Bike insurance due...

[Chippy 123]

My bike policy is up for renewal shortly and I will probably do the usual trawling around for quotes and see what comes back. It made me start to wonder how would one compare insurance companies not just by price but also their customer satisfaction reputation when dealing with said company and stats relating to claims settled.
I have been insured with Hastings direct for the last couple of years probably because they were competitive on price. I thankfully have not had to test them in relation to a claim so I have no idea how good or bad they are but I'm sure there are many who would say don't touch them with a barge pole and conversely others who have been satisfied with them. This is the problem, our own experiences with insurers doesn't always give a clear indication of which companies perform better than others. I would within reason pay a higher premium for my insurance if I thought the company were amongst one of the better performing insurers. If there is a database I have overlooked then please enlighten me....your thoughts ?

[Dingu]

Don’t trust anecdotes on here is my main advice.

In general a company who insurers more bikes will have more people with negative experiences. But that won’t show how they perform across all customers, just that they insure more.

[Dog Star]

What matters is if they settle your claims - look at the underwriters.

I’ve always preferred to go for Axa, but they’re gone now. Who’s left? Markerstudy?

[Biker9090]

Nope.

Cheapest ones that have the level of cover i want.

They'll ALL try to weasel out of paying in whatever way they can. Paying more is like extortion for someone to honor the contract you agreed to - and I won't be extorted.

I'm perfectly happy to play merry hell if they try and mess me about - as I am and have done with any other organisation.

You play them at their own game by using the rules/legislation/contract and being a total bloody annoyance.

[Drawweight]

As above, cheapest one, usually with breakdown cover but don’t need that just now. Although I will take a look at the reviews, basing it on percentages.

I’ve never claimed on my car or bike in 54 years so I’m probably doing something right (that’s probably jinxed it now)

[black-k1]

I don't disagree about them always trying to weasel out but it's also about how long it takes and how much agro is involved in getting what you are genuinely due.

While I go for the cheaper end of the market I also try to get an understanding of their reputation. I won't necessarily go for the cheapest if their reputation appears poor. Who were the cheap company that went bust a couple of years ago? I never went with them as their reputation was really bad for some time before they went bust.

Many of the options on the comparison sites come back to Adrian Flux. I'm with them at the moment and have had no issues, but have not had to claim. It may be worth contacting them direct.

[S2r]

And I have just left Adrian Flux / Bikesure having been with them for a couple of years, and have paid more for my insurance than they were initially quoting.

Their renewal omitted virtually all of the modifications on one of my bikes and then acted surprised when I called them to ask why. They then asked when I had made the changes. The final straw was when they said that they couldn't give me a quote until I had dyno'd my bike.

[Drawweight]

Oh yes, forgot I need a policy that insures my bike in a wooden shed. That entailed a couple of phone calls but it’s in the policy so there wouldn’t be a dispute there.

A couple of the companies specify garage but will modify if necessary.

[hiccy18]

I'm more concerned about where the underwriters are based and will not touch a company based in Gibraltar, far too easy to be left with less than nothing if things go wrong.

Just renewed primary steed, insurance was through Bennetts last year for £500-ish, went up a bit! Went on the MCN comparison tool, Carole Nash offered £170 underwritten by Aviva. Obviously quite pleased with that result.

[Gas1883]

I always go with a insurer I recognise, not the cheapest , though there’s normally not much in price difference anyway
Had car repaired a fair few times lately & not had any issues , though it has to go back this time to have the grill refitted, no big issue .

[Rufus Stone]

hiccy18 said:

I'm more concerned about where the underwriters are based and will not touch a company based in Gibraltar, far too easy to be left with less than nothing if things go wrong.

Just renewed primary steed, insurance was through Bennetts last year for £500-ish, went up a bit! Went on the MCN comparison tool, Carole Nash offered £170 underwritten by Aviva. Obviously quite pleased with that result.

I went with Carol Nash too this year. Three bikes for £600 odd.

[Chippy 123]

hiccy18 said:

I'm more concerned about where the underwriters are based and will not touch a company based in Gibraltar, far too easy to be left with less than nothing if things go wrong.

Just renewed primary steed, insurance was through Bennetts last year for £500-ish, went up a bit! Went on the MCN comparison tool, Carole Nash offered £170 underwritten by Aviva. Obviously quite pleased with that result.

I hadn't given any thought to where the underwriters are based, it makes sense though. I have generally always gone for well known insurers.....I just wondered if there maybe a data base somewhere showing how different insurers fair...something along the lines of what Which would produce for say Home insurance for example. It maybe it would to difficult to gather all the necessary data/stats to compile.

[pozi]

Most of the UK bike insurers farm out the claims side to 4th Dimension who are appear to be mainly interested in giving you a rental bikes and the use of their injury claims department.

They even sold my damaged bike before the final value was agreed after telling me "we have all the photos if there is a query". The fight after to get a fair price was a nightmare and I ended up doing most of the chasing myself.

[Biker 1]

Ah yes - 4th dimension....
Someone reversed a car into me 6 years ago in gridlocked traffic. Broke the front mudguard but I didn't even fall off. Took over a month to replace a £50 part. They also insisted on replacing the front tyre in case the carcass had suffered damage.
Meanwhile, I was called every few days with offers of rental bikes, whiplash assessments etc.
The whole industry sucks & the result is ALWAYS that us mugs pay over the odds....

[hondajack85]

Yes it appears whole extra section of the workforce has been created by insurance cost bump up. More parasites always attach to something you cant avoid.
The Starmer robot doesnt have a new enough cpu to process this sort of thing and stop it.

[Chippy 123]

[quote=pozi]Most of the UK bike insurers farm out the claims side to 4th Dimension who are appear to be mainly interested in giving you a rental bikes and the use of their injury claims department.

So forgive my nievety here, in the event of a no fault claim ( I understand blame has to be established subsequently) can I expect Hastings to pass me over to a "claims recovery" company and if so is this the same for all insurers or are there any companies that act solely for their customers in the event of a claim.