Question for my European Friends

[canuck750]

I am shipping my BMW K1600 to Amsterdam on August 29th and will be returning to Canada through Paris on October 21st. Where my wife and I head between those dates is strictly weather dependent, we have no reservations, no real route but will head east wanting to see a few places, Berlin, Prague, Budapest, perhaps the Baltic states, Poland, maybe Romania and wish to make Turkey then Greece and take a ferry across the Mediterranean. 

I have purchased a Green Card for liability insurance but no theft, Green Card would not sell me theft for most of eastern Europe, Turkey or Greece.

I think my AMA travel insurance policy that covers my North American towing and roadside breakdown coverage is good for Europe so that part is covered.

Does anyone know where I can buy theft insurance and is it something I should even be concerned with? I tried some UK websites but they tell me they only can sell policies to UK citizens.

I have never locked up a motorcycle any place I have toured including Mexico and have never had anything stolen, no vandalism etc.

[LowRyter]

If you owned a Guzzi, no one would steal it.  Sorry, that was rude.

Good luck.

[Tusayan]

You will have a difficult task finding theft insurance valid in some of your destinations.  In those areas where you can get theft insurance you will not likely need it, based on my experience over a bunch of years.  However, yes, I would be concerned in some areas of Southern, Eastern Europe and beyond - mainly in those areas make sure your bike is parked in a secure area at night. The same goes for some areas of the UK, southern Italy, maybe Corsica by reputation although I’ve never seen evidence of it.

Tour Insure says this, likely for a reason: “No indemnity for theft in Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Croatia, Albania, Serbia, Bosnia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldavia, Czech Republic, Macedonia, Rumania, Turkey, Iran, Israel, Morocco, Tunisia”

[canuck750]

Tour Insure says this, likely for a reason: “No indemnity for theft in Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Croatia, Albania, Serbia, Bosnia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldavia, Czech Republic, Macedonia, Rumania, Turkey, Iran, Israel, Morocco, Tunisia”

Yep that's what the Green Card policy said in the fine print.

[Tusayan]

Re “Green Card policy”...  Is this Mototouring (Gloria) in Milano?  Green card is the old name for a pan-European proof of insurance document, but Mototouring now uses the term as a kind of trade name.  The document is no longer green or any other fixed color, pink is typical.  Anyway, Croatia is now covered by their insurance, where it wasn’t in the past.

[canuck750]

Re “Green Card policy”...  Is this Mototouring (Gloria) in Milano?  Green card is the old name for a pan-European proof of insurance document, but Mototouring now uses the term as a kind of trade name.  The document is no longer green or any other fixed color, pink is typical.  Anyway, Croatia is now covered by their insurance, where it wasn’t in the past.

The shipping broker I used to arrange air transport set up all the paperwork including the European insurance he called it a Green Card and the one they sent me is actually green!

[Tusayan]

I guess some are really green even now  Thanks for that.

[Groover]

This is something I'd want to do soon, within the next 5 years as well. I'll probably be asking some specific questions at some point. As far as locking it up, I'd lock it up if I were you, at least get some sort of brake lock or some other sort of deterrent. Especially if you plan on going somewhere where the bike will be out of your sight for a while. That's my 2-cents.

[arveno]

They do steal motorcycles in north Italy too... not only in the south.

BMW is among the most stolen motorcycles brand..
Seriously a Guzzi would not be a problem since nobody steal them...
BMw and Harley ... get stolen to sell parts .

I will suggest to buy a good chain lock .
Beware of helmets theft as well....
Enjoy your vacation!!

Marco

[canuck750]

They do steal motorcycles in north Italy too... not only in the south.

BMW is among the most stolen motorcycles brand..
Seriously a Guzzi would not be a problem since nobody steal them...
BMw and Harley ... get stolen to sell parts .

I will suggest to buy a good chain lock .
Beware of helmets theft as well....
Enjoy your vacation!!

Marco

Thanks, is nothing sacred anymore!

[Motormike]

Sort of on the same subject, theft and safety in Western Europe.  I and a friend are renting bikes in Austria to ride through Switzerland and Northern Italy during the first week of Sept.  First time for both of us.  Fly to Munich and then Deutsch Bahn train to Innsbrook.  Rick Steves books would lead one to believe pick-pockets are rampant on public transportation and anywhere crowded.  I've also heard the thieves strike on trains in the darkness of the many tunnels.  You come out of one and your bag is gone! Any comments?  Also what about bike and gear theft?  I'd hate to have my trip stopped because someone nabbed my helmet.  Guess I won't be leaving it on the bike while stopped for lunch somewhere.  Those with experience comment away!

[Vapiti]

Being from Finland, I've travelled a lot on bike in the Baltic and Eastern European countries. Your best bet for theft insurance in those countries is guarded parking lot. They are plentiful, cheap and in my experience reliable. Have had nothing stolen or messed with, whether I've been on Harley, Triumph or Guzzi. Usually if you don't find one, hotel reception is willing and able to help you find one, or once when there wasn't one around they asked to park in front of the hotel, just by night watchman's window so he can keep an eye on it.
Bikes get stolen in Western Europe too, Italy is notorious for that but luckily I've been saved. Perhaps usually staying in smaller places has helped. In Western I would advice having a decent lock/alarm.
If in Poland, I's suggest you visit Krakow, simply a wonderful city.

[Huzo]

The shipping broker I used to arrange air transport set up all the paperwork including the European insurance he called it a Green Card and the one they sent me is actually green!

Mine always is..

[Thunderbutt]

Have you tried contacting any of the larger motorcycle tour rental agencies?  I am sure all of their bikes would be heavily insured as the bikes get ridden from country to country.  They may be able to direct you to a proper insurance carrier.

[Tusayan]

The polices issued with rental bikes are in my experience limited to the EU plus Switzerland, Luxembourg etc, not valid in the non-EU Balkans, like this from a Mototouring supplied green card, they are primarily a tour and bike rental company.  This does include Eastern European countries and now Croatia (HR) but coverage is liability only.





ADAC (the German Auto Club) used to be the go-to place for short-term insurance for extra-EU registered vehicles.  Super cheap and easy to obtain then, but they stopped about 5 years ago under pressure - residents were evading VAT tax by never registering their vehicles locally.  Stefan Knopf in Heidelberg still seems to be able to get ADAC insurance, or he’s getting it elsewhere in Germany.  Anyway he can supply it.  Otherwise people seem to be getting short term tourist vehicle insurance from ACI (Italian Auto Club through brokers), US insurers like Geico through their cooperative arrangements in Europe, and Tour Insure in Germany.  I’m sure there are others and if anybody reading this knows of any, it’d be useful info to post.