Bike insurance.

[das boat]

Hi all, was just wondering whom are happy with there insurance.
Ie, price cover etc.
Just rang Bennetts to get my gsa and dr350 ins renewed ( had a policy on these bikes for a while now. ) And have been told they will not cover as i wish to carry pillions.

So went onto go compare for a new quote, thought i would be honest and input the replacement exhaust and only 4 companies will cover.
So the million dollar question, is honesty really the best policy?

 

[MarkShelley]

Try ebike

 

[Jiffy176]

Das.

I was with a broker the insured me through Aviva, wanted £300 on renewal.
That had gone up £100 on last year, Ok I had a claim but it was non fault.
I did a search and found that motorcycle direct would insure me with Aviva for £121 with more mileage, pillions but the rest of the cover was the same and I have business class 1.
The handy thing as I found out is if you do need to claim, you deal with Aviva direct and not the broker.
My claim process was fairly easy with them and I was paid out within two weeks of the accident. This may have been easier as it was a non fault but still what I thought would be a nightmare I found an easy and simple process to deal with. Everyone I spoke to on the phone was pleasant and polite and did as I asked them to.
Hence why I was happy to re-insure with them again, well that and the best price! The only issue now is that the add on legal cover is getting a bit pricy, my previous broker was £6 per year and MCD was nearer £30 can't remember exact figure, but still a years fully comp with protected ncd for around £150 can't be bad.

Good luck.

 

[das boat]

Das.

I was with a broker the insured me through Aviva, wanted £300 on renewal.
That had gone up £100 on last year, Ok I had a claim but it was non fault.
I did a search and found that motorcycle direct would insure me with Aviva for £121 with more mileage, pillions but the rest of the cover was the same and I have business class 1.
The handy thing as I found out is if you do need to claim, you deal with Aviva direct and not the broker.
My claim process was fairly easy with them and I was paid out within two weeks of the accident. This may have been easier as it was a non fault but still what I thought would be a nightmare I found an easy and simple process to deal with. Everyone I spoke to on the phone was pleasant and polite and did as I asked them to.
Hence why I was happy to re-insure with them again, well that and the best price! The only issue now is that the add on legal cover is getting a bit pricy, my previous broker was £6 per year and MCD was nearer £30 can't remember exact figure, but still a years fully comp with protected ncd for around £150 can't be bad.

Good luck.

Thats the rub Jiffy, my current policy is with Aviva and still valid till the end of the month. When i rang Bennetts they told me that Aviva have changed the terms of my policy mid term, and now will not cover pillions on the BMW or the Suzuki. In fact they went on to say none of the companies they deal with would cover unless I stated I would not carry pillions.
To be honest, its rare I carry pillions. Just dislike being dictated to.

 

[Greger]

Try Carole Nash - not sure if they will do what you want but have just swapped to them from Bennetts and lot cheaper with AA and DNA stuff.
On line quote worked well.

 

[Dave56]

Hi there, try Footman James they are by far the best insurance company that I have used in recent years, an extremely competative premium and really helpful staff on the phones.
Although the only time you really know how good they really are is when you need to make a claim......!

 

[Ash]

Try Carole Nash - not sure if they will do what you want but have just swapped to them from Bennetts and lot cheaper with AA and DNA stuff.
On line quote worked well.

Been with them for years..

www.carolenash.com

 

[metropolis2k]

Have you tried BMW insurance? I've heard good things about them.

I've had good quotes and dealings with Hastings before and I'm with Devitt now.

 

[Bumfluff]

Strange... I just insured my Triumph trophy start of this month with Bennetts TPFT with other bike cover and pillion for £155 then changed to the R1150gs with mods and still TPFT with other bike cover and pillion and new quote was £135

full comp on the other hand was well over £500!!

 

[Jiffy176]

Das.
Funny you say about pillions as on a mid term swap I had the same problem. I think changing broker is the key. Like you pillion is rare but I didn't like be told no you can't. When I reinsured with them I can now take pillions and informed that bike has replacement road legal exhaust. They weren't bothered by either. I think the difference is you get to stipulate what you want when filling out the search criteria. Try mc direct and see?

 

[MattW]

Get an old(er) bike

My 1100 is now on a semi-classic policy with Carol Nash.
Just renewed: £200 fully comp with a £75 excess (and it actually went down £2 this year which I wasn't expecting)

 

[alex-reed]

These prices all seem low... Mine was £585 for the year coming up... bloody been 20, I've got 2 years no claims! But Hastings direct have been the best for me.

 

[MattW]

These prices all seem low... Mine was £585 for the year coming up... bloody been 20, I've got 2 years no claims! But Hastings direct have been the best for me.

Being an old git has its advantages (I'm 25 years older than you)

However, there aren't many of us who would mind being 20 again

 

[MarkShelley]

Hi there, try Footman James they are by far the best insurance company that I have used in recent years, an extremely competative premium and really helpful staff on the phones.
Although the only time you really know how good they really are is when you need to make a claim......!

I left FJ this April. After about 10 years without a claim they decided to increase my premium from around £200 to over £300. I was told due to high number of fraudulent claims.
I am now with ebike, paying what I used to with FJ and when I swap a bike it is all done online and doesn`t cost me £20 or whatever to do it.

 

[mrsroynie]

... And have been told they will not cover as i wish to carry pillions.

That sounds as bizarre as the US license-holder problem thread! Evidently, from some of the posts here, this is a common problem. But should it be?!

How can an insurance company justify refusing cover for a passenger on a road-legal bike that is designed and licensed to carry two people?

... just asking

 

[alex-reed]

Being an old git has its advantages (I'm 25 years older than you)

However, there aren't many of us who would mind being 20 again

owell the bikes worth it.

 

[t'other dave]

Been with Hastings for years this year (Jan) was about £150 me, pillion, Euro cover, with panniers, upto 10,000 miles, kept in a wooden shed, no alarm and I have a cr@p postcode ( £650 tpft for pug 406 diesel). So the bike ins from Hastings is good, age 37 with 20 years insurance. Never had to use them so don't know how they perform when claiming.
Dave

 

[das boat]

Well people, thought I would update you all on my situation.
Have given motorcycle direct a call this afternoon, spoke with a very helpful lady and we went through the quote. I made it clear that I want pillion cover and also mentioned my exhaust, not a problem came the reply.
She then said that will be £97 fully comp including commute and thats with...
you guessed it, Aviva.

So some things defo happen for the better.

I must be honest, I was getting a bit worried about the pillion saga, as i seemed to remember an article in MCN some time ago about ins companies not covering pillions on dual sport or dirt bikes.
Lets hope that was just another blown out of all proportion article. Das.

 

[Jiffy176]

Glad that worked out for you Das. I don't think the price will be as good at renewal time but when I did the search there were loads that were similar price. Still can't quite believe that the same insure can charge 3 times as much for the same policy with different brokers.

 

[das boat]

Cheers Jiffy, dont suppose insurance will ever make sense.
And your right about renewal, probs be back to square one this time next year.