Classic Bike Insurance : A Rant.

[paul.wirdnam]

I absolutely hate this time of year; it's when my bike insurance is up for renewal.

Been with Carole Nash for over 30 years but have wanted to leave them for many years. But with agreed value, it's a bit like switching utility companies or banks used to be --- too much hassle.

But I finally lost it last night when speaking to what seemed like a 6 year old at Carole Nash. All I wanted to do was to remove a bike from my policy and get a revised quote. After 40 minutes, I got a quote that was virtually the same. When I pointed this out, plus the fact that a Footman James quote was over £100 pounds less, the 6 year old came back with a revised quote that was £60 less, so still more than FJ. Why can't the greedy bast***s just come up with their lowest quote first time round? Why do you always have to play off the companies quotes against each other...every year!

I did think about switching to FJ but their on-line quote system is rubbish. It doesn't list 2 of the 3 Ariels I was trying to insure and when I phoned, they were not much help and generally seemed un-interested.

This story has a happy ending. I have read good things about Peter James Insurance, so gave them a ring this morning. Very helpful lady and in less than 10 minutes, I had taken out a very competitive policy for the 3 Ariels and had received the documents by email. And if I want Agreed Value, I just fill out the Condition forms, get them certified and send them back ... with no additional premium.

The contrast in dealing with these three companies was stark. Hope to be with Peter James Insurance for many years to come.

[andyhughesflattankarielpre25]

Hi Paul,my old fella has used them for years and swears by them,he is in his eighties and has 30 machines on with them which he rides about ten different ones each year.The same thing happened to him,the time of year for renewal, so make a few enquries, F.J.expensive and seemed too much bother,Carol Nash the same as you and three times the price,not interested really but would do it,these people seem to forget that customers make paydays or are they too busy to be bothered with motorcycles now.

[nevhunter]

The ones I ended Up with Here in Australia are so good I've transferred all my vehicle Insurance to them and the house as well. They won't insure work vehicles and specialise in "special interest" and older. I was initially with an international insurer and they nearly doubled the premiums one year. I went into lengthy discussion with them about how infrequently veteran vehicles (as an example ) are actually used but got nowhere. Keep the wreck is absolutely the go, and essential for anything rare (and valuable) or corruption on a large scale is possible. Photo's and description and usually an agreed value is established on the phone. You can even insure it before you complete the assembly..If you want a higher cover just argue your case as to why your vehicle is worth more than the average of it's description Ie original paint rare version or owned by Laurence of Arabia etc. Nev

[tstewart]

I am with Carol Nash just now but have found that I need to phone around for insurance, I have a Harley Sportster and a Softail to which the Ariel is an add on. But it seems I will always get a better deal if I phone round. I was with Bennetts many years but eventually phoned someone else and was surprised how much cheaper they where. But I have heard people say they got a cheaper deal at Bennetts so it must be worth while changing every few years.

[robjameson]

I've said it before and will again, Peter James are good, they understand old kit. They are also reasonable (or certainly were) insuring modern bikes on your policy too.

[Jerry.Lunt]

I have just bee on to Bennetts after a mate sent me a link to their website: "Classic Bike Insurance with Bennetts"

Started discussing with the young lady on the phone and after a few minutes was told: "we don't do classic bike insurance. We don't do agreed values, just market value". At this point I terminated discussion.

I will try Peter James and also RH Insurance with whom I had my classic car. Their policies say that if you have a total loss claim, you can keep the salvage - foc.

[RTichard Woolnough]

when we went to Malta and had the loan of some bikes there, I contacted P.J in order, if possible, to get some overseas insurance as although my policy with them allows use of other machines it only does so in the U.K and other defined states. I was asked if I would like to speak with Peter James the c/o who would be quite happy to explain the position with me, I found him to be a most reasonable and approachable head honcho and we had an informative chat, he explained quite lucidly what the problems were and I accepted it. I am very impressed that if you can get the the C/O this easily then the firm albeit a business to make money, must have a very good personal touch. I have been with them since F/J was sold on having moved to F/J when Carol Naxh was also sold on, this year out of curiosity I did phone Bennets but what a waste of time. kind regards

[AndyEames]

Recommend Allstyles bike insurance - Google it. The boss man is Gary Youngs, very helpful. I have my 3 with them on a multibike policy.

[paul.wirdnam]

My favourite time of year? Err, no! Just got my insurance renewal....so here we go again...

Last year, I made the monumental decision (for me) to finally move away from Carole Nash...and went with Peter James. And the latter have been good to me over the last 12 months, their phone service is always good, so I have no complaints.

But I do like to get alternative quotes at renewal time...just to be sure. Peter James quoted a renewal of £401 but RH have just come back with £246 and the two policies are identical . So a phone call to Peter James and they've lowered the renewal to £296...better but still nowhere as good as RH.

I probably will stay with Peter James, as I like their helpful staff etc, but I was really hoping they would be different i.e. they should not be able to cut their renewal by £100 after my phone call; they should have offered me their lower price first time round.

[iansoady]

That sounds very high. My premium with PJ is around £90 for the Norton (agreed value £6,000) and the Guzzi (agreed value £2,500).

I do believe that most of the brokers use Equity Red Star as the underwriters - PJ certainly do for mine.