Hello,

My husband and I are Australians who want to buy a car in the UK and drive it to Iran through Europe (incl. Eastern Europe), Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan etc. We want to leave ASAP once we have the practicalities sorted.

Our plan is to then drive back to the UK by Christmas and sell the car there (this way we don't have to pay for export etc).

It has been much more difficult than expected finding out about insurance for this, and I was hoping some of the HU readers might be able to help us. Most importantly, we want to have third party liability insurance for the entire trip.

So, our questions are:

(1) Has anyone else done this trip?

(2) Did you buy international insurance? A few insurance companies (including Clements that I read about on another HU thread) have said they will cover us for Europe and Turkey, but not Iran (or the 'Stans' area).

(3) If you did manage to buy international insurance that covered Iran etc, who did you go through and how much did it cost (roughly)?

(4) The other option we are considering is buying insurance for Europe and Turkey, then buying insurance at the border for these other countries (eg Iran). Does anyone know if this is possible, or have you done it? Is it easy enough to do?

(5) Any other tips on sorting out the practicalities for such a trip, especially around insurance, would be very much appreciated.

Please forgive us for not doing it by bike (we'd love to but need a bit more practice before we'd be comfortable riding rather than driving)!

Thanks so much!

Annabelle

Hi. In 2012 I rode a motorbike thru Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Kosovo, Serbia, Montenegro, Turkey and Georgia. I had to buy Ins at the borders of Albania Kosovo Montenegro and Turkey, all insurance was cheap ( less than 20 euros for one month and Montenegro was only 10 Euros for a month.
Turkey was more expensive at 50 Euros but it lasts for 6 months and you can leave the country and re-enter and still use the time left on it. Georgia do not ask for insurance which is just as well because no Georgian knows how to drive. Don,t know about Az or Armenia. To enter Iran you will need a cdp. At the Turkish Iranian border it's possible to buy a 2 week cdp from this guy : www.overlandtoiran.com don't know how much it is.
Georgia is a fantastic country full of fantastic people, unfailingly helpful generous and er drunk, but you can't have everything. Turkish visas are available at the border for 20 euros ( 6 month multi-entry ) if you need one. Petrol in Turkey is 2 euros a liter, the most expensive in the world I believe but riding thru Istanbul was unforgettable and amazing. Hope this rambling reply helps, Jim

Thanks for you reply Jim, it sounds like you had an amazing journey!

It's great to hear you can buy insurance at the border for Albania, Kosovo Montenegro and Turkey.

I guess the main thing we want to know is if it's worth taking out car insurance before we go for Iran when it's so expensive and difficult (if not impossible).

If we knew we could buy insurance for Iran at the border that would be awesome. It would be much easier than trying to do it from afar. Anyone got info on this?

(1) Has anyone else done this trip?

I have not done this trip

(2) Did you buy international insurance? A few insurance companies (including Clements that I read about on another HU thread) have said they will cover us for Europe and Turkey, but not Iran (or the 'Stans' area).

Most "normal" insurance will give you up to 30 days cover within the EU and you can normally buy a bolt on for more! - WHAT EVER YOU DO ASK BEFORE YOU BUY!

(3) If you did manage to buy international insurance that covered Iran etc, who did you go through and how much did it cost (roughly)?

Insurance for both Turkey and Iran is available at the border, ask the myriad of officials AND DO RESARCH BEFORE YOU GET THERE!

(4) The other option we are considering is buying insurance for Europe and Turkey, then buying insurance at the border for these other countries (eg Iran). Does anyone know if this is possible, or have you done it? Is it easy enough to do?

lots of people on here seem to have done that!

(5) Any other tips on sorting out the practicalities for such a trip, especially around insurance, would be very much appreciated.

VISA's make sure you have all of them before you go and a Carnet de Passages en Douane. sometimes called a Carnet de Passages or just Carnet!

other than that good luck and have a great time!

Thanks so much Brendan for your reply.

You say that insurance for both Turkey and Iran is available at the border, and to do research. I've been trying to find information about this and haven't had any luck. Do you have sites or other HU threads that might be useful?

Yes it's going to be a great trip! Thanks again!

@annabelle

1-If your green card doesnt cover Turkey, you can buy road insurance for turkey at all gates to europe.Turkish touring automobile club offices and some private insurance booths available for this purpose. 24 hours service at gates to greece and bulgaria.no worries.
here is link to turkish automobile club address at gates for insurance policy.
http://www.turing.org.tr/tr/burolar.asp

2-when you are entering iran, some fake officers will welcome you at iran red zone area and ask your passports to do paperwork then at the end they will ask for some commission.

If you do paperwork yourself, booths available to buy insurance.At dogbiscuit gate, its the red building 150 meters down the gate.

All the best.

__________________
Mehmet Zeki Avar
''Borderlines divide countries,HU friendship finds a way to reunited"
https://www.facebook.com/mehmet.avar.12?ref=tn_tnmn

Hi Mehmet,

Thanks so much for that, your response was very helpful!

Just three quick questions more:

(1) What is the 'dogbiscuit' gate when you enter Iran?

(2) I read elsewhere that Iran has recently closed its borders to travellers entering by car. I understand that British, Canadian and US travellers now have more trouble and need a guide (but we are Australian so this isn't a problem for us). Have you heard this rumour and do you know if there is any truth to it?

(3) We are planning on arranging our Iranian visa when we get to Turkey. I see you live in Istanbul - do you by any chance know if this is possible to do from Turkey? We'd be going through an agent rather than trying to do it ourselves.

Thanks so much for all your help, I really appreciate it.

:-)

Hi

We did UAE to UK in 2011 and spent a month in Iran and also in Turkey before coming up thro Serbia etc.

Green Card Insc for the whole trip was arranged by Home through AXA in Germany. Excellent. You may have to wait a bit for Maria Alessie to contact you as she travels a bit. From memory it cost about E350 but I would expect that to have increased.

Iran is absolutely fantastic.Fab people,FAB POLICE,fab place. We still have a half plan to return some time.

The border post at Dogubayazit is hassle free(mostly).Don't forget to spent a day or two in Doggie and eat in the small resto's along the main street.Some of the best food in Turkey.

I have also seen mixed reports about entry and guides.My own feeling is that it is not necessary as there is no admin infra to support such a system. I would personally just pitch up at the border and see what happens.If they try and give you a guide say you will decline to come in and see what happens next because they are extremely friendly people,keen on outside contact.

If you do decide not to go in then just take a different route back thro Turkey which will reward you.We completely changed our plan for Turkey due to the Van earthquake and headed North to Trebzond and then along the Black Sea. Stunning!

Do not be put off by hearsay.Just rock up yourself and seen what happens. A great country full of wonderful people and experiences.