Racing licence and insurance for rally raid: what you need

Which racing licence do you need for a rally raid, and what insurance? It depends on the status of the event and on your own national federation. This guide explains how the rules work, so you can check your own situation before you register.

How racing licences work

Motorcycle sport is organised through national federations (FMNs), such as the DMSB in Germany, the ACU in the UK or HMS in Croatia. Your competition licence is always issued by your own federation, not by the federation of the country where the race takes place. HMS, for example, does not issue licences to foreign riders.

When you race abroad with a national licence, you usually also need a start permission: written approval from your federation that you may compete in a specific event outside your country. Some federations print a standing start permission on the licence itself; others issue it per event. Ask your federation which applies to you.

Which licence for which event

Dinaric Rally has been listed on the FIM Europe Open calendar in previous years (in 2025 as EMN 34 / 381). In that case, the third row applies.

Insurance: always mandatory

Whatever the status of the event, every Dinaric Rally competitor and every DARE! rider must have personal accident insurance that expressly covers participation in motorsport competition, with at least:

• €5,000 for accidental death
• €10,000 for permanent disability resulting from an accident
• medical treatment costs resulting from an accident
• repatriation

You can use your own policy if it meets all of these requirements. If you do not have suitable cover, we will connect you with an insurance company where you can buy a policy directly, for about €30. How it works.

Good to know:

• Some national licences include accident insurance, others do not, and some only cover events in championships. Check what your licence covers before you rely on it.
• An FIM licence comes with FIM riders’ insurance, which is complementary to your own national or private cover.
• The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) helps with public healthcare in Croatia, but it does not cover repatriation.
• Your vehicle needs valid compulsory vehicle insurance. Third-party liability for the event is covered by the organiser.

Three common situations

You race in your national championship and have a licence

Bring your licence. If Dinaric Rally is on the FIM Europe Open calendar that year, ask your federation for start permission in time. Check that your insurance meets the minimum cover above.

You have never had a racing licence

If the event is not part of any championship, you can enter without a licence, as long as you have the required insurance. If it is on the FIM Europe Open calendar, contact your federation early: getting a national licence can take several weeks and may require a medical certificate.

You want to score points in a European or world series

Then the licence rules of that series apply, usually an FIM Europe or FIM licence. Dinaric Rally will announce on this page if it becomes part of a championship.

Your checklist

• Check the status of Dinaric Rally 2027 on this page once the calendars are published.
• If a licence is needed: request your national licence and start permission from your federation.
• Make sure your accident insurance covers motorsport competition and the minimum sums, or buy ours.
• Bring your driving licence and the vehicle’s insurance documents.

Sources

Rules change every season and each federation applies them in its own way. This guide is based on the documents below, checked in October 2026. If in doubt, your own federation has the final word, and you are always welcome to ask us.

• HMS, Rally Raid annual supplement 2026 (RR 14)
• HMS, licence rules (2023)
• FIM World Rally-Raid Championship, Sporting Regulations 2025
• FIM Bajas World Cup, Sporting Regulations 2026
• FIM, Riders’ Insurance FAQ
• FIM Europe, Tout Terrain Rally Cup rules 2024
• DMSB Handbook 2026 (FIM Europe Open events, start permission)