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What type of insurance do I need? What type of insurance do I need?
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Trip Paperwork Covers all documentation, carnets, customs and country requirements, how to deal with insurance etc.
Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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Photo by Marc Gibaud,
Clouds on Tres Cerros and
Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



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  • 1 Post By Sprocket Square
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  #1  
Old 18 Jul 2016
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What type of insurance do I need?
Very sorry if this has been covered but I don't understand what policies I need.

Since I'm about to ride around the world, no UK insurer will cover my bike out of EU for 90+days. I'm sure I need to prove vehicle insurance whilst I'm on the road though (e.g when I get to India and USA, cross a border etc?) As I technically don't have a residence - what country does it need to be from? Technically I don't live in the UK any more.

The navigator insurance that I read on the other sticky thread, says that its personal cover and does not cover the bike.

I'm clear that I need medical traveller cover and that's fine, but I want to know where I can get my bike covered for legality's sake. Many thanks
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  #2  
Old 20 Jul 2016
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Insurance
Hi

I've driven my 4x4/car through the middle east and africa. I've picked up insurance at the borders, which you will find is mandatory. It is 3rd party coverage...I've never worried about the coverage for my vehicle so have no information about that.

In 2017 I'm planning to drive to Europe where I'll need to produce my green card on entry. There is an insurance company in Switzerland that will issue that. I've sent them all my details and they are happy so all I have to do is send the money and give them the activation date. I shall purchase 90 day coverage.

For Senegal, Mauritania, and Morocco I shall purchase my insurance at the border. My 4x4 will be shipped to Senegal from RSA.

Happy Trails
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  #3  
Old 20 Jul 2016
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Originally Posted by crwaterhouse View Post

In 2017 I'm planning to drive to Europe where I'll need to produce my green card on entry. I shall purchase 90 day coverage.
I'll look in to that further - thanks. I just want to ensure I have what I need.
Like I said Cypriot insurer refused me so I don't know what will happen when I get to borders further afield.

So am I right in that there is no real global motor insurance, just for the country you are in and then the next one you got to (so lots of little ones). The only global policy is the personal medical one e.g navigator travel or similar?
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Old 20 Jul 2016
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So am I right in that there is no real global motor insurance, just for the country you are in and then the next one you got to (so lots of little ones). The only global policy is the personal medical one e.g navigator travel or similar?



Aye, there is no global motor insurance, you purchase the insurance on entry to each country.

I had a letter from my RSA insurance company saying that I was insured in the bordering countries but when I entered Moz or Bot I still had to purchase their insurance. The only multi country insurance I know is the 'green card' for the EU.
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  #5  
Old 20 Jul 2016
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Originally Posted by crwaterhouse View Post

I had a letter from my RSA insurance company saying that I was insured in the bordering countries but when I entered Moz or Bot I still had to purchase their insurance. The only multi country insurance I know is the 'green card' for the EU.
There is the comesa if you go a little further north, I bought one in Zambia and used it all the way to Egypt.
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  #6  
Old 20 Jul 2016
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Many thanks - all clear now
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Old 21 Jul 2016
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Originally Posted by mark manley View Post
There is the comesa if you go a little further north, I bought one in Zambia and used it all the way to Egypt.
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Thanks for that information Mark. I'll use comesa the next time I'm that way. Can comesa insurance be purchased in Ethiopia or Djibouti? I may return to SA via roro to Djibouti and down the East side.
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  #8  
Old 20 Jul 2016
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In every country the police will ask you for a document titled "Insurance" with some stamps but no insurance will actually cover you out there. As a forreigner you will have to pay in advance anyway or you wil end up in jail. Afterwards when your back home in Europa you can try to get your money back from a insurance company in Afrca HAHA

Enjoy your trip!
Adventure experience - motorcycle trip riding across Africa
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  #9  
Old 20 Jul 2016
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Thanks for the reply. When you say "Insurance" doc, can this be from another country or domestic. For example I am going to be riding in Cyprus (still in EU) and the local insurer will not insure my UK registered bike.

So when traveling around the world, is a UK insurance doc a mere box ticker to satisfy regulations, when in actual fact it doesn't really cover anything, just satisfies customs and police.

What do you mean by "As a forreigner you will have to pay in advance anyway or you wil end up in jail."
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Old 20 Jul 2016
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Originally Posted by Sprocket Square View Post
What do you mean by "As a forreigner you will have to pay in advance anyway or you wil end up in jail."
That means that outside of Europa it usuarly dont matter if you have a real insurence or not. If you have an accedent you will have to pay anyway...
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  #11  
Old 20 Jul 2016
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Originally Posted by Sprocket Square View Post
As I technically don't have a residence - what country does it need to be from? Technically I don't live in the UK any more.
I presume that your bike registration and any other documents will have a UK address so as far as any foreign official is concerned you are a UK resident, do not confuse or complicate things with anyone by saying you are not. Your UK insurance will cover you in the EU and after that you can get it at the border when entering a new country, it may or may not be worth the paper it is written on but it will satisfy police and make you legal there.
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  #12  
Old 20 Jul 2016
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Originally Posted by mark manley View Post
may not be worth the paper it is written on but it will satisfy police and make you legal there.
Haha true i payed 10$ bribe to a police when they found out i did not buy a insurance for 50$ at the boarder
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