Insurance companies now refusing to quote for East London

[sjtscott]

Bennetts have not been able to offer me a renewal quote so have basically told me to go away this despite another year of not claiming, of not getting any bonus points etc. Was told when I enquired sorry nothing we can do many underwriters are pulling out of offering cover for London postcodes now.
So I can't get a quote off eBike online, won't quote, also Carole Nash won't offer me a quote online.
I'm really going to be forced into taking out a 'shell' MCE policy to get reasonable insurance (sub £400) now and remain legal FFS!
£1000+ Mandatory excess mean's I ain't claiming unless its total loss/nicked.

Bring on me leaving London at some point this year!

[Shadow R1]

Not surprising is it.
People have said in other threads this would happen.

[Prof Prolapse]

Understandable maybe, but it's a shocking failure in policing, local, and central government, that led us here though.

Sympathies mate. Come up North, there's fk all work, but we've got loads of decent roads.

[Mandat]

Have you considered taking third party only cover, and self insuring the rest?

I suppose it depends on the value of the bike.

[sjtscott]

Bike is too valuable for 3rd party only, still worth a good £5k+ also means I won't consider TPFT either sadly.
I called CN after much discussions apparently with underwriter they came back with £900 FComp.. I told them to try again.. £780... was I going to take it. Thanks but no thanks. They tried to offer me TPO and TPFT - I said no chance sorry.

Ok looks like the £390 initial quote from MCE has to be taken.. despite the £1075 mandatory excess

[Gavia]

sjtscott said:

Bike is too valuable for 3rd party only, still worth a good £5k+ also means I won't consider TPFT either sadly.
I called CN after much discussions apparently with underwriter they came back with £900 FComp.. I told them to try again.. £780... was I going to take it. Thanks but no thanks. They tried to offer me TPO and TPFT - I said no chance sorry.

Ok looks like the £390 initial quote from MCE has to be taken.. despite the £1075 mandatory excess

Why not insure your excess? It’ll cost about £150 from the many online companies.

[bogie]

I was shocked when I read elsewhere less than 10 days into 2018 and already more than 50 bikes nicked in 1 square mile alone in London. Just insane.

Imagine if that were cars? ....something would be done about it.

[MrGman]

Something has got to happen about all these thefts soon hasn't it?!

I've just insured two of my bikes, a Street triple R £86

A Yamaha Xmax300 scooter, same details, £158

I asked how this could be and was told it's because of the statistics on my scooter being stolen!


Surely if insurance companies are refusing cover in certain postcodes this could be the end of riding for 100's

[Gavia]

MrGman said:

Something has got to happen about all these thefts soon hasn't it?!

I've just insured two of my bikes, a Street triple R £86

A Yamaha Xmax300 scooter, same details, £158

I asked how this could be and was told it's because of the statistics on my scooter being stolen!


Surely if insurance companies are refusing cover in certain postcodes this could be the end of riding for 100's

Bloody hell, I wish my bikes were £86 and £158 to insure. I certainly wouldn’t be complaining.

[Rubin215]

MrGman said:

Surely if insurance companies are refusing cover in certain postcodes this could be the end of riding for 100's

Just stop insuring it; chances of getting caught are minimal.

[Jimbo.]

Just where the hell are all these bikes going? Someone is buying them/the parts. There can’t be that many clueless buyers out there buying ringed bikes.

[carinaman]

Rubin215 said:

MrGman said:

Surely if insurance companies are refusing cover in certain postcodes this could be the end of riding for 100's

Just stop insuring it; chances of getting caught are minimal.

Unfortunately that's a criminal offence. Some may not mind having a conviction for getting caught riding uninsured, and could seem unjust getting a conviction for it given the chances of the thieves getting caught and a punishment that stops them stealing bikes.

[2Btoo]

Ouch. Which London postcode are you? (Only give the first part, natch.) They can differ quite a lot.

[black-k1]

carinaman said:

Rubin215 said:

MrGman said:

Surely if insurance companies are refusing cover in certain postcodes this could be the end of riding for 100's

Just stop insuring it; chances of getting caught are minimal.

Unfortunately that's a criminal offence. Some may not mind having a conviction for getting caught riding uninsured, and could seem unjust getting a conviction for it given the chances of the thieves getting caught and a punishment that stops them stealing bikes.

Also, if (when) you have an accident and someone else is injured, the third party can come after you personally for costs. No problem if your a thieving little scrote who has nothing other than what he's nicked, but for the hard working, otherwise law abiding, who have managed to scrimp and save to get a few things of their own, it could now all be lost.

The only thing you can do is make life increasingly uncomfortable for your local Police and Crime Commissioner so that they get your local plod to see motorcycle theft as some sort of priority. Don't hold your breath!

[sjtscott]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Thanks, will give them a try - nothing to lose at this stage. Next closest on comparison websites are random brokers I've never heard of either but again some £250 more per year over MCE.

[sjtscott]

Gavia said:

Bloody hell, I wish my bikes were £86 and £158 to insure. I certainly wouldn’t be complaining.

Agreed lol If the OP was taking the p*ss by rubbing it in then well done!
Peanuts for two insurance policies and clearly no East London Postcode.

[sjtscott]

2Btoo said:

Ouch. Which London postcode are you? (Only give the first part, natch.) They can differ quite a lot.

Its near Canary Wharf.. E14

[RacerMDR]

as per other thread - I got knocked off last week, totally other parties fault and they're paying - but it was 3k ish worth of damage and i'm sure they checked I was insured before agreeing to pay.

Are you insuring for TPFT? or Fully Comp? I.e. can you get it for legal reasons at TPFT?

I'm South East London - and it isn't actually horrendous - 400 ish for TPFT, that's garaged though and non commuting.

[Cbull]

Another potential way around it would be to give a friend/family member address who lives just outside London area and claim to be living there? Not the best or most honest solution but nevertheless it's a potential way around it.

[Danm1les]

Friend of mine use to rent in London and his mum lives in Dorset... you can guess where the bikes are insured.