The following information is for Under 19, Senior/Elite and Masters riders wishing to purchase an international licence for racing outside of New Zealand. Riders wishing to race UCI events outside of NZ will require an international UCI licence and appropriate insurance that covers you while racing. You are encouraged to first purchase a national race licence though your member organisation (CNZ or MTBNZ) and then contact the office to upgrade this to an international licence. Upgrade instructions are here.

Riders who get an international licence also need to ensure that they have apporpriate insurance organised (information below). Riders competing only in New Zealand (including for UCI events) are covered by ACC, and events run by affiliated clubs or sanctioned event promoters are covered by third party liability.

Junior Under 17 riders may compete overseas without an international licence (as U17 is not a UCI category). They will however need the agreement of the host nation, and a letter endorsing thier participation from BikeNZ. It is highly reccomended that these riders purchase insurance to cover them while racing and training overseas.

Riders that have been selected for national teams may have their insurance fee (and applicible licence upgrade fee) included in the team project cost and do not have to organise and pay for this separately. This cover only applies to riders, so if bike cover is required please contact the office to organise an additional payment.

Insurance Information for International Licence Applicants

INSURANCE OPTIONS

UCI requirements state that insurance must be included with the cost of an International Licence.  This insurance must meet minimum standards of medical and personal liability coverage while racing.

1. BikeNZ offers riders comprehensive travel insurance that also meets the UCI requirements. The cover provided will be restricted to your period outside New Zealand, and is detailed below.

2. Riders are free to organise their own insurance coverage to accompany the purchase of an international cycling licence. However, before the licence is issued by BikeNZ, two insurance documents must be provided: a letter from the insurance company to BikeNZ, stating that "this insurance covers the nominated rider for unlimited medial coverage and $1 million personal liability while cycle racing and training (outside of NZ)"; a copy of confirmation of insurance purchase (e.g. the insurance certificate).

BikeNZ Travel and Race Insurance Details

(for riders applying for International Licences or racing abroad)

Insurance: Please note the fees are applicable until 1 December 2010, and are subject to further review after this date. Please note the change in rates and bike cover from the previous policy.

Plan A: Worldwide Cover
This plan will provide travel cover for BikeNZ riders travelling anywhere in the world to compete in cycling events.

Plan B: Worldwide Cover excluding USA, Canada, Europe (which does not include the UK)
This plan will provide travel cover for BikeNZ riders travelling anywhere including the UK but not USA, Canada and/or Europe to compete in cycling events. If you are going to the UK, but not the rest of Europe, you may purchase this plan.

Bike Cover Option
To obtain Bike Cover riders will be charged an additional premium on top of the Plan A or Plan B premium they are paying from the table above. 

The Bike Cover premium is calculated as follows:

                     Sum Insured (Declared Value ($) of Bike and Accessories to be insured for) x 1.60%

Excess for Bike Cover claims: $1000 or 10% of Sum Insured, whichever is greater. Any damage to bike equipment whilst racing or training is not covered – even when separately insured.

• Maximum cover for Bikes and Accessories packaged in a carboard box is limited to $5,000 or total value declared, whichever is lesser.
• Maximun cover for Bikes and Accessories packaged in a hard case box is limited to $15,000 or total value declared, whichever is lesser.

Non-riders: Non-athlete cover can be provided at 80% of the Plan A or Plan B premiums from the above table.

Insurance cover will only apply during the dates specified in your application.  It will be your responsibility to advise BikeNZ of any extensions to the dates specified in the application.

Insurance cover will commence on your nominated date of departure and shall continue uninterrupted for the length of time specified. Riders are unable to 'split' their coverage across multiple trips (e.g. two 15 day trips across a year, but only purchasing one 30-day insurance). Riders may however make multiple trips within a specified time period (e.g. two 10-day trips within a single 30 day insurance period).

Insurance cover will include the following:              

Overseas Medical                                 $Unlimited
Death & Capital Benefits                       $150,000
Baggage (limit per item $2500)             $20,000
Money                                                 $5,000
Loss of Deposits                                   $20,000
Auto Rental Damage & Theft Waiver      $5,000
Personal Liability- only $1m whilst racing & training               $2,500,000
Kidnap / Ransom                                  $250,000

All options cover the following
·         Full terrorism cover
·         The excess for all claims excluding training and competition will be $250.
·         The excess for any claim for an incident whilst training or in competition will be $500.
·         Personal Effects up to a maximum of $20,000 per person, with a limit $2500 any one item.

Specific Bicycle Endorsements (Bike Cover):

1.                Deductible each and every loss: Minimum $1,000 or 10% of loss whichever is the greater. Maximum claim values as descibed above will apply.

2.                Specified Items must be properly packaged (that is, packed in a hard case or cardboard box) for the journey and secured at all times during the Journey (that is, carried as hand luggage and stored in a locked building, safe or strong room when not in use).

2a) Cardboard Box Packaged - Maximum cover for Bikes and Accessories packaged in a cardboard box is limited to $5000 or total value declared, whichever is lesser.

2b) Hard Case Packaged - Maximum cover for Bikes and Accessories packaged in a hard case box is limited to $15,000 or total value declared, whichever is lesser.

3.                In respect of Specified Items carried in motor vehicles (i) there is no cover for any Specified Item left unattended overnight in a vehicle unless the vehicle is locked and parked in a secured private garage; and (ii) there is no cover during day-light hours for any Specified Item left unattended in an unlocked vehicle or in a locked vehicle unless stored and locked in the boot.

4.                There is no cover for any Specified Item whilst in use.

5.                There is no cover for wear and tear, or gradual deterioration of any Specified Item through the use and/or wearing of the item as it is intended to be used and/or worn.

6.                There is no cover for any Specified Item if left unattended in a public place.

If you have queries regarding your policy or a claim, please feel free to contact Dharmesh from Marsh.

Purchasing Insurance

For MTBNZ and CNZ riders, you can purchase your insurnace (along with your licence upgrade from national level) direct from the BikeNZ office. Send an email detailing your date of departure, insurance option required, whether bike cover is required (and bike value) to admin@bikenz.org.nz. Once appropriate payment has been received, your insurance will be activiated.

If additional insurance is required after the issue of the original International Licence, application should be made directly to the BikeNZ office, advising the new period of cover required, including the appropriate additional insurance portion for the new period. Contact admin@bikenz.org.nz to arrange for an insurance extension.

If you prefer to fill in a paper application form, you should use your respective licence form to puchase insurance. In the case you already have an international licence, and just need to extend your insurance component, just complete the personal details and insurance component of the form (or preferably, send the office an email - it's faster!)

For BMX riders, complete THIS FORM and send it in to the office. We cannot process your application over the phone/email as we need to get permission to hold your details on our database and to pass them on the the insurer.

Insurance Claims Procedure 

Should the worst happen while travelling abroad and the need to make a claim is paramount, here are a few steps to help you make the process as simple as possible.

If you are sued as a result of your racing activities, contact the BikeNZ office in order to activate the Public Liability component of yor insurance.

For all other claims (e.g. medical and baggage) follow these instructions.

Policy Number: AGRG390030

1.       Download the claim form from the following website: http://www.aceinsurance.co.nz/claimForms_.htm Select the ‘Travel Insurance Claim Form’, complete the necessary sections detailing as much information as possible.

2.       When you established your travel policy through BikeNZ you would have chosen coverage with or without bike cover. If you elected the bike coverage and are making a claim on this equipment the following applies:

• Make sure you’re aware of the policy details; in particular bikes/equipment are not insured whilst in use or in transit unless they are properly packaged (Please see Specific Bicycle Endorsements below).
• If the claim relates to an incident, take photos of the incident location and the bike/equipment involved. Please provide these with your completed claim form.
• Where possible, obtain a quotation from a reputable repairer for the repair or if not repairable, a list of salvageable parts and values from the bike/equipment.
• A copy of the purchase invoice for the bike/equipment and or accessories being claimed upon.
• Fax, post or e-mail the claim form, photos, quotation and receipts to the following recipients.

Recipient contact information is as follows:

Daren Grover                       
Marsh Ltd                                            
Email: Daren.Grover@marsh.com       
Level 18, 151 Queen Street, PO Box 2221, Auckland              
Tel:        + 64 9 366 9264  Direct  
Fax:      + 64 9 307 9376

Insurance FAQs - Personal Travel Insurance 

Why is it so expensive?

The BikeNZ insurance meets the UCI requirements of having unlimited medical coverage, and $1 million public liability while racing. The policy exception noting this in on your insurance certificate (issued upon payment), rather than in the general policy document.

The vast majority of insurance policies will not cover you if you engage in any ‘racing’ activities (check the exclusions). You are welcome to shop around to find another policy but in order for us to issue your licence and provide a letter of introduction you will need to provide evidence from the alternate insurer that they are willing to cover you under these conditions (letter or email, not just the policy).

Bike racing is a risky activity, and a lot of riders have made claims in the past. This pushes up the insurance premium for all riders engaged in racing activities.

To keep costs down for the average rider, the insurers have separated out bike coverage from the rider insurance premium. Those requiring bike coverage now pay based on the value of the bike – the burden of insuring these (expensive) items now falls on those who own the items, not all bike riders.

Am I covered for medical while racing? 

Yes, this is the point of our policy - we require you to have medical coverage while racing overseas on your international licence. The policy exception noting this in on your insurance certificate (issued upon payment), rather than in the general policy document.

I’m going away for 30 days and may have the opportunity to spend more time overseas. Is it possible to purchase some insurance now, and then get more later if required?

Yes you can purchase an initial amount of insurance now. If you need to extend this, you can do so by paying the difference between the insurance purchased, and the total insurance period required (For example, pay for 30 days now @304 and then ‘extend’ to 60 days @ 528 by paying the difference = 224).

You must do the extension a week before your insurance period expires (to allow time for processing). Otherwise you will be charged the new time rate (making it 30 days plus another 30 days = more expensive).

My return flight has been delayed, am I still insured?

In short, yes. As comprehensive travel insurance, the policy will cover you for your journey – and if that journey is disrupted at the end (e.g. due to plane delay) it will see you home. If you miss your return flight cos you slept in, you may be out of luck though!

What happened if I take out insurance now, I crash and can’t go overseas. Can I claim anything back, like flights?

You are covered under section 6 loss of deposits if you are unable to take your planned travel due to genuine unforeseen circumstance (e.g. serious injury/illness). The limit of claims in this section is $20,000.

I am going away for 3 months and there is one month before I go. Do I need to buy insurance for 4 months so that I get coverage if I hurt myself meaning I have to cancel my trip?

No. Just purchase insurance for the time you will be away.

Who do I call if I am injured overseas?

In the event of a medical emergency telephone ACE Assistance collect at any time day or night and quote your name, Policy Number (AGRG390030) and Bike NZ. ACE Assistance (NZ) Telephone Collect +64 9 359 1616

Bike Coverage FAQs

Do I have to have Bike Cover insurance?
No - it is an optional add-on. The premium is a flat-rate based on the value of your bike. You pay the flat-rate premium for each trip you take (regardless of the length of time away). Bike Cover insurance has a $1000 excess (or 10% value insurance), so if your bike isn’t worth toooo much, it may not be a cost-effective option.

Does bike insurance cover my bike while I am riding/racing it?
NO. Cover is only for bikes/accessories damaged/lost in transit or stolen from a secure premises.

Does insurance cover more than 1 bike?
Yes – but combined value cannot exceed 15000. If you are transporting bikes in two different cases (one cardboard box, one hard case) you need to advise BikeNZ which bike/value is in which case. It is advised you get a replacement valuation on your bike before you travel, as you will need it in case you have to make a claim.

Does the insurance cover my second set of wheels?
If you have purchased bike cover, it applies to bikes and bike accessories – as long as you include the value of your wheels in your declared value, then they will be included. It is advised you get a replacement valuation on your bike before you travel, as you will need it in case you have to make a claim.

What about my new case – it’s not cardboard, but not standard ‘hard’ case?
The insurer has advised that some new-style bike cases (e.g. ‘Atlas’) will be considered ‘hard cases’ for insurance purposes, as long as they offer adequate protection for the bike (e.g. high-density foam, moulded inners). If in doubt, please check with the BikeNZ office before purchasing bike insurance.

I have a Downhill bike and it doesn’t fit in a hard case. Can I increase the maximum claim limit from $5000 in any way? 
You have to carry your bike in a hard case to get the maximum 15K coverage for bikes. There are options on hard-cases for DH bikes – talk to others who have been overseas and/or search the net for what other people use. Motorcross bikes are transported in hard cases, so those suppliers may be another avenue worth exploring.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Contact the BikeNZ office - admin@bikenz.org.nz