Insurance.........

[Benthedoon]

.......should I, shouldn't I?
That's not really the purpose of this I've decided that I love my bikes and I'm going to get them insured, probably a bit of PLI thrown in for good measure, the purpose is - "recommendations please."
Are there any companies I should steer clear of (pardon the pun) or, based on personal experience, any I should look to?
I'm in the process of buying a 'sold secure' lock as that seems to be a requirement (and it's stupid not to) but I don't know good cover from bad at the moment and I don't want to throw money away.

 

[Little yellow Brompton]

.......should I, shouldn't I?
That's not really the purpose of this I've decided that I love my bikes and I'm going to get them insured, probably a bit of PLI thrown in for good measure, the purpose is - "recommendations please."
Are there any companies I should steer clear of (pardon the pun) or, based on personal experience, any I should look to?
I'm in the process of buying a 'sold secure' lock as that seems to be a requirement (and it's stupid not to) but I don't know good cover from bad at the moment and I don't want to throw money away.

Well lets start off with the fact that Zurich charge £35 every time you want to add/change a bike to the policy, even if the policy has less than a month to go before renewal.

I changed to a differenct insurer ( same cost/cover) and promised i would tell everyone of their policy....

 

[Wardy]

As I've mentioned before, Marks & Spencer does it for me. Bikes are added to the house contents insurance and are covered when taken away from the house. No excess and no need to buy a fancy gold, silver or bronze lock as they say (in writing) that "any form of security for these will suffice". Very quick to settle up - my wife stood on her glasses and needed a £360 replacement. Phoned with quote from optician and got a call the next day to say the money was being paid into my bank account immediately. They were equally as good with a claim I made under their travel insurance, even though I hadn't completely complied with the t & c.

 

[Number14]

Another thumbs up for Marks & Sparks. Simliar premium to my previous home insurer but bikes covered up to £4000 including when away from the house. No limit to the number of bikes covered either - here comes n+1 for the 12th time

 

[slowmotion]

For my first bike , about three years ago, I used Cycle Guard. £450 bike and a premium of about £40. The "small print" was just horrendous. They specified bike locks, fair enough, but the rules about where you could leave it were written by a snake and a weasel.

This year, I have two bikes on my household insurance up to a value of £1200 and the premium is an additional £23. No specific bike rules etc, and 60 days abroad. The fly in the ointment is that if I make more than one claim a year on any of the home, contents ( and bike) insurance, I lose a hefty no-claims discount on the whole caboodle.

Just read the small print.

 

[PaulSB]

Another for M&S. I have always covered my bikes on household insurance and though I haven't needed to claim with M&S their general approach and customer service is the best I have experienced to date.

Individual items are covered up to £4000 per item away from home, that's an option you have to chose, not a total of £4000. Previously the best I found, without paying additional premiums, was £1500 per bike.

All the specialist insurers I've read about seem to insist on very high levels of security.

 

[danphoto]

FWIW I spent far too long looking into quotes from various jokers last week and I'm no great fan of M&S, but that's certainly where my money's going when our house contents and bikes comes up for renewal next month.

 

[Benthedoon]

I'm noticing a trend I think, possibly M&S for a contents policy inc. bikes then.
I'll have to look into it as I'm currently renting but most companies cater for that, if not, after a reasonably extensive search I may have to go cycle specific through ETA, they seem to have good reviews and yes I'll need a bloody great lock but an extra 3.5kg of chain and lock will be good for training.
Thank you for your thoughts, I'm off to check out M&S.

 

[Holdsworth]

How is the Nationwide for insuring bikes with? We have our house insurance with them but the bikes haven't been added, I'd like to know whether it is sensible for us to place them on the house insurance. The is a section in their T&C's detailing the policy, no mention of any particular lock that is needed to meet these conditions so I assume my new d-lock would be fine.

Pedal cycles
You have cover for loss of, or damage to, your pedal cycles which
happens outside, or away from, your home:
• anywhere in Europe, or
• anywhere outside Europe, up to a maximum of 60 days in any period of
cover.
Your schedule will show the amount of cover you have chosen.
You are not covered for:
• loss of, or damage to, any pedal cycle that is left both unlocked and
unattended when it is outside, or away from, your home
• loss or damage caused by:
– wear and tear, or anything which happens gradually
– scratching and denting
– electrical or mechanical breakdown or failure
– faulty design, workmanship or materials
– the effect of the weather or light
– rot, fungus or mildew
– vermin or insects
– the process of cleaning, carrying out repairs or alterations
• loss or damage excluded in any insured incident numbered
1 to 11 in Section 3

 

[fossyant]

Just to let you know CIS are also very good. Bikes covered to £1k automatically, then you add an addition for any over. I pay about £120 extra p.a. to cover a £4k and £1.3k bike. The other bikes are all within the £1k.

The most cost effective has to be through house insurance.

Bear in mind, things get tricky if you have lodgers etc or are in a shared flat - might take a bit more searching.

 

[evilclive]

Worth looking at AXA too. M+S are allergic to us due to a flood claim :-(