personal motorcycle travel insurance?

[tweedy453]

Just a quick one peeps !!! can any one recommend a good company that they have used for travel insurance while in Europe, I will be taking my nhs medical card e111 i think but would also like to cover all bases with a good personal travel insurance !!! any suggestions advice greatly appreciated

 

[wessie]

there's a sticky thread at the top of the travel forum with reams of information about personal travel insurance http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=114792

Simplest option is to visit the Post Office website but there are many more options.

 

[tweedy453]

cheers for the link wessie! had a quick blat through the link sounds all of the insurance companys are a set of t~@* looking for any excuse to not pay!! nothing new there then!!! think i'll plump for the good old post man pat

 

[Riktus]

Post office good value if you want say a family cover for 12 months. Only other one that looked pretty good was NCI (rescuemycar.com) but it was a few years since I looked so dont know if they do it now.

I am with Post Office at moment but travel on business and liesure at least 5 or 6 times a year so it made more sense to have annual and family cover for me.

Rik

 

[tweedy453]

ended up going with vehicle rescue direct for both breakdown and travel insurance, they seem to have a good reputation with the breakdown side of things going by comments from other users on here so fingers crossed i dont need either of them!!

thanks for the input rik all the best jon

 

[Our Gee]

Read and double read the small print on any Travel Insurance Policy. Make sure that because the "Main Purpose of Your Trip" is Motorcycle Touring that you are covered. Many policies only allow "incidental" motorcycling which is no good for a dedicated Motorcycle Touring Trip. Also make sure that you are covered for both personal and bike repatriation in the event that you are unable to ride due to illness or injury (bike related or not). For example, you trip on a kerb and break an ankle.

 

[mrsroynie]

Tweedy seems to be sorted but, at the risk of sounding like a stuck record, I'll add my two favoured motorcycle travel insurers (particularly useful if you're not resident in the UK):

Bikers Travel Insurance - offered by HC Travel. Does what it says on the tin and you don't have to be participating in any of their organised tours.

Harrison Beaumont - offer a range of policies including Personal Accident (may be useful for those doing the BMW Off Road Skills courses) and European or Worldwide single trip or annual travel insurance policies for those of a more adventurous nature. Many sports are covered under their basic policy, but motorcycle touring (bikes over 50cc), scuba, skiing, etc (with equipment cover if not covered by household or motor ins.) can be added.

 

[stonehenge]

I understand that it is good to have breakdown and travel insurance - but why specifically for Motorcycles? If you didn't have a car licence and the bike was your only form of transport, then you are just on a holiday not a bike tour?

So doesn't your UK bike insurance cover you? (I know this is just for the EU)

Last year, I paid more with the travel insurance company to cover large motorcycle use, but on reading the small print, I actually believe this was for hire use whilst on holiday

 

[mrsroynie]

I understand that it is good to have breakdown and travel insurance - but why specifically for Motorcycles? If you didn't have a car licence and the bike was your only form of transport, then you are just on a holiday not a bike tour?

So doesn't your UK bike insurance cover you? (I know this is just for the EU)

Last year, I paid more with the travel insurance company to cover large motorcycle use, but on reading the small print, I actually believe this was for hire use whilst on holiday

The problem really is around medical cover for the supposed increased risk of riding a motorcycle as a main form of transport - especially if you're into trail riding etc. It also, of course, covers cancellation if, like us, you ship your bike somewhere and intend to fly out to meet it. These are fairly specialist conditions that I suspect most ordinary holiday policies would restrict. But you're right in that luggage/equipment, breakdown etc is often covered under your motor insurance policy.

 

[Our Gee]

Another often overlooked option is to extend your "normal" bike insurance to include "Foreign Use". The majority of insurers only provide the very basic cover whilst you are abroad ie 3rd party. If your bike is stolen or damaged you really need the "Foreign Use" endorsement on your schedule. Sometimes this will be provided free for short trip (ring your insurer with your travel dates) or an additional fee will be payable. My Car insurer charges me about £20 for annual "Foreign Use". Last year Swinton provided "Foreign Use" cover free for the duration of my 2 week trip.