As much as I hate to do this, I think it's worth posting here on the forum as a warning to others so you don't get left out of pocket in the same way that I have been. I've always insured my bikes with Ducati Insurance as they have been competitive and do a multi-bike policy. I have also taken out their recommended breakdown cover to ensure that in the event of anything happening to me or the bike, I will be able to get home without worrying about the cost. When I renewed my cover on the 748 and the Hypermotard earlier this year, I again took out the breakdown cover. At no point did they notify me that only one of the bikes on my policy would be covered for breakdown, nor did they ask me which bike I would like to be covered for breakdown - after all, it's a multi-bike policy and you add breakdown, so it covers both bikes, right? WRONG! On thursday the Hypermotard spat its chain. I had only cleaned and lubed it the night before, and as I couldn't find the chain after the event I cannot tell why it snapped, but it did. Luckily there was no other damage - just a few nicks on the engine case and a small chunk of carbon chain guard went - so it was just a case of getting the bike recovered back home. So I called the breakdown assistance and this is where the fun started! They couldn't find my details based on the registration, but they could find me and my 748. As they couldn't guarantee that I would be covered, I had to pay a £147 security via credit card to ensure that the recovery company would get paid, they would then check my insurance cover and refund the amount. Simple clerical mistake, I thought, so pay it and get home sooner than getting a lift home, picking up the trailer and recovering the bike myself as it was about 10 miles from home. I have since phoned the assistance to confirm whether I was covered to find out that I wasn't, so they will be charging the full recovery amount to my card, as the insurance says that I was only covered for the 748, and not both motorcycles. So I have phoned Ducati Insurance to query why I was not covered on both motorcycles, why I was not told when I renewed my policy that I was only covered for one motorcycle, why I was not given the option to cover both motorcycles when I renewed my policy or why I was not given the option to chose which motorcycle I would like to cover when I renewed my policy. Given that the 748 has been off the road on SORN since last year, but I still wanted it covered for theft, it would have been obvious to ensure the Hyper was covered IF I was given the choice. Their response? "Sorry, there's nothing we can do." Needless to say that I will be looking elsewhere when it comes to renewing my insurance. So if you have breakdown cover, I would recommend that not only do you put the details onto your phone so that you can get contact them when you need them, but that if you have a multi-bike policy that you also check that you are covered on ALL your bikes and not just one chosen by the insurance company. HTH.
I'd be on the phone to the ombudsman about that one. Disingenuous to say the least, especially if you paid one sum. When I insured my Landcruiser and Merc estate as a pair earlier this year, the broker specifically took a separate payment for each separate policy.
No matter who you get insured with it pays to check the fine print. Many breakdown/recovery policies have a cost limit, so if the cost of recovery is likely to exceed, say, £250 they will not recover you but simply refund you and leave you to it. Check carefully.
Ducati Insurance this year went horrible for me as well. Had an incident and was not even notified the 3rd party maid a claim. Ridiculous claim I might add a total of 7.3k with all costs for what was a round dent made by my head in the back of the car!! Car could not be worth more them 1k so why they did not wrote it off, why they did not tell me? I only found out at renewal (or rather lack of it 1 week before end) when I called them and was told my insurance premium is now 2.5k Got multi bike cover for 700 from another place.
They would have written the car off almost immediately, and she probably got a few hundred quid. The rest of the money circulates within the insurance game, swallowed up by 'legal costs'. That's why we all pay well over the odds for insurance. It isn't the cost of the accidents, it's the cost of various insurance companies covering their behinds.
Figaro they did not write it off they repaired it and most of the cost was replacement car rental and personal injury. It is a fraudulent claim but they did not care just approved it, as I knew nothing my official time for complaint has passed and I could only go via court. Could not be bothered with all that was going on around me at the time.
I know man, 3k for car rental (that repair would take maximum a day) and 1k personal injury. What personal injury I rear ended him when he was stationary and I was at 20-30mph. Bike slid under the car I hit the rear. Injury was only to my pride and my bike.
Carole Nash Insurance comes with recovery for all bikes on policy. I've used them for years, they recovered my 907 from Potugal when I lost compression(shims). They had us on a flight next day after a MotoGP, Taxi's to and from airports all arranged, or we could've had a hirecar to complete the holiday. Bike got home about 2 weeks later. Superb service. Been recovered in UK a couple of times within the hour over the years. Competetive rates too.
That sucks. A good point to note for the future. A shame they don't take a leaf out of the AA's book where they protect the member, not the car/bike.
If you have more than one vehicle your best option is usually RAC or AA cover. Unless you go abroad very regularly its also best to get standard UK cover, then take single trip cover for the odd time you go abroad.
Personally I wouldn't touch AA with a barge pole. I have known four instances when they have totally failed to fix bike/car at the roadside, three instances where they have been so sloppy with recovery other arrangements have been made, i.e. phone a mate and get collected - two of the calls were to me! That's over a period of about twenty years granted, but that's too many in my book!
I've just renewed my insurance, also added a bike so now a 2 bike policy. After having read this thread I checked and the breakdown does apply to both (but worth checking). Cost me £100 more than last year with an extra bike so not too bad I suppose.
Just an update to this tale. When I renewed my multi-bike insurance, I got a quote through Bennetts. This came out with a saving of more than the £147 that I had to fork out on paying the recovery compared to the previous insurers. Ironically, the policy was also with Equity Red Star... I've also started personal cover for me and the missus through Green Flag, which meant that I can cover both cars and all bikes on one policy. This also worked out cheaper than having separate policies for the cars and bikes, and even gave us better cover. As always, it pays to shop around.
