Anyone purchased a bike in Europe while on holiday?

[khabel]

I plan on doing a tour of Europe for 3 months or so later this year and I'm wanting to purchase a bike for the duration as it's much cheaper than renting however I'm having trouble confirming what is required to legally own it as a tourist.

From what I've been able to gather in regards to the UK I just need a local address for them to send the registration paperwork to and the rest flows on from there e.g insurance however some people have said I also need to prove I live there e.g. bills, bank statements to that address, can anyone confirm 100% what is required?

A guy in Ireland has made a business out of purchasing bikes on behalf for people, but bikes are much more expensive in Ireland and a guy in France will buy on behalf and then buy back for 50%-60%, so thats another option but selection isn't as good as the UK

[R650R]

There was another thread about this awhile ago, apparently its not easy.... I think the insurance was the problem.

[chasio]

There was another thread about this awhile ago, apparently its not easy.... I think the insurance was the problem.

Yep, insurance is hard yards in the UK these days. It took my Dad quite a bit of effort just to get me added to his car insurance since I was not a UK resident. And remember that insurance is mandatory and the rozzers will ask for proof of insurance if they feel so inclined.*

If it were me, I'd be looking to get a UK resident to register the bike and find a way to insure it with you on the policy. If that's not an option, it may be difficult over there. Unless someone else has a good solution...?

* As I found out when I incurred a 200 quid camera ticket for 12mph over. I got off because I'd left the country, but had to prove I was insured first.

[gonzo_akl]

I looked into this as well..

insurance is the big problem, as you are probably aware 3rd party is compulsory for both the UK and Europe, insurance companies are reluctant to offer cover unless you are a UK resident. You could probably use a friend's address if you know people residing over there but I'm not sure would happen if a claim did result. I don't particularly trust insurance companies at the best of times.

In the end I decided it was easier to ship my bike via ttandeuropemotorcycleadventures.co.uk - $3000.00. As a non-European registered bike I was able to arrange green card 3rd party insurance while I'm touring Europe. The bike is on its way there now - so far it has been a very simple process.

If you do find a way of purchasing a bike and an insurance company that will offer cover, can you please update this thread as I for one would be interested in knowing.

On a completely separate note, finding Travel Insurance in NZ that does not exclude riding a motorcycle greater than 200cc has also been a huge problem. All the retail policies I have read to date exclude cover if you are using a motorcycle over 200cc. This is even the case when the international versions of the same companies policies don't.

cheers

[Gremlin]

On a completely separate note, finding Travel Insurance in NZ that does not exclude riding a motorcycle greater than 200cc has also been a huge problem. All the retail policies I have read to date exclude cover if you are using a motorcycle over 200cc. This is even the case when the international versions of the same companies policies don't.
I remember in 2011 checking gold/platinum credit card travel insurance policy (ie, buying plane tickets on card and being covered), rental motorcycles over 200cc were a problem, but riding your own motorcycle was Ok. Could have changed.

Re UK, yes, it's a headache. You're either a tourist on own motorcycle abroad, you arrange temporary insurance, ok. Or you're a local, register and insure your local bike, ok. Being a foreigner, owning and registering/insuring a local bike is where it gets tricky. My boss in 2013 had the issue, ended up involving local family from memory, and also buying a new bike (Multistrada) and insuring via Ducati Insurance made it slightly easier.

[gonzo_akl]

I remember in 2011 checking gold/platinum credit card travel insurance policy (ie, buying plane tickets on card and being covered), rental motorcycles over 200cc were a problem, but riding your own motorcycle was Ok. Could have changed.

.


it must have changed - this is the clause under general exclusions for the Westpac World MasterCard travel insurance..
"Motorcycling outside New Zealand (unless you are riding a motorcycle with an engine capacity of 200cc or less and hold a motorcycle licence as required by the country you are in, but always excluding motorcycle racing);"

I have a bit of spare time on my hands at the moment so I went to the trouble of ringing the underwriters, AIG. Had a lovely but, ultimately fruitless, conversation with an underwriter there. AIG don't have a retail offering in the NZ market, but they do in Oz and their motorcycling clause is not as restrictive.

In all the retail available travel insurance policies I've read this same clause appears, I'm yet to find one that doesn't.

[Gremlin]

Can't see something similar in ASB Visa clauses, although which muppet uploads a document sideways :blink:

https://www.asb.co.nz/content/dam/asb/documents/insurance/2015/asb-travel-insurance-policy-may-2015.pdf

[MarkW]

When I did my Bekers Motorcycle Tours European Alps Trip last year [absolutely fantastic trip] the Bekers told me that getting cover for larger motorcycles was getting difficult but that 1Cover did still cover larger machines with no upper or lower cc limits. The only stipulation in the policy was that the rider of the motorcycle must have a full valid licence either from New Zealand [if you were the rider] or from the country that the claim arises in [if the motorcycle was being operated by a local rider] and the claimant was a pillion.

In my policy from last year this is all specified on page 52 under clause 9 of the general exclusions.

As an edit I should add that I was riding a hired German registered motorcycle in Europe - not one that I owned. Still had to pay the normal insurances that go with a hire vehicle but I was covered for personal injury etc. with the 1Cover policy.

[gonzo_akl]

When I did my Bekers Motorcycle Tours European Alps Trip last year [absolutely fantastic trip] the Bekers told me that getting cover for larger motorcycles was getting difficult but that 1Cover did still cover larger machines with no upper or lower cc limits. The only stipulation in the policy was that the rider of the motorcycle must have a full valid licence either from New Zealand [if you were the rider] or from the country that the claim arises in [if the motorcycle was being operated by a local rider] and the claimant was a pillion.

.

Thanks for this, I missed 1Cover somehow. I checked as many as I could think of, Southern Cross, AA, Worldcare (who recently re-worded their policy to include an upper cc limit), my credit card, Air NZ, even Amex as I one of their cards as well, Coverall the list goes on.

And it looks like I might change Credit Cards when I return, too late for this trip.

Any tips on roads that shouldn't be missed in the Alps?

Cheers

[khabel]

Green card insurance shouldn't be too hard to get from what I can tell, http://www.lobagola.com/tours-and-services/services/border-insurance.html

[gonzo_akl]

Green card insurance shouldn't be too hard to get from what I can tell, http://www.lobagola.com/tours-and-services/services/border-insurance.html

Thanks Khabel,

It looks like you have got much further than I had and have an answer to getting insurance cover while in Europe. I had based my assumptions on anecdotal information from multiple sources regarding insurance. I sent these guys an email overnight, an extract below from his response.

"Our border insurance policy WILL COVER YOU so you can also ride insured in any of the EU countries where you decide to buy and register your bike. This is very important, because all of the other providers are not offering this in our view important aspect.
Since I have been asked by the community from ADVrider and HUBB to start offering insurance service in line with all the needs from the inmates, we pushed hard to offer the policy that will cover you in the country where your bike will be registered."


He also said that he knows of reliable sources for the purchase of bikes. They may also appear on kiwibiker because they asked where I heard of them from.



Cheers

[khabel]

Yup, just need to figure out registration

[Dooby]

Green card insurance shouldn't be too hard to get from what I can tell, http://www.lobagola.com/tours-and-services/services/border-insurance.html

Hi khabel,

Today i found couple of mins to log in, though could not find a thread to introduce myself (if anyone can steer me in that direction I would be grateful).

So, if you have any questions how to ride in Europe, how to be insured, and other legal things ask here or over PM's.

Also if you need advice where to ride, etc, we can provide info for that, mapping, etc.

We're also part of the European off road trail name TET, that's supported by Adventure spec in UK, being behind Croatia and Bosnia as our local expertise.

Waiting for your questions,:drinknsin

Cheers
Dooby

[khabel]

Hi khabel,

Today i found couple of mins to log in, though could not find a thread to introduce myself (if anyone can steer me in that direction I would be grateful).

So, if you have any questions how to ride in Europe, how to be insured, and other legal things ask here or over PM's.

Also if you need advice where to ride, etc, we can provide info for that, mapping, etc.

We're also part of the European off road trail name TET, that's supported by Adventure spec in UK, being behind Croatia and Bosnia as our local expertise.

Waiting for your questions,:drinknsin

Cheers
Dooby


At this stage just need confirmation as to whether just being able to supply a residential address is enough to be able to purchase a bike i.e. use a mates address?

[Dooby]

Hi khabel,

can you please provide info what country are you interested in, or should I say where do you plan to buy and register your bike?

This differs very much from country to country and is not the same for all of the EU countries.

Sorry for the late reply, haven't made a subscription to the thread, which I did this time.

Cheers
Dooby

[khabel]

Hi khabel,

can you please provide info what country are you interested in, or should I say where do you plan to buy and register your bike?

This differs very much from country to country and is not the same for all of the EU countries.

Sorry for the late reply, haven't made a subscription to the thread, which I did this time.

Cheers
Dooby


Hi, I'll be traveling through most of Western Europe, was planning on starting in London or maybe Paris but I'm happy to start from anywhere really if it makes getting a bike easier

[Dooby]

UK or Ireland are the easiest one, and Ireland is easier to sort everything.

More bikes to choose from in the UK, just for the info.

You need address in UK/Ireland where you will be registered. This address will be used to send the vehicle title or in UK it will be V5C2 document (first temporary, and then hard copy one in 2 weeks time). Also this address is used to send all the tickets and fines etc.

If you need help in Ireland we're working with Martin from Motofeirme. He has been reliable provider of bike purchase services.

Let me know if you need any more info from us.

You can reach us directly at : borderinsurance@lobagola.com

Cheers
Dooby

[khabel]

I assume I need to wait around for the documentation to be delivered before I can use the bike?

[Dooby]

Hi,

by documentation you mean your vehicle title or hard copy of the insurance policy, or both?

You can ride your bike with temporary vehicle title, but the hard copy of the policy needs to be in your hands. If you ride using only scan your policy is considered to be an invalid one.

cheers
Dooby

[khabel]

Hi,

by documentation you mean your vehicle title or hard copy of the insurance policy, or both?

You can ride your bike with temporary vehicle title, but the hard copy of the policy needs to be in your hands. If you ride using only scan your policy is considered to be an invalid one.

cheers
Dooby

I was referring to the vehicle title e.g. If I purchase a bike from a shop, how am I meant to get the bike home if I can't ride it without first having to wait for the title to show up at my house?

[Dooby]

I was referring to the vehicle title e.g. If I purchase a bike from a shop, how am I meant to get the bike home if I can't ride it without first having to wait for the title to show up at my house?

You can put a deposit, we can use last registration to issue the policy. Then send the scan to your email and hard copy to address either with economy express or TNT global tracked shipping.

You need to time everything right if you do not want to waste time, but all in all you have to be preapred to waste a day or two, because of this and that ;)

Let me know if you have any more questions.

In the mean time we have started working with some shippers from NZ that are shipping bikes for their clients to UK. So if you have any questions regarding that part, we're here to reply.

Cheers
Dooby

[liljegren]

Hi Dooby, what would it cost to send my Multistrada from N.Z. to Europe and back, next summer? Can you organise paperwork, insurance etc? You can use my email mwbarrie@hotmail.com if that's easier. Cheers, Matt.

[gonzo_akl]

Hi Dooby, what would it cost to send my Multistrada from N.Z. to Europe and back, next summer? Can you organise paperwork, insurance etc? You can use my email mwbarrie@hotmail.com if that's easier. Cheers, Matt.

Hi Matt,

I have just used http://www.ttandeuropemotorcycleadventures.co.uk/ to ship my bike to London, bike is due to return this week, yay. $3000.00 return.


I'm happy to recommend them, they done exactly what they said they were going to do, very easy to deal with. They only ship the bike and you need someone like Dooby to provide green card insurance.

I also highly recommend doing it, great place to explore on a bike. A multistrada would be a good choice of bike as well.
I want to go back, happy to share my learnings if you have any questions.

Cheers

[Dooby]

Hi Dooby, what would it cost to send my Multistrada from N.Z. to Europe and back, next summer? Can you organise paperwork, insurance etc? You can use my email mwbarrie@hotmail.com if that's easier. Cheers, Matt.

Hi Matt,

We're working together with Daniel at http://www.ttandeuropemotorcycleadventures.co.uk/

As Gonzo has already mentioned them, we can't say enough about their level of service.

Been accepting clients from NZ and AUS in cooperation with Daniel since 2015.

If you need any more info please let me know.

Cheers
Dooby

[Dooby]

Bumping the thread if anyone needs help on how to buy, store and insure bike in Europe.

We're one stop shop supporting the global over landing community on motorcycles, 4x4 and expedition vehicles.

Important news is TET, www.transeurotrail.org , network of more then 40 000 km of non paved roads and paths across Europe, Balkans and soon to be Turkey. We're one of the founders, so if you need help on planning your ride in Europe off the road just send us an email.

Real off roading in Europe starts in Croatia, and expands across Balkans till Turkey.

Please join the forum here and acquire info or post questions:

http://transeurotrail.org/forum/index.php

Also facebook group is very active, and there is vast of current road info in there.

Cheers
Dooby