EU and insurance

[mailee]

this is a subject a friend and myself were discussing the other day. If we are now in the EU why is it that insurance companies will only give you 90 days insurance for riding abroad? Surely if we are really members of the EU now we should automatically be insured to ride on roads within the EU! Anyone any ideas on this? We came to the conclusion that it is just another way for them to rip you off even more like pillion insurance!

[Kickstart]

Hi

Any motor insurance policy must cover you through the rest of Europe for the min legal cover.

The 30 day / 90 day / whatever day limit is for how long they extend your full cover to other countries (ie, fire and theft cover, or fully comp), rather than the basic legal min.

All the best

Keith
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[arry]

[FlightRisk]

[Llama-Farmer]

They do, they have to, but only 3rd party liability.

Thats all you need legally, 90 days of fully comp cover per year (or TPFT if thats your policy) or 30 days consecutive is pretty generous, its not often most people will spend 90 days a year abroad or 30 days in one go.


Friend has a policy on one of his bikes giving him 90 days per year, the other policy doesn't have a limit but only covers him for 30 consecutive days (which he must notify in advance to activate). I think one is in his wife's name actually with him as an additional rider. Either way my point is its usually enough.

If you're spending longer in EU its probably better to get a separate specialist policy and europe-wide breakdown cover.
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[P.addy]

eBike gave me 365 days

[c-m]

You very rarely get 30 or 90 days cover at the same level you enjoy in the UK. The only Policy I've seen this is on is ones I've taken out via Carole Nash.

The others just say 90 days cover without elaborating on it.

Legally they must provide 3rd party cover for the life of the policy in any country that's signed up to the Directive. That includes some non-eu and non-eec countries too.

[dydey90]

If you got unlimited EU cover, then you could in theory insure your bike in Poland and away you go...

[Ali in Austria]

My insurance out here covers me for all of the EU and a few other countries to boot on the same level of cover as it is in Austria. The vehicle is insured, not the rider/driver and anyone can ride/drive them with my permission.

A Green Card is provided as a matter of course for countries that require them to be carried.

The only restriction is that any vehicles insured by me have to be owned by me and I have to have an Austrian address. I can have up to 3 like vehicles sharing the same No Plate (only one on the road at any one time). Insurance is paid on the one with the highest power output. A small percentage of the fully comp aspect is paid on the additional vehicles or if Third party, there is no additional premium.

Road Tax (except motorway Vignette) is included in the insurance cover. I have my car, mini bus and Quad on one plate and my motorcycle and 3 wheeler Spyder on another.

I can take them on and off the road as often as I like, only paying a premium for when they are on the road. When the bikes go off the road for the winter I take the plate back to the insurance company who hold it until they go back on again. I am refunded anything due and there is no admin fee. It is not a years cover but a rolling process.

If I loose a plate, all vehicles on that plate have to be issued with new documentation for a new number and a new plate is provided. I've done this twice now, total cost €12,- each time.

Bike Insurance isn't too bad, €47,- a month pro rata business use for the time I have them on the road (much cheaper for me in the UK over a year). 4 wheels is a bit more expensive, around €110,- a month for the 3 vehicles on business use.

My OÄMTC (Austrian AA) covers any vehicle owned by me and includes my wife and immediate family for all of the additional benefits such as Travel Insurance in the EU and some other countries, Emergency Helicopter and Air Ambulance, repatriation etc for €107,- a year. A years World Wide Travel Insurance for me and my family is an extra €48,-. Vehicles and covered parties are guaranteed repatriation to my home.

ADAC in Germany is very similar, open to non German residents and used by many Brits travelling in Europe for the reasons given
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[toadoftoadhal...]

[arry]

[FlightRisk]

[Llama-Farmer]

[FlightRisk]

Oh yeah I know. What I meant is it annoys me that you're not fully covered just the same. I don't even have 90 days on mine, just the minimum required / TPO thing. Sucks.

I had a French mate in Ireland who kept his motor insured back home for years, fully covered, breakdown and everything all included as standard. Irish insurance was insane back then so it was about 1/20th of the price!
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[Llama-Farmer]