...so my 749s was written off about 3 weeks ago. The insurance co have now settled the claim. The policy was with Ageas although I think this may have been via a broker or 3rd party but don't recall who, although I suspect with a bit of digging I could find out. I have another bike (ST3) with Ducati Insurance. I have found a potential replacement for the 749s and am looking for an insurer that would give the best deal given the recent accident and write off. Prefer to be able to talk to someone rather that complete an on-line application as I'm fearful I'll miss something crucial out and if needed end up with a void claim. I will be speaking to Ducati to see if they will cover the new bike in addition to the ST3 but would like some first hand recommendations if possible as well. Thanks, Steve.
I've no suggestions for you I' afraid, but assuming you were in an accident I'm glad that you are unhurt and not put off riding. What are you replacing the 749 with?
I dont think it will matter if you go online or via the phone. The question will be asked at some point on the application if you have any claims or accidents. If you answer truthfully it will ask you the claim value. Be straight and fill it all in. It may load you up depending whose fault it was, but it CAN load you even if it was someone else's fault. The terminology used is its a no claims bonus, not a no blame bonus. Not fair, but they are pretty much a law unto themselves anyway. If you didn't tell them of course, and needed to make another claim, they will know you have lied and almost certainly decline to pay out. You are even 'supposed' to tell your other insurance providers of it, even on unrelated policies, as you should do if you pick up any points etc. Whether you do or not, is up to you. Bastards love to wriggle out of paying out if they can though
Thanks Jez...I was very lucky to have walked away with just a small bruise on my forehead...I've looked at several options, and am keeping to an Italian V Twin albeit from a different factory...
I'll never lie to an insurer..it's never worth it and could actually cost me my business if I did. I was just wondering if there were maybe a specialist broker who was worth speaking with. Carole Nash (on line) quoted £327 which seems reasonable.
I wont use Carole Nash now, they got silly expensive. I switched over to Hastings and got a great deal around the 200 quid mark - but every one of us has different criteria which means different companies are better than others. If that's acceptable to you, go with it.
The problem i had with carol Nash was 1) they were twice the price of anyone else and 2) you had to have their breakdown insurance which is shoite I went with Bennetts
BeMoto have been good to me for pricing and I had a claim through them... they did their job and post-claim pricing has been reasonable (wasn't my fault as some bint punted me off while filtering in traffic by spontaneously turning right, simultaneously turning on indicator and turning car from stationary - but insurance findings was 50-50 blame as I was on a motorcycle and therefore must have somehow been at least half to blame not least of which because I was filtering alongside stationary traffic and even if it's legal it's not morally right. If I'd been psychic I'd have known she was bored of sitting in traffic and fiddling with her phone). I'd advocate for BeMoto.
Yet I’ve found Carole Nash the most reasonable this year and Bennett’s no where near, it seems to be like throwing a dice with insurance for motorcycles.
Was it a no fault claim or were you responsible? That makes a big difference to the nature of your risk, which is assessed by the insurance company not the broker. Bikesure (Adrian Flux) are a long standing, reputable broker who specialise in non standard risk. They don't quote online so perhaps they're worth a call? I've just renewed with Bennett's and they're excellent to deal with but fortunately I've never had to properly put them to the test..
I took Bikesure out two years ago. Way cheaper than the competition and you can haggle! I insure my car with them too (Adrian Flux). They are still w*nkers with their renewal letter increases, but I don't hold that against them.
I first dealt with Adrian Flux back in the '90s as they then ran (possibly still do) the Alfa Owner's Club approved scheme. Apparently the yearly increase for existing customers is the way brokers make money. That and fees for everything. New business loses them money, especially if it's via a comparison site. This is according to the chap at Bennetts and he seemed both genuine and knew his subject, which I respect in equal measure.
Thanks for all of the comments guys...after a few calls and checking comparison sites too, I'm going back to Ducati Insurance (the broker) who are placing the policy with Ageas...the same company who just settled my write off claim. The cost was £250 with £300 excess. I was paying £110 for the 749s with £700 excess, so the new premium seems more than fair. The fact that I know how they dealt with the claim (quickly and easily) makes this an easy choice..They actually paid out £1000 more than I'd insured the bike for also helped.
56, bike's garaged, no endorsements, the maximum no claims bonus of 10 years. It's my first accident since passing my test in 1982...that applies to bikes and cars....
I have one SP30, 59, no accidents, 5years NC, garaged, two bikes on the policy, fully comp, £200 excess, £182. So less powerful bike and no accident is 30% less. Kinda what I'd expect really.
Give LV a try, amazing customer service, phone gets answered within a couple of rings, by a real person who knows what they are talking about, genius I don’t know why all insurance companies don’t try it! Avoid Hastings like the plague, they’re good at taking your money and that’s about it, I had to resort to e mailing the CEO to get issues solved (also see Facebook page “Hastings direct are a bunch of wankers” for more examples of their incompetence)
