Travel insurance, when riding a motorcycle

bigtwin said:
But, according to that you're not covered if you didn’t ride the motorcycle from the UK (for example, if you stick a motorcycle (>125cc) in the back of your MH and then drive the MH to the continent).

Ian
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Possibly correct BigTwin ; the terms of the insurance states riding a motorcycle and this thread’s title is riding a motorcycle.
Putting it in your MH is cheating and possibly cancels your NatWest travel insurance . I say possibly , because it’s not my decision .
 
I took out a Revolut Metal card because of their (seemingly) excellent travel insurance which does not exclude motorcycling and does include repatriation, and covers trips up to 90 days.
 
GrinningGSer said:
Possibly correct BigTwin ; the terms of the insurance states riding a motorcycle and this thread’s title is riding a motorcycle.
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Well, the issue is the exclusion where they, clearly, are not happy to provide cover for “riding a motorcycle“ under those specific circumstances.

GrinningGSer said:
Putting it in your MH is cheating and possibly cancels your NatWest travel insurance .
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The NatWest insurance provides cover for various modes of transport not just motorcycles (provided, of course, that, in the case of motorcycles, it was your mode of transport from home).

It’s a bloody pain in the neck for those of us who take our bikes overseas in the back of a van.
 
bigtwin said:
It’s a bloody pain in the neck for those of us who take our bikes overseas in the back of a van.
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It’s a ludicrous pre-condition, designed simply to stop bods getting up after a night on the sangria and turps, thinking “Mate, I fancy a blast on an awesome steed, hired from Pepe the goat fecker”.

HSBC’s travel policy had the same limitation, which made no sense to me, so I rang them:

Me: I have a full UK licence to ride motorcycles. Why might it be more dangerous (ie. risky) for me to hire one abroad?

Them: Um….. er……

Me: Can we agree that me flying from A to B is statistically far safer than me riding a motorcycle along the same A to B route?

Them: Yes, flying is the safest form of travel there is.

Me: Then it would be safer (ie. exposing you, the insurer, to less risk) if I flew down and then hired a bike; yes or no?

Them: Yes, that’s true.

Me: Can we also agree that me driving in a car, towing a motorcycle behind or it being strapped into a van, is also safer than me riding from A to B?

Them: Yes, that is also true.

Me: Then your stipulation that I ride my motorcycle from A to B, has increased your exposure to my potentially injuring myself and has not reduced it.

Them… Um…. Yes, I see what you mean. We’ll delete the pre-condition.

Me: Thank you.

Job done.
 
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Wapping said:
It’s a ludicrous pre-condition, designed simply to stop bods getting up after a night on the sangria and turps, thinking “Mate, I fancy a blast on an awesome steed, hired from Pepe the goat fecker”.

HSBC’s travel policy had the same limitation, which made no sense to me, so I rang them:

Me: I have a full UK licence to ride motorcycles. Why might it be more dangerous (ie. risky) for me to hire one abroad?

Them: Um….. er……

Me: Can we agree that me flying from A to B is statistically far safer than me riding a motorcycle along the same A to B route?

Them: Yes, flying is the safest form of travel there is.

Me: Then it would be safer (ie. exposing you, the insurer, to less risk) if I flew down and then hired a bike; yes or no?

Them: Yes, that’s true.

Me: Can we also agree that me driving in a car, towing a motorcycle behind or it being strapped into a van, is also safer than me riding from A to B?

Them: Yes, that is also true.

Me: Then your stipulation that I ride my motorcycle from A to B, has increased your exposure to my potentially injuring myself and has not reduced it.

Them… Um…. Yes, I see what you mean. We’ll delete the pre-condition.

Me: Thank you.

Job done.
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That was a result!

Your logic was flawless, and effective.

Ive had a similar conversation but without the positive outcome that you achieved.
 
It was maybe helped that I worked for HSBC’s insurance broking arm, but that in itself should not make a difference. With calls like this it’s pot luck who you talk to. Understandably, the lesser the chimp at the other end of the phone, the less likely they are to even listen, let alone be in any position to understand or, help in any way. It’s computer says no, which (in a sense) is a good thing, as it probably stops two chimps (one on each end of the phone line) confusing the hell out of each other.
 
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Wapping said:
It was maybe helped that I worked for HSBC’s insurance broking arm, but that in itself should not make a difference. With calls like this it’s pot luck who you talk to. Understandably, the lesser the chimp at the other end of the phone, the less likely they are to even listen, let alone be in any position to understand or, help in any way. It’s computer says no, which (in a sense) is a good thing, as it probably stops two chimps (one on each end of the phone line) confusing the hell out of each other.
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it's very handy when you can post a link to your profile on the job intranet in a, "don't you know who I am" style.
 
wessie said:
it's very handy when you can post a link to your profile on the job intranet in a, "don't you know who I am" style.
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I simply rang the number on the policy. They possibly listened a bit harder when I explained I worked for HSBC. Why not, as it was the truth.

More importantly, what view might the Ombudsman hold? If asked by a client, I’d say “The pre-condition is unenforceable, as it fails on the logic put forward”. Don’t forget we are dealing with Joe Public and decisions generally head in the innocent’s favour.
 
Puffin Insurance have always been my go to as they've always been happy to confirm that I am covered to ride my own motorcycle as long as I starting and finishing each trip in the UK.
I rang them this morning and was told, however, that is not the case and never has been.
When I queried this she insisted that she was right and that I would be covered to ride my motorcycle to and from a holiday destination and maybe for a few days out on the motorcycle while I was there but that I would definitely not be covered to go on a motorcycle touring holiday where I would be riding the motorcycle every day that I was away. I explained that this was contrary to the information I had always been given previously and indeed had been confirmed before buying travel insurance from Puffin but she was adamant that everyone else had been wrong and that she was right. I asked to speak to someone higher to clarify things but she told me that they would only say the same thing before cold transferring me to the claims team where I spoke to an advisor who didn't even understand the question.
I've sent an e-mither to their customer service team and asked them to clarify things.
 
I've just checked the policy wording on my last policy with Puffin which seems to make it clear that I would be covered as long as I wear a crash helmet and comply with local laws and regulations.


Screenshot_20240708_114947_OneDrive.jpg
 
The only bit I don't understand is the asterisked bit saying there would be no cover under Section 5 - Legal and Liability, I presume this relates to me actually being insured to drive/ride said vehicle which would cover that omission from Puffin's policy (if that makes sense)?
 
Apologies to Wapping and Wessie if I've added this to the wrong thread, please feel free to move it to the correct thread if you feel it would be better placed elsewhere.
TY Comrades.
 
I don't mind, I'll defer to your superior knowledge as to if/where it needs moving at all.
TY again.
 
It can stay here.

To answer your question; Yes, the liability section of your travel policy will exclude your liability to third parties, arising out of you causing injury or damage to them, whilst you are driving a motor vehicle, That liability will be picked up by your motor insurer, assuming you are insured to drive the vehicle in question. Oddly enough, you don’t hear too many “But I don’t want a claim under me motor policy, ‘cos me premium will go up” in these instances.
 
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