Being a UK citizen Will my standard motorcycle insurance cover me for any EU country?
Also if I travel to places like Turkey Russia and America Do I have to have insurance? if so where do I get it from.

Take a close look at the insurance document itself (the 'green card'). You will see various country abbreviations on that document, some will be crossed out. You are not covered in the countries that are crossed out. For example, in the portion of the green card shown below, there are a number of countries that are crossed out (not covered). Disregard the arrow pointing to Serbia, I used this same image for a different purpose, hence the arrow.



From what I have observed over the years here of discussions of 'continental' insurance by UK based riders, it appears that various levels of cover are provided by the UK insurance companies. Some cover the continent, some don't. In some cases, all you have to do is ask (and perhaps pay a small additional premium) to get continental coverage, in other cases, the insurance company does not offer it, hence you will have to shop around for another insurer.

Probably the best place to start is to contact your insurance broker (or insurance company) by phone and ask them to explain your policy coverage and policy options available to you.

Michael

I have been in contact with my broker and they are looking in to it. They did think that I should be covered for the EU but were not sure. Hope to have an answer tomorrow.

As for non EU I suppose I will have to find alternative insurance

All motor insurance issued in the EU provides the minimum cover legally required throughout the whole EU. The only exceptions under EU law are where the vehicle or rider is not legal under that countries national law (so say a 17 year old rider in a country that makes their own wait until 18).


For a UK policy this is typically extended to provide the cover you paid for (so theft etc. if you bought fully comp) for a period that is stated on the policy documents (typically 30 days) and then reverts to the minimum (Third Party Only).


UK insurers are unprincipled swine who will try get out of paying by any means possible. They are also typically utterly incompetent on the sales side until you hit the highest level. They will for example tell you they don't issue green cards (true), you don't need a Green card (for the EU true, but not for say crossing Albania) and that Morocco is in the EU (*****cks). They will also include clauses such as cost of recovery/legal expenses (at their rate which leaves you owing them money) or having to inform them if you intend to go over the 30 days and use the TPO cover, so read the policy and jump through their hoops until is really ceases to suit you.


If you have a full UK license and intend to ride in the EU for less than 30 days you can usually just go, the in-sewer-ants don't want to know about the odd trip to Lake Garda.


As you leave the EU you need to buy local insurance. This can be easy with huts at border crossings or nigh on impossible needing to go into a city and find an office. The insurance is often worthless for anything except the piece of paper to keep the plod happy (and therefore less hassle than the UK sort where some people actually believe they'll get paid out and want to involve the dodgy reverse-bookies). It has been known for people just to not bother in the "difficult" places with vary degrees of hassle if caught. Best bet is to read on here what other people are doing for the places you want to go, it varies from border crossing to border crossing. I once for example paid a UK company many pounds for a Green card for Morocco and spent days on the phone explaining Morocco and Monaco are different places. My mate spent a tenner and five minutes at a booth at the border crossing!


Andy

Thanks very much I have been reading on here and there is so much to get through. I am planning a RTW trip and have become so confused with what you need for what country etc. All I need is the legal requirement. and will rely on my experience as an ancient biker to survive the journey. If I can do that at border crossings then that will be good enough for me.

Threewheelbonnie ...............you like this subject , I can tell.

__________________
Regards Tim

Learning my craft for the big stuff, it won't be long now and it's not that far anyway

A bad experience me thinks - nothing like a good old rant to get it out of your system

Archival Note:

Information (as of summer 2014) about insurance prices and availability in the countries of former Yugoslavia can be found at this discussion:

Balkans Insurance - Here's the story, with details & sample documents.

Michael

Usually fully comprehensive insurance in the UK will only provide third party cover in the EU. It should be written on the back of the insurance certificate.