So Nationwide have decided that they’d increase my premiums and decrease my cover, particularly regarding bikes so they’re a no go any longer. Does anyone have any recommendations? I’ve ‘compared the market’ and I can get a much cheaper deal and spoke to Admiral who can cover the bikes but have and eye-watering £500 excess in case of theft, which would sting somewhat. Is that normal? I’m a co-habiting owner occupier.

Try Fresh Insurance. They’re a broker and got me a cracking deal with Axa

I’m with American Express insurance. Much cheaper than most I’ve tried, better cover, no silly excesses

Do either you or your partner fall into one of these professions?

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of so them give them a call. Really good cover.

She’s a nurse, sadly not a dentist.

Anyone got any experience with Admiral or Axa?

Oddly when Nationwide changed underwriter to UK Insurance (aka Direct Line), I seemed to gain cover.

Before I was not getting specific bike cover, only vague cover under personal possessions but there was a separate additional cover I could pay for specifically for bikes (and not much at that). Now they’ve automatically covered me for bikes. Okay it’s £1k max they’ll pay out on a bike, though it is per bike and up to £5k, including away from home and overseas. That’s without specifying a bike. I haven’t tried yet but might do to see if they’ll bump it up for not too much more.

I’m a bit stuck with household insurers though as my road floods outside my house once every 10 or 20 years, and though the house never has, most insurers say “computer says no”, or charge a fortune. Nationwide didn’t seem bothered and insured me fine for not too much beyond the cheapies.

I’ve got AA insurance. Bikes up to £1500 insured as far as I can tell. But only at home. Unless I missed something. I’m not aware of any silly excesses – think it’s £150.

Just swapped to John Lewis. Good deal.

Take you’ve tried M&S?

I’m with Nationwide, bikes not mentioned specifically….they come under contents and are also covered away from the home, in the boot of the car etc etc….only a max of £1000 per bike, any more than that and the premium had to go up but seeing as i dont have a blingy FS race bike at the moment the £1000 is more than enough for my 456-evo.

aa for me this year after years of m&s. very similar cover and half the price. 250 buildings and contents with 2 4k bikes specified.

John Lewis +1

+1 for Axa through a A-plan insurance brokers Banbury.

Direct line – bikes automatically up to 1k and specified up to 4k. Sensible security measures required e.g. Bikes stored in a locked outbuilding.

I’m with Nationwide, bikes not mentioned specifically….they come under contents and are also covered away from the home, in the boot of the car etc etc….only a max of £1000 per bike, any more than that and the premium had to go up but seeing as i dont have a blingy FS race bike at the moment the £1000 is more than enough for my 456-evo.

I have three bikes over a £1k and one over £2k, they told me they won’t cover anything over £2k. A really poor showing imo as they weren’t exactly cheap in the first place and they ramped up the price while offering a really poor deal.

I’m with co-op home insurance, bikes up to £1k insured in the property as standard and my full sus is insured in and out for £2k. However I think the most expensive bike you can insure is £2.5k. £50 excess

A really poor showing imo as they weren’t exactly cheap in the first place and they ramped up the price while offering a really poor deal.

Do you have any other products with them? They asked me about home insurance when I was sorting something on my bank account. I said they didn’t offer sufficient cover for bikes, and they said that they do better deals if you’re already a customer, dunno what, but perhaps worth looking at.

Another +1 for John Lewis. Gave me the best quote for when I renewed my car insurance too.

Do you have any other products with them? They asked me about home insurance when I was sorting something on my bank account. I said they didn’t offer sufficient cover for bikes, and they said that they do better deals if you’re already a customer, dunno what, but perhaps worth looking at.

All accounts and mortgage are with them, which makes it all the more disappointing.

Did you ask in branch/on the phone, or was just an online renewal? Like I say, they said they had better offers when I spoke to them, but that was perhaps just trying to entice me!

Quick questions
– are any of these policies new for old on the bikes?
– are specified bikes insured for rrp, or cost/build value, or an arbitrary guess?
– if not new for old, how much do people lose on payouts/ what age are the bikes?

+1 John Lewis here too.

Got cover for £4000 bike plus their premium cover for less than I was paying for less cover with Aviva.

Quick questions
– are any of these policies new for old on the bikes?
– are specified bikes insured for rrp, or cost/build value, or an arbitrary guess?
– if not new for old, how much do people lose on payouts/ what age are the bikes?

M&S are, but you do now have to name them, they still came out cheapest for me. Insured for declared value – in my case what it says on the receipt(s), they may want a valuation from a bike shop for custom builds. Ask them.

One is custom built this year (this week in fact). Another is last year off the peg with a few upgrades that bump the price up a little. The third and fourth are priced based on what a modern equivalent would cost. I’ll have to ask a few more questions re. like for like etc.

M&S are, but you do now have to name them, they still came out cheapest for me. Insured for declared value – in my case what it says on the receipt(s), they may want a valuation from a bike shop for custom builds. Ask them.

I’m still with m&s, largely for the new-for-old and away from home cover, despite the fairly hefty year on year cost increases- just wondered whether anyone else was providing same or similar cover- everybody’s cheeper premiums seem to compromise the cover.

We’re with magnet insurance, £5000 worth of bike cover and all contents and buildings for under £200. Absolute bargain.