Scooter hire, major gotcha for travel insurance

[Tiki]

We are going to Raro in a few weeks. In the past, my husband who is a Cook Islander has always hired a scooter and gets the Cook Island license at the police station like any tourist. He does not have a car or motorbike license in Australia. We never used to worry about insurance for Cook Islands because he is a dual citizen and I am covered by the Amex card. But this time we used QF points on QF/JQ sourced from Woolies rewards and not from Amex points. It seems all policies only cover you if you have an Aussie motorbike license. How is this not a "thing"? Given how popular scooters are in Raro, also Bali, Thailand, etc. What happens if you end up in hospital with a broken leg or something?

I checked, local insurance only covers damage to the scooter with a $500 excess.

 

[Guvner]

If he is covered as a dual citizen why is it different this time?

 

[p--and--t]

If he is covered as a dual citizen why is it different this time?

I think he is covered, but not her (as pillion I presume)

 

[p--and--t]

Bali, Vietnam and Thailand are notorious for regular almost daily reports of serious injuries, lost holidays and huge expenses associated with unlicenced (and licensed) drivers on scooters and motorbikes. YMMV

 

[Tiki]

If he is covered as a dual citizen why is it different this time?

He isn't for scooters. I just never noticed before and assumed he was ok. There are different rules for non-residents.

 

[dajop]

Bali, Vietnam and Thailand are notorious for regular almost daily reports of serious injuries, lost holidays and huge expenses associated with unlicenced (and licensed) drivers on scooters and motorbikes. YMMV

Usually the insurance for those having scooter accidents in such destinations is provided by one's self, or for those who can't afford it, by friends & family through "gofundme" and the like.

 

[trooper]

I understood it was universal that an appropriate license had to be held in ones home country for renting a scooter/motorbike overseas. (It certainly is for cars right? Whats the difference? ) Or at least it is for your TI to cover you while doing so. Why is it not a "thing"? Perhaps because insurers think it too risky to cover unlicensed riders on holiday? (Go figure! ) What happens if you get injured? As dajop pointed out it seems to be a strange form of self insurance where family, or even strangers through "Gofundmes" are asked to pay the costs...which does indeed seem to happen with monotonous regularity.

 

[Brissy1]

I often used to hire a motorbike overseas (inc Cook Id). Yes it's can be scary, but how could you go past the opportunity to say ride a Harley through the teak forests of Java.
I'd carefully read the t&c, they're not all the same by any means.
For me no insurance simply means no riding.

For next time, get an Australian bike licence.

 

[Tiki]

I understood it was universal that an appropriate license had to be held in ones home country for renting a scooter/motorbike overseas. (It certainly is for cars right? Whats the difference? ) Or at least it is for your TI to cover you while doing so. Why is it not a "thing"? Perhaps because insurers think it too risky to cover unlicensed riders on holiday? (Go figure! ) What happens if you get injured? As dajop pointed out it seems to be a strange form of self insurance where family, or even strangers through "Gofundmes" are asked to pay the costs...which does indeed seem to happen with monotonous regularity.

Most tourists get a Cook Islands scooter license from the local police station. They test you before giving the license. They will not rent a scooter if you don't have either a license from your home country or the Cook Islands. So we DO have a legal license. It's just not a license from Australia. The problem comes from the insurance companies excluding the possibility of obtaining the proper license in the country you hire the scooter in.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Most tourists get a Cook Islands scooter license from the local police station. They test you before giving the license. They will not rent a scooter if you don't have either a license from your home country or the Cook Islands. So we DO have a legal license. It's just not a license from Australia. The problem comes from the insurance companies excluding the possibility of obtaining the proper license in the country you hire the scooter in.

I think it comes down to the risk assessment. Some countries are simply dangerous… Bali and Thailand for example. Another factor is experience… if you don’t hold a licence in your home country, and get one ‘on the spot’ in another… are you more likely to have an accident as a novice driver in the other country? Etc.

Insurance is all about risk, and which risks the insurance company deems it will cover. This is designed to keep policy prices down, and profits up for the provider.