Insurance

Discussion in 'Lounge' started by TonyG, Sep 15, 2022.

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  1. TonyG

    TonyG Noble Member

    Dec 1, 2016
    720
    443
    Bucks
    #1 TonyG, Sep 15, 2022
    Last edited: Sep 15, 2022
    So, it was time to renew my insurance again, and it really gets on my tits. I'm happy with my broker, been with them for years and the underwriter is Markerstudy. I called around and every other broker except one was also using Markerstudy. I like modifying my bikes, nothing major, just suspension, exhaust, the normal things, but I also like changing all sorts of minor things, mirrors, bars, indicators. All my changes are legal, and I have always declared everything I thought was relevant. I had a minor off a couple of years ago and was questioned by the insurers as to why I hadn't declared I'd changed the mirrors. At that time, I honestly thought something like mirrors didn't count as a mod. Now I'm aware I try and mention everything, but it gets tiresome explaining you have changed a little alloy engine badge for a black one. The even odder thing is that one of the brokers I called had 17 items that you didn't have to declare e.g., mirrors, and the underwriter was still Markerstudy. This time I was explaining top my broker I had the seat of my Honda GB500tt recovered as when I restored the bike the seats were no longer available. I've had a single seat on a 37year old bike recovered as a single seat and I'm getting tied in knots because it's a mod! Then, they say they will only replace with original parts, so why do they care! Fine by me as the original parts are more expensive 99% of the time. The K-tech shocks on my Thruxton 1200 are cheaper than the Triumph price for the standard Kayaba ones. I start worrying that if I ever have a major accident they won't pay out because I've changed an indicator.

    Sorry, rant over.
     
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  2. RevPaul

    RevPaul Senior Member

    Apr 21, 2020
    678
    193
    Cheshire, UK
    Amen brother
     
  3. Pegscraper

    Pegscraper Elite Member

    Jun 12, 2020
    2,938
    800
    Yorkshire
    It's reasonable to expect the declaration of performance mods but I once questioned the listing of minor modifications with an insurer and the answer was that cosmetic and styling alterations can not only add to repair cost but can "make the bike more appealing" to a prospective thief. Horse shit.
    It's the underwriters that require listing and approval of mods, not the broker and it can and does vary between companies.
    Some years ago I fitted 1 1/2" bar raisers to the ZZR. When I got the insurance renewal I called them and their response was "Oooooo, no, no, no,no! Handle bar position altered. Not allowed". Well feck of then. I ended up with Kawasaki's own insurance,......"yes, risers are fine".
     
  4. TonyG

    TonyG Noble Member

    Dec 1, 2016
    720
    443
    Bucks
    That's the odd thing though, Markerstudy through one broker that listed 17 items I didn't need to declare, and Markerstudy through my current broker who seem to want to know it down to ridiculous levels. As for adding to repair costs, again, they only replace with the stock items, so doesn't add anything at all to their costs. What's a mod and what's an accessory? I have never tried to be dishonest but change lots of little things which have no bearing on anything. Paranoid I've forgotten to declare I changed a bolt for a stainless one or something. If it was about costs, then they should just say you can change small items, but they will be replaced by stock items in the event of a claim. I feel it is a bit more sinister and a front for finding an excuse not to pay up.

    Anyway, I've declared all I could think of, renewed yesterday and worryingly half the items I declared previously were now missing when I asked them to repeat them. Found out that they have nothing on their system for a changed mirror, so I just had a blanket heading of carbon fibre items!

    I've started ranting again....
     
  5. Pegscraper

    Pegscraper Elite Member

    Jun 12, 2020
    2,938
    800
    Yorkshire
    Nothing gets people ranting like insurance and politics!:joy:
    Sending in a copy of your driving licence has been required for every policy I've taken out for some years now as both proof of validity and ID. When I had my XR stolen in 2010, the insurance company wanted proof of ID for the claim but a driving licence was "not acceptable!" WTF!!
    I now have an ID dossier prepared for such requests which includes my inside leg, my shoe size, my hat size, a full set of fingerprints, a blood sample, a stool sample, my sperm count and a high definition scan of my nutsack. I think that should cover it.
     
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  6. TonyG

    TonyG Noble Member

    Dec 1, 2016
    720
    443
    Bucks
    That de-ranted me, thanks!
    I've never had to produce my driving licence.
     
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  7. Sandi T

    Sandi T It's ride o'clock somewhere!
    Subscriber

    Dec 3, 2018
    21,607
    1,000
    Tucson Arizona
    Interesting thread! It looks like things here in the U.S., or at least in Arizona and through my insurance provider, are much simpler. I don't have to declare mods to my bikes at all and my insurance costs don't increase if I have anything done. And that includes performance mods! When I had a Stage IV engine (re)build on a Road Glide Special I used to have, I called to see what the impact would be on my insurance. figuring my rates would go up. Nope. They insure the bikes as they are stock which surprised the heck out of me. My motorcycle policy includes replacement for up to $3K of parts and modifications per bike (and $500 for gear like helmet, jacket, etc.). You just have to have proof of those parts/mods with receipts and (they request) photos.
     
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  8. TonyG

    TonyG Noble Member

    Dec 1, 2016
    720
    443
    Bucks
    Sandi, you are very lucky. Here I think it is just a way of getting out of paying up. You would not believe the fuss they made over me having the original seat pan of my 1985 Honda GB500tt recovered. That is also a mod, and if they want to pay the £600 odd quid for the oem seat, if you can even get one, they are welcome. I have made one motorcycle insurance claim and have been riding since 76 or 77.
     
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  9. Sandi T

    Sandi T It's ride o'clock somewhere!
    Subscriber

    Dec 3, 2018
    21,607
    1,000
    Tucson Arizona
    Wow, it does sound like I'm very lucky, Tony! Maybe we pay more up front but it doesn't seem to matter what the mods are as long as a claim doesn't add up to more that $3K for any aftermarket parts.
    What does sound the same for you as for me is that it doesn't seem to matter whether you've made claims or not in terms of insurance costs or rates going up. Sigh.......
     
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  10. DanielB

    DanielB Noble Member

    Jan 13, 2019
    882
    393
    Abingdon, Oxfordshire
    An interesting thread, and one that makes me think/worry.... I don't know enough detail, it seems, to even be able to make a decision on whether my insurance is even valid!!

    How, out of interest, would it even get to a point where someone would even question - for example - whether the seat had been recovered?

    You have now told them it has, but what if you hadn't, or what if you didn't know?

    I do not know if my bike has original or "modded" mirrors, or indicators...

    So ... where does that leave my insurance?

    (I happen to agree, it's all a "get out of paying" con....but what do we do about it)!?

    Funnily enough, a chap this afternoon, I saw riding his scrambler across the local park this afternoon... He didn't have a number plate, so I'm going to tentatively suggest he didn't have any insurance, let alone a licence or a road worthy bike - he then rode it down the road...

    I got a wondering.... "Who's the schmuck"?
     
  11. TonyG

    TonyG Noble Member

    Dec 1, 2016
    720
    443
    Bucks
    Exactly, that's why it's so stupid, where do you draw the line, I listed everything I could think of on my 3 bikes but I'm sure I forgot something. What difference does it make if I change the mirrors, so long as everything is legal all you should have to declare are the obvious stuff such as exhausts, etc., though even that is debatable. It only came to my attention when I had a minor off a few years ago and they started asking me why I hadn't told them I had changed the mirrors and bars, I honestly didn't think I had to. I don't know what would happen with the seat for example, doubt anyone would realise it was recovered if evaluating it, but it should not impact your insurance unless you are trying to claim for more than the oem part.
     
  12. Oldskool

    Oldskool Elite Member

    Jan 29, 2019
    2,185
    800
    Hertfordshire
    The commonality here is that they like taking your money but hate paying it out …!
     
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  13. stollydriver

    stollydriver Elite Member

    Apr 25, 2015
    2,034
    800
    north wales
    Makes you wonder how many car drivers with tinted out glass ( impossible to see out of when dark) tell their insurance companies :mad:
     
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  14. DanielB

    DanielB Noble Member

    Jan 13, 2019
    882
    393
    Abingdon, Oxfordshire
    ...or put alloys on. Or an after market stereo. New floor mats? A body wrap? Maybe even low profile tyres?
     
  15. stollydriver

    stollydriver Elite Member

    Apr 25, 2015
    2,034
    800
    north wales
    Dump valves, larger turbos, through pipes - the list could go on. I read that they are trying to catch bikes that are not OEM at the MOT stations - that is the reported plan.
     
  16. Eldon

    Eldon Elite Member

    Nov 14, 2018
    4,063
    800
    North Yorkshire
    #16 Eldon, Sep 24, 2022
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2022
    One policy I nearly took out made a turn for the worse when I questioned the small print as it didn't seem realistic and started wondering if I'd got the wrong end of the stick.
    As I read their rules it sounded far too impractical irrespective of price quoted so I rang them and posed the following...., if I were to wash my bike with a bucket and sponge then, as I understand your clauses, either I would need to wash it INSIDE the garage at my registered address or, if I decided to do it outside, then I would have to wheel it into the garage between bucket replenishment as I would be leaving it unattended on my drive with the outside tap on the other side of the building, is that correct?

    Yes!
    Whilst your motorcycle is at your registered address then you told us it would be garaged so it must be at all times when left unsupervised.

    WTF don't think so, bye.

    (The more usual and far more practical wording is something like "must be garaged between 22.00 and 06.00 whilst parked at your registered address". Now that seems reasonable and I can work with that).

    Make sure you read and interpret your policy carefully guys!!!!!

    Caveat Emptor.
     
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  17. Tricky159

    Tricky159 Member

    Jul 15, 2018
    38
    18
    South Wales
    I have just renewed my insurance with guess who,yes Markerstudy..
    This was through Triumph insurance who are Adrian Flux.
    A look at the Meercat showed the quoted price would be in the top five results.
    Looking at the proposal it said that the bike must have a Thatcham 2 immobiliser or theft would not be covered.I've been told that The standard Triumph system meets the Thatcham standard.
    I hope i don't get to find out if it is.
     
  18. Eldon

    Eldon Elite Member

    Nov 14, 2018
    4,063
    800
    North Yorkshire
    Also be mindful of other equipment being excluded.
    Think I've already mentioned on here the following but here goes...

    Theft from garage, naturally you would have thought house contents policy will cover it.
    Ten year motorcycle enthusiast loses, amongst other items taken, his boots, helmet and gloves. They accepted they'd pay out for his boots only. I questioned it and laughably the employee stated the owner could walk around the house in his boots so they would be classed as personal clothing.
    I stated he could walk around the house in helmet and gloves if he so wished so what's the difference?
    I was told quite firmly that as they were safety ppe then he would have to claim off his motorbike policy!

    I asked, how many TEN year olds have a motorcycle policy?

    To be bluntly told thats the rules : unamused::mad:

    Even paying out for the boots (£50 ish comes to mind) required photographic proof showing him wearing them :eek:
     
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