bdouglasd Posted March 2, 2020 Posted March 2, 2020 Hey gang - been trawling the forum a while for various trip ideas and reviews and finally sticking in with an account!I'm a Canadian living in the UK (1.5y) and trying to get insurance. I've had a full car license since 2006 and a bike license (in Canada) since 2013. I switched my license to a UK full last fall.I've held insurance, have a perfectly clean driving record, and have done several adventure trips through the Alps and Dolomites, though all insurance providers either won't provide a quote or are looking to charge +4k for a policy... anyone have any recommendations on who might be good to talk to? Yes, I'm in London so yes, I know it'll be dearer than I want, but 4k is insane. Surely someone has to take foreign driving records into account, no? Halp. (and big thanks in advance) Quote
Marino Posted March 2, 2020 Posted March 2, 2020 Unfortunately they don’t take foreign records in account easily. I got bikesure and they accepted half of claimed period. I am on Eu licence. Quote
FallingDown Posted March 3, 2020 Posted March 3, 2020 What bike is it for? Not ideal but it may help to do a year on a smaller bike if you're trying to insure a windowmaker with effectively no NCB or history. Quote
bdouglasd Posted March 3, 2020 Author Posted March 3, 2020 [mention]FallingDown[/mention] - for an Enfield Interceptor - it's only a 650... Quote
Mississippi Bullfrog Posted March 3, 2020 Posted March 3, 2020 Is it things like lack of secure storage that's pushing the basic premium up so high? Quote
M620 Posted March 3, 2020 Posted March 3, 2020 In London without secure storage they basically look at what the value of the bike is and add on a bit and that’s the premium. Sometimes they quote ridiculously high figures just because the don’t want the business.Just over 4K is about what you would get for an almost new / used Royal Enfield interceptor, so have you thought about 3rd party only insurance, the heaviest lock and chain and secure it to a robust piece of street furniture. Quote
bdouglasd Posted March 3, 2020 Author Posted March 3, 2020 There're two things working against me:1) I've only been a UK resident for 1.5yr and was only able to transfer my Canadian license to UK last fall. So on all applications, it appears that I've had a license for less than a year, despite having a perfect 15-year driving record with zero claims and good credit... 2) It is in central London, though the proposed parking is in a secured residential parking garage. Though all the platforms only accept this as 'On the Road', which is ridiculous. I'm happy to include all the security bells and whistles, even for my own sanity.I'm totally cool to pay a bit of a premium for insurance in the first year or two, but what I'm getting back is ridiculous. Anyone have any recommendations on how to maybe get a) my previous driving record/credit considered or b) how to get in front of a specialist broker who might be willing to take on the risk, all things considered? Or am I doomed to ride a Vespa for the next 18mth Quote
raesewell Posted March 3, 2020 Posted March 3, 2020 FYI, it's not really a thing in the UK to use seasonal timestamps, so last fall would be narrowed down to a month normally. Quote
Mississippi Bullfrog Posted March 3, 2020 Posted March 3, 2020 Are you getting these quotes via an internet source or have you gone into a brokers and spoken face to face with someone? Quote
Guest Posted March 3, 2020 Posted March 3, 2020 Have you tried any expat forums where there may be other Canadians, Americans etc who've had the same issue?That could cut down on a lot of time searching! Quote
Stu Posted March 3, 2020 Posted March 3, 2020 FYI, it's not really a thing in the UK to use seasonal timestamps, so last fall would be narrowed down to a month normally. Let's not start this again Quote
raesewell Posted March 3, 2020 Posted March 3, 2020 Most of the foreign visitors I have met like to know about local phrases and expressions and welcome constructive criticism to help them fit in better. Quote
FallingDown Posted March 3, 2020 Posted March 3, 2020 Think that's probably just the price of insurance in London. You can leave it chained to a railing but they'll just nick that as well and weigh it in at the scrap metal dealers. They can look you in the eye and ask you for £4.50 for a coffee so £4k for insurance probably about right. Quote
FallingDown Posted March 3, 2020 Posted March 3, 2020 FYI, it's not really a thing in the UK to use seasonal timestamps, so last fall would be narrowed down to a month normally. But we are all looking forward to summer Quote
raesewell Posted March 3, 2020 Posted March 3, 2020 I have a trip to France planned for the end of April, I'm hoping the weather will be OK by then Quote
Guest Posted March 3, 2020 Posted March 3, 2020 They can look you in the eye and ask you for £4.50 for a coffee.. How much? A cup of coffee is 1€ here! And a four course meal in a restaurant €10.How the hell do people manage to live over there now? Particularly Pensioners! Quote
FallingDown Posted March 3, 2020 Posted March 3, 2020 They can look you in the eye and ask you for £4.50 for a coffee.. How much? A cup of coffee is 1€ here! And a four course meal in a restaurant €10.How the hell do people manage to live over there now? Particularly Pensioners! Thermos Quote
Stu Posted March 3, 2020 Posted March 3, 2020 FYI, it's not really a thing in the UK to use seasonal timestamps, so last fall would be narrowed down to a month normally. But we are all looking forward to summer What month is that please Quote
FallingDown Posted March 3, 2020 Posted March 3, 2020 FYI, it's not really a thing in the UK to use seasonal timestamps, so last fall would be narrowed down to a month normally. But we are all looking forward to summer What month is that please Quote
Six30 Posted March 3, 2020 Posted March 3, 2020 They can look you in the eye and ask you for £4.50 for a coffee.. How much? A cup of coffee is 1€ here! And a four course meal in a restaurant €10.How the hell do people manage to live over there now? Particularly Pensioners! we have got Mcdonalds here to Quote
Guest Posted March 3, 2020 Posted March 3, 2020 They can look you in the eye and ask you for £4.50 for a coffee.. How much? A cup of coffee is 1€ here! And a four course meal in a restaurant €10.How the hell do people manage to live over there now? Particularly Pensioners! we have got Mcdonalds here to So everybody eats at McDonalds now then? Quote
Stu Posted March 3, 2020 Posted March 3, 2020 thats right big macs all round No people are all round from eating big macs Quote
Copycat73 Posted March 3, 2020 Posted March 3, 2020 constructive criticism to help them fit in better. Quote
Guest Posted March 3, 2020 Posted March 3, 2020 thats right big macs all round No people are all round from eating big macs No need to worry Stu......you'll be on the chlorinated chicken soon! Quote
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