comprehensive cover for the UK it does not mean that you have this level of cover outside the UK.
Those are the basics.
There are lots of discussion threads in here, Trip paperwork, about green card insurance and I believe nearly all are accurate.
Why look anywhere else??

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Dave

So I should just insure my UK bike on a UK policy that will cover me in europe too, then look elsewhere in the countries im passing through for insurance....

My dad has done some research into this and from what he has read the green card is needed for outside of europe, so once outside of europe Im looking for local insurance (available at borders?), and the green card coincides with this local insurance?

Yesssss, but it is not straight forward; have a look at the sticky thread in here that deals with green card cover - it goes off topic (as ever for the HUBB!) and deals with issues for other than those who don't live in Europe but ride on this continent.

Then there is this thread that you might wish to read:-
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...nsurance-68940

Yes, outside of where your insurance is valid you need to buy some in order not to be locked up by the local police when you kill or injure a third party - selfish individuals can lose sight of this aspect and think it is all about compensating them alone.
"Third party" insurance is what you need as a minimum.
Very occasionally, in some countries, there is no such insurance available but in most you will have to buy it at the border; in some cases it may be of dubious value.

You should also consider personal accident insurance which is useful for getting your poor, broken body back to a UK hospital when it is mangled in an incident - there is loads of discussion about that on here!!

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Dave

Green card...

In the US I think this refers to some sort of working permit or is it immigration? .

In most European countries it refers to vehicle insurance.

In most other parts of the world ... it has no meaning.

Many decades ago when I bought my first green card you got to pick what countries it covered. However you could not pick all the countries of the world .. it was limited to western European countries.

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Some countries will insist that you have vehicle insurance before/as you cross their boarder, most of these will have some way of buying it there. Some of these will accept insurance given by 'international' insurance companies, some will not. Some countries require it, but don't check at the boarder! Other countries it is not compulsory!

Good Luck.

Yep, "green card" WRT insurance is a European thing.
For others in this world, it is a means of working legally in the States, with the longer term objective of getting residency there.

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Dave

I did Europe to Oz in 07-08, and at least back then my Green Card-insurance from my home country was valid all the way through Europe, and in Turkey and Iran (was surprised at that last one, but Iran was listed as a Green Card-country). But for Pakistan, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia, that insurance was not valid in any way. For over 4 months, my bike was completely uninsured, but once we arrived in Oz, I got the compulsory 3rd party insurance. Maybe I also bought something cheap for Thailand, can´t remember.

But it was stupid of me to do like that. I do NOT recommend you to ride around with an uninsured vehicle, anywhere. If you have an accident with serious consequences to someone else, you are screwed. One problem with the so-called “border insurances” is however, that they may not save you, either. Maximum compensation amounts can be very low compared to what we are used to back home. Or in the worst case, it could turn out, that it does not cover you at all (like somebody just simply gave you a piece of paper, that resembles an insurance form, and kept your money).

Don´t mean to scare you, but the aftermath of a serious road accident in a faraway country is something you seriously don´t want to go through. Maybe the worst thing of all is the fact, that you are financially better off than most locals are, so if you´re involved in an accident with them, you´re probably going to be the one, who pays, the language barrier will be massive, and the police may not be very helpful.

Wise words, and I remember reading your reports about your trip.
Nor do I think that you were utterly selfish in making that decision to ride for months and through various countries with no third party insurance cover; in different circumstances/places I have done the same.
It is a matter of risk of course, including an individuals attitude to risk; there have been other threads in here about such things, but, as a rule, the issue of insurance cover does not get a very big airing.

In some societies, typically Islamic, there is no strong concept of insurance; it is more a case of retribution/justice/compensation via "direct means", such as blood money.
Wiki doesn't say much about this terminology in fact (I feel let down by Wiki!!):-
Blood money - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Dave

I have got Australian reg bike. Arrived in the UK . Does anyone know where I can insurance cover for about a month
Cheers

You may have to pay for longer than one month (as a minimum) but take a look at the sticky thread on this subject:-
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...cheap-34822-14

It's a big thread so I suggest you start at the back, i.e. the latest posting, and work backwards for the latest answers to the question.

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Dave

Ok I've left this a bit late because I ASSUMED this insurance would be easy to buy online. But not so easy... and expensive.

Mototouring GreenCard

You can buy online but it says "Your Green Card will be waiting for you". They say they can email it, but not how long that will take.

Then on this page
How does the European Green Card Insurance work?
They say they need 2-3 working days, but then "The green card must be requested at least 15 days prior the starting date." I don't have 15 days. If they only need 2-3 working days, why?? Confused.

Cost is 118 euro for a month.

Any other ideas?

Please let us know how this works out dcaussie. I'm in the same boat - left it too long and now a bit shocked at the cost and trouble for this insurance....I miss Africa already....

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In some societies, typically Islamic, there is no strong concept of insurance; it is more a case of retribution/justice/compensation via "direct means", such as blood money.
Wiki doesn't say much about this terminology in fact (I feel let down by Wiki!!):-
Blood money - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/QUOTE]


I know this is an old thread but I feel the need to reply here, I cant let something that sounds like an unfounded claim stand especially in this context.

The quote about societies seeking blood money seems to target Muslim countries and I feel I have to answer. In countries where Sharia Law (islamic law) is applied, they still have civil law concepts governing businesses such insurance, banking (minus interests), commerce etc.

I know because I lived an worked there. The link to Wikipedia specifically says it applies to "Murder" Murder is killing people intentionally - not by accident.

And yes in some societies when you kill people on purpose they kill you, can you think of countries that do that? i can, USA is one of them...so forgive me if I feel that Muslims are unfairly targeted for harshly punishing "intentional murder"

it is a matter of local public policy and some countries dont want to make it about money otherwise rich people will feel comfortable getting rid of people they don't like and pay their way out of it.

Those countries have their issues but insurance and how it applies to accidents isn't one of them.

Finally, wikipedia is not a source. If there is an actual academic/legitimate source for this claim or first hand knowledge experience we would like to see it. thanks!

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