Used quite a few companies over the years but luckily never had to make a claim. What companies do members recommend and what are your experiences of making a claim? I've used Bennetts quite a lot, mostly because they were the cheapest but moved this year to Carole Nash because of the free Euro breakdown cover they were offering..... just hope I don't need to find out how good they are.
I tend to stick to just one rule, make sure they are based in the UK under the authority of the FCA so atleast there are some rules they should abide by...they're all scum. I am with Motorcycle Direct (part of Europa Group) right now, they do work hard to bring the prices down if you push them a little on the phone using best quotes from the less than desirable brokers.
I've never gone with the big companies as I've always found them more expensive. Luckily like you Richard I've never had to make a claim (touch wood) so having to deal with them in that sense is an unknown. I have just bought a Panigale 1199s for "business" and I couldnt get a quote for less the 1K. I'm 32 with 14 years full licence only two of those years without a bike. Anyway I called Ducati insurance and with a biketrac fitted it was a fraction over £400. Hence why I've started to sell them as I only sell products that I would buy myself. PS I'm not in any way affiliated with Ducati insurance it's just how things panned out. Anyway it's worth getting quotes with the biketrac and see how much you can save, also the features of it is awesome.
Had a claim back in 2011,my fault'ish...…no damage to bike worth claiming for but car claimed for damage. Claim procedure was straight forward but eventually got a letter from the car drivers insurance wanting me to stump up the cost as my insurance was holding back to the last minute...was I happy? Anyways Nash's pays out and alls happy.....then the ambulance and claim chasers kick in this lasted for over a year with them all thinking I was in car?not interested when I told them I riding at the time...
I was with e-bike insurance for about 5 years. Last year they put the price up so now I'm with MCE. Not had to make a claim so far but they seem OK(they all are until you want some money off them) I might look at Carole Nash next year if they do free Euro breakdown.
Only truly bad experience I have had was with Bennets. If they were the only bike insurance company in the world, I would give it up and buy roller skates.
Only had one claim, not my fault and Carole Nash were great in sorting pretty much everything out for me, my only one complaint is that no insurer will put any real effort into investigating the incident if the Police are not going to take action. I have been with Surety now for the last four years and they always seem to look after me in terms of services and price so no need to change. Will know more in September at renewal time....
Ive got the car and the bike with Surety through the IAM. One thing i would say is still shop around at renewal time, the dont often give you the best price but will match anything else you get.
Ditto. I'd never go anywhere near Bennets. They got very shirty when I told them I wanted them to remove the automatic renewal they put on my policy. My wife took out a policy for a 125 then found she had a issue with her hand and couldn't ride for more than 20 minutes so had to sell the bike. I think she had the bike for 6 weeks and Bennets managed to take 80% of the premium in various charges and penalties (read the small print!) I've been with Hastings Direct for the last few years. Not only are they just down the road from the Triumph dealer in Hastings where I bought the bike but have always been really helpful and are good value. I've also heard good things about Devitts.
I will agree about Hasting got a great deal for a good price but I guess the proof will be in the renewal price
Just renewed for the 3rd year running with Hastings. Each time I expect the premium to be higher but this year it actually fell! £81.33 fully comp on my '13 America. Probably cos' I'm officially an old git now but then again it's nice to have some compensations :wink: The proof for me is not in the renewal premium but how they deal with claims and that I don't know.
I was with Bennetts last year, Got my renewal from them last month, £238 with no commuting to work. Went straight on line and now insured with Saga Select same type of policy, fully comp etc with commuting to work, £98. They (Bennetts) must think we are all stupid.
I have my Bonnie insured through Bennetts, also just insured my Kawasaki zrx1100 with them too. Carol Nash wanted 228 quid to insure the zrx fully comp, Bennetts covered me for 78 quid :upyeah:
Had the same problem with a Suzuki I had, wasnt even riding it! was parked outside my home when I was at work, Van flattened it! Was a nightmare! & still get calls about my injurys!
Just insured my 14 plate Bonnie coming Tuesday, fully comp, protected etc £164 I think its expensive as MCE handling fee included was over £50 ie policy only £100 Would have tried elsewhere but transfering policy of another bike! Should have looked TBH
Had so much hastle with Bennets when I changed bikes, I vowed never again. With ebike, but never had to claim as insurance due for renewal next Feb then it will be time to test the markets
Hi all, I have 2014 Bonnie , 4 years ncb and PNCB Hastings had the best price of £94 Comp 150xs , good so far, will be wary of the renewal price next year!
I've been insured with Bennetts for the last five years. Always had a multi-bike policy and never had any problems changing bikes on this policy. Crashed my Trophy last year, my fault, they paid out a fair price for the bike and sorted out the car I hit when I let go of the bike. They also paid out for my crash helmet and textile kit that got damaged. I've now got my Bonnie, my NC700x and my GS650GT on the policy and my premium is £500 fully comp.
Just switched to Bikesure for my renewals (2 policies), they were good for the online quote of the first policy and not so good for the second, but after getting them on the phone they beat the best quote for the second policy by £10 (dropping their quote by almost £200) to keep me with them on both...based in the UK too which is a must I reckon.
Bennets = ihts (rearrange as you like) A total pain to deal with when I changed bikes, would not supply a cert in time for me to get the bike taxed, had to buy temp cover elsewhere. Would pay double their cost with another insurer if that was the only other choice. The only way to tell if a company is ok is to have to call on them to pay up
