Cannot get insurance

[jdgaban]

Hi guys!

I was all happy that would buy a MT09-Tracer and started looking for insurance and found out on websites like gocompare and calling MCE that they won't insure me with this bike.

I though that this is a bit weird since they would insure me with bigger bikes, more expensive bikes and faster bikes but not the Tracer! Playing around I found that they would only insure me for Third Party, but not theft. I kept playing around gocompare and also found out that if I lived in UK for more than 3 years (I live here for 1.4 years) they would also insure me for a really cheap price!!

My last bike was a F800R and I really wanted a good bike for a 40 miles daily commute (all highways and good roads) and eventually traveling from/to London/Birmingham on the weekends.

Does anyone have any tips on how could I insure it? (I live in UK)

The other question would be: if I cannot insure this bike, any good bikes for a 40 miles/day commute and comfortable (with a little bit of speed) weekend travels with pillion?

Thank you all!
--
John

 

[stevecbr]

I'm not aware of anyone having problems insuring a MT or tracer. Have you got any no claims bonus, or have you criminal convictions? I pay about £120 fully comp for dual bike policy, the MT09 and a scooter. Are any of the Yamaha dealers offering free or discounted insurance, it may work out cheaper to buy a brand new Tracer if you can get insurance for £99 through Yamaha, instead of spending thousands on insurance on a second hand model

 

[Triple Trouble]

Very odd. I paid £96 fully comp on my 63 plate MT when they first came out...
There's got to be an underlying factor or factors that's being overlooked

 

[bobh]

UK insurance companies seem to be paranoid about non-UK drivers/riders. This applies even to companies that are not actually UK ones, e.g. AXA or Zurich.

My daughter was born in the UK, has a full unrestricted UK licence, and even still uses my address as her UK accommodation address, but because she now lives in France it's impossible for me to add her to my bike insurance, at any price. When I go there, I can ride her bike with no problem - anyone who's held an EU licence for more that 5 years, and/or has a bike of their own which is insured, is covered. I suspect this situation is one reason why there are so many uninsured drivers on the road in the UK - either it's too expensive or they can't get insurance at all.

To come back to the OP's question, I'm sure there are specialist insurance brokers who could get it for you. But it actually might be easier to get a cheap bike to commute on for the next 18 months or so until you have 3 years residency. If you don't mind something that's a bit on the heavy side, but otherwise is bomb-proof, have a look at the Yamaha Diversion 900. Shaft drive, air-cooled, easy maintenance, they go on for ever with minimal attention. The only reason I got rid of mine, a few years ago, was that I was scared of dropping it on my leg while shuttling it round the back yard, and then being trapped for a week until some one heard my cries for help! I'm still on the Diversion forum, as I still hae several mates on there. They are a good crowd of helpful folk.

 

[Stripy]

Hi guys!

I was all happy that would buy a MT09-Tracer and started looking for insurance and found out on websites like gocompare and calling MCE that they won't insure me with this bike.

I though that this is a bit weird since they would insure me with bigger bikes, more expensive bikes and faster bikes but not the Tracer! Playing around I found that they would only insure me for Third Party, but not theft. I kept playing around gocompare and also found out that if I lived in UK for more than 3 years (I live here for 1.4 years) they would also insure me for a really cheap price!!

My last bike was a F800R and I really wanted a good bike for a 40 miles daily commute (all highways and good roads) and eventually traveling from/to London/Birmingham on the weekends.

Does anyone have any tips on how could I insure it? (I live in UK)

The other question would be: if I cannot insure this bike, any good bikes for a 40 miles/day commute and comfortable (with a little bit of speed) weekend travels with pillion?

Thank you all!
--
John

Hi John,

Welcome to the site and country.
First couple of years can be a right night mare. I was struggling to get a bank account, even coming from another EU country.

You might want to look at CIA Insurance. I had them from year two, and still with them.
You're not saying anything about where you live or what country you come from, but unless you live in the centre of London and comes from outside EU (meaning you're likely to be riding on an International riding permit - which is no good for a price)

You might be able to swap your foreign license for a UK license, easy if you have an EU license now - it will be a straight swap, and you will have easier getting insurance. That move alone saved me close to £100.
Its worth looking into - but try CIA Insurance, as said.

Good luck, and hopefully see you out there soon!

 

[MallMal]

I would try BikeSure - They seem quite good at providing unusual insurance (i.e racing, track days, custom builds, extreme modification) that other insurers might not touch. Not sure if it will help in your case but worth a go.