Hi all, I am thinking of buying a bike in the US and getting it registered under a friends name as shipping the Husky or BMW over there from the UK for 2 weeks is very expensive as are hire costs. I have no idea about insurance as your system is even more complicated than ours, and that takes some doing. From the last time I hired a car I remember insurance was very low until you added all the stuff you needed to be covered, collision waiver etc. If my friend registers the bike as his and gets full insurance, will that allow me to ride the bike as a named rider. General system here is you either get third part insurance (covers whoever you hit only), third part fire and theft (does what it says) or fully comprehensive that covers damage to all parties and generally allows another named driver under the same policy. The plan is buy the bike, ride from Texas to yellowstone and round about for 2 weeks then do another trip the following year. The way I figure it bike will cost around $ 4,000 to buy (hire for 2 x 12 days at around $ 110 = $ 2,640) so as long as I can sell for more than £ 1,360 I am up on the deal. Either option I have to get insurance but buying gives me more flexability. So the question is - does your insurance work like this or do I need to be the registered keeper and get insurance that way( and is that possible for a UK resident). Any advice would be most welcome.
Hope so & hope they don't want an arm and a leg as I would have no "no claims bonus" or the equivalent. Then I was quoted $ 56,000 for insurance on a BMW 1150 GS (value around $ 6,000) by one insurance broker here this time round, guess they really didn't want to insure me. Got it for $ 200 fully comprehensive.
"If my friend registers the bike as his and gets full insurance, will that allow me to ride the bike as a named rider." Probably but not a good idea, should something serious occur the adjuster will eventually get to the bottom of things and you likely end up having the policy cancelled from inception for misrepresentation. "You can probably just register and insure it in your own name using your friends address." This is correct and the right way to go, it is better to be riding with a clear conscious. Lastly, there is always the option of simply renting a bike for the periods you are there and save yourself a lot of bother.
Anytime you ask about insurance you need to ask for that state as rules change state to state. If what is left of my mind is still works I think you could get a non owners insurance card in Texas, but that was a long time ago for and from what I remember it was cheep. It cover me in any vehicle I was in or on, I kept getting busted for not having a insurance card for my bike.
Guess I need to look into it a bit more I guess. I could hire a bike but the cost of that for 2 weeks for 2 years is more than buying and selling after 2 years. Also I can add luggage racks and bring my own hard luggage over with me. Also can install my own GPS which saves hassle. I was palnning to keep the bike 2 years and do a couple of 2 week trips as I have covered most of Europe from here and need a rest from Morocco (both me and the bike) so a couple trips around the US sounded good. Basic is cost of bike $ 4,000, resale $ 2,500 = Cost $ 1,500. Hire for peak periods is around $110 / day so 2 x 12 day trips = $ 2,640. OK need to factor in registration and possible new tyres but still a decent saving over hire. I am also anticipating insurance would be cheaper on my bike as compared to going through the hire company as they deffinatly know how to charge. Also nicer to ride your own bike as opposed to a hire one and can modify it for comfort i.e. bar risers and my friend and his wife could use it in the summer if they wanted to.
If you're friend has a local insurance person you could call and speak with them. Insurance does change a bit from state to state. Joe
