Getting back into bikes. Insurance advice/experiences.

[karlakGS]

I think I know what the answer will be, but is there anything other than the compare sites to try and get the best insurance price.

Looking at a '23 R1250rs, but haven't had a bike since 2008 (age mid 50's), so starting again for no claims. Do have full car no claims which I am putting in on the comparison sites. MCN, GoCompare and meerkat - all prices coming back the same for the providers who will quote..

Hastings being around half of what the next nearest quotes are (around £500, which I didnt think was too bad tbh). Think the Biking zero no claims is hitting quite hard with other insurers maybe.

Is there anyone else to try who dont appear on the comparison sites I should try ?

 

[G&T]

Try Bikesure. I was with Bennetts but after a lay off from biking for just within the 2 year NCB period their quote was double Bikesure.

 

[Wapping]

but is there anything other than the compare sites to try and get the best insurance price.

Yes, it’s called ‘shopping around’ and might well involve you using that very old fashioned thing called a telephone and speaking to someone. You know, that thing you use for sending pictures of cats to your mum and risqué jokes to your friends. Never muddle the two up.

Just Google ‘motorbike insurance’, whereupon all the providers (rip-off merchants) will pop-up…. Or just spend 10 minutes (with the obligatory brew or dram to hand) looking at all the providers mentioned on this forum since, um, well last week really. For every “XYZ, are great mate” you’ll find “No they are not, they are shite, mate”…. That is because everyone is not the same and prices change from week to week or even hour to hour.

In short, make an effort. There are no slam dunk shortcuts. The Lord helps those, who help themselves, as my (very Catholic) grandmother used to say.

 

[richh]

Got to use comparison sites.

My renewal was expensive with Bikesure so went on comparison site and got a better price.

With, you’ve guessed it, Bikesure.

They’re all just selling the same product from one or two underwriters. Just marking them up as much as they think they can get away with.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[wessie]

Register with a cashback site like Topcashback and use their comparison site. You might get the same price and a kickback where Topcashback share the referral bonus.

Use my referral link and I get a bonus https://www.topcashback.co.uk/ref/wessie

 

[GSite]

Register with a cashback site like Topcashback and use their comparison site. You might get the same price and a kickback where Topcashback share the referral bonus.

Use my referral link and I get a bonus https://www.topcashback.co.uk/ref/wessie

I have found this approach has saved me a lot over the years but be very mindful that some insurers tweak the T&Cs if a policy is bought via a price comparison site. For example, policy arrangement fees, cancellation fees and costs for making mid-term changes.

The kickback paid to the cashback sites by insurers (part of which is paid to you in cashback) could be clawed back if the T&Cs of the site are not adhered to exactly, easy to do unless you read all the small print.

The cashback on Quidco, topcashback etc can be declined if the whole process is not done online. I have found this can happen when phoning to correct an error in the documentation sent after inception of the policy as this breaks the online chain. Note that some insurers charge higher arrangement fees for policies bought over the phone than online.

 

[EVskiy]

Wear a loose fitting trousers, you’ll certainly need to. no belts preferably …

Welcome back to biking by the way. VED just gone up a bit by the way.

 

[littleade]

The bike insurer is the comparison site I use to see if my current insurer is competitive

Making bike insurance easy for 17 years | The Bike Insurer

The Bike Insurer

www.thebikeinsurer.co.uk

In the past I've used Hastings Direct a couple of times by going direct to their website after getting a quote on TBI which has been cheaper.

 

[SBD]

Before you splash out on your new and awesome steed, do make sure the insurance don’t load you lots for a bloody big bike and a potentially very rusty rider. When I bought my GS, the twerp on the phone said, “mmm, 60+, what experience have you of riding large motorbikes?”.

Apparently my reply of “well, you’ve been insuring me on an 850 for the last 19 years” was acceptable.

 

[karlakGS]

Before you splash out on your new and awesome steed, do make sure the insurance don’t load you lots for a bloody big bike and a potentially very rusty rider. When I bought my GS, the twerp on the phone said, “mmm, 60+, what experience have you of riding large motorbikes?”.

Apparently my reply of “well, you’ve been insuring me on an 850 for the last 19 years” was acceptable.

Good advice. Cheers.. Something a couple of dealers also advised I checked early in the "research" process.

I was literally just checking another comparison site. Hastings are pretty much half of the next bunch of insurers, with the same cover. Think the lack of no claims may be the killer for some providers. Maybe full no claims on the car helps with Hastings.

Quotes between £500 and £4000 !!!! £500 voluntary excess and £250 compulsory - I am 57 and a not too bad postcode, but with zero no claims.

 

[EVskiy]

Always check your insurance eligibility on any potential bike you have a liking for.

Wanting a bike and being able to actually own one without paying through the nose for having it, isn’t the smartest move unless one ofcause is loaded.

Think of it as in:
Wanting to date and be in the relationship with an A list celebrity (Jenifer Aniston for example).
If you haven’t same or similar status, it is a nonstarter.

Have you looked at F900 R or F900 XR variant. Or something sub 800-900cc from another manufacturer. Might be cheaper to insure. For a year or two, then get a bigger bike.

Regardless what bike you do get, even a125cc scooter will be expensive to insure in comparison to say a 24 year old with 3 years NCB. But it it’ll sure be cheaper than trying to insure a bait of a bike that is a BMW R1250 RS.
Where and how you keep it at home will count for how much cheaper your insurance can be.

 

[littleade]

Always check your insurance eligibility on any potential bike you have a liking for.

Wanting a bike and being able to actually own one without paying through the nose for having it, isn’t the smartest move unless one ofcause is loaded.

Think of it as in:
Wanting to date and be in the relationship with an A list celebrity (Jenifer Aniston for example).
If you haven’t same or similar status, it is a nonstarter.

Have you looked at F900 R or F900 XR variant. Or something sub 800-900cc from another manufacturer. Might be cheaper to insure. For a year or two, then get a bigger bike.

Regardless what bike you do get, even a125cc scooter will be expensive to insure in comparison to say a 24 year old with 3 years NCB. But it it’ll sure be cheaper than trying to insure a bait of a bike that is a BMW R1250 RS.
Where and how you keep it at home will count for how much cheaper your insurance can be.

Many mature tossers with a zillion no claims who've recently bought the new oneeyedspunkwagon without checking how much they were going to get fleeced first would happy pay £500 to insure theirs. With no NCD I don't think that's bad for the bestest boxer there is