the cost of life cover when you are riding a motorcycle
Discussion
I've been trying to sort out my life cover after a house move in May; I submitted my application before May but the doctors have only just sent back my records (insurance company good enough to cover me during that time).. I'm just going through the details now and was a bit shocked to find they have added ~30% to the premium as I ride a motorcycle. Now I appreciate that there is increased risk every time you get on a bike rather than get in a car but f
k me!!! My current provider didn't even ask, I actually volunteered the info just to be on the safe side and they didn't seem that bothered.
I appreciate everyones situation is different: it's a chunky mortgage, we're a single income household and I have missus and 3 kids of school age, so not having cover isn't something I would consider.
What's your /family experience with providers? (It is difficult to get comment from a policy holder after a claim was required)
edit: Ughh I can't even get the thread title to make sense
k me!!! My current provider didn't even ask, I actually volunteered the info just to be on the safe side and they didn't seem that bothered. I appreciate everyones situation is different: it's a chunky mortgage, we're a single income household and I have missus and 3 kids of school age, so not having cover isn't something I would consider.
What's your /family experience with providers? (It is difficult to get comment from a policy holder after a claim was required)
edit: Ughh I can't even get the thread title to make sense
Not exactly the same but a friend stopped smoking 6 weeks ago and phoned his life assurance company to inform them - they said once he hits 12 months they’d reassess the premium. Not sure if it would be similar for bikes - or find a life assurance company that doesn’t load the premium so much. 20 years ago bikes weren’t subjected to additional premiums, so that’s certainly changed.
Eta - is it worth comparing the quote you have with a company like this - https://www.insurancehero.org.uk/types/life-insura... i don’t know them at all, just did a quick Google.
Eta - is it worth comparing the quote you have with a company like this - https://www.insurancehero.org.uk/types/life-insura... i don’t know them at all, just did a quick Google.
Edited by Petrus1983 on Monday 3rd October 12:19
I did the same recently. Aviva wanted to know how long, how many miles and cc of the largest bike I'd ridden in the last 12 months.
I also ticked the 'had a mental health' issue in the last 3 years box. I had some bereavement counselling which according to them means I'm mega high risk and declined me.
Virgin had no such issue and was cheaper.
I also ticked the 'had a mental health' issue in the last 3 years box. I had some bereavement counselling which according to them means I'm mega high risk and declined me.
Virgin had no such issue and was cheaper.
samdy said:
Who's the insurance company? This is my line of work and I don't know of any that add ratings for riding a motorcycle.
Most ask questions about 'hazardous activities' which usually includes motorsport/motorcycle racing - have you mistaken the question?
Royal London.. I've asked my broker to challenge it. Most ask questions about 'hazardous activities' which usually includes motorsport/motorcycle racing - have you mistaken the question?
samdy said:
Who's the insurance company? This is my line of work and I don't know of any that add ratings for riding a motorcycle.
Most ask questions about 'hazardous activities' which usually includes motorsport/motorcycle racing - have you mistaken the question?
Same here. I advise on life insurance and thought unless you did anything competitive it didn’t affect the premium. So even track days are okay. (Fracture cover being handy for regular track day riders)Most ask questions about 'hazardous activities' which usually includes motorsport/motorcycle racing - have you mistaken the question?
OP, who’s the insurer? Are you sure it hasn’t been increased due to a health question or even a change of job role?
- EDIT
MDUBZ said:
Royal London.. I've asked my broker to challenge it.
Royal Londons income protection comes with fracture cover for no addtional cost. So I recommend it a lot.I thought the questions on the application are specific to competitive motorsport. So I think you'll be fine and either the advisers miss read it (easily done) or its been 'loaded' for another reason.
Edited by Mortgage_tom on Monday 3rd October 13:15
HairyMaclary said:
I did the same recently. Aviva wanted to know how long, how many miles and cc of the largest bike I'd ridden in the last 12 months.
I also ticked the 'had a mental health' issue in the last 3 years box. I had some bereavement counselling which according to them means I'm mega high risk and declined me.
Virgin had no such issue and was cheaper.
Yeah I'll ask around, no recent registered mental health issues, but who gets through life without at least 1 period in their life where they need a bit of help, surely it's a plus that you sought help rather than choose another method of coping. Suicide, sadly is a far too common cause of death. I also ticked the 'had a mental health' issue in the last 3 years box. I had some bereavement counselling which according to them means I'm mega high risk and declined me.
Virgin had no such issue and was cheaper.
I guess the algorithms they use arent that sophisticated it's yes or no.
I hope you're well on the road to feeling better and sorry for your loss.
Actually just checked the RL application and they do ask. That's new.
As already suggested, there are plenty of insurers who don't ask specifically, so if this has caused a rating with RL you could try another application with someone else - although that can be a bit of a ball ache if you've had to go through GP reports etc. with the current application.
As already suggested, there are plenty of insurers who don't ask specifically, so if this has caused a rating with RL you could try another application with someone else - although that can be a bit of a ball ache if you've had to go through GP reports etc. with the current application.
MDUBZ said:
update: they said they would reduce premiums but this would exclude motorcycle use . Other 'extreme' pursuits that I had included e.g. downhill mountain biking were fine..
Don’t do that!!! Don’t have a life assurance policy that excludes certain things. It’s there to protect your loved ones if you (sadly) die. Putting stipulations on it makes no sense to me. hiccy18 said:
Well as I was reading this I was about to recommend Royal London as I signed with them last year after they asked about motorcycle racing, no extra for riding; I'm assuming existing policies aren't affected.
One assumes your username isn't the same chap running at the front of the BSB grid!! 
hiccy18 said:
Well as I was reading this I was about to recommend Royal London as I signed with them last year after they asked about motorcycle racing, no extra for riding; I'm assuming existing policies aren't affected.
I think unless you expressly mislead the insurance company by saying you don't do something, when you do, you'll be fine; worth checking your policy I guess to see if what they expressly exclude. Amendments: Having read through my current policy, as expected, they are written in very vague way which ultimately means they reserve the right to make amendments in line with "the general practise in the life and pensions industry" which let's face it could be anything. If it's in my advantage they implement immediately, at my disadvantage they have to give 60 days notice. If for some reason you stop riding in the future it might be worth telling them to see if it reduces the premiums?Looks like I have to go through the process of a medical exam again - this time trying with Zurich who have confirmed it's only motorcycle racing that would impact the premium.
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