Motorhome Insurance For Morocco
It’s nearly 10 years since we first began looking at a campervan trip to North Africa, but it wasn’t until March that we finally got there. After much research, we knew that Motorhome Insurance for Morocco was going to be difficult to find. However, with perseverance we were able to buy this most essential of accessories.
The best part – it’s actually available right here in the UK.
Importance of Fully Comprehensive Insurance
Before touring Morocco in our campervan we wanted to make sure we had fully comprehensive insurance.
After all, we don’t have 3rd party insurance in the UK, so why risk it abroad?
This was even more relevant after the “Crash for Cash” type accident in Croatia last May. After having gone through insurance vehicle repatriation and repairs, perhaps we’re more cautious than many!
In a way, the accident was a wake up call. Just like the Lady Gaga song, til it happens to you, the importance of having the right policy is suddenly much more real.
Risking being thousands of pounds out of pocket in the event of an accident is just not worth contemplating.
Contacting UK Insurers
Before leaving the UK on last year’s trip, our Annual insurance policy was due for renewal. With it came tiresome research to find an insurer with a Green Card option for Albania. Eventually we found LV offered what we were looking for, after contacting numerous insurers and getting nowhere.
The crucial point is to check and double check the insurers country list and if they offer the same UK fully comprehensive cover for driving in those countries. It’s not always easy to get the answer, so expect to make a few phone calls too.
Morocco is similar to Albania (also Turkey) when it comes to buying insurance from a UK provider. In a nutshell, there’s not much choice.
Finding Motorhome Insurance For Morocco
Already having our policy with LV and buying their additional Green Card for Albania last year, we didn’t need to look elsewhere. The Green Card gave the same fully comprehensive cover as the UK, so was ideal for our needs.
The policy covers 180 days in the EU and those countries following EU directives. A Green Card is available for Morocco, Albania and Turkey.
Is A Green Card Still Green?
No, Green cards are no longer printed in green, they come printed on white paper.
How do you buy a Green Card?
First of all we needed to have our motorhome insurance policy with LV. Then we had to phone LV giving our existing policy details and ask to buy a Green Card for Morocco.
To buy the additional Green Card insurance, we needed the dates of entry and exit for Morocco, in other words when we’d be arriving and how long we needed the Green Card.
We wanted a month in Morocco and a price was then worked out over the phone. This came to £26.42 and once we paid and confirmed everything, the Green Card – as they still call it, was sent in the post.
It arrived a few days later. The above applied when we previously bought a Green Card for Albania.
Can the Green Card be e-mailed?
Our Green Card was posted to us at home which seemed to be the option LV do as standard. We requested it be e-mailed in addition, so we had an extra copy on our mobile device.
Green Card Error – Check It
Our Morocco Green Card came by post and despite reading through it, we initially missed a crucial error.
Although the accompanying cover letter gave all the correct details, the actual Green Card did not have MA – the country code for Morocco uncrossed. The way to show which country the Green Card Covers, is for the insurance company to uncross the relevant country box. Our MA still had the black cross through it!
After a frantic phone call en-route, LV immediately e-mailed over a replacement, which we then had to print off at a campsite. Luckily we noticed before reaching Morocco but it’s an error that should never have been there in the first place and one we should have spotted at home.
It won’t happen again!
Did We Have To Show Our Insurance In Morocco?
No, we didn’t have to show our insurance policy at all. We weren’t asked for it at immigration or customs for border entry.
Morocco has Police road checks everywhere, they are commonplace, but we were never asked to stop. If we had been, maybe then we would have been asked for our Insurance document but we don’t honestly know.
Buying Third Party Insurance in Morocco
We didn’t need to buy third party insurance in Morocco because we had our Green Card insurance from LV in the UK.
For those buying third party only insurance at the border, we drove by the area after clearing immigration and customs in Morocco.
Obviously, we didn’t stop here for insurance, but it’s a place where you can also buy local SIM cards. You couldn’t miss it, as the seller’s were waving frantically for us to stop and buy one of their SIM cards! The same area has a section for buying vehicle insurance.
Which Other Insurance Companies Do a Green Card?
I don’t have up to date information on other current UK insurers who will issue a Green Card for Morocco. That’s if there are any at all!
Reading various Social Media posts, it seems there are a couple out there. Last year during my research for our Albania trip, I found it really difficult to find, although I think Caravan Guard did offer one. However, I don’t know if it was fully comprehensive or if Morocco is a country they offer.
This I’m afraid is up to the person wanting insurance to find out! Good luck – it takes a while!
Driving in Morocco
Finally, driving in Morocco is a complete mix of vast empty roads, treacherous mountain passes, ultra chaotic towns and everything in-between.
Generally roads are good in terms of surface and infrastructure, but there are some precarious ones too!
That’s all for another blog post.
