Anybody know a good (i.e. cheap) bike insurance company?

[guest1188]

I've had a gap of two years in my bike ownership, which evidently cancels the no-claims bonus I used to have. Carole Nash says that only one company, Aviva, will give me back 2 years NCB, and their quote is still £102. This is for a 1983 Yamaha SR250 SE valued at £450, not exactly a superbike, parked in the drive and chained to an anchor plate, TPFT or TPO only, compulsory excess of £150... I've also tried Footman James, which is around the same sort of price.

This seems a hell of a lot to me - it's getting on for a quarter of the cost of the bike every year... I've held a full and unmarked bike licence since 1982, and never had a claim. Has anybody found an insurance company that doesn't object to an old geezer (I'm only 66, dammit) on a little bike? Cheers, Martin

[Ian]

Try Netpig.com...I had a good deal on 2 bikes (2009 Bonnie and my Hybrid SRX400) for £130 fully comp. You may find that theres not a lot of difference between fully comp and TPFT nowadays (for whatever reason)

HTH

Ian

[Andy M]

The value of the bike has no effect I'm afraid. In an SR250 vs Mercedes collision you'd still do tens of thousands of damage to the Merc, so the insurance company now owning your wreckage does very little to help.

Try Go Compare and tell them you've zero NCB, you'll get the same answer within a tenner or so. I'd go TPO unless you intent to build the NCB up then get something worth more and insure it fully comp. Check fully comp though, giving you £200 for a new bike (they'll never give the full £450) is a drop in the ocean compared to the damage you can do and the premiums reflect this. Fully comp brings the option of protected NCB which is way more use than any payout on an old bike.

Andy

[pigafetta]

Try Just Motorcycle Insurance.

Dave B

[guest1188]

Thanks for those responses, folks. I have found a company called Bennetts that offers a basic premium (i.e. without no claims discount), third party only for £59, which is a lot better. They have an online service which asks for more info than others do - they ask about previously-owned larger bikes, so I could say I had owned an F650 for some years, which may have made a difference, I suppose. Cheers, Martin

[Andy M]

I'm afraid I wouldn't reccomend Bennetts, their call centre people are muppets in my experience, but doesn't mean your experience won't be better. Be aware that next year they'll boost your premium as you'll no longer be a new customer and will charge you £30 if you ever want to cancel. Just let it expire and go online again to get the new customer deal every year.

Andy

[guest905]

Have found the same thing with Bennets. Great for the first year then steep rise as they already have you as a customer.....
Crusty

[SteveC#222]

I found the same thing with Bennets, so the next year I went to Carole Nash who quoted a nice low primium. The next year when Carole Nash hiked the price I went back to Bennets who gave me a good price. I've been swapping like this for quite a while now. Once you've got a few years no claims you'll find that Fully Comp is only a few quid ( like £5-£10) more than TPF&T.

I recently tried one of the compare site for a TP only quote for my 16 year old on a 1977 Puch Maxi value £200 - quotes varied from £150 which I thought was reasonable to over £650!!

[squirrelciv]

Seems to me all insurance companies are the same. Cheap for new business, then up the rates. XT insurance ran out last week and when the renewal notice came in it stated a £30 'admin' fee. The broker was Swinton insurance and the renewal premium was £190 but when I went onto 'Go Compare' the Swinton bid was £101! No reward for loyalty.

After some robust negotiation I did get the renewal down to £101 plus legal cover chucked in, but we shouldn't need to do it.

[Ian]

There doesnt seem to be any loyalty in any walk of life now 

Ian