My 21 year old son is planning on doing a A2 course to get his licence. A neighbour has offered up a Yamaha YZF125 for him to get a bit of practice with both me and the neighbour as chaperones to keep him sensible. Best quote is £950 for three (yes 3) months. ffs!!!!!!!!! He has a clear car license for 3 years. How can we get this premium down? It is insane!
A friend of his with equal car experience has taken out insurance for £500 pa on a super sports car for a year. Genuinely do not know what is going on.
Only thing I can suggest is don’t rely on online quotes only, it’s a proper pain trying to actually speak to people in big organisations these days but doing so may allow you the opportunity to ask for discounts and introductory offers.
I definitely agree with @Yorkshireman. I've taken to try to speak with a human for nearly all transactions like this one. And I've even found I get better service (and accommodations or tables) for restaurant and hotel reservations. Plus inevitably I wind up in interesting and delightful conversations. On the down side, it can take forever to actually get a person on the other end of the line what with "Press 1 for Sales, 2 for Service ....6 for blah, blah, blah..."
Spend the money getting the training and test and then with a full licence he may find more sensible quotes.
Valid points - but I’d like him to get some practice riding with us first. If he’s passed his test he’ll think he knows everything - just like he did when he passed his driving test. His current comments are that because he can drive a car he’ll be fine on a bike. My belief is that driving a car helps but that riding a bike makes you a LOT more aware of road signs, conditions and other threats that you’d ignore otherwise.
Im not even sure driving a car helps at all, in some ways it could even be destructive. It makes you lazy and less aware. It wasn't till I started riding bikes on the road that I realised what a nob I was in the car at times. I'm definitely a lot safer behind the wheel of a car now after some experience of being vulnerable and exposed on 2 wheels and seeing some of the stupid shit car drivers do from a different perspective.
@Cyborgbot Sorry mate, stupid question time again. Did you get a quote just for three months or is that all they would offer?
Well it’s too late now but I would have insured a 50cc moped (any) a previous year as you only need a reg number of a turd and blag the rest that way would have been at least already one years no claims discount.
Bennetts (useless gits - I’ll look to move from them next year) came up with £3300 pa and Carole Nash £1100 pa. It seems to make no difference if fully comp or third party only.
The other problem is they want him to own the bikes. Using my friends is beyond comprehension. The fact he will only ever go out with an escort is irrelevant.
No he isn’t - it’s a neighbours bike (he has loads of them). There neighbour has offered to register it in my sons name if it helps. That is a very generous offer but I’d rather do it properly.
Is he the registered keeper? If not, that may be your problem. The one that I have borrowed has been registered in my name; it just denotes the primary user and the person who has the vehicle on a day - to - day basis, it does not signify ownership and does make insuring it very much cheaper.
Not bike related but definately insurance linked Just had the car renewal, super powerful Ford Ka plus, 25% hike on last years premium, 25% 25% I had to repeat it as it's so bloody outrageous
That’s the whole point he’ll only ride it once every week or two (with an escort). If he rode it 100’s of miles a day commuting in all weathers I might possibly (if high on illicit drugs), maybe perhaps understand the insane premiums they are charging. Even then, I think i’d have a nagging doubt that the insurers are having a laugh. My premiums are pocket change. Edit: I do not take illegal drugs - that was a turn of phrase.
I think it is due to the risk that is considered to be posed by someone riding a bike that they are not R/K for; the R/K is first port of call for speeding fines, MOT / tax, police involvement etc - perhaps it is thought that if you are not the R/K of a vehicle then you will ride with far less care / consideration for the vehicle and legalities as you are less traceable / accountable? It was exceptionally difficult getting @Helmut Visor insured on my Street Triple as I am the R/K. In the end it was allowed only because we are married, otherwise would not have been possible.
Long gone are the days you could insure a bike "any qualified rider". My first car was a Capri 3000GT, insured in my Dad's name with me as a named driver. I passed my bike test on a 250 trail bike then went out and bought a Z1300 in my name with FC insurance. Can't remember how much the premium was but looking at today's attitude to young drivers/riders it's hard to believe I was able to do that!
Thanks Mrs V that all make sense. The reality is that CB jnr would be getting shouted at by the owner and me via the Senna on every trip if he did anything remotely naughty. The fact he was riding someone else’s bike would also make him be extra careful. I guess they have a lot of people that behave the opposite. pity… I can however understand the insurance companies not letting Mr Visor ride your bike - I wouldn’t let him ride mine either