Hi Folks,

I'm sure I saw it on this forum but can't find it now.

Does anyone know of a current US insurance company that will insure an Australian to ride a USA titled bike?

I'm planning a post Daytona run from Florida to California across the southern states.

Any help or pointers appreciated!

Cheers Flan, appreciated!

Must of googled this 100 times with nothing but a headache... 

Im sure its easier then the DMV are making it out to be!

Hit the jackpot while searching tonight, found a few companies that'll cover a non US national while riding in the USA:

http://www.berglundins.com/

http://www.motorcycleexpress.com/pages/USInsurance/

http://www.sunriseworldwide.com/usa_tourists.aspx

USA road trip gets one step closer...........

Daytona bike week 2010 followed by a 5000K ride back to Sacramento in california!

Anyone else keen? We started out with me and the wife on 2 bikes and have 2 people more interested already!

Nitro you little Beut!
Cheers for that, If you dont mind keep me posted with ur process
if i run into any other requirements/forms ill chuck them up here.
Will be Flying into Miami in July and just cruising around to take me through till sturgis, then onto California to ship my bikes down to NZ early Sept.
Best of luck with urs mate

You got a date planned for the trip?. Where are you getting the bikes?

for what it's worth...I hired a nightrain in AZ 5 years ago and paid insurance to the company I hired the bike from (Bourgets), they covered the bike for the week I hired it.

 

Mate and I are making plans of doing Sturgis 2010. Want to go for about 4 months.

Ship our bikes over and back, allow 3 grand and 5-6 weeks each way

Fly them over and back approx 10 grand and normally there about the same time as you.

Buy a bike over there and sell it before we come back, maybe lose about 3 grand. Only problem to sort out is licences and insurances. Led to believe you need to have a US address.

Can't bring a bike back without any hassles unless it's over 15 years old.

Comments and advice please.

 

Plan is still a little loose and it totally dependant on the $$ exchange rate holding up but its revolves around Daytona bike week followed by roughly 2 weeks to ride back to Sacramento.

Rockyrob

Daytona dates are Feb 26 - Mar 7, 2010. Plan to fly out of LA on the 20th March - roughly......

Will be buying 2 bikes for me and the wife, criteria is pre 1989 so we can ship them back to OZ. Probably FXR for her and anything with a BIG motor for me

Will be shopping anywhere in the US because I will ship the bikes to Florida using http://keyboardmotorcycleshipping.com/
I've already used them once and they were awesome, their truck drivers are meticulous about making sure your bike is loaded safely etc.

Will ship the bikes to a Miami dealer for a full service just before we fly in.

Container is in the planning stages for bringing the bikes back home at the end of the adventure.

The only small fly in the ointment is that I just found out that in April there are 2 events back to back that are looking REALLY good.....

Arizona bike week with George Thorogood and the destroyers headlining followed by the Laughlin River run in Nevada with Eric Burden and The Charlie Daniels band playing - really tempting!

Trevshog - just buy one and bring it back like us!

Here's a rough idea of the route we're looking at:

http://maps.google.com.au/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=108373539693856719923.0004760c21d8d7c1c525a&ll=43.165123,-101.25&spn=24.743066,56.99707&z=5

Thoughts, comments or ideas??

nitrohd1,

what's the story in regards to licences, rego and insurance on the bikes you buy.

Also,

have you ever bought back frames, motors etc.

Again, if you have did you have hassles with customs

My next barrier is on the Rego.... i have managed to secure temp insurance on both the rides i will be purchasing from http://www.motorcycleexpress.com/pages/USInsurance/ (Thank you nitro!)
Now just got to find a way around the "fixed address" situation req for Reg.. DMV have said i can use a friend/family's address so i think its off to craigslist.org to befriend a lonely soul
Also that Motorcycle express also can include a Temp roadside assist..

Trevsog,

International drivers licences are available from all the motoring organisatios but the RACQ are cheapest at $25 valid for 1 year:

http://www.racq.com.au/motoring_advice/driving_overseas/international_licences

As long as the bike is still in rego date in the USA you can ride it anywhere.

The Softail I just bought in Kansas, the seller to it to the state DMV and retitled it into my name and using my Australian home address - no problems at all......

Good little info sharing thread this! Shame I've never fancied Sturgis or it would've been cool to all meet up there..........

Insurance - see my earlier reply!

I haven't brought frames etc into Australia yet but as I understand it you just call it parts unless........

There is the makings of a complete bike, then even though the frame, motor, front end and wheels may all be for seperate bikes/models etc. Aus customs will call it a motorcycle and require a permission to import!

Brown,

What bikes did you insure and how much did it cost you if you don't mind sharing the info?

Which DMV? Like I said above, Wichita Kansas was no problem at all!


For everyone, make sure you have a permission to import before the bike reaches Australia! Takes around 2 to 3 weeks and costs $50

Nitro, Havnt got my quote back yet just had to email them first to check i was eligible due to my age (22) a few of those companies wont insure under 25's but that Motorcylcle express have said they are happy to insure me. Will be insuring a 08 FLHR & 08 FXDL so will let you know when i hear back from them.

I tried Nevada and Utah (the only email contact i could find for DMV) the others all required me to call, which i cant atm. Both have said i needed a physical address in that state to reg.
I will have a look into the wichita kansas now. Cheers for that.

My latest reply from DMV-
"No, we will not title and register your motorcycles in Kansas because you
are not a resident of Kansas.
I would recommend you to lease the motorcycles and have the leasing company
be responsible for title and registering."

Any suggestions Nitro?