How Ohio State fitted into my planning.
My niece, Tamara, married Jamie who hails from Ohio. He is a good man and has settled into life in Australia. They have three Aussie children.
Jamie's immediate family live in Fletcher, Ohio. He has a brother Adam who has been very kind to me. He offered storage room in his barn for my bike and other gear. During the early stages of planning I was going to buy the bike in USA but that didn't eventuate. Adam has stored the trailer, hitch and several other items I bought in America and had delivered to his home.
Adam sent me a photograph of his home taken during a previous cold December. The house was covered in three foot of snow. He was happy to store the bike but he cautioned that I may experience difficulty getting the bike out of the barn. Apparently everything freezes and he has heating in his garage so his vehicle are drivable.
Collecting the bike late in December was going to be an experience that may have given me a taste of some real 'COLD'. Travelling from the north east corner through the centre of America toward Mexico was going be tough.
Now that I will not have to pick up a bike and trailer my trip initially not include Ohio. Southern California to Mexico will be a more comfortable prospect for myself.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Ditched the hitch and trailer.
Alum-lite trailer.Bought an 'Alum-lite' bike trailer on Ebay from a USA Ebay seller 'iselltrailers'. The reasoning behind the purchase was to increase my capacity to carry personal, camping and bike maintenance items. The trailer was built of aluminium and is the lightest on the market.
Dauntless Motors BMW hitch.
The hitch was engineered and built in USA. It came with the wiring harness and fitting the kit was to be a simple process.
As previously stated the problems encountered getting insurance whilst towing gave cause for a huge re-think.
So I ditched the hitch and trailer. (Sold on US Ebay)
The side panniers, on my bike, will not provide all the carry/storage space I'll need. Bought a top box that will have to fitted when I take delivery of the bike at Long Beach. The tent and sleeping bag will have to be strapped on somewhere!!!!
Insurance for the bike and self.
Travel Insurance.
Travel insurance for myself while travelling was not a problem. Any number of online insurance companies are offering cover. It is a must have. The policy I paid for provides for my medical evacuation back to Australia, should I need it, amongst other benefits.
Global Territory Insurance for the bike.
As we all know Australian Insurance companies will insure our vehicles BUT the coverage does not extend to international travel. If you want insurance cover the bike needs to be covered by 'Global Territory' insurance for international travel. That insurance provides normal comprehensive covering theft and damage.
Searched the Internet looking for Australian companies that offer that sort of cover. Even rang the Insurance Council and asked - as far as I have been able to find out no Australian insurer does it.
Found a couple of companies in USA that provides that type of motorcycle insurance. The company I decided to go with had a link on the 'MotorcycleExpress' website. The duration of the cover is for a maximum 24 week period and once again is not cheap. This 'Global Territory' insurance is not valid in USA though. The contact person was Gail Goodman.
USA comprehensive insurance also needed.
Separate USA motorcycle insurance is required. The same company offers full comprehensive motorcycle insurance for 'non resident aliens'. The duration of this cover can be for a period as short as one week.
Primary Liability insurance for certain countries.
Just to complicate things in some countries, such as Mexico, Argentina, Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, you have to have local insurance. It is called 'Primary Liability' insurance. It does not matter if you have other insurance, such as Global Territory insurance, that covers your bike - you must have local insurance to be covered in the event of an incident. There are many online companies that offer that insurance.
Motorcycle trailer problems!!!
Applied online for Mexican insurance only to be refused. The reason why I was refused was because I was intending to tow a motorcycle trailer. I spoke to CEO of MotorMexico, Alan Kohl, and he was very helpful. Apparently it is standard practice throughout Central and South America not to give insurance cover to motorcycles towing a trailer or attached to a side car.
Not to be put off I applied to BajaBound insurance. A customer service officer, Yara, went to great lengths to get insurance for me. After several days of emails she found an underwriter who agreed to insure the bike even if I was towing BUT they would not cover the trailer OR any damage the trailer caused. So if a car hit my trailer and I was at fault I would be up for the cost of repair for the damage to the car. In Mexico apparently the police attend accidents and you have to pay the wronged party immediately or go to gaol.
Decided not to tow a trailer thereby taking the problem out of the insurance while in Mexico.
Marine Insurance
The first insurance I had to pay was the Marine Freight insurance - hope the ship doesn't sink. Marine insurance seems to exclude every possible way a ship could possibly sink.
Travel insurance for myself while travelling was not a problem. Any number of online insurance companies are offering cover. It is a must have. The policy I paid for provides for my medical evacuation back to Australia, should I need it, amongst other benefits.
Global Territory Insurance for the bike.
As we all know Australian Insurance companies will insure our vehicles BUT the coverage does not extend to international travel. If you want insurance cover the bike needs to be covered by 'Global Territory' insurance for international travel. That insurance provides normal comprehensive covering theft and damage.
Searched the Internet looking for Australian companies that offer that sort of cover. Even rang the Insurance Council and asked - as far as I have been able to find out no Australian insurer does it.
Found a couple of companies in USA that provides that type of motorcycle insurance. The company I decided to go with had a link on the 'MotorcycleExpress' website. The duration of the cover is for a maximum 24 week period and once again is not cheap. This 'Global Territory' insurance is not valid in USA though. The contact person was Gail Goodman.
USA comprehensive insurance also needed.
Separate USA motorcycle insurance is required. The same company offers full comprehensive motorcycle insurance for 'non resident aliens'. The duration of this cover can be for a period as short as one week.
Primary Liability insurance for certain countries.
Just to complicate things in some countries, such as Mexico, Argentina, Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, you have to have local insurance. It is called 'Primary Liability' insurance. It does not matter if you have other insurance, such as Global Territory insurance, that covers your bike - you must have local insurance to be covered in the event of an incident. There are many online companies that offer that insurance.
Motorcycle trailer problems!!!
Applied online for Mexican insurance only to be refused. The reason why I was refused was because I was intending to tow a motorcycle trailer. I spoke to CEO of MotorMexico, Alan Kohl, and he was very helpful. Apparently it is standard practice throughout Central and South America not to give insurance cover to motorcycles towing a trailer or attached to a side car.
Not to be put off I applied to BajaBound insurance. A customer service officer, Yara, went to great lengths to get insurance for me. After several days of emails she found an underwriter who agreed to insure the bike even if I was towing BUT they would not cover the trailer OR any damage the trailer caused. So if a car hit my trailer and I was at fault I would be up for the cost of repair for the damage to the car. In Mexico apparently the police attend accidents and you have to pay the wronged party immediately or go to gaol.
Decided not to tow a trailer thereby taking the problem out of the insurance while in Mexico.
Marine Insurance
The first insurance I had to pay was the Marine Freight insurance - hope the ship doesn't sink. Marine insurance seems to exclude every possible way a ship could possibly sink.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Carnet De Passage En Douane.
What is a Carnet de Passage?
Many of the Central and South American countries require that the rider/driver of a motorcycle/car has a Carnet when entering at the border. The Carnet allows the customs officials to permit the vehicle into the country without import or other taxes being charged.
The Carnet consists of a booklet with vouchers. Each page has three vouchers. When you enter a country the customs official takes the first voucher and stamps the other two. When you leave the country the customs officer takes the second voucher and stamps the third. The third voucher stays in the book and that voucher contains the stamps and dates of entry and exit - proving that the bike left the country as agreed.
How to get a Carnet
These Carnets are available from the Australian Automobile Association - Peppina Sorbara is the contact person. She is very knowledgeable and helpful.
You have to be a member of RACV or equivalent in other states to get a Carnet. You apply through your state office and they approach AAA for the documents. In Victoria I contacted Kerry at HolidayLine, RACV and she helped me through the process.
The Carnet was NOT cheap. Each country imposes import tax at a different rate. In South America the tax rate is 200% ( of the total value of the vehicle ) for individuals who want to bring a car into the country without an import licence. Some Asian countries it is 400%.
To cover that amount, in case you default, AAA want a refundable cash deposit of 200% the value of your vehicle OR your bank to fully guarantee and to set aside that same amount in a specific account OR you can buy insurance to cover your default ( you still have to pay the tax the insurance just saves you having to put the money aside ).
On top of that insurance premium the fee for the vouchers is $400 and there is also a refundable deposit of $250.
To get a vehicle into Australia you need a Carnet unless you have an import licence or permit. To export and then import a bike back into the country Australian Customs want to inspect the bike that is leaving the country. They obviously want the same bike they inspected leaving to be the one coming back.
You can arrange the Customs Inspection of the bike and the Carnet yourself. An appointment has to be made five days in advance of when you require the inspection to take place. Tim from Cassie Freight did the job for me for $85 - happy with that.
Many of the Central and South American countries require that the rider/driver of a motorcycle/car has a Carnet when entering at the border. The Carnet allows the customs officials to permit the vehicle into the country without import or other taxes being charged.
The Carnet consists of a booklet with vouchers. Each page has three vouchers. When you enter a country the customs official takes the first voucher and stamps the other two. When you leave the country the customs officer takes the second voucher and stamps the third. The third voucher stays in the book and that voucher contains the stamps and dates of entry and exit - proving that the bike left the country as agreed.
How to get a Carnet
These Carnets are available from the Australian Automobile Association - Peppina Sorbara is the contact person. She is very knowledgeable and helpful.
You have to be a member of RACV or equivalent in other states to get a Carnet. You apply through your state office and they approach AAA for the documents. In Victoria I contacted Kerry at HolidayLine, RACV and she helped me through the process.
The Carnet was NOT cheap. Each country imposes import tax at a different rate. In South America the tax rate is 200% ( of the total value of the vehicle ) for individuals who want to bring a car into the country without an import licence. Some Asian countries it is 400%.
To cover that amount, in case you default, AAA want a refundable cash deposit of 200% the value of your vehicle OR your bank to fully guarantee and to set aside that same amount in a specific account OR you can buy insurance to cover your default ( you still have to pay the tax the insurance just saves you having to put the money aside ).
On top of that insurance premium the fee for the vouchers is $400 and there is also a refundable deposit of $250.
To get a vehicle into Australia you need a Carnet unless you have an import licence or permit. To export and then import a bike back into the country Australian Customs want to inspect the bike that is leaving the country. They obviously want the same bike they inspected leaving to be the one coming back.
You can arrange the Customs Inspection of the bike and the Carnet yourself. An appointment has to be made five days in advance of when you require the inspection to take place. Tim from Cassie Freight did the job for me for $85 - happy with that.
Bike delivered for shipping.
Changed my shipping agent at the last minute.
Unexpected email received from Tim Keogh of Cassie Freight International ( tim@cassie.com )providing me with a quote to ship my bike. We had exchanged a couple of emails and then nothing. In the interim I decided to go with Josh (as per previous post) even though he wasn't the cheapest but at least he was very professional and answered my questions promptly.
The quote from Tim looked like it was going to save me a few dollars so I rang him. Tim was forthright and confirmed his quote. Josh's freight fee was $305 per cubic metre. Tim's fee is $125 representing a saving to me. My crate is 3.6 cbm in size.
I cancelled my booking with Josh. Josh was polite about the whole matter and wished me well.
Tim wasted no time booking me onto the Cap Spencer and arranged for me to deliver the bike to Navia Logistics at Keilor Park on the outskirts of Melbourne. The paperwork was emailed and yesterday morning I made the trip to Melbourne dragging the trailer and crated bike. All freight has to be finalised for the ship by the end of this week.
The quote from Tim looked like it was going to save me a few dollars so I rang him. Tim was forthright and confirmed his quote. Josh's freight fee was $305 per cubic metre. Tim's fee is $125 representing a saving to me. My crate is 3.6 cbm in size.
I cancelled my booking with Josh. Josh was polite about the whole matter and wished me well.
Tim wasted no time booking me onto the Cap Spencer and arranged for me to deliver the bike to Navia Logistics at Keilor Park on the outskirts of Melbourne. The paperwork was emailed and yesterday morning I made the trip to Melbourne dragging the trailer and crated bike. All freight has to be finalised for the ship by the end of this week.
Bike delivered
The young store man at Navia was very friendly and quizzed me about my trip. The process was painless. He weighed and measured the crate before loading it into a shipping container.
The Cap Spencer leaves the Port of Melbourne on the 21st November and arrives Long Beach, California 12th December, 08.
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