Travel Insurance for riding in Europe

I am with Nationwide Travel Insurance, and it states:-

Use Of Motor Vehicles – Scooters, Mopeds and Motorcycles
This policy will automatically cover you on your trip for using hired motor vehicles of 125cc or less but you must wear a crash helmet and, if you are the rider, you must hold a valid licence to drive that vehicle type where you live in the UK.

You will also be covered for vehicles above 125cc but only if you hold a valid licence to drive that vehicle type where you live in the UK, it is your mode of transport from where you live in the UK and you are wearing suitable protective clothing.

So if you are taking your own bike abroad, and it is over 125cc ! then you are covered.
If you are hiring one, then it needs to be less than 125cc. 

Admiral just says you can be covered but it costs more.

I used to use a company called Top Dog who ceased trading for a couple of years but are now back in business. I had a quick look at them for going to Isle of Man and they seemed expensive. Someone told me Carole Nash do travel insurance if you are travelling on a bike so might be worth a try. 

Peter James Insurance is worth looking at for Classic motorcycles and cover European breakdown recovery etc.

what is impossible is: getting foreign cover if you BORROW a neighbour's bike: I talked to a broker last year, and there is no cover for this, whether under your own policy, or a one-off.

Voyager looks good, just don't get badly injured otherwise (by my reading - happy to be corrected) you are not covered:-

Section 4 - Personal Accident You are covered for your chosen level of cover for the amount shown in the Benefits Schedule if you have an accident whilst you are on your trip which is the sole and independent cause of your death, permanent total disablement, loss of sight or loss of limb(s) within 12 months of the accident. If you are aged under 16 at the date of the accident, the reduced amount you are covered for in the event of your death is shown in the Benefits Schedule. Payment under this section in respect of all the consequences of an accident shall be limited in total to the amount shown in the benefits schedule. In the event of your death within 12 months of the accident, the total payment will be limited to the amount shown for death.
You are not covered for
f. claims resulting from motorcycling

This is from-
https://www.voyagertravelinsurance.co.uk/travel-insurance/travel-insurance-policy-documents/

Yep, another Brexit dividend, medical insurance is in theory compulsory for a visit to the mainland.

The 175cc note is hidden in many of the apparently 'cheap' policies, I discovered this back in 2022 when planning my trip to the Czech Rally & beyond. Travelling on my Guzzi 1200 Sport, I used MAG for my medical/travel insurance cover (Europe wide) for one year (maximum single trip length 62 nights) was £163.

In 2023 I was diagnosed with CKD; MAG's quote for 49 nights cover on the Guzzi in 2024 was ridiculous, so I went with Carole Nash @  £222 (covering just Spain & France).

Not looked at this year yet, will follow this thread with interest!

Mike

Hi Phil,

I have not looked at price, but Allianz looks the best I have seen. It does not have anything about the size of the bike, or if it is owned or hired. As long as you have a suitable hat and licence, then you are covered.

Regards

Tony

Insurance has got more and more sneaky by excluding things in the small print - and motorcycling is a typical small print exclusion. I used to get motorcycle medical, etc. European cover through the RAC but they suddenly excluded motorcycles.

When I was racing several years ago there were specialist brokers who covered racing risk while abroad - it wasn't ridiculously expensive. Today I would not trust any 'general purpose policy' for motorcycling with a pillion in Europe for medical cover, I would search for the specialist motorcycle travel brokers, sorry I do not have a lead for the racing broker I used to use.

I have a VW California (good for towing and carrying a Commando) and have just renewed its insurance for this year. One company, which specialised in camper vans and offered a seemingly good price, had small print that excluded cover if you were away from home and were not sleeping in the van overnight - i.e if it was unattended. Ridiculous! But you would not discover that unless you read all the small print after paying the fee. (I was warned by a VW users web forum).

Just as Tony says, the small print is all written for them to avoid liability.

Nationwide ......

 " .. it is your mode of transport from where you live in the UK " 

Gotta love insurance / gotta check any and every twist and turn.

Hi Mick

Will keep this brief to avoid annoying others with car chat. I carry my MK3 Commando inside a T6.1 California, rear seat removed (obviously) and the twin floor tracks holding a custom front wheel clamp tight up behind the front seats. Use custom T bolts in the track. Extra tie downs at the rear and a ramp that attaches to the floor tracks. The inside of a Cali is much smaller than the Transporter van: not only the width because of the kitchen, but the floor is higher, the entry height lower because of cupboards in the rear tailgate and the fatter tailgate pushes the bike front wheel just between the front seats. The bike front master cylinder just clears the tailgate on entry and I have bar end mirrors.

I have van insurance with Direct Line and the VW forum members recommend LV.

Sounds like a tight fit - would love to see a photo!

Thanks for that Norman

Brexit has nothing to do with it, yet again more myth. Medical insurance in the EU has always been required even when we were members of the EU. The EHIC card only covered your emergency treatment upto a certain level, and even without this there are many countries that provide emergency treatment under reciprocal agreements and you might find your medical insurance does not cover this initial treatment. Get a GHIC as this will cover the gap which can be thousands that you need to pay for the treatment prior to medical cover kicking in. 
I had to use treatment abroad in the EU during 2012, it was outside working hours but the injury happened whilst conducting organised adventure training by my employer so they covered the cost, but I had to pay initially and claim it back.