Travel Insurance - Third Party Liability - Opinions Sought!

[andysdad]

I am going to the USA later this year, renting a bike via Eagle Riders.

On checked my Getgoing Travel policy IF I UNDERSTAND IT CORRECTLY then Third Party (injury and property damages) is NOT covered if the rental vehicle company offered me Liability cover but I refuse it!

Seems unfair but the wording of my policy states it does not cover -

"claims where an indemnity is provided under any other insurance or where it falls on you by agreement and would not have done if such agreement did not exist. i.e. rental disclaimer"

Have I read that right? The second bit seems to say that if I refuse the hirer's Third Party cover (by agreeing NOT to have it) then I have agreed to indemnify it myself ("falls on you").

Might be worth checking your own policies as I assumed that, at the very least, travel insurance provided us with some third party liability.

All (pertinent) comments gratefully received!

A

 

[wessie]

You will not be able to drive the vehicle without 3rd party & theft cover. Your options to decline cover will be for options such as excess waiver or own damage cover.

No travel policy will cover you for third party liability if using a vehicle - that is what the vehicle policy is for, which a minimum level of cover will be a legal requirement.

Your travel policy will cover your injuries if you are involved in a bike accident that is your fault. It gets complicated if someone else is injured in the same accident if they are also named on the travel policy. Does that person, probably a family member, claim on the travel insurance or the bike insurance if you are at fault? In reality the insurers will come to some agreement and share liability. However, what the Get Going policy seems to say is that they will not pay anything which you could have covered by taking options on the vehicle policy - this might be the insurance excess so you end up losing the excess on each policy which could be a considerable chunk, especially on the bike hire policy.

I have used the Get Going policy and it seems a decent policy and quite clear. Wording here: https://www.getgoinginsurance.co.uk/policy-wordings/ - not needed to claim so no idea of that aspect.

I think you are over-thinking the meaning of that warning as it just makes it clear that the personal indemnity will not apply if another policy should be in place such as a vehicle policy. It covers their arse against an uninsured driver.

Where I would be wary is the small print of the bike policy. Make sure you know what the excesses are if you decline the excess waiver. Make sure you know what your liability is if you damage the bike yourself. Investigate the possibility of taking out your own collision damage waiver and excess waiver cover. All explained here http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-car-hire

 

[wessie]

You will of course have the full personal liability on holiday for non-vehicle incidents from the Get Going policy e.g. bursting a child's eardrum with an excessively loud fart or traumatising a German by crossing a road when the red man is showing.

 

[andysdad]

Wessie - incisive posts, many thanks.

I had forgotten the other clause excluding anything to do with vehicles; that trumps all other considerations, so please ignore me.

I am considering the independent excess route - see my other thread. My thinking is to get the bare minimum TP from the hirer and cover the excess myself via the policy - unfortunately I've had no replies to the other thread yet.

Insurance is a minefield.

 

[GADGET]

Do GETGOING cover motor cycle riding, I looked at the policy details and couldn't find any reference, good company? worth using?

 

[wessie]

Do GETGOING cover motor cycle riding, I looked at the policy details and couldn't find any reference, good company? worth using?

if you open the pdf of the policy and search "motorc" you will find 4 references.
http://www.secure-travelinsurance.co.uk/b2c/documents/Basic_v2_RTXGG40089_01_04.pdf

1. must have a licence or at least CBT
2. must wear a helmet
3. theft of personal items only covered if item is in a locked boot of car or motorcycle pannier
4. extension option: activity pack 3 needed to cover off road riding

I find the website easy to use to get a quote even with complex health matters. The policy wording is clear and there are no restrictions on motorcycle touring beyond quite reasonable ones of having a licence and wearing a helmet.

The main underwriter is German which is probably a good thing. I have not claimed but there do not seem to be any horror stories on the internet. 80% rating on Trustpilot.

 

[GADGET]

Thanks, will see what they quote, have a few trips planned this year