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We've grouped the answers to commonly asked questions about our bike insurance under the following headings. Hopefully, by clicking on the links you will be able to find the information you're looking for. If you can't please contact us and we'll do our best to help.
Getting a quote
Administration and payment
No Claims Bonus
Cover
Bike Licences
Changes or cancellations
Will my bike insurance be automatically renewed at the end of the policy?
Claims
Complaints
Contact
Getting a quote
Can I save money by getting a bike insurance quote from you?
You could, as we get quotes on your behalf from a panel of motorbike insurers and then we present you with the cheapest one from that panel. We have carefully selected the panel, all of who are leading, quality insurers.
Is there anything I can do to reduce my bike insurance quote?
Yes there are a number of ways that you might be able to reduce your motorcycle insurance premium, for example:
- Fit a bike alarm
- Keep your motorbike garaged at night
- Take an advanced riding qualification
Obviously the type of bike you have will affect your bike insurance quote; a sporty bike is likely to attract a bigger premium.
What information will you need to give me a bike insurance quote?
We will need to know the following:
- Full details of the make and model of your motorcycle(s)
- The year your motorcycle was made and the registration number
- The approximate value of the motorcycle
- The date you bought your bike
- Details of any modifications to your bike
- Details of any claims, convictions or accidents?
- Details of any additional riders?
- Details of any security devices on the bike(s)
Can you give me a motorcycle insurance quote for any type of bike?
We will insure most makes and models of bikes but cannot provide a policy for Trikes. If you have a classic bike or imported scooter please call us on 0844 800 0944 and a consultant will be able to advise whether we can offer you a quote.
Can I cover additional riders on my motorbike insurance?
Yes, you can cover up to 5 riders on the same bike insurance policy.
Can you quote for a multi-bike insurance policy online?
No, you will need to call our Contact Centre on 0844 800 0944 to obtain a multi-bike insurance quote.
Can I set up a motorcycle insurance policy online that covers specific modifications to my bike?
No, you need to call our UK Contact Centre on 0844 800 0944.
Will my bike insurance cost more to set up by phone?
If you purchase your bike insurance through our Contact Centre you will not benefit from the online discount available. However our Contact Centre staff will take responsibility for the policy being set up accurately and may occasionally be able to offer you the opportunity to further tailor your bike cover to your individual needs.
What insurance group is my motorbike?
The companies in our motorcycle insurance panel use different rating systems so it isn't possible to answer this question accurately. Some insurers rate from 1 to 20, some from 1 to 30, so your bike could be a 14 with one insurer and an 18 with another.
Administration and payment
If I apply online will my bike insurance give me instant cover?
Yes, your motorcycle insurance will start from the moment your payment is accepted.
How quickly will I receive my motorcycle insurance documentation?
We send your motorbike insurance documents to you by second class post on the next working day so you should have them within a few days. Our policy documents are available to download straightaway at www.motorcycledirect.co.uk/docs.
How will I know that my motorcycle insurance has been purchased and is in force?
We will send you a confirmation email once you have completed your online application and your payment has been accepted. You will then shortly receive your insurance documents in the post.
Can you email my motorbike insurance certificate directly to the garage where I'm purchasing my bike?
Yes we can, but please be aware there will be a small administration charge.
How can I pay for my bike insurance?
You can either pay for your insurance in full via a debit or credit card, or you can choose to pay monthly by direct debit with an initial deposit payable at the time of purchase followed by nine monthly payments.
Monthly payments by direct debit include a £12 set-up fee and interest at 14.5%.
No Claims Bonus
Is the No Claims Bonus I had on a previous motorcycle insurance policy still valid even if the policy lapsed several years ago?
We have insurance companies on our panel that accept a No Claims Bonus that is up to three years old. Please call our UK Contact Centre on 0844 800 0944 to find out more.
Can my No Claims Bonus from another country be used with you?
As long as it is from a European country, and is written in English on headed paper with a start/end date on it.
Can I use the NCB from my car when I purchase motorbike insurance?
Unfortunately this is not possible, although some insurers may offer an introduction discount subject to criteria. Please call our UK Contact Centre on 0844 800 0944 to find out more.
Do I need to declare claims from my car policy?
Yes, as these are a part of your motor driving history.
Cover
Do you offer a range of motorcycle insurance covers?
Yes, we offer Comprehensive bike insurance as well as Third Party, Fire and Theft and Third Party Only.
Do you offer optional covers so I can tailor-make my motorcycle insurance?
For extra peace of mind you can add a number of optional covers to your bike insurance. These include:
- UK and European Breakdown cover
- Helmet and Leathers cover
- Personal Accident
- Insurance Whilst Abroad
- Protected No Claims Bonus
- Riding Other Bikes cover
- Key Protection cover
- Legal Expenses cover
Can I add these optional covers at any time?
Yes, you can phone our Contact Centre on 0844 800 0944 and ask for the optional covers at any time and we will charge you the pro-rata price for the length of time your policy has left to run (only if the cover is available).
Can I get motorcycle insurance if my bike has been modified?
Yes. Most of the motorcycle insurers on our panel will quote for bikes with modifications but we cannot quote online as each insurer applies different terms to different modifications. Please phone our Contact Centre on 0844 800 0944 to ensure your motorcycle has the correct insurance.
Please make sure you tell us about any modifications to your bike when you apply for your bike insurance. It will affect your premium but if you do not declare them it may affect a claim and you could lose out.
Does my motorcycle insurance cover me for riding other bikes?
Your policy may cover you to ride other bikes, subject to the level of insurance you have selected, your age, your occupation and the type of bike. You should check at the time your take out your policy and it will be shown on your insurance certificate.
Does my motorcycle insurance cover me for riding abroad?
Your motorcycle insurance policy will automatically allow you to ride in any countries that are part of the European Union being of a temporary nature not exceeding one month in any one trip. However it does not cover you for travel outside the European Union. Different insurers apply different terms to motorcycling abroad so it's best to phone our Contact Centre on 0844 800 0944 to ensure you know exactly what you're covered for.
If you wish we can arrange for our Insurance Whilst Abroad option to be added to your policy and we will supply you with a Green Card so you are covered for certain countries outside the European Union. This cover is available at an additional charge.
Can I get motorcycle insurance if my bike is garaged away from my property?
Most of the motorcycle insurers on our panel will accept garaging away from your home address as long as you are the only person who has access to the garage. Garaging your bike at a friend's address or your workplace is not acceptable if other people share access. You must notify us if the garaging of your bike changes.
What is Continuous Insurance Enforcement?
As part of the Continuous Insurance Enforcement it is now a legal requirement to have continuous insurance in place, unless the bike has been declared SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification), even if your bike is off the road. For more information about CIE and the exceptions and penalties in place, visit www.direct.gov.uk/stayinsured.
Bike Licences
Can I ride a 50cc Moped on my Car Licence?
- If you passed your driving test before 1st February 2001 you can use your full UK car license as a provisional licence to ride a 50cc moped. You will need to complete a CBT test to ride anything over 50cc.
- If you passed your car driving test after 1st February 2001 you will need at least a completed CBT to ride a bike of up to 125cc even with L Plates.
If you do not have a full motorbike licence, then we must receive your CBT certificate within 30 days of the policy start date. Failure to send this will result in the cancellation of your policy.
What does a full motorcycle licence allow me to ride?
This depends on which test you take.
If you take the A1 or 'Light Motorcycle' test you can take any bike up to 125cc without L plates and you will be allowed to carry a passenger.
If you take the A or 'Standard Motorcycle' test on a 125cc machine you can ride any bike of any engine size without L plates and you will be allowed to carry a passenger. However, for the first two years after you pass you are restricted to riding bikes that produce no more than 33bhp.
You are able to ride bikes of any engine size but if they produce more than 33bhp these must have a restrictor kit fitted to restrict the power output to no more than 33bhp for you to be legally allowed to ride them.
If you are over 21 years of age and take the A or 'Standard Motorcycle' test on a motorcycle with a power output of over 46bhp you are entitled to ride any bike of any engine size and power out as soon as the test is successfully completed.
You should always check the current legislation with the DVLA before riding any motorbike to check licence conditions. The above is given as a summary only and valid at August 2011.
Changes or cancellations
What happens if I need to make changes to my bike insurance?
It is very important that you notify us if you change your bike or you have any change in circumstances because you could lose out if you had to claim. Phone our Customer Services Department on 0844 800 0966 and we'll make the necessary changes to your policy for an adjustment fee of up to £50. Your premium may also need to be adjusted.
What if I want to cancel my bike insurance?
You have a 14 day 'cooling off period' during which you are able to cancel your policy and you will only be charged for the number of days you have received cover plus an administration charge of up to £50 which covers our administration with the insurer. If cover hasn't started you will be entitled to a full refund of the premium you have paid less our administration charge of up to £50.
After the 'cooling off period' you have a right to cancel your policy, in writing, at any time. You will be charged for the time you have been covered with our insurance plus an administration charge of up to £50 whilst optional extras are non-refundable.
Please call our Customer Services department on 0844 800 0966 before cancelling to discuss your refund. Please refer to our Terms of Business document for more information on cancelling your policy.
Will my bike insurance be automatically renewed at the end of the policy?
If you paid for your bike insurance by direct debit last year, then your policy will automatically be renewed on an 11 monthly payments plan. The renewal price will be posted to you 21 days prior to the end of your policy.
If you previously paid for your bike insurance in full, then you will need to contact us again on 0844 800 0455 to arrange cover.
Claims
What should I do if I need to claim?
If you need to claim on your motorbike insurance you should notify us straight away by calling 0844 800 0988 and we will do our best to assist you although please be aware that your insurer will deal with your claim.
Do I need to notify you even if I don't intend to claim?
Yes. You should tell us about any incident so we can deal with potential claims from another driver and update your policy details to reflect this.
Do I need to notify the police?
You must report any incident that involves vehicle theft, attempted theft or malicious damage within 48 hours. You should also report any accident involving injuries or where another driver does not stop. The police will give you an incident number that we will need when you make your claim.
Complaints
How can I make a complaint?
We do our best to provide you with first class service at all times. If you feel we have not met your expectations then please contact us on 0844 800 0966 and we will try to resolve any issues as soon as possible.
If you are not satisfied by our initial response then you should write to:
Compliance Manager,
Europa Group Limited,
Europa House,
Midland Way,
Thornbury,
Bristol
BS35 2JX
If we cannot settle your complaint with us you may be entitled to refer it to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
Contact
How can I contact you?
To obtain a quote or speak to one of our Sales team:
Contact Centre
0844 800 0944
Lines are open:
Monday -Thursday: 9.00 -19.00,
Friday: 9.00 -18.00
Saturday: 9.00- 16.00
To speak to somebody about making a claim:
Claims
0844 800 0988
Lines are open:
Monday - Friday: 8.30am - 18.00
Saturday: 9.00 -16.00
For current customers who wish to discuss their policy:
Customer Services
0844 800 0966
customer.services@motorcycledirect.co.uk
Lines are open:
Monday - Friday: 9.00 - 17.30
Saturday: 9.00 - 16.00
To contact us in writing:
MotorCycle Direct,
Europa House,
Midland Way,
Thornbury,
Bristol
BS35 2JX
When is your Contact Centre open?
Contact Centre
Lines are open:
Monday -Thursday: 9.00 -19.00,
Friday: 9.00 -18.00
Saturday: 9.00- 16.00
0844 800 0944
Claims
Lines are open:
Monday - Friday: 8.30am - 18.00
Saturday: 9.00 -16.00
0844 800 0988
Customer Services
Lines are open:
Monday - Friday: 9.00 - 17.30
Saturday: 9.00 - 16.00
0844 800 0966
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