Before you focus on route planning and packing lists, getting the right insurance in place is the single most important thing you can do ahead of a Columbus tour. It’s not the most exciting part of preparation, but it’s the part that matters most if something goes wrong. This guide covers what’s required, what’s recommended, and what to look out for in the small print.
Full details, including insurer recommendations and any destination-specific requirements, are included in your Columbus tour pack sent out ahead of each departure.
What You Need Before You Ride
✓ Required
- Motorcycle insurance (European cover)
- Breakdown cover with repatriation (European cover)
● Strongly Recommended
- Travel & medical insurance
- Cover that includes motorcycle riding
- Cancellation & curtailment cover
Motorcycle Insurance
All riders on our tours must hold valid motorcycle insurance covering themselves and any pillion passengers in every country we pass through. Our tours cross multiple European borders, so you need to confirm your policy provides cover throughout the entire itinerary — not just your home country.
The good news is that most UK insurers include short-term European cover as standard, typically up to 90 days. However, the level of cover can revert to third-party only when riding abroad, even if you have fully comprehensive cover at home. It’s worth checking this with your insurer and considering a policy upgrade if necessary — the additional premium is usually modest.
Before you depart: Call your insurer, confirm you have cover in all countries on your specific tour, and ask for written confirmation. Don’t assume — check.
Breakdown Cover
Breakdown cover is a requirement for all riders on a Columbus tour. Modern bikes are extremely reliable, and in many years of touring we’ve rarely had a serious mechanical issue — but when it does happen, being hundreds of miles from home without repatriation cover turns a manageable inconvenience into a very expensive problem.
Your policy must cover the repatriation of both you and your motorcycle back to the UK in the event of an accident or breakdown. Ideally it should also include a replacement vehicle if your bike cannot be repaired within 24 hours — this means you can continue your tour rather than sitting in a hotel waiting for parts to arrive.
Many UK motorcycle insurers offer breakdown cover as an add-on, or you can arrange it separately through specialist providers. Check the geographical limits carefully — some policies exclude certain countries, and our Balkans and Croatian routes in particular are worth double-checking.
Travel & Medical Insurance
We strongly recommend that all riders take out a comprehensive travel insurance policy that covers:
- Cancellation or curtailment of your holiday due to illness, accident or redundancy
- Medical treatment and emergency evacuation in the countries you visit
- Specifically, riding a motorcycle — this is the crucial bit many standard travel policies exclude
That last point catches people out more than anything else. A perfectly good travel insurance policy can be rendered worthless on a bike tour if motorcycle riding isn’t explicitly included in the cover. Always read the small print and confirm directly with your insurer before you travel.
Our guides use travel insurance through Carole Nash, who offer a motorcycle-specific policy that ticks all the right boxes. It’s worth getting a quote as a starting point, though of course you’re free to arrange cover through any provider you prefer.
Pre-Departure Insurance Checklist
| ☐Motorcycle insurance confirmed for all countries on my tour | ☐Checked my level of cover (fully comp vs third party abroad) |
| ☐Breakdown cover in place including repatriation of bike & rider (European cover) | ☐Checked whether policy includes a hire vehicle if bike cannot be repaired within 24hrs (note: typically a car, not a motorcycle) |
| ☐Travel insurance taken out (with cancellation cover) | ☐Confirmed travel policy explicitly covers motorcycle riding |
| ☐Insurance documents saved on phone and printed copy packed | ☐Emergency contact numbers for insurers saved in phone |
Ready to Ride?
Any Questions About What You Need?
We’re always happy to talk through what’s required for your specific tour. Just get in touch and we’ll point you in the right direction.