Purchasing a bike in Ireland (or other EU country), then registering in USA (/other)
 

Hi all!

I recently purchased a lovely bike in Ireland to tour the country for a month, then over to Europe for a few months as well. Unfortunately, I've found it is impossible to purchase insurance for my time in Ireland- they require an Irish/EU drivers license in order to give out insurance (I am US).

I've began thinking, wouldn't it work fairly well to register the bike in the US, then have a friend mail me the new US plates and paperwork? Then, I could simply buy green card insurance and be set, 100%, all of Europe.

Seems too easy to be correct. Am I forgetting something, or do you have any better ideas? Thanks!

PS- yes, I have spoken with the fine folks at "Motofeirme", who have helped me out tremendously with advice/info, unfortunately procuring the actual insurance is still an issue.

I'd be very surprised if you could register any vehicle not already in the system in another country without jumping through a fair few hoops, mainly because they would want to check it out for compliance with current safety and pollution standards as well as local design rules. Possible if you have the bike there for them to look at, but unlikely otherwise.

Assuming you did succeed, then you have to get it off the Irish system and somehow get it onto the Irish customs system and how would you do that?

Ah, good points. Clearly my head is all too muddled by jet lag to think properly. Looks like I'll just wait till I leave Ireland to use the bike.

Will I be shunned if I show up at the upcoming HU meeting in N Ireland, via car? :D

Hold up- could I just take it into North Ireland? That's legally UK, right?

Talking to myself here, maybe, but yes, it appears that would work! If anyone has tips for getting the bike to N Ireland and storage for a month, that'd be great! Thanks!

I'm sorry to say that you would only be swapping one problem for another.

Yes, NI is part of the UK, so - always assuming that you could find someone to lend you an accommodation address - you would have to re-register the bike there. Then, yes, technically, you could apply to a UK insurer. However, you are only entitled to drive on a foreign driving licence for 12 monthw before you are meant either to exchange it for a UK one (EU) ... or re-take a test (other countries). This allows for visitors to the UK to borrow or hire a car or motorcycle, but can make things awkward in terms of buying and insuring your own vehicle - especially if you have already been in the country for a month or two, as your American licence would no longer be accepted as valid by the time a 12 month policy expired.

Also, although you would be covered to the legal minimum to ride your motorcycle in EU countries indefinitely with just your UK Certificate of Insurance as proof, no insurer (that I know of) will give you a Green Card that will cover the whole period of the policy. They will give you a Green Card, but it will generally be limited to 30 or 45 days foreign travel per year. As I said, to travel in the EU, you don't need one as long as you accept that you will only be covered for third party risks. The way the insurers get round this seemingly blatant flouting of the European Insurance Directive, is to include comprehensive cover and breakdown for 30 - 45 days. And, remember, there are countries in Europe that you may wish to visit that are a) not in the EU (so require a Green Card) and b) require a Green Card but that UK insurers will not cover (the Baltic States and Russia spring to mind).

Thanks for the detailed info!

My thinking was this:

1) I keep the registration the same (Ireland),
2) Purchase "green card insurance" which, as far as I understand, would cover me everywhere except Ireland (due to being registered there)

Northern Ireland would just be a spot where I could ride legally in "Ireland", and is close enough that I would feel confident riding there without Irish insurance- once I'm across the border, the "green card" would cover me.

Am I making mistakes on this? Thanks again!
gw

Hi GW,

As for the storage you can contact Martin at Motofeirme (google it).

He also have his sticky thread here on the HUBB.

You're right with your last post, except we can get you a green card/third party liability insurance that will cover you in Ireland also, PM me or check my signature.

cheers
Dooby

Thanks Frgich!

I know of Martin, he's been very helpful already, yes! I had originally intended to purchase via him, but found an absolutely perfect bike up in Dublin that I couldn't give up, and Martin was (understandably!) too busy to be able to trek up there from Cork and take care of the purchase/etc. Luckily I found an acquaintance to help with that, but sadly there the bike sits, un-insured and looking pretty for no one...

If you can help me obtain insurance that would cover me here + EU, that would be lovely! I've sent a PM, and included my phone number. Thanks much, that would be a trip-saver!!

Best,
Gabriel W

Border insurance 90 day policy sent via email, original one will be sent by mail on monday :thumbup1:

Hopefully we'll drink a cold beer on Lobagola B&B terrace in coming months bier

Thanks for your business G,

Dooby

Thanks so much Dooby!! I can't begin to tell you how excited I am to finally be ready to ride! Really appreciate all the time and hassle it must have been to get this all sorted same-day. I think we had about 50 emails, multiple addresses, and who knows what else.

Beer is on me when I arrive, that's for sure :D

No probs G, glad we solved the thing before the weekend, but it was a short call bier

Dooby

I would appreciate a beer as well :)
Glad it all got sorted.
There is a client of mine on a blue KLR at the HU meeting. Say hi to him.

WW

You betcha! Many thanks!bier

Finally picked up the bike, and rode it "home"! Absolutely in love with this GT550, what a bike :D

Here are a few photos, so yall can see what I've been lusting over this whole time ;) That classic look is just killer, to me. And it rides...like a dream.

(Wasn't able to make it to the meetup, day got late and rain came in- just booked it down the backroads to Galway, from Dublin. Another time!)

Huge, huge thanks to Dooby, Martin, Phil, John H, and others for the help that made this work out. Ready to roll!