US resident, bike insurance for UK Holiday
 

Hi,

I have been looking through some related threads but cant find anything specific to my issue so apologies if I have missed something.

I am a UK resident and a friend and I are booked to go to the Isle of Man for the TT races this June. I naively figured he could simply borrow my other bike and secure temp / short term insurance. Little did I know that most if not all UK insurance companies will not touch non-UK residents (He is an American citizen with an american license). The bike is in my name and is insured by me but I am unable to add him to my insurance policy and as yet have not found anyone willing to offer temp cover. The big insurance companies (Bennetts, MCE, CN etc) have been absolutely no help at all! All we need is cover to make it legal for him to ride...I am not worried about the level of cover only that he is fully legal.

Has anyone else managed to find a solution to this? I have seen an older thread where an American citizen secured insurance through a German underwriter for a trip to Europe on a UK registered motorbike but had to register the bike in their name, unfortunately all the links are dead now. In any event, I am not sure how that would work if they do not have a UK registered home address...?

The short answer of course is to hire a motorcycle but that can get very expensive, very quickly.

Any advice will be greatly received as I am running out of ideas!

Thanks.

Hi Gavin,

I will try to get more info if we can help you out Lobagola - Border insurance

We provide third party liability insurance, and I need to check out if you can issue a letter for your friend that will allow him to ride your bike, and he will be insured through third party liability policy (not a compulsory insurance).

Cheers
Dooby

Hi Dooby,

I have actually found an insurer in UK that will provide cover for my friend on my motorcycle but it is obviously quite costly as it is full policy coverage for the duration of his stay.

However, 3rd party liability insurance is really all we need. Can you explain how that would work for us and confirm that it is legal in UK / Isle of Man? I don't want him to get in trouble with the Police if there is an issue!

Just to confirm, this is a UK registered motorcycle which is owned and registered to myself and insurance will be to cover my guest from USA as an American citizen while riding my motorcycle in England & IoM.

Thanks,

Gavin

Hi Gavin,

Got confirmation info today, that it's possible to issue third party liability insurance policy on your motorcycle that has UK plates and it will be driven by your friend that is US citizen.
Our third party liability insurance policy will cover you through UK, Ireland, Scotland etc.

You also need to obtain a letter from notary that you as owner of the motorcycle that will be driven by your friend are allowing your friend to ride your bike.

Let me know if you need any more info from us.

Cheers
Dooby

Hi Dooby, can I contact you directly about the insurance discussed last year? I may need your help with the 3rd party liability insurance discussed. Thanks!

Gavin.

You may have it covered but be aware that the Isle of Man is not part of the UK.

Of course you can, or directly to our email: borderinsurance@lobagola.com

cheers
Dooby

Technically it's a "Crown Protectorate" which means although it's largely self governing it acts to a large degree as if it was UK. Check the small print of your motor insurance policy to make sure you're covered, but you should be.

The only other point to bear in mind is that your health insurance should specifically state cover on the IoM as the reciprocal agreement between them and the UK has been on and off in past years.