Nothing beats hopping on your bike and hitting the open road, it’s the liberation and freedom that every biker looks for. Exploring new places on your beloved bike couldn’t be more exciting but although it’s not part of the fun you need to consider the consequences if something goes wrong.
Your adventure of a lifetime could easily become your worst nightmare if something bad happens and you’re not prepared or protected. Accidents happen, sometimes they can’t be avoided but making sure you’re protected financially is something you can control. Whether you have an accident or unexpected cancellation if you’re not covered this can be extremely costly. Avoid having to fork out on huge medical bills or cancellation costs by getting international travel insurance before your trip.
Here’s why it’s so important:
Medical costs
If you have an accident on your bike when abroad and require emergency medical treatment, hospital care or even evacuation if you’re not covered by travel insurance you could be hit with some hefty medical bills. The FCO (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) released the following examples of the cost of medical treatment abroad:
- A fractured arm can cost £1,000 in France and Spain to £7,000 in the United States
- A fractured hip can cost from £15,000 in Spain to £80,000 for an air ambulance in Thailand or the United States
- A stroke or heart attack repatriation can cost from £15,000 for an air ambulance in France to £90,000 for an air ambulance in the United States
It can also cause issues if you need to be returned home, the cost of repatriation can be very expensive and often people cannot afford these costs. Therefore, it’s vital to obtain travel insurance before embarking on your trip.
Cancellation
No matter how organised you are or how much you’ve planned anything can happen and sometimes things can occur which mean you need to cancel your trip. This is when you can lose the most money as airlines and hotels often have strict cancellation policies which include no refunds or high cancellation costs.
If you want to make sure you’re covered if you unexpectedly need to cancel your trip, then it’s crucial you purchase travel cover in advance of your trip.
Bike rental
Sometimes renting a bike abroad is a great option if you’re going on a long distance trip and you want an easy way to get around once you arrive in your destination. However, this is only a good option if you are sufficiently insured. Depending on which country you are in most reputable companies will offer insurance when you hire from them. However, some can have hidden clauses or sell you inadequate insurance that doesn’t completely cover you. If you’re planning on hiring a bike it’s best to purchase a travel insurance that includes motorcycling cover as a standard or as an extra.
Natural disasters
There’s not much you can do about natural disasters but if they occur, they can significantly affect your travel plans. According to research weather is one of the top factors for riders cancelling or changing their trip. To protect yourself from losing the money you spent on your trip if you are forced to cancel due to unforeseen weather circumstances, it’s important that you have travel insurance in place well before your trip is scheduled.
No matter where you’re heading, getting the right insurance for your motorcycle trip is strongly recommended. It could save you a lot of hassle and money in the event of an accident or unexpected circumstance. There’s only so much that is within your control but you can plan ahead and make sure that you will be in the best possible position if anything happens.
