Balkan motorcycle Insurance?

[SteveW]

I'm talking about those interesting places.....Albania, Macedonia, Bosnia.....possibly Kosovo.
My bike insurance includes Serbia and Croatia.
I'm looking to pre-purchase insurance before I go......something that I've never managed to do before. I've always purchased insurance at the border. This is often tricky at smaller border crossings, I've had to turn back from a border in the past because the insurance agent wasn't there.
It would be nice to have a "Green Card" in place before I left the UK rather than piss-ball about at border crossings.
Any body got contact details of a specialist insurer for this? I've been looking but I'm stumped.

[PaulinBont]

I always use Tourinsure in Hamburg, have an English website and are very efficient

[minkyhead]

good to know some insures will give cover for the balcans but certain types of bikes they wont cover ...they wouldnt touch me ccm but would cover me vee strom which wasnt much good

hope you get sorted and let us know it would be handy for sure ....most were ok 12 /18 euros macidonia was well dear at 50 odd euros
at the kosivo border we racked up at 8pm and were directed to buy insurance ,,,,,,..all on all it was a apain in the ass here and there but not too bad overall ..be good to have a greencard ..ps while you there monternego is awsome epic trails

36328558_1715090241942181_6757033444183638016_o by minkyhead56, on Flickr

[Tourider]

Will your current insurer give you a green card extension to your policy? I'm with Harley-Davidson Insurance Services, which is run by Carole Nash, and they've always sold me the extra cover.

[SteveW]

I always use Tourinsure in Hamburg, have an English website and are very efficient

Thanks for the information.
I had a look on their website. Then I emailed them outlining my specific requirements. They replied promptly.
They typically provide cover for non-Europeans who want to ride their bikes around Europe.
The minimum cover is Third Party Only and costs €208 for one month, fully comprehensive is €378.
This is for cover in all European countries excluding Kosovo.
Which would be fine, except it's pretty expensive because it covers all Europe not just the specific Balkan countries excluded from my "Normal" UK policy.
There are two of us travelling so it's not just my decision.
A couple of years ago I travelled from Bulgaria to the Macedonia border.
I was refused entry into Macedonia because I didn't have bike insurance. The lady who was the insurance agent had been over-charging, so the guards had booted her out and no one had yet replaced her!
I've paid for insurance at borders in the past......but it's a pain in the arse and you can't help feeling you've been shafted on the price......and good luck if you ever really needed it!

[SteveW]

Will your current insurer give you a green card extension to your policy? I'm with Harley-Davidson Insurance Services, which is run by Carole Nash, and they've always sold me the extra cover.

No my current insurer won't give me a Green card extension......Hence my post.
I was with Carol Nash for years......admittedly not on their Harley Davidson policy......I could never get "Green Card" extensions for the non-Schengen countries.
I know no one actually produces a "Green" card anymore, as in its printed on green paper.....but Eastern European border guards still refer to insurance documents as "Green Cards"