Bike insurance specialists

[Remington]

Both our mountain bikes are insured with Santam. They are both specified items but looking around at bike specialist insurers.

The reason is everytime I want to submit a claim for any household or vehicle issue I get the impression my broker is trying to discourage me or makes up excuses when a claim is rejected .We very rarely claim  for anything and then its been for small amounts

I did ask my broker last year what happens if our bikes are stolen. The answer I got, you dont want that happening to you. So I dont have trust that they are going to honour a payout should that situation ever arise.

What has been other peoples experience in dealing with a  bike claim payout with insurers and Santam in general and is there a recommended insurer who is reliable.

 

[ChrisF]

Sounds like you need a new broker.  If you let us know where you are, sure some Hubbers can recommend good brokers in their area.

 

I have been with Santam for 31 years.  With my current broker for about 25 years.  My last claim was a contractor that drove into my parked car ... should be an easy claim.  Turns out the driver was not employed by the company .... my broker pushed until they got my excess back.  The next week I got an email about my premium increase.  I was still reading it when my broker phoned me ... she sent a very clear reply to Santam, noting that this was a "no blame" claim, as the vehicle was parked, and my premium was immediately re-instated.

 

As for bicycle insurance -

- If the bike is stolen from home, there must be signs of a break in.

- If the bike is stolen of a bike rack ... signs of "forced removal", i.e. broken chain or similar.

- Also ask about "wearable insurance" ... if you are in an accident, broken helmet, torn bib, etc .... 

[Rudii]

What @ChrisF said, you need a new broker.

I'm insured with Santam - car, household and two bicycles and had no issues with them paying for claims. Submitted a claim earlier in the week for a possible cracked swing arm, they arranged the bike to be picked up and assessed by Carbon Bike Repair with no hassles.  

[betaboy]

55 minutes ago, Remington said:

Both our mountain bikes are insured with Santam. They are both specified items but looking around at bike specialist insurers.

The reason is everytime I want to submit a claim for any household or vehicle issue I get the impression my broker is trying to discourage me or makes up excuses when a claim is rejected .We very rarely claim  for anything and then its been for small amounts

I did ask my broker last year what happens if our bikes are stolen. The answer I got, you dont want that happening to you. So I dont have trust that they are going to honour a payout should that situation ever arise.

What has been other peoples experience in dealing with a  bike claim payout with insurers and Santam in general and is there a recommended insurer who is reliable.

 

…excuse me? “Don’t want that happening to you”! WTF? That’s why you are insured and you should have my back!
Choose your man wisely, within my family the guy we had, was saying very similar things and doing dodgy stuff, you wanna know how it ended? The guys in an orange government suit, singing for his supper. 

You definitely need to get a new broker. When you start hearing stories, pull the trigger bra.

[Luca Stermin]

@Remington you can contact my father Riccardo Stermin on 083 6752057. He an Insurance Broker and Avid Cyclist, been in the insurance industry for over 30 years. He can assist you.

Thanks

[Bub Marley]

2 hours ago, Remington said:

Both our mountain bikes are insured with Santam. They are both specified items but looking around at bike specialist insurers.

The reason is everytime I want to submit a claim for any household or vehicle issue I get the impression my broker is trying to discourage me or makes up excuses when a claim is rejected .We very rarely claim  for anything and then its been for small amounts

I did ask my broker last year what happens if our bikes are stolen. The answer I got, you dont want that happening to you. So I dont have trust that they are going to honour a payout should that situation ever arise.

What has been other peoples experience in dealing with a  bike claim payout with insurers and Santam in general and is there a recommended insurer who is reliable.

 

Santam are the best company.

 

Not sure about your broker though. Perhaps you need a change there.

 

I am a broker and deal with Santam. Feel free to give me a shout if you need any assistance. 

[Hamstring]

Ask your broker if they have assets out, no need to specify, that means bike phone watch underpants bike computer, anything will be covered. you just need to state how much. I'm with Efficient Insure

[Remington]

1 hour ago, Luca Stermin said:

@Remington you can contact my father Riccardo Stermin on 083 6752057. He an Insurance Broker and Avid Cyclist, been in the insurance industry for over 30 years. He can assist you.

Thanks

will do thanks

 

[Kixx]

43 minutes ago, Remington said:

will do thanks

 

Riccardo is the best in the game. Will fight like a bitter einder for his clients

[Eugene]

I was with Santam. Was hit by a car and my frame was destroyed. Even though the frame was cheaper to replace than a whole bike, they suggested a whole new bike. Got paid within a week and didn't even take the old one from me. 

Some time later, my front wheel was stolen (long story). We could not find an exact match for the rear wheel, so they covered the cost of a full wheel set. 

I my experience, Santam is one of the best. 

 

Edited Thursday at 06:14 PM by Eugene

[cadenceblur]

Are competitive as well?

[betaboy]

So they cover the bike with events outside of SA? Asking for a friend.🤓

[michaelbiker]

I use OUTsurance.  No broker. They’ve been excellent each time I’ve had to claim. I’ve only claimed once on a bike with a cracked headtube. I only noticed the crack developing, so no incident. They used Riders at Work who dealt with all the repairs etc. They cover us when we travel including any issues in transit but I’ve never put that to the test. 

[cadenceblur]

I have seen bikes that have been repaired being sold for much less than they should be  due to the frame being repaired, and insurance companies are going to the repair route over replacement, surely this is a concern. Despite lifetime warranties being offered 

[Steven421]

I'm with Discovery Insure, last month wife drove through a mine shaft that appeared over night on one of our group ride routes.

Discovery had ZERO issue replacing rims, tyres and wheel rebuilds. Claim got approved within a day after photos submitted. I also submitted a copy of the Garmin incident detection notification & Strava file.

Very happy with the service they gave, even followed up with the CycleLab on my behalf to check-up on progress and report back to me via phone call. 

[cadenceblur]

42 minutes ago, Steven421 said:

I'm with Discovery Insure, last month wife drove through a mine shaft that appeared over night on one of our group ride routes.

Discovery had ZERO issue replacing rims, tyres and wheel rebuilds. Claim got approved within a day after photos submitted. I also submitted a copy of the Garmin incident detection notification & Strava file.

Very happy with the service they gave, even followed up with the CycleLab on my behalf to check-up on progress and report back to me via phone call. 

and then I have a mate who's having an endless battle with them.

 

Refusing claim for cracked frame as there was no incident - pointing blame to manufacturer.

 

Long story - no bike now, for what must be months already.