When traveling in Africa with any vehicle; motorcycle, 4×4, truck etc; You can have one third part vehicle insurance and use it in multiply countries which are Brown insurance (Ecowas) to Western Africa and Yellow Card (Comesa) in Eastern Africa.
Comesa insurance starts from Zimbabwe and you can use until Sudan (include), it’s writing Egypt as well but they won’t except it. The price are changing, it depends how long you want to have it and how many countries you will enter. If your plan more than 3 countries you need to have it for all countries which are Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia and Sudan.
We applied for the Yellow Card in Lusaka, Zambia. We didn’t get it in Zimbabwe because the prices are way to high there. If you use the Victoria falls border you can easily get the Comesa in Livingstone as well.
Before you get it you must have a Zambian insurance from the company. So you need to try to pass the border without getting any insurance, tell them you will get it in the next city and you will get the Comesa for all East Africa countries. Otherwise you need to pay the local insurance twice as you need to have it from the same company.
We paid for each motorcycle 24.5 USD for the Zambian traffic insurance and than 57 USD for 6 months Comesa to enter all countries. (I am sure there are better deals if you search more).
The Comesa Insurance was with us Zambia to Sudan and nobody ask about it. Only, Malawi border wanted see it. Otherwise, nobody asking if you don’t do anything wrong in the traffic or accident. Her brother travel without Yellow card Egypt to Zimbabwe. He told us only Tanzania when a police stop him they asked it. He passed them with 5 USD. If you ask to us we can recommend to have it is not expensive.
We made a short video for our Africa journey, roads, life… We hope that you like to watch :
FS
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On the COMESA – there is different thoughts and opinions on this. We would like to go the same route with our overland trip in July. We plan to get the COMESA in Livingstone. We have also heard that it only covers citizens from COMESA member countries. This document definitely facilitate easier border crossings, but will it cover you in case of a third party claim? In our case we are from South Africa which is not part of COMESA – any experience or thoughts?
Hello Riaan, Yes this is a third-part insurance. You get a local insurance and then you can buy the COMESA next to it what will cover you up to Sudan. Zambia is indeed the best place to get it I think.
Thanks for the feedback – we will need to cover all countries as well.
The concern is still if one will be covered in case of an accident (3rd party claim) as we are not a member country and it might be true in your case as well.
It is no problem that your not a member/resident of the country we are not either and so with us a lot of overlanders who have the same insurance.
Have you got an adress where to get the comesa in Livingstone
Where to have Comesa Vehicle Insurance (Yellow card) in Zambia? : Mayfair Insurance in Lusaka GPS coordination is -15.40690, 28.30051. Diamond insurance in Livingstone GPS coordination is -17.87110, 25.85590.
where to have comesa vehicle insurance (yellow card) in tanzania?
I don’t know, we got ours in Zambia you can find the details in the article. I suppose you can buy a Comesa in every big city in Tanzania.
Can one get into Zambia with just the third party insurance you buy at the border and not get into trouble for not having the comesa yellow card?
Yes the Comesa yellow card is just for multiple countries the third part insurance. So if you only go to Zambia you don’t need it 🙂