Here's the deal, we were expecting we could buy a bike, insure it and ride it around the UK and Europe. Well it appears I cannot. Never thought it would be cheap but not impossible. I am a British citizen with a British passport that I will renew once we get there. I have an International Driver's License with both car and motorcycle permits.
Can anyone enlighten me if there are ways around this. Are there further requirements to ride on the Continent and Ireland ?
At this point I'm feeling a sense of humour failure coming on.
I know it can be done Col, there was a bloke from Aussie that took his (and mates) bikes over to UK, rode there & on the continent for a month or so then shipped them home, there was a thread about it on here. I'll see if I can track it down.
Barmy & Rynglieder would know, as would Irish Jeff.
Cheers Col. Amazing there are no insurance requirements here. I've seen first hand (as the repairer) the drama it causes for the innocent party.
I have a UK residential address and licence / passport I use for a few UK based things. Not sure it'd help or be great for insurance there as I'd still have a 19 year gap in my UK bike cover though if I tried to insure as a resident.
Sorry I don't know the answers but I'm sure it's do-able. Foreigners riding / driving in the UK is pretty common and I'm sure there's a way to get cover.
If I can think of anyone to ask I'll find out, but folk overseas are probably better clue'd up than Poms.
Ring your current insurer and ask them to cover you to tour abroad, or have you already tried that?
I had to start from scratch i.e. no NCB. Had to prove I rode big capacity bikes, even though I am a British Citizen on my return I was not a resident. It's all up to the insurance company.
In the past on my frequent visits for 6 weeks or so I was put on my fathers policy for car that was no hassle only a phone call and about 40 quid payment, bikes are not the same in that regard.
Col if it was easy you would be welcome to one of my bikes, I know you would take the Honda.
What about a bike touring company or a bike hire place, more expensive I know but insurance wise you'd be covered
Another insurance complication between Britain and Europe is the Green Card, I actually require this to travel from the North to South i.e. Belfast to Dublin.
https://www.mib.org.uk/making-a-claim/accidents-in-the-uk-involving-a-foreign-registered-vehicle/green-card-system-explained/
Have a look on the hubb or their fb group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thehubb/?ref=share
It's for people planning overland trips etc. I know I've seen this question before but can't find the posts right now. There's loads of knowledge in the group.
I'd say just use that UK address and it'd be fine though. All UK insurance gives you 90 days in the EU and some other countries too. Normally the biggest issue is needing a UK address and you don't have that problem
If you haven't already I would try insurers who specialise in motorcycles.
Carol Nash:
https://www.carolenash.com/ppc/uk-brand?msclkid=47298846dfe316c9e1e6ec0515ab8862&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=CN-Brand%20-%20Bing&utm_term=carole%20nash&utm_content=BC%20|%20Carole%20Nash%20Insurance
Bemoto
https://www.bemoto.uk/
I've been insured with both in the past and a UK policy usually includes 90 days EU use.
If you are still struggling PM me and I'll see if I can think of anything else.
Pete.
@Kiwifruit see this article https://www.carolenash.com/tips-guides/biking-tips/can-i-get-motorbike-insurance-foreign-licence
Looks like Carole Nash
may be able to assist - but sounds like it could be $$$$$$$ expensive even if they can - and I'm not overly sure they can help, as from doing a number of searches across various forums and other sites today, the over-riding criteria seems to be that they want UK resident status. SOme forums suggested speaking with your own (NZ) insurance company to see if they could assist.
But have to say from what I've read today, its unlikely as you are not a UK resident Colin
Quote from: Hooli on Saturday, 22 April 2023, 06:58 PMHave a look on the hubb or their fb group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thehubb/?ref=share
All UK insurance gives you 90 days in the EU and some other countries too.
As a matter of interest how do you log the 90 days, my policy covers 365 days probably because I could be in and out of Europe everyday if I wanted to.
Quote from: gsxbarmy on Sunday, 23 April 2023, 12:19 AM@Kiwifruit see this article https://www.carolenash.com/tips-guides/biking-tips/can-i-get-motorbike-insurance-foreign-licence
Looks like Carole Nash may be able to assist - but sounds like it could be $$$$$$$ expensive even if they can - and I'm not overly sure they can help, as from doing a number of searches across various forums and other sites today, the over-riding criteria seems to be that they want UK resident status. SOme forums suggested speaking with your own (NZ) insurance company to see if they could assist.
But have to say from what I've read today, its unlikely as you are not a UK resident Colin
I had a read of this, think it just about covers it.
Col, have a look at GetRouted. They mainly move bikes all round the world but might have some answers for you.
Thanks for all your advice guys, please keep it coming. My brother has a house an hour from London so I do have a UK address. How would they know if I said I was returning to England to live after 5 years under the evil communist dictator Jacinda.
Quote from: Kiwifruit on Monday, 24 April 2023, 04:47 AMThanks for all your advice guys, please keep it coming. My brother has a house an hour from London so I do have a UK address. How would they know if I said I was returning to England to live after 5 years under the evil communist dictator Jacinda.
They probably wouldn't, however, if you were unfortunate enough to have an accident, then you might find yourself uninsured. Trust me, insurance companies in the UK utilise the small print every way they can in the event of something happening and if they find you haven't declared something - like not being a resident - then you could be in big trouble with the possibility of prosecution as well.
One of the questions on the insurance form you have to fill in when you are taking out insurance is how long you have lived at the address you are providing and in some cases, they also ask for your previous address. Instant gotcha.
Quote from: gsxbarmy on Monday, 24 April 2023, 08:10 AMQuote from: Kiwifruit on Monday, 24 April 2023, 04:47 AMThanks for all your advice guys, please keep it coming. My brother has a house an hour from London so I do have a UK address. How would they know if I said I was returning to England to live after 5 years under the evil communist dictator Jacinda.
They probably wouldn't, however, if you were unfortunate enough to have an accident, then you might find yourself uninsured. Trust me, insurance companies in the UK utilise the small print every way they can in the event of something happening and if they find you haven't declared something - like not being a resident - then you could be in big trouble with the possibility of prosecution as well.
One of the questions on the insurance form you have to fill in when you are taking out insurance is how long you have lived at the address you are providing and in some cases, they also ask for your previous address. Instant gotcha.
Agreed. As I said, I have a UK address, citizenship and driving licence.
Although it ticks a few box's it wouldn't be hard to work out what I was doing. Insurance company's are happy to take your money, it's the paying out bit they aren't so keen on.
It does seem a little bit of a grey area as I could properly move back to the UK and be in a similar situation. Folk moving and changing their mind either way is quite common.
https://www.withersworldwide.com/en-gb/insight/read/am-i-uk-resident-the-statutory-residence-test-explained#:~:text=You%20will%20normally%20be%20treated,on%20183%20days%20or%20more.
Basically 6 months, Oz is the same so I will have the problem on my return. I also have the luxury of paying more tax as I am now a non-resident in Oz.
Quote from: Irish in Oz on Sunday, 23 April 2023, 07:11 AMQuote from: Hooli on Saturday, 22 April 2023, 06:58 PMHave a look on the hubb or their fb group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thehubb/?ref=share
All UK insurance gives you 90 days in the EU and some other countries too.
As a matter of interest how do you log the 90 days, my policy covers 365 days probably because I could be in and out of Europe everyday if I wanted to.
The only thing I've ever seen in the terms & conditions suggests it's a 90 day per trip limit as there was a mention of travel dates needing to be proved.
I'm seething, non resident insurance ain't gonna happen. Spoke with Carole Nash nope we don't do it they say.
Spoke with a delightful lady at Superbike Rentals she confirmed it cannot happen and they have nothing they can offer for continuous hire longer than 3 weeks.
Suppose I could steal one and ride it with not a care in the world.....bit like the scum do here. To be honest I wouldn't know how to.
Do it all legally......errr NO !! :furious:
What about renting a bike on the continent like in the Netherlands? Then take it across on the ferry. Surely they have international tourists doing bike tours all the time.
Looking into that Eric :onya:
I'm seething, non resident insurance ain't gonna happen. Spoke with Carole Nash nope we don't do it they say.
Spoke with a delightful lady at Superbike Rentals she confirmed it cannot happen and they have nothing they can offer for continuous hire longer than 3 weeks.
Suppose I could steal one and ride it with not a care in the world.....bit like the scum do here. To be honest I wouldn't know how to.
Do it all legally......errr NO !!
You're right Col, I phoned my insurance company (BeMoto) yesterday to ask on your behalf, they say no and they had no idea who might be able to help.
I was having a look around & found this thread https://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php/578198-Short-term-bike-insurance-for-non-UK-licence-holder
Seems a couple of people managed what you want to do last year & there's some emails for people at Adrian Flux (a broker like Carole Nash) in the thread who I'd say are worth contacting.
Col, on the GetRouted site they say insurance was found somewhere in Germany.
Quote from: grog on Wednesday, 26 April 2023, 06:11 PMCol, on the GetRouted site they say insurance was found somewhere in Germany.
Via ADAC?
I'd seen that too elsewhere, but couldn't find a link to them in English.
Thanks guys. Barmy put me onto a rental outfit close to my brother's place. Will ring them soon :onya: