While the rest of the world slowly thinks about Covid and Covid Passports, let's not forget the other recent event that has seen a few changes to way we now travel in Europe. Yes... "B... B... B... Brexit! There I said it!"
With everyone so focused on Covid I thought it was timely to look at 'Key Documents'.
PASSPORT
I would not be surprised if the lifting on Covid restrictions place a higher workload than usual on passport services this year. The chance to travel again will feature highly on everyones agenda, especially those who haven't felt the need to re-new a passport over the last couple of years.
Naturally if your passport has expired you will need to get a new one, but we recommend doing it sooner rather than later to avoid the rush we predict.
There will also be some other changes due to Brexit and the most obvious one is the expiry date of your passport - In some cases, if you passport is within 6 months of its expiry you may be refused entry to a certain country.
In short - Please ensure when you are riding with us this year, you have at least 6 months remaining on your passport at the point you return to the UK. This will cover all eventualities.
DRIVING LICENSE and IDPs
We have been so used to just riding our bikes on and off a ferry or tunnel with very little to trouble or fluster us that we have become a little complacent or maybe just unaware of what we now need to ride our machines (or drive our cars of course) in Europe.
While not all of Europe is in the EU, we were still pretty much able to ride anyway we wanted without the worry of being fined for not having the right licence. Well guess what, there are some changes.
Firstly, the Schengen Agreement still exists in mainland Europe meaning that travel between most countries is unrestricted so the worry of being picked on at every border isn't really a valid concern, drivers and riders simply pass on through as there is literally nothing except for a sign or two to signal your crossing from one country to another.
But that said, some countries do now require us plucky Brits to hold an 'International Driving Permit' if we want to drive/ride there.
First what is an International Driving Permit (IDP) and where do I get one? Simply, the Post Office hold applications for IDPs. Then cost £5.50 and are relatively quick to arrive, a couple of weeks. You will need to visit the Post Office in person to obtain. No online service yet (to our knowledge)
You WILL need an IDP if you are still holding on to an old paper driving licence, or your licence is issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man.
If you hold a UK issued photocard driving licence, happy days! (for the most part)
To make things more straightforward to our riders - We have complied a lists below of the counties Moto Ventura will ride in during our 2022 season and whether they require an IDP.
Black Forest
France Need 1968 if you hold paper Gib, Guern or IoM licence
Germany Need 1968 if you hold paper Gib, Guern or IoM licence
Luxembourg No IDP Needed
Belgium Need 1968 if you hold paper Gib, Guern or IoM licence
Alps (Italian Job)
France Need 1968 if you hold paper Gib, Guern or IoM licence
Germany Need 1968 if you hold paper Gib, Guern or IoM licence
Lichtenstein No IDP Needed
Switzerland No IDP Needed
Austria No IDP Needed
Italy Need 1968 if you hold paper Gib, Guern or IoM licence
Luxembourg No IDP Needed
Belgium Need 1968 if you hold paper Gib, Guern or IoM licence
Adriatic
France Need 1968 if you hold paper Gib, Guern or IoM licence
Germany Need 1968 if you hold paper Gib, Guern or IoM licence
Switzerland No IDP Needed
Lichenstein No IDP Needed
Austria No IDP Needed
Italy Need 1968 if you hold paper Gib, Guern or IoM licence
Slovenia No IDP Needed
Croatia Need 1968 if you hold paper Gib, Guern or IoM licence
Montenegro 1968 IDP Needed
Bosnia & Herz 1968 IDP Needed
Luxembourg No IDP Needed
Belgium Need 1968 if you hold paper Gib, Guern or IoM licence
In short, riders on our Adriatic WILL need a 1968 IDP available from your Post Office.
If you have any questions - feel free to drop us a line.
Below that is a link to the Government site where a full world list is published.
Insurance
Each company is different - Please check with your provider that you can ride in the relevant countries for your tour. If they do not cover all countries, please let us know - we can than arrange necessary stops to obtain your temporary insurance permit for the days we are there. This is most likely relevant to ‘Bosnia and Herzegovina’ and Montenegro.
Health Cover
You will need either a Global Health Insurance Card or a European Health Insurance Card.
Liechtenstein only recognise the EHIC so - If you have a current existing EHIC then you are fine. If you need a new one, apply for the new UK EHIC so you are covered in Lichtenstein.
This card is FREE. Do not use a site which requires payment for this card. A link to the official NHS site is below.
Breakdown Cover
Finally ensure you have adequate cover to re-patriate you and your motorcycle should it fail.
Moto Ventura Motorcycle Tours - Maximum Smiles Per Gallon
'Open Road... Open Mind'
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