Insuring your bike(s).

[Brandane]

It's that time of year again; house and contents insurance renewal. Great timing, I know!

According to my current insurer, my bikes (a 2009 Tricross with mods, declared value £1000; and a Scott Aspect 45 MTB £450) would be covered under "sporting goods" as neither are worth the individual item limit of £1500. I am beginning to doubt if this is correct, as I have been shopping around for a better deal on home insurance and other companies insist on cycles being delared seperately.

I was about to go with HBOS insurance, until I realised that they are charging £66 per year just for the 2 bikes! That is for coverage inside and outside the home. But still, it's nearly as much as I pay for fully comp insurance on my motorbike!

Anyone else think this is excessive? Is it possible to insure the bikes seperately with some other organisation? I have just got a quote from cyclecover, as linked from CTCs' site of which I am a member. Cost is £108 .

 

[asterix]

Have to say I have always spent the money on a good lock. Except once when I used a cable outside an ironmongers which was a bad idea and insurance would not have compensated me for my aged but beloved bike.

 

[Black Sheep]

depending on the age of the bikes (my 1968 carlton is uninsurable due to depreciation i'd not get anything for it) cycleguard I am told are good.

 

[Brandane]

depending on the age of the bikes (my 1968 carlton is uninsurable due to depreciation i'd not get anything for it) cycleguard I am told are good.

Thanks for that, but they want £124 .

There doesn't seem to be any option for letting these insurance companies know that both bikes are kept in a spare room INSIDE the house, so theft risk is lower than most. Also when left outside, they are always locked and only briefly left outside cafes etc...

I'm now sorely tempted to go down the path taken by Asterix. But REALLY good locks add a lot of weight and take up a lot of space. Sods law dictates what happens if you DON'T have insurance .............

 

[tjsc1]

Renewing my buildings and contents insurance. Asked about my bike (specialised sirrus...worth?) I said about £300.00 the quote was an extra £2.80 a month, home and away from property, accidental damage as well, with no lock asked for!!

 

[Brandane]

Having finally managed to negotiate my way through the automated multiple choice nightmare of calling my insurance company, I got to speak to a REAL PERSON!

He assures me that my bikes will be covered under sporting goods, and as long as they are "secured with a lock to a permanent fixture" then they are covered against theft while away from the home address.

So I'll be sticking with them for another year .