h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

HI just wondereed if like me you have to pay through the nose for your bike insurance.
At this time I'm doing the rounds getting quotes and while there is a huge difference in the price of cover with different companies it still seems very expensive. The cheapest quote I've had so far is just over £800 the most expensive comming in at over £1200.
I suppose I have a few things against me getting cheaper quotes.
Living near London
Only 2 years no claims discount
Owning a large capacity bike
I suppose having 3 penalty points doesn't help either.
I spoke to a couple last year who came from Mid Kent and their insurance was a lot cheaper than mine even though they had simmilar circumstances and bikes.
Although primarilly interested in the prices in the UK it would be interesting to find out what you pay in other countries (if anything that is).

there is a vast diference in prices across the country and companies.

I pay about £150, fully comp for my 900 CC triumph here in Devon.

Lots of things can bring the price down. My friends insurance came DOWN when he added his girlfriend to his insurance. I think mine came down a bit when I got married. The thining is that blokes take less risks when in a long term relationship I guess.

CHawke

I think I just live in the wrong area for cheap in insurance.

There's a few things you can do to help, if you haven't already.

Thatcham cat 1 alarm/immob fitted by an approved Thacham deal. They don't make them, they test everyones who wants approval, same with the fitters.

Same sort of thing for locks, etc.

If you don't have a garage, price up renting one locally. If you have an elderly neighbour who doesn't have a car, ask them.

If you do have a garage, fit the best ground anchor that you can afford.

Datatag it.

Microdot it.

If you don't carry pillions often, consider not carrying them at all and ask for a quote. BUT, don't then give a lift to someone or youcould end up paying BIG time, even if not at fault. To help avoid the question you can remove the pillion footpegs.

Take the advanced test (when your points are gone, also good if you start this before going to court for speeding as it shows your making an effort to change your ways- BUT if you get caught after passing the advanced you might get fined more as you should know better).

Limit your milage. Check with your insurer ( pretending to be some one else) how many miles they expect to allow you. I think they base it on 4000 a year (most riders do more) if you do less ask if you can have a reduction.

Move. Change job. change bike.


Before you move house or get a new bike get quotes first.

Hope that lot helps.

It all makes sence but I already have cat 1 alarm and the moving house bit I am seriously considering.
I don't have a garage and there isn't one locally available but I do have a driveway and I've been considering the ground anchor idea for some time.
I do around 5k miles a year but if all goes as planned with the move bit I won't have to commute and that will cut it down a lot and then all the miles will be with smiles(I'll probly end up doing more).

I guess I'm lucky. I live in Milton Keynes and my insurance (fully comp) is about £150 for a Honda Hornet 600, but I have the benefit of a garage and over 10 years no claims. The bike has smart water and an immobiliser, but that's all pretty standard nowadays. Good luck getting a cheaper quote bedmechanic!

Thanks for the luck Jemstone I'll take all I can get(I think I need lots)

The only other thing is to take more excess or be older My insurance did go down alot at 25, 27 and 30. Mind you, I only ever get Third Paty, Fire and Theft. The postcode is a b*gg*r, mine went up 26 quid when I moved across town. Actually a nicer area, and with off road parking. Just a town centre post code did that.

I know what you are saying about postcodes
My brother moved in here for a while and his insurance went up by £40 now he has moved out again he got a refund.
I think when I do move it will have to be to the middle of nowhere and have a garage like fort knox(only without the gold sadly).

I'm just looking to get my bike back on the road, not looking forward to the insurance premiums though. In the past I had the bike registered in my fathers name and then rode it on my car insurance as vehicle that I didn't own. Unfortunately my car insurers have now removed the part saying I can ride a bike that I don't own.

Tips for the future.

For those yet to take up bikes.

Buy a cheap non runner small capacity motorcycle. Insure it as a learner for third party only and keep it in the garage. You are earning No Claims Bonus whilst you await the opportunity of joining the wise ones AKA bikers.

Keep it for when you take your main bike off the road and reinsure it for third party to maintain your NCB. Insurance companies ignore any NCB you have earned if you leave a gap of something like 1 or 2 years, no matter how good it was.

Price up policies that insure your car and bike. There are policies that will use your car NCB towards both. Good for the early years but bad if you have a claim as it affects both vehicles.

Check for companies that include breakdown insurance and foreign travel for free.

I haven't come across an insurance that covers both car and bike yet.
I'll have to look into that one as I have full and protected NCB for my car.

Don't quote (sic) me on this but I think the BMF, Carole Nash and Bennits do them. Look at the insurance ads (you know, the pages we avoid) and there be some there.

MAG do it too if you are a member. 6-wheel policy they call them sometimes.
Mind you, just had a laugh as a mate has bought a 250 superdream (or maybe just the dream) for 20quid (!) and has insured it on classic insurance!
250 dream is a classic now

To buy a bike for £20 and get classic insurance is nice but then you have to pay the maintenance costs. It can mount up just to get the thing roadworthy, unless you are lucky enough to get a good'n in the first place from an idiot who doesn't know it's true value.

In northern Illinois, USA, I'm paying about $150 per year for an 02 Sportster. I don't know how many lbs that is. I don't even have a lb key on my 'puter.
(lb means #)



YB

$150 is about £80 which to me is so cheap it's unreal.
Not that I'm doubting you it's just that it's less than a tenth of what I have to pay


If you don't get £ sign with shift3 then if you've got word open it at top of page click insert click symbol click normal text and it's in the middle below lower case f. double click it, it will appear on word document right click it copy and paste it onto your reply

Bit of a riggermarole but if you use word anyway it's not too difficult.

That sounds so easy it's a wonder I haven't stumbled on it by accident!



LB



YB

So maybe it's not worth the hassle but I thought I'd point it out
the only reason I came across it was because I was looking for the $ sign only later to find it shift4 but there you go

slight topic drift, but hold the LEFT ALT key and on the keypad type 0163 £ and let the ALT key up is by far the easiest way - likewise for © (alt 0169) µ - (ALT 0181) - sad I know these I know.

The problem with 6 wheel insurance is getting them renewed at the same time, my car insurance is up on the anerversary of getting my first car and my bike insurance a few days after my birthday ( I held of picking my first bike up as I releasieze by doing this I will alway max any age benefits from insurance)

So getting a 6 wheel one, I assume I'd have to sacrifice some cover time on one of them to roll it up in one insurance.

Lots of bike insurance do take into account car no claims, so always worth checking.

RiDE mag did a peice a year or so back - even down to time of day/week to phone up - I think Friday afternoon as reps are struggling to meet weekly targets.

Also, always say you have had a cheaper quote elsewhere when they give you the final figure, and when asked drop 10% or so, see what they can do, sometimes they will drop thairs or add some tasty extras.

CHawke