Forum

[John L]

Following on from Alan R's post about Road Tax, here are a few of my feelings about that other bete noir, insurance. Last year I took out cover for my bike with a well-known specialist bike insurance broker; it was the cheapest I could find at the time. I've just received my renewal notice, which surprise, surprise shows a nett premium increase of 22% and informing me that my cover would be renewed AUTOMATICALLY, unless I requested otherwise. I informed the broker that I didn't want the insurance renewed, automatically or any other way. The operator I spoke to expressed surprise at this, and asked if there was any particular reason I was not renewing, as I had now earned one year's NCB. I was given no explanation or justification for the increased premium, and when I asked what was the value of the NCB (in reducing the premium) was told it didn't actually have any.........
I should mention that I took out my first bike insurance 53 years ago and in all that time have had
NO accidents and NO claims - this clean record seems to have no value, either. When I purchased the machine in 2004 (when I was still working) Road Tax for it was £45 p.a. Now I'm retired (and on a lower income than ten years ago), Road tax is £57. As I can no longer justify this sort of expense on what is after all just an old boy's plaything, bike is now for sale (see my other posting).