Norwich Union Motorcycle Insurance FAQ

The most common motorbike insurance questions answered.

Your Questions

1. Can I have more than one motorcycle on my Norwich Union Direct policy?
2. Why can't I find my motorcycle's make & model?
3. Can I ride my bike abroad on my policy?
4. Do I need "Business Use" to ride to work?
5. Can I pay monthly with Norwich Union Direct?
6. Are my helmet and leathers covered on this policy?
7. Which security devices can help to reduce my motorbike insurance premium?
8. Do I need to report any car accidents when obtaining my motorcycle quotation?

Answers from Norwich Union

1. Can I have more than one motorcycle on my Norwich Union Direct policy?

You can insure more than one motorcycle through Norwich Union Direct. You need to take out a different motorbike insurance policy for each vehicle. If you choose to do this, you get an extra 5% off the price of the additional policies.
You can name up to 4 riders on each policy. Please check your quote for any excesses which may apply.

2. Why can't I find my motorcycle's make & model?

If you cannot find your motorcycle's make and model details, please contact Norwich Union team on 0800 092 9561†.who will be happy to help you.

3. Can I ride my bike abroad on my policy?

You are automatically covered to ride in any European Union countries, to the minimum level of insurance required (usually the equivalent of UK Third Party Only). You can upgrade this cover to match your UK cover whilst riding abroad.
Foreign Use cover is valid for up to 90 days in any one trip, to a maximum of 6 months in any one insurance period. You can also select European Breakdown cover (provided by the RAC), and includes breakdown cover, emergency services and other additional benefits whilst travelling abroad.

4. Do I need "Business Use" to ride to work?

No; under our motorcycle insurance policy you can ride your bike back and forth to the same place of work using Social, Domestic, Pleasure & Commuting cover.
If you need to use your bike to visit any other sites of business during the working day, Norwich Union can increase your cover. Norwich Union will not, hoNorwich Unionver, cover any goods or samples carried in connection with business use, e.g. courier or delivery services.
If you are a courier and need a motorcycle insurance policy, please contact our call centre on 0800 092 9561†.

5. Can I pay monthly with Norwich Union Direct?

Yes you can, our usual terms and conditions will apply.

6. Are my helmet and leathers covered on this policy?

Unfortunately Norwich Union are unable to cover your protective clothing and helmet on your motorbike insurance policy, although your household insurance policy may cover these items.

7. Which security devices can help to reduce my motorbike insurance premium?

Norwich Union recognises some manufacturer-fitted devices which were fitted at the time your motorcycle was built.
You can confirm whether this applies to your device by checking your motorcycle's specification document for a manufacturer's approved certificate.

8. Do I need to report any car accidents when obtaining my motorcycle quotation?

Any car accidents are considered separate from your motorcycle policy, and therefore do not affect your .motorcycle policy. However, any motoring convictions do need to be reported by calling Norwich Union team on 0800 092 9561

Link to previous article Norwich Union Motorcycle Insurance

Norwich Union Motorcycle Insurance

Motorcycle Insurance overview

Summary of benefits of Norwich Union motorcycle insurance:

• Up to 50% No Claims Discount*

• Instant online quote, instant cover

• Up to four riders may be covered on one policy

• Discounts for bikes with enhanced security devices

• Got another Norwich Union insurance policy? Receive a 5% multi-product discount

• No hassle claims handling via our 24 hour claims helpline

Optional extras:

• Legal Services

• Foreign Use: extend your cover for use in the EU

• European Breakdown Service

To provide you with the flexible motorcycle insurance cover you want, Norwich Union offer a number of optional extras you can add to the policy of your choice, in addition to our standard comprehensive and third party fire and theft plans.

Our standard plans:

• Comprehensive cover

• Third party fire and theft

Additional cover options:

• Legal services

• European breakdown assistance cover

• Foreign use

For a comparison of our comprehensive and third party fire and theft motorbike insurance plans, see our Summary of cover section.

For more information see our motorcycle insurance Frequently asked questions.
call 0800 092 9561†
* No Claims Discount applies to the risk element of the premium only and not to any optional covers, or to the first £14 which covers administration costs.
† For our joint protection, calls may be recorded and/or monitored.

Link to previous article FAQ - Pay As You Drive insurance - Norwich Union

Motor Insurance

What is Motor Insurance for?

The law says you have to have motor insurance to drive a car or motorbike. Some policies cover the replacement or repair of your vehicle, depending on the circumstances of an accident. You can choose from three levels of cover:

• Third party – this is the minimum legal requirement and covers you if you injure a third party, including passengers or their property, but does not cover damage to your own vehicle.

• Third party, fire and theft – covers third party injuries and liabilities, and also fire and theft to your own vehicle, but not accidental damage to your vehicle.

• Comprehensive – as well as the above, this will cover fire, theft and accidental damage to your vehicle.

What does motor insurance cost?

You pay a premium depending on factors including the make of car, engine size, your age and your sex. If you can pay a higher excess, (for example, pay the first £50 or £100 of the claim) your premium may be lower.
You'll also tend to get lower premiums if you park your car in a garage overnight for example, or if you have a clean driving licence.


Keeping costs down for motor insurance

Shop around – there are lots of insurers out there. Use the keyfacts about this policy to see what is and isn't covered by the policy. Always compare what's covered by a policy, not just the price – the keyfacts policy summary will help you do this. Some might be cheaper than others, but they may not offer the same level of protection.

Depending on your claims history, the insurance company may offer you a no-claims discount. Generally this ranges from 30% to 65% and your premium will reduce accordingly.

Some companies allow you to pay a sum to protect or guarantee this no-claims discount, which can mean a saving on your future premiums should you have to make a claim. Bear in mind you are paying to keep the no claims discount and not to keep your premiums at a certain level – they may still rise, for example, as a result of general increases or as a result of your claim.

Important tips for motor insurance

1. Read the paperwork and ask questions if you don't understand anything.

2. Make sure you check what you're covered or not covered for.

3. Shop around when it comes to renewal time to make sure you're getting the best deal.

Link to Previous article: Contents Insurance

European Union and United Kingdom Laws regarding motor insurance

In 1930 the UK government introduced a law that required every person who used a vehicle on the road to have at least third party personal injury insurance. Today UK law is defined by the The Road Traffic Act which was last modified in 1991.

The Act requires all motorists to be insured against their liability for injuries to others (including passengers) and for damage to other persons' property resulting from use of a vehicle on a public road or in other public places. This is called Third Party Insurance. It is an offence to drive your car, or allow others to drive it, without at least Third Party insurance whilst on the public highway, on private land no such legislation applies.

The insurance certificate or cover note issued by the insurance company constitutes legal evidence that the vehicle specified on the document is indeed insured. The Law says that an authorised person, such as the police, may require a driver to produce an insurance certificate for inspection. If the driver cannot show the document immediately on request, then the driver will usually be issued a HORT/1 with seven days, as of midnight of the date of issue, to take a valid insurance certificate (and usually other driving documents as well) to a police station of the driver's choice. Failure to produce an insurance certificate is an offence.

Insurance is more expensive in Northern Ireland than in other parts of the UK.

Motorists in the UK are required to display a Vehicle excise duty disc in their car when it is kept or driven on public roads. This helps to ensure that most people have adequate insurance on their vehicles because you are required to produce an insurance certificate when you purchase the disc. However it is a known practice for some people to purchase insurance to gain the certificate and then to cancel the insurance and gain a full refund within the statutory 14 day cooling off period.

The Motor Insurers Bureau compensates the victims of road accidents caused by uninsured and untraced motorists. It also operates the Motor Insurance Database, which contains details of every insured vehicle in the country.

Today there are different types of car insurance available, and dependent on your circumstance one policy will be more suitable than another. In order to buy the most suitable car insurance it is important to understand the differences between the policies available and the effect these differences will have on you as a policy holder and other road users.

In the UK , the car insurance market is comprised of different types of insurance companies such as Norwich Union, thousands of brokers, and direct insurers like Esure. Direct insurers revolutionised the insurance industry by advertising directly to the customer and reducing prices by excluding brokers from offering their products. Aggressive marketing ensured that direct insurers are seen as household brands, a direct contrast to brokers!

The result to the customer was a far greater choice of insurance companies but this made the prospect of purchasing the right policy at the right price more difficult. Today, if you use a broker to find an insurance policy you can only expect to search 40% of the available market; the other 60% is controlled by direct insurers!