Motorcycle Taxis and Your Travel Insurance Policy

[Guest]

Many of the travel insurance policies available in the UK, seem to exclude travel on any motorcycle, unless the driver has a British motorcycle license.

 

Now if I hop on the back of a motorcycle taxi in Asia, there's very little chance of that meeting these insurance criteria. So no medical cover, which is the big issue.

Do I really have to give up being a motorcycle passenger for insurance reasons?

 

In some locations, motorcycle taxis are a very convenient way of getting around.

[Rogie]

Having had a quick look at my travel insurance which is an annual multi-trip policy, cover for personal accident is up to GBP25,000 (US$40,000). This is payable for loss of a limb or eye or permanent total disablement (hands or feet). Death is GBP10,000. There is no cover if you take part in dangerous activities (unless you have paid the appropriate extra premium for any particular 'dangerous' activity). Motorcycling is included as one of the dangerous activities that require you to have paid an additional premium. There is no mention of having to have a British motorcycle driving licence. I will have to look into it in more detail. Without speaking directly to the insurance company I have to say it looks very murky, so thanks for raising this issue and it definitely warrants further investigation particularly as the wording is worryingly vague in my policy booklet. I have no idea whether being a passenger on a motorcycle taxi comes under the category of 'motorcycling'. The more I think about it, the more it begins to look like a can of worms. What would happen if I was badly injured in a RTA and had been a passenger in a taxi that didn't have functioning seatbelts (many are like that in Bangkok) for instance?

[Guest fountainhall]

Descending from the Skytrain for a meeting near Soi Aree this morning, I heard and then witnessed the aftermath of a crash between 2 cars, a taxi and a motorcycle. Fortunately no-one seemed seriously hurt, but I noticed that the motorcyclist's expensive-looking helmet had come off when the accident occurred. I assume that he had not used the chin strap to fix it properly, something I notice a lot in Bangkok.

 

Whatever your insurance policy says, therefore, be sure that your helmet is securely fixed before getting on the bike.

[Guest]

Without speaking directly to the insurance company I have to say it looks very murky, so thanks for raising this issue and it definitely warrants further investigation particularly as the wording is worryingly vague in my policy booklet. I have no idea whether being a passenger on a motorcycle taxi comes under the category of 'motorcycling'. The more I think about it, the more it begins to look like a can of worms.

 

In principle, dangerous sports exclusions are good, as it means we do not need to cross subsidize people who participate in them.

However, motorcycle taxis are almost part of the basic transport system in many Asian countries, so exclusions or vagueness in this area are very inconvenient.

[Guest]

Example exclusion:

 

A. motorcycling as either a driver or a passenger unless the person

driving the motorcycle holds a current valid full motorcycle

driving licence permitting him/her to drive such motorcycle and

the motorcycle has an engine capacity of 125cc or less and

that, as driver or passenger the Insured Person(s) is wearing a

crash helmet or for Insured Person(s) who hold a current valid

full motorcycle driving licence permitting him/her to drive such

motorcycle and have held the licence for a minimum of 2 years

without incident and the motorcycle has an engine capacity of

1200cc or less and that, as driver or passenger the Insured

Person(s) is wearing a crash helmet

[Guest thaiworthy]

Example exclusion:

 

A. motorcycling as either a driver or a passenger unless the person

driving the motorcycle holds a current valid full motorcycle

driving licence permitting him/her to drive such motorcycle and

the motorcycle has an engine capacity of 125cc or less and

that, as driver or passenger the Insured Person(s) is wearing a

crash helmet or for Insured Person(s) who hold a current valid

full motorcycle driving licence permitting him/her to drive such

motorcycle and have held the licence for a minimum of 2 years

without incident and the motorcycle has an engine capacity of

1200cc or less and that, as driver or passenger the Insured

Person(s) is wearing a crash helmet

 

They forgot to add the part about when the moon is full.

 

It's lot of conditional statements, but common sense ones, anyway. I'm surprised there aren't more, like driving under the influence. Is this complete or an excerpt?

[Guest]

Is this complete or an excerpt?

 

I just posted the part applicable to motorcycles.

 

I fully understand all the exclusions for dangerous activities, drunken driving etc.

 

However, it seems I cannot buy an insurance policy which would cover me for riding on the motorcycle taxis which are widespread in Asia. I looked around, then gave up. I'm not wanting cover for driving the thing myself, just as a passenger.

 

I guess there are a vast number of tourists who risk having to pay their own medical bills if their motorcycle taxi has a crash.