Problem finding Insurance (EU citizen, import bike)

[Arninger]

Hey.
Arne here. This I is my first post, so hi to everyone.
I moved to Scotland in September 2017 to work as a brewer for Brewdog. One of the first things I did, was getting a bike.
Got myself a small Honda VRX 400 which was imported (did not think that that mattered back then).
I hab the bike on a classic bike insurance (eBike) until end of last year, unfortunately the insurer does not exist anymore. I was looking for a new insurer, but I cant seem to find one.
The problem seems to be the imported bike, and me not being UK citizen and/or having a German driving licence. If pretend to be born in the UKin one of the many insurance comparison portals, I can find cheap enough insurance. Also if I keep my EU details but pick a similar bike (Same manufacturer, engine, year) I can find insurance easy.
But with both things in, there is one insurer that would insure me for 1200 £ a year (the bike is worth 800 £...). Seems like insurers are either cool with me being a foreigner or having an imported bike but as soon as I have both no one wants me.

Does anyone have an idea at which insurance company I could try my luck? If I cant find one I will have to sell the bike.

Happy about any suggestions.

[LustyLew]

Adrian Flux might be worth a shot. Give them a call, dont use the websites.

Principal Insurance too. Again, call dont use the website.

[Bhud]

Couple of suggestions... Get on the phone to insurance companies - don't just use their online systems. Talk to a real agent (not just a call centre person) and get a quote on the phone.
Try comparing and getting quotes for a different, more commonplace bike, and see if it would make a difference if you were to get rid of the VRX400.

Whatever you do, don't lie about your licence status or origin - they will ask you for your licence photocard or a (UK) check code. Getting insurance this way is fraud and a serious crime. Speeding or having loud pipes.. meh. Not really a huge issue. But fraudulently obtaining insurance will cause you a major headache for years to come.

[The Shaggy D.A.]

Can't help you, but I love the bike
____________________
Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[Freddyfruitba...]

[Ste]

https://www.uswitch.com/car-insurance/car-insurance-for-temporary-imports-non-uk-residents/

[Arninger]

Hey.
Thanks for the int.

Just to clarify, I would never lie to get an insurance. It was just to check where the problem is.

Tried brightside, they cant offer anything.

Have called several insurances, but no one could help me so far.
Will try the ones in the first reply.

I already checked for more common bikes. Comparetehmarket etc give me load of acceptable quotes for that. Will do that worst case, but would prefer to keep the bike if I can.

Thanks for the response so far!

[Arninger]

[Teflon-Mike]

If you are a UK resident, you should have surrendered your German licence for a UK one, with UK address on it.
That would make insurers happy, if all the addresses match, and citizen ship shouldn't matter.
If you have not given up german residence... then you are allowed to use german registered and insured vehicle in the UK, for so many months.... then you have to declare UK residence and register both bike and licence at UK address.

That's the niggle on that one.

As for bike being non UK grey-import model... that is a second mine-field..... if bike has UK registrtation, then its down to the insurer whether they wil cover you and for how much, BUT the bike has to be declared a UK registered grey-import of non UK Market specification/oragin.

Even where ialmost identical model was sold here as an official import, its not a UK bike and declareable to inurance.

Clear as mud? Hopr that helped!!!!
____________________
My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[growler]

ref license

EU driving licence in UK:
If you hold a full licence issued in a country within the European Union you can drive in Great Britain using your original licence until it expires and there’s no need to exchange it or retake your driving test. The same applies to those with a European Economic Community (EEC) licence. Your licence will expire when you turn 70, but if you’re 68+ when you become a UK resident you can drive for three years. After this time you must exchange your licence.

Taken from the Gov site
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DILLIGAF

[Arninger]

[Arninger]

[stinkwheel]

I wonder if you'd have any more luck insuring it as a modified bike? Because it IS modified. Or maybe that's a triple-whammy.

Most comp. insurance allows you to ride other peoples vehicles providing they are insured under another policy.

Perhaps you could transfer ownership of the VRX to a friend, insure it in his name on the cheapest TPF&T party insurance you can for him. Buy a random small, cheap bike (doesn't even have to be a runner, just has to exist) and insure it comp in your name. Get written permission to ride your mates VRX and carry it with you.

The above may be considered somewhat outwith the spirit of the rules if they found out you were riding it all the time...

I personally wouldn't have a problem with someone getting one over on an insurance company because they are all theiving bastards.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Jmoan]

So much for freedom of movement and goods.

[Bhud]

[stinkwheel]

[Bhud]

[stinkwheel]

The reason I mentioned it is modified policies are "different" to standard ones. The question of import or not may never come up.

I have a friend with a bike on a modified policy with a 1.9l VW diesel engine fitted. He called to tell them he'd changed the engine for a turbo one and that it now had a 5-speed gearbox instead of direct drive off the clutch... No change in premium.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Bhud]

[rpsmith79]

[stinkwheel]

[Bhud]

I like to think I'm as dodgy as the next man, but apparently not.

Jokes aside, my Bikesure policy is a "ride any bike" policy but I'm 99% sure it only works if the bike belongs to someone else. For example, say I go to see a bike. I like it and make its owner an offer. He accepts, and I pay him. This transfers ownership to me. I then ride the bike home, but I'm uninsured. On the other hand, if he'd lent me his bike rather than sold it to me, I would be insured under my "ride any bike" policy.

The traffic police around my way know the ins and outs of this, because "drive any car" policies are common, and commuters with big cars try that one on, quite a bit. I've seen the cops post on Twitter about seizing luxury cars driven by people claiming their "drive any car" policy (with a Prius as the named vehicle) covered them.

[stinkwheel]

[Pjay]

I'd just out the bike and buy a non import.
Would save a lot of pain every time you come to renewals.
____________________
struan80 - I'll go first - satisfied tick 1

[Arninger]

Hey.
Just letting you know I sold the bike and boght a boring non import (Yamaha Diversion).