Insurance renewal; who to go for?

[Rog1]

After a distasteful experience last year with the claims handling "department" of Carole Nash, I'm looking to move to another company. The department is actually a separate company who tried very hard to get me to hire a bike, and wanted to pick my bike up and take it away. It's an old Japanese bike that been very reliable; but because it isn't worth very much it would have been written off and I doubt I would ever have seen it again.

So who to go for? I've seen some recommendations in old posts, but is this advice still good? The names that came up were Footman James, and (I think) Peter James.

If you have had to make a claim with any company, how were you treated?

[Pete A10]

The problem with Carole Nash is that they are just a broker. I had a serious accident in Switzerland 15 months ago and my initial contact was with Carole Nash - it felt like I was talking to the customer service department at a minor retail outfit. It was only when I was transferred to the actual insurance company (Aviva) that things started to happen and I felt that I was talking to someone who knew what they were doing. When I reinsured I went with Bennett as they did the whole package of motor insurance, recovery and breakdown and legal expenses at about £100 cheaper. When I had an accident about 20 years ago I was with Bennett and their service was very good.
I expect when I come to renew in March Carole Nash will have cut their price.
The advantage of the likes of Carole Nash or Bennetts is that they deal with reputable insurance companies who will perform when required, it's just a case of getting past the initial "call centre" mentality of the brokers.

[chaz]

I never had a problem with Carole Nash , but they have since been taken over by another major player.
reason Ive never had problems with service or renewal... not had an accident.
you wont know until the time comes , hopefully not.
I had my bikes covered under the business policy, ok until I had a car pull out in front of me. they passed me on to their claims recovery people. left it a year , pestered and relented. 2 years later , to be honest, I wish I hadnt bothered. hip, back and shoulder pain all the time now. they finally took the opinion of the consultant, in the end they advised that "in their opinion of previous history" I should take a 50/50 settlement as the courts dont look too friendly on bikers, despite 100% her fault.
was the £2,000 payout really worth the fuss... it just lined their pockets.

[idie]

After being with Carol Nash for years I renewed one year and never received the paperwork for my four bikes. They had taken my card details. I phoned them twice about the paperwork and asked if I was insured. Oh yes they said the paperwork is on it's way. I had my B33 on the drive ready to ride came out of the house to find two policeman looking at the bike. Nice bike said one, I have one like that at home. He then said you aren't going to ride it are you as you are not insured. I told him the problems I was having with Carol Nash. He then told me how to check on the Government site to see if my bikes were insured. Of course they weren't when I checked further I found that they hadn't even taken the money off my card. This meant that I had been riding without insurance. Needless to say I am now with Peter James.

[MGI]

Similar experience with MCE, now with Peter Taylor! (old fashioned but efficient)!

[Phil C]

Is that Peter S. Taylor? Is it a broker?
My B40 insurance is due soon. I'm with Carole Nash but am wondering whether to change.
Phil

[Pete A10]

Probably best to change provider anyway in order to get a sensible price. It is interesting to note that many of the brokers charge different prices but when you check they are quoting for the same policy from the same insurer.

[MGI]

Yes, Peter S Taylor...I now have both bikes insured with them! If I remember correctly it also allows the policy holder to ride any motorcycle, fully comp, provided the machine in question is more than 20 years old! (with the owners permission of course) They also provide 'agreed value' at no additional cost providing four photographs (two sides, front & back) are produced. Their details are in most classic bike magazines.

[ChrisG]

Peter James do all that as well!
The 'Riding other bikes' is particularly useful as you can 'legally' swop over with your mates during a ride out, (if we ever get chance in the near future).

[Pete Gill]

Hi All,

I've used Footman James for several years now.
I've found them easy to deal with and I think I get a good deal having 4 classic bikes on the same policy. They include breakdown cover (Including European) as standard.
Ive had to use their breakdown cover twice in the last 8 years without an issue, and  fortunately not for any accidental damage or theft.
Pete

[maddogmargetts@yahoo.co.u]

i was interested in your breakdown cover experience. I have my insurance with Footman James on my M21 and needed to be picked up after I went through a puddle only to find "lake" would have been a more apt description and a tidal wave engulfed the bike and me. Of course water flooded into more or less everything including the mag and it stopped immediately. As it was 0500 on a cold november morning in the middle of a dark country road i had no option but to find somewhere safe to leave it and continued to work by thumbing a lift - which occured within minutes of me putting my thumb out. Despite covid!! Nice fellow. Anyway it cost me £105 for a bloke to come and pick it up and bring it back home. Would it have been worth me claiming on the breakdown insurance do you think? Bearing in mind the cost, excess and loss of NCB.

[Pete Gill]

Hi John
My experience of using the breakdown covert that comes with the Footman James classic policy is that there was no quibble on either occasion. One for a puncture about 10 miles from home - picked up and brought home after about 45 mins wait - that was in 2012.
Second time in 2018 blew piston on my T160 (2 out of the 3 as it turned out!) crossing Anglesey , brought back on a truck to Manchester ( had to wait about 1 and a half hours but did the trip back in one go)
Neither cost me anything extra and there was no additional cost at renewal of my classic policy.
There is no no claims discount on a classic policy with FJ, but the total cost for my 4 classic bikes is about £280 for the four every year fully comp.
Pete

[bikerbob]

I have used Peter James now for a number of years now, I have 2 bikes 1956 A7 and 1963 A65 both fully comp with breakdown cover had to call them out only once when the A65 broke down they came within 40 minutes would have got there quicker but were caught up in road works. I paid £98 for both bikes last May.

[MGI]

Peter S Taylor, in common with most classic bike insurers do not operate a NCD policy, so it is unlikely you would lose anything by claiming either for an accident or recovery. As it happens I am unaware if my insurer (Classic bikes only) covers me for recovery. I also have a van and a car and they are insured with Aviva, again I have no idea if Aviva operate a recovery scheme but it is almost certain that if they do, availing yourself of it would have a negative impact on your NCD. I am in the AA and that covers multiply call outs &, if required, recovery home or to a garage of your choice. An added advantage with the AA (& possibly also the other road side repair/recovery companies) is that the cover they provide is valid even with a vehicle not owned by the policy holder providing the policy holder is involved i.e. a passenger in someone else's car etc!

The aspect of the NCD scheme which I find most unpalatable is that if you run a second vehicle, or multiple vehicles, each additional vehicle has a completely separate NCD, so that if you have max NCD on vehicle 1 and you then insure vehicle 2, the additional vehicle does not attract any NCD, starting from scratch as it were. However, if you have a claim on any vehicle the NCD for the entire group of vehicles you insure goes for a Burton! Even if you have an accident in a company vehicle, not even your company, your employers vehicle, you will still lose all of your NCD bonuses! Most unfair and unethical in my view!

[griffo]

Petr James works for me 8 bikes and less than one fifty a year. Comp, salvage , breakdown et.etc....