Bulletguy Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 I've been looking around for a company who will arrange a short term (one month) insurance for Russia as few, if any 'regular' companies will. I read on some site somewhere (no idea if it was a thread here as searching on this forum is nigh on impossible), that RAC will arrange cover. However i've spoken to them today and they told me that not on will they not arrange cover.....but they never have done either! Any ideas/suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 Paul I have just Googled "vehicle insurance for Russia" and quite a lot of interesting sites came up. It looks as though it is quite risky going there, as not many Russians have insurance and, if the worst happens, how would you pursue a claim? I have always wanted to go to St Petersbourg but I read somewhere, probably in MMM, that it is unwise to travel unless you are in a group. I think this is mainly concerned with the border formalities though. Have you tried Adrian Flux? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJay Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 Patricia - 2013-02-14 10:18 PM Paul I have just Googled "vehicle insurance for Russia" and quite a lot of interesting sites came up. It looks as though it is quite risky going there, as not many Russians have insurance and, if the worst happens, how would you pursue a claim? I have always wanted to go to St Petersbourg but I read somewhere, probably in MMM, that it is unwise to travel unless you are in a group. I think this is mainly concerned with the border formalities though. Have you tried Adrian Flux? Hi Patrica, St Petersbourg is well worth a visit, but as you say , very strict on entry. We went on a cruise , and on landing , we had to have , a temporary visa to go ashore, and it was well looked at on return to the ship. The winter Palace is also worth a visit, (some say better than Versaille (Spelling) I would go with an organised holiday company, if it's what you really want to see. Paul Not sure where you would stay in Russia, don't think you would be allowed to "Wild Camp" But wish you luck PJay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy_C Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 I think most overlanders just buy insurance at the border. It's likely to be the minimum cover required to drive in Russia. Although Russia is a member of the Green Card system, there's no requirement for insurers to include it on a Green Card. I don't know any that do. If you want better cover you'll need to go to a specialist like Alessie: http://www.alessie.com/oldsite/html/russia___former_east_block2.html However it looks like even they only offer liability (3rd party) cover. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulletguy Posted February 15, 2013 Author Share Posted February 15, 2013 Patricia - 2013-02-14 10:18 PM Paul I have just Googled "vehicle insurance for Russia" and quite a lot of interesting sites came up. It looks as though it is quite risky going there, as not many Russians have insurance and, if the worst happens, how would you pursue a claim? I have always wanted to go to St Petersbourg but I read somewhere, probably in MMM, that it is unwise to travel unless you are in a group. I think this is mainly concerned with the border formalities though. Have you tried Adrian Flux? Hi Patricia Sorry I couldn't reply last night.....my isp went down and I gave up try to get a connection. St Petersburg is precisely what I had in mind....then from there north to Murmansk. It's something i've 'toyed' with for a few years now but work was always 'in the way' until now! Fancy coming along? Yes i've googled and also phoned a couple of companies but when I mention 'Campervan' they don't want to know. The Visa isn't a problem.....it's vehicle insurance which isn't proving so easy. I have been communicating with a couple of Russian guys on other forums and they told me you can buy insurance at the border but it's only third party. State Officials ie Police and Border Controls can be troublesome and often expect cash payments (bribes) off foreign tourists for a variety of reasons. It's also not a very good idea to look at too many YouTube clips on Russian drivers otherwise you will never go! Planning on going via Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia > St Petersburg > Murmansk then return back (Visa allows 30 days), but if I don't get some insurance sorted pretty soon it looks like I will have to postpone it until next year. PJay - 2013-02-15 10:21 AM Not sure where you would stay in Russia, don't think you would be allowed to "Wild Camp" But wish you luck PJay Sites are few and far between though I found a couple around St.Petersburg. I wouldn't drive into St Petersburg itself anyway as you can't see much of a the place when driving. Hotels offer 'secure' parking and it's advised you use those to overnight on or leave your van. Andy_C - 2013-02-15 10:54 AM I think most overlanders just buy insurance at the border. It's likely to be the minimum cover required to drive in Russia. Although Russia is a member of the Green Card system, there's no requirement for insurers to include it on a Green Card. I don't know any that do. If you want better cover you'll need to go to a specialist like Alessie: http://www.alessie.com/oldsite/html/russia___former_east_block2.html However it looks like even they only offer liability (3rd party) cover. Andy Thanks for the link Andy. I will contact them for a quote though as you say it appears to only offer third party.....similar to what i'm told you get at the border. Not surprised the company is Netherland based. Last year when in Bulgaria I was only a few miles from the border of Turkey and many Dutch folk stayed on the same site I was on. I lost count of the times I had to explain the reason I couldn't go to Turkey. They could not comprehend it. For them, their insurance companies provide cover for virtually any country in Europe. One guy was returning back to Netherland via Serbia.......yet another country we can't get cover for (at least not with UK companies). I find it very frustrating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJay Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 Hi Paul we visited Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, but not Poland. We also went to the old East Germany region, Wanamunde, which looked very nice, and was very friendly. Also went to Denmark and Norway.Our trip took us on the Kiel Canal, so lots of interesting places on the way I am not a fan of cruises, but this one was OK (Fred Olsen) We went in October and the weather was good, as we were the last cruise ship before the Baltic closed for the winter, we had red carpet treatment at most ports.It was a trip to remember as was our Golden Wedding (2006) treat. I wish you luck, and hope you get sorted PJay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia Posted February 16, 2013 Share Posted February 16, 2013 Thanks for the invitation Paul but will have to pass! Hope you manage to find what you want. I think I will try to go on a cruise when I manage to sell my house. That would seem to be the safer option as Russian drivers seem to have a reputation worse than French drivers shunting cars out of the way when trying to park! This is my second attempt to post - the first one disappeared into the ether. Anyone else ever have that problem? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia Posted February 16, 2013 Share Posted February 16, 2013 Hi again Paul. Thought you might be interested in viewing this: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2013/feb/15/russian-roads-dash-cams-video Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy_C Posted February 16, 2013 Share Posted February 16, 2013 Patricia - 2013-02-16 12:55 PM Hi again Paul. Thought you might be interested in viewing this: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2013/feb/15/russian-roads-dash-cams-video The full version is here: Rather puts you off driving in Russia! Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulletguy Posted February 16, 2013 Author Share Posted February 16, 2013 LOL yes Russia is Dash Cam King of the World! YouTube is full of them, some very funny.....others not quite so funny. But as this Russian guy told me, you have to remember there are somewhere in the region of three million cars just in Moscow alone. By far the worst i've seen was a Ferrari driver in Singapore who ran a red light.....and that was caught on a Dash Cam. The aftermath carnage was horrific. Ferrari idiot killed instantly, plus two other innocent victims in the car he hit. This is clip here is the worst road rage i've seen.......http://youtu.be/Q_9zTJHVSVI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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