Hitchcocks Forum

Renewal insurance sent by email for my Kawasaki W800 is £139 Comprehensive.Go compare online best quote £78. by the same insurance company.Went on the phone to them to complain they are going to get back to me.Its the same every year and it's about time the government stepped in to put better regulation.I got a quote for a 6month policy last year and it was only a few pound different from a full year.Third party is not that much cheaper than fully comp.

There is no longer any company loyalty and you need to get quotes every year. I had been with Carole Nash for over 22 years and when I got another bike to add to the collection they wanted another £100 even though only one could be ridden at a time. Went to Footman James and they did it for a pound less than I had paid the previous year without the extra bike!!

I agree Valsp, I check and change every year, there's no loyalty bonus given to customers so why be loyal to a company. I change my gas and leccy every year too and am about to change bank.

I had the same issue when I was with Carole Nash some years ago. I phoned them to ask why and the sales person explained that the comparison sites got some kind of commission which the insurer couldn't match themselves, and he actually advised me to finish my current policy with CN and take up a new one with them via the comparison site at the cheaper rate. (He probably got sacked for giving me that advice!) All my bikes are now insured through the excellent Peter James.

I sacked Carole Nash last year after umpteen years. For me the small independents are better, especially if you modify your bikes. Just renewed with Lynbrook who were happy to continue to insure my Thruxton on which I've reflashed the ECU to suit the aftermarket exhaust and air filter for no extra premium. They have a list of all the mods to that and my C5 Classic and I have the same list. Better to be safe than sorry....

Update; Motorcycle direct who I was with has given me fully comprehensive on both bikes for £125.Happy ending but I know renewal next year will be a helluva lot more.

So just change again. There’s an interesting article in the current edition of Bike by Dalton White, the bike specialist solicitors. The author makes the point that the cheapest isn’t necessarily the best. Some exclusion clauses, especially for theft, effectively rule out payment of a claim unless the terms are met exactly. I have to say that I don’t just choose the cheapest and can normally secure cover at reasonable cost by haggling. Specifically the ones with underwriters not based in the U.K. might best be avoided. Insurance companies can and do go bust.... Just saying that apples need to be compared with 🍏 not 🍌

Rattlebattle is absolutely right. After changing my bike insurance I called Footman James to get a comparison for an old car I have. They wanted £75 JUST for breakdown cover whereas it is included by Carole Nash for a premium of £145