Insurance for UK newcomer

[iacchi]

Hi everyone, this is my first post here, I hope I'm in the right section!
(I have read the sticky post about insurance in the New Biker section, but I feel I need to ask more out of the ordinary questions, so I'm opening this thread here)

First of all a few info to set the scene:
* I'm 35 yo
* I have an EU full A license since mid 2008
* I've been riding bikes (125 cc) since 2003 (600 cc since 2008)
* I have lived in Australia for 4 years and rode a bike there for 3, so I'm used to driving on the left
* I moved to the UK recently (2020, just in time for COVID), so I have no NCD to show (and I haven't ridden a bike for a little more than 3 years now, so even if I could show documents from my Australian insurer (which I can't, I've lost the paper copy and they don't exist anymore) they'd be too old to do any good)

This said, I'm looking at buying a Yamaha Tracer 700, and in parallel I'm trying to find a decent insurance to ride it. I'm looking for Third pary only, mind you, so insurances should be on the lower side (right? right?).

Does anyone have a bike insurance company to recommend that it's cheap but also not too bad? Even one that doesn't have an online quote system but which runs nation wide or in the Tyne and Wear region (I live in Newcastle). I've run quotes on many comparison websites and on companies websites, but the cheapest I can find around is about 700 GBP per year (annual payment) give or take 20 pounds, which I consider ridiculous for a person my age and with such a long period holding a full A license, even with the 0 year NCD. Is there really not a way to get an insurance at a more reasonable price?

[Freddyfruitba...]

[iacchi]

You're right, Bennets is about 100 quid cheaper with full comprehensive (others are more expensive). This is weird in my mind, but I guess it makes sense in this country (?).

[Evil Hans]

[Nobby the Bastard]

It's all.about risk based on past experience. If past experience says fully comp are lower risk and they pay out less to people who have fly comp it will be cheaper.
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Sprint ST 1050

[iacchi]

If I can go back to topic for a bit: are there non-written tips to try and shave some money off the policy? With Bennetts (is it a good insurer) the full comprehensive is now about 620 pounds, but it's still quite expensive in my book. I will definitely give them a call apart from the online quote, but is there something I can say that could make the price lower?

[Ste]

Get quotes for different age bikes.

[Nobby the Bastard]

Use the.meercat/compere then Welsh opera singer.
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Sprint ST 1050

[Freddyfruitba...]

[Zen Dog]

[iacchi]

[Kentol750]

Also remember job description carries weight too. Plus commuting and pillion cover.
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Some bikes.

[iacchi]

I'm trying a few different jobs that could fit me on the Bennetts quote system but at the moment but at the moment I don't see any price difference. If I don't select pillion passenger does it mean that it's actually illegal to carry a passenger every now and then? Or is there just a lack of insurance?

[iacchi]

Never mind, if I say no to pillion the quote is actually 1 pound more expensive than if I say yes...

[Nobby the Bastard]

It's not illegal, it's breach of contract because your passenger is a third party and is coveRed accordingly.

The Insurance company could sue you for their losses but nobody can identify a case where they have.

expect it to be difficult to get insured afterwards, though.
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Sprint ST 1050

[Ste]

[iacchi]

Good question. With £0 excess is 110 pounds more. With something in between (£250) is about 40 pounds more.

[BRUN]

I have been looking at insurance myself, as I have just passed my mod2, it seems to me your first year is around the £600 price, then drops to under half that the next year, as you have a licence from elsewhere and lots of experience, I would call them and see what they can offer

IIRC my wife paid about £600 the first year she passed, then it dropped loads the next year

[Mr Hammers]

I've been with Bennetts for the last few years, never had any problems. Always done what they promised. You might find that MCE are really cheap/least expensive, but i'd only go with them if i knew i wasn't going to claim anything, ever, as they have a terrible reputation for payouts.
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A Guide To Powerbands

[ThunderGuts]

£600 ish isn't a mad price for no NCD living in a city though at that age.
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TG.

[A100man]

Don't just go on line - call someone..

I've used these people for a number of years..

https://www.rhspecialistinsurance.co.uk/

(theres a phone number when you get there.)
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Now: A100, GT250A, XJ598, FZ750

Then: Fizz, RS200, KL250, XJ550, Laverda Alpina, XJ600, FZS600

[WD Forte]

Broadly speaking

Not used for commuting, low annual mileage, no passengers
locked in secure garage overnight, security device/s fitted
responsible safe job ( vicar mebbe?)
seem to make a difference but I'm no expert

No one loves insurance companies
I had a renewal quote from Carol Nash which really took the piss
so I went online and got the same deal from them for far less!!!
Arseholes!
Shop around and haggle like buggery.
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bikers smell of wee

[Polarbear]

I have been told (have no idea how true it is) that if you do multiple searches changing the parameters not to do it under your own contact details because it flags up and makes the quotes more expensive.

As I said, I have absolutely no knowledge on the truth of this but I certainly wouldn't out it past them and it's no great shakes to make up a persona.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[WD Forte]

As you're new to the system like any new driver rider
I think insurance has to be higher until you amass some NCD
and get 'known' by them
Do bikes have groups like cars?
I'd think they must have.
If the Tracer is in a high insurance group this will affect your premium
so if money's an issue, a painful approach may be to get a smaller bike or even say a 125 for year or even a scooter.
(Yes I said it SCOOTER!)

Failing that, cough up the dosh, don't get done for speeding, drink driving or make a claim for year or two.
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bikers smell of wee

[Ste]

There's so much more to it than what insurance group a vehicle is in.

Don't expect insurance for a 125 to be cheap because they get crashed for fun by kids with L plates.

Play around getting quotes for different age Tracers, play around with quotes for similar bikes, play around with different annual mileages and if you're parking it on the road then that's almost always going to be more expensive than having it garaged.

I don't think there's any truth in the thing about if you get multiple quotes then it flags up and makes the quotes more expensive. There might have been an element of truth to it 10 or 15 years ago but if it was happening today then you could guarantee there would be all sorts of headaches made about it by moneysavingexpert et al.