Taking my test to reduce my insurance cost

[Colbernicus]

Hi everyone,

I drive a Honda PS 125 and have had my CBT for about a year.

My 15 month insurance with MCE insurance is about to expire and ive been quoted about the same amount again to renew it. I thought it would come down?

So im thinking of way to bring it down if possible?

One of which is to get my full licence. Im thinking i will never own a proper bike as scooting around town does me just fine.

So..

Does anyone know the best way about going getting an automatic licence in North/East london?

I know i have to take a theory test, but does anyone know a good place to do this? And any tips they might have?

Any other advice around this area most welcome.

Thank you in advance

[lihp]

Unlikely to make a massive difference, but consider that testing costs pretty much the same as renewing your CBT, then it makes sense.

[SQL]

Ignore the renewal quote,

My insurance was £700, the renewal with MCE was £500, so I went on the bike insurer and got a quote with the same details for £200 with MCE...

I rang them and they said it wasn't possible I must have changed details on it, the only thing that had changed was me putting 15k per year as mileage instead of 7k.

[rhys1005]

A lot insurers only consider ncb on a full motorcycle license as proper ncb and wont accept anything else. Makes sense so get the ncb ball rolling, otherwise you'll have 2 years of worthless ncb.. Like I do. Same goes for 'how long have you held the above license' etc.

I think your an idiot though (and anyone else) that goes through the same process to obtain a automatic license then they would to obtain a manual license just because they can't be arsed to learn gears. Get a proper license, chances are you will prefer riding a geared bike be it only a 125. I ride a scooter as part time work for a pizza company 4 hours a night.. I consider riding into the path of a lorry each time.

[Irn-Bru]

When I had a 125 it made no difference, age and no claims is more important.
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KTM 990 SMT & Suzuki DR-Z 400 SM

[conker]

You might find it cheaper insurance on a slightly bigger engine. A 200cc scoot that cannot be ridden on L plates, so there's not a load of L platers taking the magic insurance voodoo calculations up.

[-Monty-]

As SQL has said. Insurance companies will hike the price up when it comes to renewal time in hopes that you are too lazy to check elsewhere.

Go on a comparison site to check that your renewal quote is actually competative (which I very much doubt it is).
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Present: [Kawasaki ZX7r][Suzuki DRZ 400s]
Past: [Honda PCX 125] [Yamaha RXS 100] [Honda CB 500] [Triumph Speed Four] [Honda ST1100 Pan European - Po-Po Edition]

[bikertomm]

Is this a renewal quote from MCE or a proper quote from thebikesurer...?

I think you'll find ringing them up will get you a lower price, get some quotes!!
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07' Honda Hornet now full powaah! My guide on performing an oil change!

[krarkol]

Get a quote and put that you've just passed in the details.

I found when I passed, my insurance for my 125 went up about £150. Which encouraged me to get a 600 in time for the renewal.
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Bandit 600 - deaded

[MarJay]

Do a full bike test on a manual, you'll regret it otherwise.

However, I know people whose insurance has not changed after passing their full motorcycle test.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[James83]

A lot of people have seen their premiums go up over the last couple of years, so this may be your insurance going down due to no claims and then back up from the generic "Rape the world" premium increases.
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Jonathan A wrote: tart.

[Amber Phoenix]

As others mention, ignore the price on first renewal, it's the default lazy person blag price. Give them a bell, ask them 'is that the best you can do?' - most likely drop by a third-half. Then go through comparisons sites etc, then go back and see if they can match etc.

I suspect a full bike license will help though. About 1.5 years ago, me and work colleague both started riding, me straight after DAS and on Fazer 600, him on CG125 after CBT. Both based in London, both TPFT, both in early '30s. I paid £380, he paid bit over £500. There maybe other factors, but the licence difference seemed likely.

Regardless, if you do go for you test, it will almost certainly make you a better and safer rider, got to be a good thing! It'll be chance to try a bigger bike, and give you more options when you come to next buy a bike/scooter. If you can do the test on a manual, you may as well. Most schools will let you start off on a manual, then switch back to auto if you struggle, so no harm trying.

As for recommendations, I did my CBT and DAS with 1StopInstruction over in Ilford, which should be pretty local to you. Did a good job getting me through lot, first time in 6 weeks, after never been on bike! Definitely stick them on your list to check out.
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Beginner Biker Adventures Blog
Yamaha FZ6 S2 2007

[Rogerborg]

Oh, and you might find that your insurance goes up slightly when you have a license.

Seems nutty, but that's insurers for you.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[-Matt-]

[Northern Monkey]

My insurance went UP by £5 when I passed my A1 test.

Make sure that your plan to save you money will save you money

[DottyDuck]

[-Matt-]

I've also used my pre-full license NCB on all my policies so far. Most of the forms i've filled during the quote process asked how many years NCB you have and also when you passed your full license so don't seem to distinguish the two, but maybe it depends where you get quotes/who you insure with.

[Ste]

[Colbernicus]

Thanks all

I think you have convinced me to take the manual test. Just in case..