Travel Insurance

[Colban]

An alternative no-ones mentioned yet.
www.direct-travel.co.uk
I used these people for cover on Bilkos Trans-US trip last month.
They cover 125cc+ bikes,and because of medical condition,they were cheaper than the Post Office for an annual policy.

 

[wessie]

Just a quick note anyone with travel insurance via your bank, DO NOT rely on it for any travel which is independant ie if you book flights and hotels over the net or travel abroad in or on a vehicle via the ferry and you are NOT part of a package deal.
Unless you pay extra on your free cover to become an INDEPENDANT traveller your free cover doesn't cover you.

Far as I can see Carole Nash appears to be one of the few who will give cover on bikes over 125cc.

Again, this is a question of reading the terms of the policy before you part with any cash for the trip.

The policy I have as part of my Alliance & Leicester, soon to be Santander, current account covers me as an independent traveller. If my bike breaks down on the way to the ferry I can claim for incidental expenses and missed departure. The policy is a standalone policy with Fortis, very similar to one you could buy from a broker.

I suspect Neil is referring to the "travel cover" offered by some credit card companies. The sort of bollocks advertised by Rowan Atkinson for Barclaycard. These policies are generally very restrictive and riddled with exclusions. In my view, it is best to steer well clear of them.

Neil's comment about 125cc & Carole Nash is misleading. There have been many companies listed in this thread who provide full cover for motorcycle related incidents. Almost all will stipulate that the rider must have a full licence and claimants must be wearing a helmet at the time of the incident.

 

[wessie]

An alternative no-ones mentioned yet.
www.direct-travel.co.uk
I used these people for cover on Bilkos Trans-US trip last month.
They cover 125cc+ bikes,and because of medical condition,they were cheaper than the Post Office for an annual policy.

Until last year, my "free" cover from A&L didn't cover bikes over 125cc. Thankfully, the T&Cs have changed and cover for all bikes is included now. One small benefit of the banking crisis as this change happened after the Belgian government was forced to nationalise the company.

However, in the past I have used Direct Travel too, for the same reason, i.e. they did not load the premium or impose any restrictions for my high blood pressure. Quite sensible really, as I don't have high BP as long as I keep taking the pills.

 

[Peter Rankin]

Post Office Insurance

perhaps Peter is a "technical manager" for another vendor of insurance products?

Yes I am a technical manager, but in the construction industry, with absolutely no involvement with the insurance industry.

I was merely drawing attention to the fact that an employee of the insurer concerned had stated that 'motorcycle touring' was not included under the term 'activity'. They may have been wrong and I will persue this further, but it will take time. The reason I raised the query in the first place is because in insurance terminology 'Activity' generally tends to mean something one does upon arrival at the destination, not during the journey.

Knowing that many on this forum recommend the PO insurace for the purpose of touring I thought it wise to draw attention to this interpretation, so that they can persue their own enquiries if they so wish.

For myself I needed the insurance now and I have used another company who actually states 'Motorcycle Touring' in their policy because I am not prepared to run the risk of bankrupting my family should the worst happen and any subsequent claim be rejected.

Regards

Peter

 

[andrewbenn]

Re-Travel insurance

Hello Friends..

I will also suggest you to take the services of "Essential Travels" organization...They cover your motorbike touring plus injuries,theft etc...My brother is a keen backpacker and he often used to visit new places by driving his bike..He's the regular customer of this company...So,you can also hire this one too..

With Regards,
Andrew Benn.
_______________________

Know more by clicking on villa in moraira | villa in denia and also on villa in pollensa.

 

[Smiler400]

I have a suggestion, re documents. Scan them onto a pc, mail them to yourself and save the mail on your email providers system. If you loose yours, you can access copies from an internet connection

 

[wessie]

I have a suggestion, re documents. Scan them onto a pc, mail them to yourself and save the mail on your email providers system. If you loose yours, you can access copies from an internet connection

good advice - I set up a gmail account just for backing up documents. If you don't have a scanner then a mobile phone or digital camera is good enough to take a snapshot of most documents.

The phone or camera are useful storage devices for documents themselves, as most can act as memory sticks. A solution for those worried about "cloud storage"

 

[Grazoid]

good advice - I set up a gmail account just for backing up documents. If you don't have a scanner then a mobile phone or digital camera is good enough to take a snapshot of most documents.

The phone or camera are useful storage devices for documents themselves, as most can act as memory sticks. A solution for those worried about "cloud storage"

In another place... someone has suggested downloading onto an SD or a micro SD card. Which is easy to stash on the bike, and gives the advantage of easy printing of the docs.

Personally though I am a +1 for gmail as it is remotely accessed and password controlled and not as easy to pick up and copy as a card.

 

[Rasher]

Often you are covered to rent a death ped and spank around with no preotective clothing, even if your 17 years old, have no licencee and have never ridden a bike before in your life, however...

If you have been riding 20 years, have a full licence, are taking your own bike your familiar with and wearing full protective kit your not covered, I can see how that makes sense - coming from the f***** financial services industry anyway.

I have started using Insure and Go, you have to notify them as the Motorcycling bit is a special condition (that just about doubles your costs) and it also prevents you taking a years policy with them as you have to get the add on seperately each time, so it gets pricey if you do many trips per year, but for my annual foreign tour it works OK.

I have tried phoning other brokers to find a yearly policy but failed, we also Dive and finding one that covers diving and motorcycling is impossible.

 

[stolzy]

The policy wording at ftp://ftp.royalmail.com/Downloads/public/ctf/po/F8760_Travel_Policy_Text_DocFV.pdf is quite clear.

Its very far from clear that it covers motorcycle touring. I'd want it confirmed in writing before I relied on it.

 

[Wapping]

Re. Stolzy's observation.

Motorcycle or motorcycling is only mentioned a couple of times in the document provided.

The capitalisation is mine.

Contract of Insurance

Sports and Activities

The following list details the sports and activities that this policy WILL cover as standard for no extra charge:

Driving or riding on a motorcycle or moped.

Motorcycling - NOT racing or competing*

There is NO cover under Section 11 - Personal liability for those sports or activities marked with*

-----------------------------------


Exclusions Applying to Sections 5, 6 & 7 – Medical Emergency and Associated Expenses, Hospital Benefit and Personal Accident

1. You are NOT covered for claims arising directly or indirectly from any of the following:

(j) Any claim arising from motorcycling where you are the driver or passenger UNLESS YOU OR THE DRIVER HOLDS A CURRENT AND VALID LICENCE WHICH ALLOWS YOU OR THEM TO RIDE A MOTORCYCLE AND YOU ARE WEARING A HELMET


So the only significant exclusion relating to motorcycling is Liability to third parties should you injure them whilst racing or competing on a motorcycle.

If anyone intends to race or compete on a motorcycle as opposed to simply going on holiday - what is sometimes known generically as 'touring' - I suggest they should look at buying a tailor made policy rather than an off the shelf (or off the Post Office counter) product and check carefully with the event's organisers.


PS But of course if anyone is ever unsure always ask the vendor of the policy for clarification before purchasing any cover, getting the answer(s) in writing preferably. Failing that, at least make a clear note of your conversation(s) with the vendor including the topic(s) discussed, date(s), time(s), with whom and the conclusions agreed on mutually. Relying on, 'Some bod said to my mate's mate, I think.....' is often not a great way to start a negotiation after the claim has occurred.

 

[Steptoe]

Relying on, 'Some bod said to my mate's mate, I think.....' is often not a great way to start a negotiation after the claim has occurred.

Especially if "said mate" was passed on this priceless information in a decade when pennies and shillings were the common currency.....

 

[ktmman]

you get wot you pay for

hc travels cover is superb any size of bike , most countries in/out europe and cover off road riding. Its expensive but probably worth it when you break a leg in the middle of a jungle somewhere.

Carol nash also aint bad , off road not included but "roads marked on maps in marocco is" ie graded roads even if they are not tarmac are covered.

Rate range from £38 for a week with CN to £250 odd with HC for a year.
Just spent the last 2 days working on this , thank god for google!

 

[Wapping]

I have tried phoning other brokers to find a yearly policy but failed, we also Dive and finding one that covers diving and motorcycling is impossible.

Lots of bods do annual travel policies that include full provision for riding a motorcycle.... even big powerful ones above 125 cc.... Most allow you to wear nothing more than your grandma's thong, providing of course you hold a full current licence and have a helmet perched on the hard bit of your body.

The diving thing is of passable interest though.

Do you go deeper than 30 meters?

Are you qualified as a diver?

Do you dive alone?

Yes or no answers will do.

 

[wessie]

Its very far from clear that it covers motorcycle touring. I'd want it confirmed in writing before I relied on it.


It seems to be clear to Wapping & me. Insurance policies are generally written on a "cover all risks in this category" with a list of exceptions. If an insurer wanted to specify each & every risk covered in an accident policy then their documentation would be even more unwieldy than they already are.

 

[wessie]

I have tried phoning other brokers to find a yearly policy but failed, we also Dive and finding one that covers diving and motorcycling is impossible.

Try www.snowcard.co.uk - a mate uses them for his motorcycling & snowboarding leisure pursuits. They even covered him when he went heli-boarding in Russia. It wasn't snowboarding down the mountain that concerned the insurer, but the ride up in the Mil chopper.

 

[Rasher]

The diving thing is of passable interest though.

Do you go deeper than 30 meters?

Not by much

Are you qualified as a diver?

Only PADI AOW

Do you dive alone?

With the Woman and always on a led trip

Yes or no answers will do.

If you know of an annual bike / diving policy I would be very interested

 

[Wapping]

I have tried phoning other brokers to find a yearly policy but failed, we also Dive and finding one that covers diving and motorcycling is impossible.

If you know of an annual bike / diving policy I would be very interested

The diving thing is of passable interest though.

Yes or no answers will do.

Do you go deeper than 30 meters?

Not by much (Let's take that as NO)

Are you qualified as a diver?

Only PADI AOW (Let's take that as YES)

Do you dive alone?

With the Woman and always on a led trip (Let's take that as NO)

Assuming the above is correct (and / or if not that the dives are 'led' by a 'qualified' diver anyway and don't descend below 30 meters) a bog standard off-the shelf AA annual travel policy will cover your motorcycling and Jacques Cousteau exploits.

If you don't like theirs there are lots of others.

 

[vernon]

Insurance

Hi there,
I'm going to the Alps for three weeks, and want to get some travel insurance that covers motorbike touring. Can anyone recommend a company they have used, will 'European' cover, cover Switzerland as well? anything else i should know?
What paperwork/documents do people take with them, v5 etc?
Cheers
Stuart

Marks and Spencer Travel Insurance.