Hi all,

This might seem a topic that has been covered a lot, but as a new member and someone who has spent a lot of time going through the threads, I am still a bit confused. Need some help from y'all. I am in the UK.

Should I bother with getting insurance for an African - possibly RTW - trip in the UK or get it at the borders?

I have had quotes ranging from £250 to £700 for my '08 F800GS with all including the green card and insurance for Morocco. The variance is for the duration you are allowed to go: between 30 and 90 days a year depending on insurance. This is through standard insurance routes and all say they can't do African insurance.

- I am leaning towards only getting Europe and Morocco insurance and worrying about the rest at boarders. Anyone had any really bad experiences?
- Is it worth going through to an underwriter to get a comprehensive trip insurance or is it just too expensive and timely?

Please note, this is for Motorcycle Insurance, NOT medical or travel. These I have sorted through the excellent HUBB postings and some really good stories.

Help wanted from a poor lost soul in the myre of the insurance question...now back to my beautiful new aluminium wrench-cum-tyre iron for which I am in trouble for buying!

Happy to meet up for a chat with any Africa experts if in London...payment in !

Cheers,
Hans

I know this is not an answer to your thread, but my boyfriend and I are taking a year out on the bikes to do some of Europe and N Africa.
So far I have hit a brick wall trying to get insurance for a year abroad do you have a company you used,
Thanks for any help.
Still trying to work my way round the forum

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No road is too long, with good company!!

Hi Hans

I'm almost certain you mean liability insurance. If so, forget it until you get to the border of a country where you "need" it. Senegal and Kenya are examples - if you get stopped without it here you will probably get asked for a bribe. In most of East Africa you can buy a "yellow card" which covers you for multiple countries (can't remember which country it starts in).

South America - gotta have it in Argentina, otherwise wing it...

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Simon

London-Cape Town 2004-06
Buenos Aires-Vancouver 2008-10:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tstories/fitzpatrick

Insurance!

For Africa and most of South America, you are buying liability insurance (not comprehensive, i.e., collision, theft, fire, etc.) just to keep your ass out of jail should the unthinkable happen - you hit something, someone.

Read the policy! You don't get a policy! - just a piece of paper to show the cops. Nowhere do you see coverage limits, details of what, when, where and how. Just a phone number to call. Anyone ever called the number on their Comesa card (the yellow card insurance you get in Africa)? Did they help?

US companies aren't going to cover stuff happening in Central/South America. They have no control, no handle on the situation. No way to inspect damage, determine cause (police report?! ). Why would they ever pay out anything?

I'm sure similar for European insurance. Insuring you and your bike for stuff happening a continent away. No way, Jose!

So, you get it at the borders, when required. Otherwise, you don't waste time looking for it. There's roads to ride, places to go, people to see. Too much to do, too little time - and you want to waste your time buying insurance?

Don't worry! Be happy! and remember, having to pay for insurance you pray to god you never need is simply putting your money in the pocket of someone else, with no likely benefit to be received.

Which is why you'd be stupid to take a really expensive bike to one of them countries. If you aren't prepared to just leave it - just walk away - then you aren't prepared to go there.

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quastdog
Chiang Mai, Thailand

Amen

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Find out details of my 2011 trip to Siberia on a lightweight dirtbike:
www.brighton2expeditions.co.uk