Can anybody recommend a travel insurance company? Need to get something sorted for a couple of trips sur le continent in the new year. Thanks.
Travel insurance
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there are a couple of sticky threads at the top of this section with loads of recommendations
https://www.ukgser.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/17-Travel - my favourite is Get Going
https://www.ukgser.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/17-Travel - my favourite is Get Going
The company is irrelevant it's the policy and what it covers that you should be more concerned with.
Thanks
Thanks Wessie.
AberdeenAngus
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Buy what suits YOU best, according to YOUR duration of travel, where YOU are going, maybe who (if anyone) is going with YOU, what YOU’ll be doing and any pre-existing medical conditions YOU may have.
One key thing to look out for is any restriction in the working vis-a-vis riding (or hiring) a motorcycle, especially by way of cubic capacity. There is one sad tale on this site which involved a former customer of Steptoe’s, whose family was left with the fall out of the poor fellow being uninsured. There was another fellow who (by my reading of circumstances) came within a whisker of also being uninsured.
Most modern policies are very clearly written in easy to understand terms. Most are also available as PDF or Word documents, which are searchable by any half decent home computer or tablet. Search for words like: Motorbike and READ what the policy says.
It might all sound hard but it is really very easy.
To emphasise the importance of YOU, as opposed to someone else, can be seen perhaps in the recommendation of the Post Office. On the face of it a really good, very popular policy, reasonably priced. But, a few years ago they amended their policy to exclude motorbikes over a specific capacity. In short, useless to me (I used to buy it) as it excluded me riding my 1600. Of corse the policy would still work if I drowned in a swimming pool or cut myself juggling glasses in the pub.... but not if I tumbled off my awesome steed in a car park, breaking my leg. They might well have altered the policy again, I haven’t looked recently. Or, your bike might be within the cubic capacity limit, so it won’t matter to you, whilst it matters to me. Just check for YOURSELF, as nobody from UKGSer will be around to help if YOU have screwed up by following THEIR suggestion. Trust me on that.
Here’s a screen shot of just the PO’s policies. As you can see there are several and the wordings change....
It serves to show the importance of checking for YOURSELF. Not least, do you know which Post Office policy the fellows are recommending?
One key thing to look out for is any restriction in the working vis-a-vis riding (or hiring) a motorcycle, especially by way of cubic capacity. There is one sad tale on this site which involved a former customer of Steptoe’s, whose family was left with the fall out of the poor fellow being uninsured. There was another fellow who (by my reading of circumstances) came within a whisker of also being uninsured.
Most modern policies are very clearly written in easy to understand terms. Most are also available as PDF or Word documents, which are searchable by any half decent home computer or tablet. Search for words like: Motorbike and READ what the policy says.
It might all sound hard but it is really very easy.
To emphasise the importance of YOU, as opposed to someone else, can be seen perhaps in the recommendation of the Post Office. On the face of it a really good, very popular policy, reasonably priced. But, a few years ago they amended their policy to exclude motorbikes over a specific capacity. In short, useless to me (I used to buy it) as it excluded me riding my 1600. Of corse the policy would still work if I drowned in a swimming pool or cut myself juggling glasses in the pub.... but not if I tumbled off my awesome steed in a car park, breaking my leg. They might well have altered the policy again, I haven’t looked recently. Or, your bike might be within the cubic capacity limit, so it won’t matter to you, whilst it matters to me. Just check for YOURSELF, as nobody from UKGSer will be around to help if YOU have screwed up by following THEIR suggestion. Trust me on that.
Here’s a screen shot of just the PO’s policies. As you can see there are several and the wordings change....
It serves to show the importance of checking for YOURSELF. Not least, do you know which Post Office policy the fellows are recommending?
Deleted account 210901001
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Surely you would have broken your leg tripping up walking towards the bike, then n no way involving the bike 
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Surely you would have broken your leg tripping up walking towards the bike, then n no way involving the bike
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Yes, if you are on a holiday for which travel by motorbike is a significant part. Policy docs have such wording.
Surely you would have broken your leg tripping up walking towards the bike, then n no way involving the bike
I am not in the habit of presenting fraudulent claims. It drives up bikermates’ premiums and makes them very cross.
There again, that advice is maybe not accurate either. I could buy the PO policy and ride my bike around quite happily, fully insured..... for when I was swimming, eating tea on the balcony, shopping in the hypermecado or even whilst snoozing on a sun bed.... but not whilst sat upon or riding my 1600. The important thing is to read the policy.
Absolutely.
Especially if (like me) you have a range of medical conditions to declare as well
. which makes arranging "travel & medical" cover both time consuming and expensive, let alone including travelling with my R1200RT when the time comes (here's hoping) There are specialist companies out there - even Auntie Carole - who can quote on this basis but they really do require you to read their terms and conditions very carefully beforehand. You pay for what you get, ultimately.
If additional proof were needed as to not blindly following advice such as, “I buy a policy from XYZ. It’s great, mate” or the dangers inherent in not reading the policy in relation to YOU, as opposed to them, here is a cautionary example.
The Post Office, is a generic brand label slapped across a number of different policies of varying prices, coverage, geographical scope and duration. Here’s what one of them says:
What does that say?
1. That a whole host of activities are covered, but not for the full extent of the policy
2. Motorcycling is covered but:
a. Only on bikes up to 125 cc and providing You (they capitalise the Y, simply as who ‘you’ - the insured person - are, is defined elsewhere in the policy) has a full licence etc etc... do notice the bit about ‘recognised roads’, too.
b. You have no Third Party Liability cover, whilst motorcycling, irrespective of the cubic capacity
c. You have no Personal Accident cover, whilst motorcycling, irrespective of the cubic capacity
What does that lot tell us:
i. Had you bought this particular Post Office branded policy following a tip on UKGSer and ridden your 1200 GS, you’d have had no cover for the activity of motorcycling at all.
ii. That had you ridden a bike of a much smaller capacity (up to 125 cc) then the activity would be included but any personal accident or TPL claims resulting from the activity, would not be covered.
One might well conclude that this particular Post Office policy would be all but useless to YOU, whilst it might be entirely suitable for someone else, or maybe they bought a different policy... or maybe they didn’t read theirs? In short: Don’t buy the wrong one!
Be very careful as to what YOU buy. Steptoe’s customer bought a policy that was limited to bikes up to 125 cc, when he rode a big GS. He died, riding the bike abroad. His family were stuck with all the bills.
Do not put any blind trust any kind of ‘Made for bikers, sold by bikers’ label. MAG (about as ‘’Bikermate’ as you can get) sold a travel policy to a friend of mine. He told them he was going to America and shipping his VFR 750 out there to ride. The clowns in MAG sold him a policy that was limited to bikes of a capicity of less than 750 cc, I forget the exact cubic capacity limit. He was involved in a collision with another vehicle... you can imagine what US medical fees might be.... you can imagine what no insurance means, too.
Do not put any blind trust in policies lobbed out for free by your bank, credit card company, building society, accumulated milk bottle tops or wherever the “It’s free, mate” wonder product came from. Again, read it! Not least, these policies change over time, too. Read it and check.
Do not put any blind trust in “We get free Travel cover through our work or union” ideas. Yes, you might well do. But, here’s the possible rub: It might only give you cover when you are engaged on work directly related business..... your private holiday with your mates on your motorbikes, is not (normally) ‘work directly related business’ by any stretch of even my fervent imagination. Indeed, most people - with very good reason - switch off from work entirely, to - what’s the words - “Chill with like minds”.
PS There are pages of well intentioned (but occasionally deliberately stupid) debate on UKGSer as to what ‘Off road’ might mean. See the last line of the Post Office policy’s specific exclusions.
The Post Office, is a generic brand label slapped across a number of different policies of varying prices, coverage, geographical scope and duration. Here’s what one of them says:
What does that say?
1. That a whole host of activities are covered, but not for the full extent of the policy
2. Motorcycling is covered but:
a. Only on bikes up to 125 cc and providing You (they capitalise the Y, simply as who ‘you’ - the insured person - are, is defined elsewhere in the policy) has a full licence etc etc... do notice the bit about ‘recognised roads’, too.
b. You have no Third Party Liability cover, whilst motorcycling, irrespective of the cubic capacity
c. You have no Personal Accident cover, whilst motorcycling, irrespective of the cubic capacity
What does that lot tell us:
i. Had you bought this particular Post Office branded policy following a tip on UKGSer and ridden your 1200 GS, you’d have had no cover for the activity of motorcycling at all.
ii. That had you ridden a bike of a much smaller capacity (up to 125 cc) then the activity would be included but any personal accident or TPL claims resulting from the activity, would not be covered.
One might well conclude that this particular Post Office policy would be all but useless to YOU, whilst it might be entirely suitable for someone else, or maybe they bought a different policy... or maybe they didn’t read theirs? In short: Don’t buy the wrong one!
Be very careful as to what YOU buy. Steptoe’s customer bought a policy that was limited to bikes up to 125 cc, when he rode a big GS. He died, riding the bike abroad. His family were stuck with all the bills.
Do not put any blind trust any kind of ‘Made for bikers, sold by bikers’ label. MAG (about as ‘’Bikermate’ as you can get) sold a travel policy to a friend of mine. He told them he was going to America and shipping his VFR 750 out there to ride. The clowns in MAG sold him a policy that was limited to bikes of a capicity of less than 750 cc, I forget the exact cubic capacity limit. He was involved in a collision with another vehicle... you can imagine what US medical fees might be.... you can imagine what no insurance means, too.
Do not put any blind trust in policies lobbed out for free by your bank, credit card company, building society, accumulated milk bottle tops or wherever the “It’s free, mate” wonder product came from. Again, read it! Not least, these policies change over time, too. Read it and check.
Do not put any blind trust in “We get free Travel cover through our work or union” ideas. Yes, you might well do. But, here’s the possible rub: It might only give you cover when you are engaged on work directly related business..... your private holiday with your mates on your motorbikes, is not (normally) ‘work directly related business’ by any stretch of even my fervent imagination. Indeed, most people - with very good reason - switch off from work entirely, to - what’s the words - “Chill with like minds”.
PS There are pages of well intentioned (but occasionally deliberately stupid) debate on UKGSer as to what ‘Off road’ might mean. See the last line of the Post Office policy’s specific exclusions.
Without spending any more time than necessary - I did establish prior to purchase that the PO policy did cover travel where motorcycling was more than incidental to the travel/holiday.
this snip of the exclusion was easy to reproduce. (and while not definitive - is reinforced by the actual policy doc)
this snip of the exclusion was easy to reproduce. (and while not definitive - is reinforced by the actual policy doc)
Attachments
Yup, that looks very much like the Post Office’s exclusion of bikes greater than 1500 cc. It is why I stopped buying that particular Post Office branded policy a few years ago. It also highlights the possible danger in believing that all Post Office policies are the same. Some, as post #14 shows, place a much lower cubic capacity limit on the activity.
The great thing is that you checked it for yourself - relatively easily - and are happy that your policy suits your purposes. Others will, we hope, do the same when it’s their turn.
The great thing is that you checked it for yourself - relatively easily - and are happy that your policy suits your purposes. Others will, we hope, do the same when it’s their turn.
Am too no longer with the post office for the over 1600cc reason. It does seem a very strange clause, one would have thought defined by those who have no particular knowledge of bikes. Can't you go and sort them out Wapping..
Here is the General Exclusion (motorcycling) relating to the ‘free’ global travel insurance I have through my HSBC bank account:
I am therefore OK for bikes under 125 cc, as I meet the criteria and providing I follow the policy’s Conditions as set out
I am OK for bikes over 125 cc, as I meet the criteria, providing I meet the policy’s Conditions as set out
I am OK in Europe..... but not outside of Europe, if the bike is over 125 cc. This is a significant territorial restriction on what is otherwise a global policy
Notice how the ‘appropriate protective clothing’ Condition changes. It’s less restrictive up to 125 cc. Notice too the Condition relating to ‘mode of transport from the UK’, when it comes to bikes above 125 cc. There is no such ‘mode of transport’ Condition relating to bikes under 125 cc.
Other HSBC bank branded policies may differ, of course. It shows the value in reading the policy.
I am therefore OK for bikes under 125 cc, as I meet the criteria and providing I follow the policy’s Conditions as set out
I am OK for bikes over 125 cc, as I meet the criteria, providing I meet the policy’s Conditions as set out
I am OK in Europe..... but not outside of Europe, if the bike is over 125 cc. This is a significant territorial restriction on what is otherwise a global policy
Notice how the ‘appropriate protective clothing’ Condition changes. It’s less restrictive up to 125 cc. Notice too the Condition relating to ‘mode of transport from the UK’, when it comes to bikes above 125 cc. There is no such ‘mode of transport’ Condition relating to bikes under 125 cc.
Other HSBC bank branded policies may differ, of course. It shows the value in reading the policy.
It changed when the Post Office changed their partner insurance company. Flogging insurance and other financial products is a real cash cow for the Post Office. A lot of it (risk and premium) gets recycled back from the insurer (who basically acts just as a legal entity to provide insurance and to do the on the ground administration) into the Post Office’s own insurance vehicles, whilst the PO also acts as the mass market selling machine on behalf of the insurer. A friend of mine deals with the reinsurance that sits behind the whole of the Post Office’s financial products offerings (it has nothing to do with delivering letters any more)..... it involves millions of pounds in premiums and claims each year.
It is a silly Condition but, most people who buy a Travel insurance policy from the Post Office do not ride a motorbike (very few people in the UK actually do) whilst those that do, do not often ride one above say 1200 to 1300 cc; so they ain’t bothered, either.
The thing that might be missed by many - is the wearing of appropriate protective clothing People need to realise that Insurance underwriters are heading towards this requirement which precludes wearing 'clothing not designed as motorcycle clothing'. A pair of M&S jeans won't cut it, but a pair of Kevlar-lined bike jeans will.
Just the same way that many holiday insurance policies state that you do not have cover should your decision-making process be impaired by alcohol/drugs. They are fed up paying out for huge medical bills/repatriation for drunks who try to access their 3rd floor room - up a drainpipe to the balcony, after having a few too many sherries.
I still recommend the PO Premier Cover Policy, as it suits my needs, and 'probably' most people on bike holidays. It is up to each individual to check the application to their own circumstances, but - it gives a good starting point having already passed the "suitable for bike holidays" general terms. M&S Travel Insurance is also another, but they have rocketed in premium cost.
Think of those two as being a shortlist to hopefully save trawling through every single policy out there.
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