Renting a motorcycle abroad: 5 mistakes to avoid

Renting a motorcycle abroad is one of the best gifts you can give yourself on a trip. You see more, you stop wherever you want, and you ride at the pace of the landscape instead of watching it slide by behind glass. The Canary Islands, the Alps, Morocco: on a bike, you get to places a car can’t even reach! But a missing document, misunderstood insurance or a tired bike, and that dream trip can turn into a nightmare. Here are the five most common mistakes, and how to avoid them.

1. Not checking your licence

In several countries, your Canadian licence isn’t enough on its own: you also need an International Driving Permit. Without it, the rental company can refuse to hand over the bike, and your insurance might not cover you. Check the rules for your destination a few weeks before you leave.

In Canada, the IDP is issued by CAA. It costs about $32 (the price varies a little from province to province) and you can get it quickly at a branch. One important detail: the IDP only translates your licence from home. If your licence doesn’t include the motorcycle class (Class 6A in Quebec, Class M in Ontario), it won’t let you ride a motorcycle over there either!

2. Not inspecting the bike

A rental bike has already been ridden, often quite a bit. If you don’t record its condition before you leave, you could end up paying for a scratch that was already there. Take photos and a video of every scratch, dent or crack, in front of the staff if you can. Check the brakes, the tires and the chain too. And if the company doesn’t like you walking around the bike with your phone, go rent somewhere else!

3. Not knowing what the insurance really covers

“Insurance included” can mean basic third-party liability only: damage you cause to others, not damage to the bike. Before you pay, ask three questions:

• What’s the deductible if I have an accident?
• Is theft covered?
• What if the bike tips over while parked?

And don’t count on your credit card: the rental insurance on most Canadian cards excludes motorcycles. Read your certificate of insurance before you go, it could save you a bill of a few thousand dollars.

4. Renting the wrong bike

The big, shiny bike in the photo can become a nightmare in narrow streets, traffic or on gravel. Don’t pick the biggest or the flashiest one: think about the terrain, the length of the trip and your luggage. And if you’ve never ridden that model, ask for a short test ride before you sign. A few minutes is enough to know if you’re comfortable.

5. Having no plan if something goes wrong

Even a well-maintained bike can get a flat or refuse to start. And far from the rental counter, that can ruin a day. Before you head out:

• save the rental company’s emergency number in your phone;
• ask whether roadside assistance is included;
• download offline maps;
• keep your hotel address and some cash on you.

That way, you won’t be stuck at the side of the road with no signal and no way out.

In short

Renting a motorcycle abroad isn’t complicated, but it takes a bit of preparation. Licence checked, bike inspected, insurance understood, the right bike for the trip and a plan if something goes wrong: five checks, and the road is yours! You don’t rent a bike to spend your holiday sorting out problems. You rent it to ride, discover and come home with your head full of memories.

What about you? Have you ever rented a bike on a trip? A good or bad experience to share? Let me know in the comments!

Ride safe!

Photos

Main photo: a couple riding a mountain road near Tejeda, on the island of Gran Canaria, Spain. Photo: Marek Ślusarczyk (Tupungato), CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Sources

• iamabiker, “5 Mistakes to Avoid When Renting A Motorcycle Abroad” (November 2026).
• CAA, International Driving Permit, and CAA Manitoba, IDP ($32 including tax).
• Milesopedia, credit card rental car insurance (excluded vehicles, including motorcycles).