Insuring bike on home insurance

topcattim

I've seen this thread in the archives, and was wondering if anybody else had any good recommendations? I am currently with AA but due for renewal - I hadn't realised that my bike wasn't actually insured while in use!
I'm also vaguely considering racing this coming season, for which I guess I will need a BC licence - will that make any difference to the options available to me for insurance both while stored in garage and while actually in use?

Buckie2k5

Santander do addons for your bikes. Covered away from home and while being used. Excluding racing.

fossyant

Co-op do add ons for bikes over £1k. Upto £1k covered on normal policy and others with an additional £100 per year.

pastryboy

Santander isn't an insurance company, it brands and sells insurance policies from a range of companies so two policies bought from them won't necessarily be the same.

If you've got something specific (i.e. racing bikes) then I'd avoid comparison websites in favour of speaking to a real person who can confirm any specific bits of small print.

It's worth checking the specific terms. I bought my policy over the phone, confirmed details of bikes and only when I got the paperwork did I see theft is only covered if the bike is in a locked building and locked to a fixed point within it.

norvernrob

I recently insured my house and bikes with Hastings Direct. You can specify individual items, ie bikes so they are fully covered. Mine are covered for £7k, the total contents £75k including accidental damage. Buildings cover is more than we'll ever need.

The policy states that theft away from home is covered as long as the bike is either in a locked building, OR is secured to a permanent structure with a suitable lock, or is in a locked car. So to me as long as you have a gold secure rated lock then you're covered no problem (not that my best bike ever leaves my sight anyway). It's also insured if I crash and damage it.

That's a 'premier' policy which includes legal cover etc, and I pay £220 per year all in. For comparison the cheapest quote I got for dedicated bike insurance just for my Scott was £480 per year which is ridiculous. I pay less with a specialist policy to insure my modified 272bhp Megane R26!

I suspect though that if you're going to be racing then no home insurance company would cover you for that.

topcattim

NorvernRob wrote:

I recently insured my house and bikes with Hastings Direct. You can specify individual items, ie bikes so they are fully covered. Mine are covered for £7k, the total contents £75k including accidental damage. Buildings cover is more than we'll ever need.

The policy states that theft away from home is covered as long as the bike is either in a locked building, OR is secured to a permanent structure with a suitable lock, or is in a locked car. So to me as long as you have a gold secure rated lock then you're covered no problem (not that my best bike ever leaves my sight anyway). It's also insured if I crash and damage it.

That's a 'premier' policy which includes legal cover etc, and I pay £220 per year all in. For comparison the cheapest quote I got for dedicated bike insurance just for my Scott was £480 per year which is ridiculous. I pay less with a specialist policy to insure my modified 272bhp Megane R26!

I suspect though that if you're going to be racing then no home insurance company would cover you for that.

Thanks Rob, that's a really useful detailed response. I think you're right about racing, so I'll need to find out if BC membership or the race licence actually covers the bike or just me in terms of third party liability.

kmc319

I've recently insured our house buildings and contents, together with my ridiculous amounts of bikes through Kingswood Insurance on their Pedalcover scheme. You can google it but it's run by a helpful guy called Darren.

No connection just very satisfied with the cover I've got.

magoo289

I've used DirectLine Home Plus Policy for a few years now and covers up to £1k as part of the policy and provides annual travel insurance, combined the cover has enabled me to take the bike on holiday.

Gaz777

kmc319 wrote:

I've recently insured our house buildings and contents, together with my ridiculous amounts of bikes through Kingswood Insurance on their Pedalcover scheme. You can google it but it's run by a helpful guy called Darren.

No connection just very satisfied with the cover I've got.

How much was your policy if you don't mind me asking? Is the 'house' part of the policy as good as a standard buildings and contents insurance cover? I want to insure my bikes, but not at the detriment of my house and everything else...

mpatts

topcattim wrote:

NorvernRob wrote:

I recently insured my house and bikes with Hastings Direct. You can specify individual items, ie bikes so they are fully covered. Mine are covered for £7k, the total contents £75k including accidental damage. Buildings cover is more than we'll ever need.

The policy states that theft away from home is covered as long as the bike is either in a locked building, OR is secured to a permanent structure with a suitable lock, or is in a locked car. So to me as long as you have a gold secure rated lock then you're covered no problem (not that my best bike ever leaves my sight anyway). It's also insured if I crash and damage it.

That's a 'premier' policy which includes legal cover etc, and I pay £220 per year all in. For comparison the cheapest quote I got for dedicated bike insurance just for my Scott was £480 per year which is ridiculous. I pay less with a specialist policy to insure my modified 272bhp Megane R26!

I suspect though that if you're going to be racing then no home insurance company would cover you for that.

Thanks Rob, that's a really useful detailed response. I think you're right about racing, so I'll need to find out if BC membership or the race licence actually covers the bike or just me in terms of third party liability.

The BC licence doesn't insure your bike for crash damage racing. The advice I was given was "don't race what you can't afford to replace".

topcattim

Gaz777 wrote:

kmc319 wrote:

I've recently insured our house buildings and contents, together with my ridiculous amounts of bikes through Kingswood Insurance on their Pedalcover scheme. You can google it but it's run by a helpful guy called Darren.

No connection just very satisfied with the cover I've got.

How much was your policy if you don't mind me asking? Is the 'house' part of the policy as good as a standard buildings and contents insurance cover? I want to insure my bikes, but not at the detriment of my house and everything else...

Yes, I'm interested to know the answer to this as well. I had a scout around on their website but I couldn't see any details of who underwrote their policy and I'm a bit wary of insuring with a provider who I don't know very much about...

mpatts wrote:

The BC licence doesn't insure your bike for crash damage racing. The advice I was given was "don't race what you can't afford to replace".

Ouch, that's helpful to know, thanks!

vinnymarsden

I,w with M&S premium cover..unlimited bikes (under £2000) away from and in the home as long as secured properly.
I had to specify my main bike because its over the 2000 but the extra premium was about £6 a month, well worth it when you compare to the independent bike insurance sites, and having had a claim for an item last year I can assure you they are incredibly efficient.

durhamwasp

MoreThan also do bikes 'away from home' on their contents policy.

muttley_109

I went with aviva for house insurance . I just had to tell them the value of the most expensive bike I own. Bikes are covered when out of the house too.