Sorry but first off I couldn’t find a more suitable section for this.
As I’m new here, you won’t know that I work for an insurance comparison company. And I’m looking into what people want from the tools on the site, especially as we’re currently looking at building a better motorbike insurance comparison than currently exists out there in the market.
So you guys are in a privileged position …you can have direct input into the sorts of things you need to know and would like to see in a good comparison tool when it comes to getting the best insurance for your bike …not a job any of us enjoy no doubt! What is it that really frustrates you about buying insurance as a whole, using online insurance forms, using motorbike insurance comparison tools especially and so on? What would really make a difference to you guys? Absolutely anything?!
This is not a self-promoting post so for what it’s worth, I believe the best tool out there are the moment is The Bike Insurer’s. They also re-brand their online form for Tesco Compare, Admiral and a few others so it’s worth checking the small print (normally at the bottom of the page) before you fill in another form to get the same results
I’ve always wondered why the ‘security’ section on the other sites isn’t more extensive. They usually only give an alarm/immobiliser option - but nothing for, say, an Almax III chain, ground anchor and disc lock.
Of course, if having mechanical security doesn’t affect the premium, then that’s fair enough…
It would be good to have a ‘notes’ section, too. When I was searching for prices I kept track of things on paper - which quickly became tatty, scribbled on – and then lost. Perhaps it’d be nice to have an electronic notepad available when users log into the site?
Perfect - keep the ideas coming. As the thread comes to a natural end, I’ll round it off with reasons for the bits which can’t be done for various reasons. Thanks guys.
Having just read Eman’s other post- attitude to claims would be a good one. And some more:
Guaranteed courtesy bike
Transferable no claims- including when moving between pre- and post- DAS or from scooter to motorbike.
Initial premium. year 2 premium. year 3 premium. I’m probably not the only one who notices insurers upping the price after the first year- they should be up front about this.
Got to endorse Lessismore on the renewal premium stuff.
Not motorcycle, but similar problem. My daughter earned a 1 yr NCD before she passed her full car test. Not found one company that can cope with that. (Lazy *** just didn’t bother to book a test and then passed first time when she did.)
Kid at work had two years NCD on his twist and go before taking his DAS. Despite about 10K miles on the scooter, no discount on the very sensible first real bike.
This is all crap.
Ever wondered why insurance companies and agents are hated?
Let’s not start on the claims thing where each time you have to explain the whole thing again and again as you speak to some poor little call centre tyke (tykess).
Can’t get 2 (or more) bikes on any other websites that I know off.:crazy:But definatly more clarity on all the security attached that is now on bikes. Could have a home security set-up section and a mobile or with-bike security section (alarms locks and trackers etc)
why is ncb transferable from bike to car insurance but not car to bike??
surley some discount could be given if a biker has say 10yrs ncb on a car somewhat shows he aint a total numpty if gonna get a bike, i know bikes and cars are totally different but maybe can give say ncb discount from car to bike or similar.
Same here, when I called my insurance company to change from the bandit to the dakar I was confused by the fact that the didn’t have an option for alarm and immobiliser and the person I was dealing with said “let’s just put down alarm” as you get more discount for that.
Same with physical security I have 2 ground anchors and 2 chains ( OK only whilst V hasn’t got a bike) but they only counted 1 chain.
Not sure why could be down to crap insurance company, I did one year on a CBT and got the 1 year NCB.
Can’t see how they can tell you the premiums for the following years as they won’t know what the risk is, ie crime goes up in your area, you move, speeding offences etc.
What I would like to see is who is the underwriting insurance company. I currently get them from xyz but it is actually from Norwich Union.
It would nice to know how the company handles claims, eg when I got knocked off the insurance company had no interest what so ever in handling the claim, they just pushed it straight onto the legal protection just because I had TPFT which I was appalled at despite third party being 100% liable. Obviously not practical but would be nice to know.
Would be nice to know if the policy will cover you to ride other bikes that are not your own like most car insurance companies do.
Would also like to be able to have the option of insuring the bike and the car on one policy, however this would have to show different NCB’s on both vehicles etc.
My main gripe is the amount of time it takes to fill in an online form. Having an account that retains your information is a great help, that way at renewal time you will at least log on and try and get another quote.
Any site that allows you to make changes, like adding an alarm or restricting the number of miles you ride, and then seeing if it affects the premium is helpful.
…but they could be required to reveal what their mark up on the following years premiums will be i.e. they should have to tell you if the first year premium they are offering is discounted- which would indicate it was likely to rocket in the following year.
OK …some really good points coming out here. Most of them appear to be steering towards gripes against the actual insurance companies. I’m trying to get closer to your opinions about the actual comparison websites.
I don’t want to put words in people’s mouths so I won’t give any examples, but what are the good and bad bits of using a comparison website for your bike insurance? Anything which makes life easier or something that really frustrates you?
Sites that don’t send your email details to all the insurance companies, who then email you an offer, but put up a list of premiums and policy details. Then you can select the one you are interested in.
That way you don’t get reminder emails from all of them for the next 10 years…
The option to change items to see if has an effect on the premium, larger excess, limited milage etc.
A phone number to talk to a real person BUT you shouldn’t have to fill all your details in again on the phone, they should be able to access these whilst they are talking to you.
A haggle option - the company makes you a quote and you make a single counter offer and see if they accept it. So they offer Fully Comp, £150 excess for £225, you offer them Fully Comp, £200 excess, limited summer milage for £175.
have a look at the prasie or shame thread, re bennets that may give some more indications why the majority of folks hate getting ripped off by insurance companys
That’s a brilliant idea. If you could alter the address to get a quote based on different locations and bike-storage options, that’d be great, too.
I’m thinking of moving house, for instance, and that’d be a godsend seeing as I don’t have an exact address to type in for where I’ll be storing the bike.
