'Best' bike insurer?
Discussion
Hello all,
Looking for some tips. I'm due to renew my bike insurance, which is medium expensive (Ducati Supersport, in my 30s but only 2 years NCB). I'm absolutely willing to go not with the lowest bidder, even if it's quite a bit more, if I was guaranteed a really good service, with the right 'extras' - e.g. legal insurance, etc which you know you could rely on if things got sticky.
I'd also be interested if any providers cover a number of trackdays a year as part of the deal?
Anybody received some really good service out there that can recommend someone?
Thanks,
Rob
Looking for some tips. I'm due to renew my bike insurance, which is medium expensive (Ducati Supersport, in my 30s but only 2 years NCB). I'm absolutely willing to go not with the lowest bidder, even if it's quite a bit more, if I was guaranteed a really good service, with the right 'extras' - e.g. legal insurance, etc which you know you could rely on if things got sticky.
I'd also be interested if any providers cover a number of trackdays a year as part of the deal?
Anybody received some really good service out there that can recommend someone?
Thanks,
Rob
If I may - how did you come across this particular broker?
I tend to go via one of the platforms and then let them find a decent provider for me. But I would love to find one broker who you know will always seek the best deal for you come renewal time, (even if a few more £), but that the service would mean I would be more than happy staying.
I tend to go via one of the platforms and then let them find a decent provider for me. But I would love to find one broker who you know will always seek the best deal for you come renewal time, (even if a few more £), but that the service would mean I would be more than happy staying.
Dakkon said:
Best in terms of insurers is very subjective, but I renewed about a month ago and Mackenzie Hodgson were by far the best quote, hundreds cheaper than alternative quotes.
Mackenzie Hosdgson are underwritten / are a trading arm of Carol Nash iircI find most brokers are good for the first couple of years then they get complacent and trying to find a broker that understands the concept of modifications is a unicorn hunt...
Have car & bike renewal at the same time 17/7 due to 6 wheel policy with CN a couple of years ago.
Last year they were nowhere near so went separate , with Mackenzie/Hodgson.
M/H by far the best quote this year too including Legal & breakdown.
Bored, so rang CN for 6 wheel quote. Trying to better £410 for separate policies.
They started at 522, Nope I say, Then down to 442 without batting an eyelid, Nope I say again.
They then asked what I wanted to pay - Nice round 400 including breakdown & legal for both vehicles.
Return after conversation with manager - sold at £398.
Last year they were nowhere near so went separate , with Mackenzie/Hodgson.
M/H by far the best quote this year too including Legal & breakdown.
Bored, so rang CN for 6 wheel quote. Trying to better £410 for separate policies.
They started at 522, Nope I say, Then down to 442 without batting an eyelid, Nope I say again.
They then asked what I wanted to pay - Nice round 400 including breakdown & legal for both vehicles.
Return after conversation with manager - sold at £398.
I'm predominantly with Carole Nash, but they need to be price checked every year and I have had to move every now and then, usually to Bennetts. That said, sometimes they are not so competitive depending on bike/policy, this year I've a couple with Bennetts, many rave about Bemoto, I couldn't get a competitive quote from them for 2 years running.
The answer is leg work I'm afraid. Some here have got great quotes from McKenzie Hodgson, but for me they were over £1000 when Bennetts were £400. I've used Swinton, Carole Nash and others but I rate Bennetts pretty highly. I have a multi-bike policy which narrows choice down a little. Bennetts also have a quite good benefits package - discounted track days etc
NITO said:
I'm predominantly with Carole Nash, but they need to be price checked every year and I have had to move every now and then, usually to Bennetts. That said, sometimes they are not so competitive depending on bike/policy, this year I've a couple with Bennetts, many rave about Bemoto, I couldn't get a competitive quote from them for 2 years running.
My renewal with Carole Nash was 25% more than last year, on a GSF1250. OK, still under £100 but it's the principle. The meerkat provides a quote £10 LESS with Carole Nash than the renewal price. Gets my goat, these 'broker fees' that make it cheaper as a new customer. The cover was actually with Aviva but you can't but bike insurance direct as a punter it seems, they only sell it to brokers. On top of that, I had to chase up a renewal notice because it was never posted to me, and the call centre said I was NOT down for auto-renewal despite the email they sent me (in the end) saying I was! A bit of a shambles all round so I've left.
Motorcyle Direct gave me very good cover but I've not used them in a while. In the last 2 years I've been with Bennetts and Hastings. Just got a 2002 Thunderace covered for £90 F/C (now have 6 yrs NCD). Excess is £450 though (!), all that plastic I suppose.
Insurance is a strange one. I will happily pay more for good tyres, parts etc. But when it comes to insurance it’s always the cheapest that wins.
While I know a £100 Michelin will be better than a £50 no name I have no idea if paying one insurance company £200 will work out better than paying another £100 for the same cover.
I suppose we all think we won’t have to use the cover so just get the cheapest.
I think regulations help us as punters here but it does lead to a lowest price wins situation which must affect service.
That being said I’ve always found Hastings to be cheap but quite often end up paying a bit more to someone else because I’ve found them shirty on the phone a few times in the past for no reason.
While I know a £100 Michelin will be better than a £50 no name I have no idea if paying one insurance company £200 will work out better than paying another £100 for the same cover.
I suppose we all think we won’t have to use the cover so just get the cheapest.
I think regulations help us as punters here but it does lead to a lowest price wins situation which must affect service.
That being said I’ve always found Hastings to be cheap but quite often end up paying a bit more to someone else because I’ve found them shirty on the phone a few times in the past for no reason.
trickywoo said:
That being said I’ve always found Hastings to be cheap but quite often end up paying a bit more to someone else because I’ve found them shirty on the phone a few times in the past for no reason.
I spoke to Hastings once. The girl on the phone was so incredibly rude, they quoted online and wouldn't honour the quote on the phone. It's the only insurer that I vowed never to look at or speak to again based on that phonecall, appalling customer service, just downright rude. I've never so gladly paid the £30 extra (to Bennetts) at the time. Carole Nash have always been spot on, I've a couple of multi policies with them and a couple of single ones with Bennetts. I'd say they are my go to insurers.
Not wishing to be a pedant, but are we talking brokers or insurers?
MCE, Carole Nash, Adrian Flux, etc. are brokers, they don't underwrite the policy. For example , my "Bikesure" policy (Adrian Flux) is actually underwritten by another company entirely.
In reality there's only a handful of bike insurers out there. I'm not sure how this relates to claim management, and customer service, which presumably is the only real difference between brokers. The actual details of exclusions, excesses, etc. should all be provided by the broker in the insurance wording, so the cover may even be the same as I understand it.
MCE, Carole Nash, Adrian Flux, etc. are brokers, they don't underwrite the policy. For example , my "Bikesure" policy (Adrian Flux) is actually underwritten by another company entirely.
In reality there's only a handful of bike insurers out there. I'm not sure how this relates to claim management, and customer service, which presumably is the only real difference between brokers. The actual details of exclusions, excesses, etc. should all be provided by the broker in the insurance wording, so the cover may even be the same as I understand it.
I use 'Wicked Quotes' for my somewhat modified Ducati, they used to be called 'Ducati Insurance' / Ramasis but changed their name at which point I did try to find someone else because it's a bit chav innit??
Anyway, the problem is every one else wouldn't cover the modifications and / or were significantly more and have been for a number of years. As the latst quote was so low I didn't even bother looking this time.
However, I haven't made a claim with them and having gone through the pain of one with the other half's car with a reputable company who also act as a breakdown company, so can't say how good they are should you need to claim...
Anyway, the problem is every one else wouldn't cover the modifications and / or were significantly more and have been for a number of years. As the latst quote was so low I didn't even bother looking this time.
However, I haven't made a claim with them and having gone through the pain of one with the other half's car with a reputable company who also act as a breakdown company, so can't say how good they are should you need to claim...
I go to the comparison sites and filter it down to whatever I need if I need it to include breakdown cover, legal aid etc. Then usually go for the cheapest.
I’m not sure how you can really quantify ‘best’.
If you choose a company which is £200 more than the cheapest how are you to know if they are any better than the cheapest?
At what price point do they suddenly become a good insurance company?
Im the same now, just do a search on cover I need with relevant options, same excess etc and go with that.
Hopefully you never get to find out how good their claims process is, thats really when you experience differences.
I had a bad accident once, write off, in coma for weeks, hospital for months. The company I was insured with took care of everything with my partner, made it all easy, paid out within weeks. Just what you would like to expect really. I was loyal to them for many years later as they were always within 10 or 15% of the cheapest no frills offer I could find. Gradually it crept up and came through one year 25% higher than cheapest, call them up, explain, no room for movement so I started again, back with the cheapest that meets requirements.
You would think that insurers would have figured out some way of keeping loyal customers by now, instead of having to do the yearly merry go around....
Hopefully you never get to find out how good their claims process is, thats really when you experience differences.
I had a bad accident once, write off, in coma for weeks, hospital for months. The company I was insured with took care of everything with my partner, made it all easy, paid out within weeks. Just what you would like to expect really. I was loyal to them for many years later as they were always within 10 or 15% of the cheapest no frills offer I could find. Gradually it crept up and came through one year 25% higher than cheapest, call them up, explain, no room for movement so I started again, back with the cheapest that meets requirements.
You would think that insurers would have figured out some way of keeping loyal customers by now, instead of having to do the yearly merry go around....
I don't know if it is the broker or the insurance company that makes the difference when it comes to a claim. I haven't claimed on my own insurance in 42 years of motoring, so I usually go on cost. I was insured with Carole Nash and was covered by Highway Insurance (never heard of them). I shopped around and got the CN quote down from £420 to £180 with BeMoto. The BeMoto insurance is covered by Axa (who I have heard of). They have the same cover on paper but is Carole Nash better? I went with BeMoto.
NOT carole Nash, the amount of times of them hearing taking money for auto renewal despite being told that that the person doesnt wish to renew with them is scary, On top of that it took them three attempts to spell my name correctly last year, Its simple things like that that mean im looking to move away from them this year ( if they dont help themselves to my money first)
Im trying Devitt this year, heard good things.
Im trying Devitt this year, heard good things.
NITO said:
GUILTY! Yes, yes, you're quite correct, I apologise for my sloppy semantics ;p
Well as I say, it's more than semantics... A broker could theoretically be selling the same product as another.You then have to ask yourself what the real differences are between brokers, and how much extra you want to spend on them.
My guess would be that people underestimate how important those differences are, and focus solely on price.
But anyway nothing personal but I'm getting bored now.
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