Europe » Any info about bike insurance visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina?

I'm planning on a big trip to Europe later this year, which will culminate in riding the Adriatic coast road down to Dubrovnik - cannot wait! However I'm struggling a bit with the insurance situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It's not in the EU, so my normal insurers aren't interested, although plenty of other non-EU European countries are OK. It seems to be a pattern, in that everyone else in the group I'll be riding with is struggling too.

I've heard from one of the group who did this a few years back that you need to buy mandatory 3rd-party-only cover from the border guards for around £20 or so, unless you can provide a "green card" - and that's another issue, because whereas most insurers talk about 'green card cover' for driving overseas, they haven't actually issued a hard-copy 'green card' for years now... and the Bosnian border guards will apparently accept absolutely nothing less than paper.

So currently, the only insurance we'll have for the planned three days in Bosnia/Herzegovina is this highly dodgy-sounding TPO insurance certificate purchased at the border. That means no cover for theft, nothing if I crash the bike, and the main thing is that if I'm unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident which the authorities deem to be my fault (which as a foreigner in an Easter European country I'd guess is pretty likely) then the only thing between me and the third party potentially taking my house is going to be that dodgy insurance certificate. Less than ideal.

I can't believe there isn't someone who will provide decent kosher insurance for this - anyone got any experience or ideas? What do all these globe trotting adventure riders do - or do they just trust to luck?

Hi Freddy,

Well the 'green' card is not necessarily green, they just issue it alongside your usual insurance on whatever they print it out (mostly white paper now) - when insuring my RS in Dec 2022 BiH is as previous years covered. Only reeeallly dodgy countries are not (currently) covered i.e. Russia, Belarus, and ''only government controled'' regions of Azerbaijan etc.

I've been with a few insurance companies over the years (pick the cheapest) and latest is with Euroherc (operates in BiH) that will be sure to offer it or any other you run by while traveling through Croatia. (connect the spaces for links)

https://www.euroherc .hr/en/motor-third-party-liability-insurance/

https://www.allianz .hr/en_HR/privatni-korisnici/auto-i-vozila/moj-auto.html

If going for Dubrovnik as Wessie mentioned the new Peljeski bridge will take you there without the need to leave Croatia/EU. But for your 3 days planned in BiH sounds like you'll need it.
(I highly recommend turning right going through Pelješac peninsula ((wonderful road)) and taking the ferry (15min) and a day to explore Korčula island - it is ((and the road through the island)) magnificent)

Some tips: depending on when you're planning to do the trip following the Adriatic road by the coast is picturesque but much slower, traffic-ladden (especially July-August), and speed-trapped. Moving near larger cities involves good lanesplitting skills (between two lanes of opposing traffic) and expect 30+C in those months. My recommendation is the continental D1 road until you reach Zadar or Šibenik you'll save yourself being stuck behind Dutch motorhomers doing 10 under the speed limit.

I don't want to dissuade you and I could be biased due to being Croatian but Dubrovnik in July-August is a sun-scorched over-packed and overpriced place to be for more than a day and ferry trips to Korčula and Vis islands are so much better as is the experience (and the roads).

As for Bosnia is has some magnificent nature and places to see and the parts you're bound to want to visit are more developed but do note the road infrastructure will likely take a dip as you move inlands. It's not quite the dashcam videos from Russia with moon-surface potholes but the asphalt quality will take a definite hit. (mostly as you move away from main roads).

I’d think twice before visiting a nation where bribery is needed to ensure a hassle-free trip. I’m not rich.