Dave Wilson

Bikesure, our specialist bike insurance division has teamed up with superbike legend Carl Fogarty for 2012. Foggy, who won seven world titles during his stellar riding career, appreciates the way that Bikesure goes the extra mile to help customers find quality cover for their bikes.

“They will offer cover where many would just give you a straight ‘no’, including heavily modified bikes and superbikes,” said Carl, “The staff there also know their motorbikes, which is important for many people who have specific requirements.”

Carl gamely agreed to answer some questions posed by Bikesure staff – you can see the resulting interview right here:

You can read more about Carl’s tie-up with Bikesure on the Bikesure Blog

The real tip for buying Christmas presents is to think about who you are buying for; what are their interests, their likes and dislikes and their phobias! It seems obvious but with a well targeted present you can get away with spending less and in today’s climate of cut-backs that’s got to be a bonus. What’s more, when it comes to the office Secret Santa no-one wants to part with too much money.

At Adrian Flux Insurance Services the presents in the Santa’s sack frequently have a motoring bias, as they are all car buffs. So what’s around that they may consider? Here are five of the most viewed items in a motorist’s Secret Santa trawl.

• The Auto Emergency Kit on Present Finder is an all-in-one tool designed to help out in the event of an accident. It combines a blade to cut through a seat belt, a pointed hammer to shatter windows, an air-bag spear, a bright LED torch, a red flashing warning light and a whistle to attract attention.

• For those interested in safety and becoming a better driver the book Roadcraft: The Police Driver’s Handbook:  is essential reading. Used by the police service to train their drivers, it aims to increase awareness of all factors that affect driving from characteristics of the vehicle to road and traffic conditions

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• If your partner is the sort who keeps losing car tickets, season tickets etc then the visor organisers on Extreme Auto Accessories could be just the thing. There are also visor CD organisers to sort out the jumble of CDs that accumulate on the shelf under the glove compartment.

• For the office joker the fake parking tickets over on Hawkins Bazaar could keep him amused, and his colleagues annoyed, in the New Year.

• Over at Nodding Toys there’s a great selection of these perennial favourites if your recipient would appreciate a silent canine friend for the journey.

Top tips for storing your caravan over the winter months

Laying up your caravan for the winter is not just a simple case of parking it off the road and locking the door. A surprising amount of damage can occur from the weather and general wear and tear if it is not protected properly. Even if you are lucky enough to have indoor storage for your caravan it is still at risk from small animals, nesting insects and dust.

Here’s a brief checklist for over-wintering your caravan outdoors.

Image via Wikipedia

The interior – cleanliness is the key.

1)     Make sure it’s clean and don’t leave anything lying around that could attract animals or rot, causing unpleasant odours. Hoover thoroughly, shake out loose furnishings and clean out the fridge and cupboards.

2)     Drain off the water system. This is not only hygienic but will prevent burst pipes in the event of freezing weather.

3)     If you’re worried about condensation invest in a couple of moisture traps and replenish with new crystals as required. These can be purchased from most caravan stores.

4)     Check window seals and doors for leaks. Now is the time for those little repair jobs.

The exterior – it’s a case of vigilance.

1)     Make sure snow doesn’t build up under the caravan. This can cause problems with external cables.

2)     Check the tyres. If the van is not moved for months they can develop flat spots. Either move the van regularly or consider removing the wheels and jacking the caravan up. But, check with your insurance company before removing the wheels – some policies insist on wheel clamps for security.

3)     Don’t get stuck. Handbrakes and other moving parts can tend to cease up if they are not used. It is advisable to check these regularly.

Make a wish list – be the first with the new season’s gadgets.

1)     Take advantage of the long winter nights to browse catalogues and online sites for new gadgets and must have items so you can impress your fellow caravanners when you set off on the road again in the Spring.

For more detailed advice visit caravan specialist sites such as UK Campsite Direct, Caravanning 4 You and Go Caravanning,  where there are members forums and first hand tips on the subject.

Kia’s new advert features a man inexplicably taking photos of a getaway car, for which purpose, the criminals have, even more inexplicably, chosen a Kia.

But is there a more insane getaway strategy for a villain to choose than a new Kia? I decided to find out.

5. Robber with no Rubber

First up we have a chap who chose a getaway car entirely lacking in one important area. Tyres. He is driving his SUV at high speeds on its rims. Predictably, this does not end well for him.

4. Tickets, Please

Most criminals who can’t afford a car simply steal a suitable getaway vehicle. Erick James Robinson of Austin, Texas, is clearly too concerned about his carbon footprint to do this though. After an armed raid, Robinson was caught as he attempted to make good his escape by boarding a bus, still carrying his swag and shotgun. In case you think this is an isolated incident, Norwich ne’er-do-well Darren Sewell attempted to convey his ill-gotten gains home on a number 10 bus. Given that he had stolen a TV, he was quite easy to catch. His own solicitor described Mr Sewell as “clearly a complete amateur” and a “particularly useless burglar”.

3. Where Did We Park, Again?

If you’re out on the rob, it makes sense to have the engine running for a speedy getaway. But there is a reason that, in most successful heists, the getaway driver has to stay with the car. This homeowner foiled his intending robbers by stealing their getaway van as they ransacked his house.

2. Mobile Wanted Poster

If police are looking for you, it is probably not a great idea to drive something as conspicuous as a Ford F-250, particularly if you have a well-known face, like that of BA Baracus / UFC champ Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. So when Mr Jackson went on a crazed Grand Theft Auto style, er, Rampage, through the backstreets of Orange County, the police soon tracked him down. Of course, they may also have had a little help finding him from the fact that a massive, over-life-size picture of Quinton “Rampage” Jackson appeared on both sides, and also the rear, of the truck.

1. You Lose, Snake Eyes

One of the principle criteria for a getaway car, is the ability to hold the stuff you are attempting to steal. Another is anonymity. Therefore our winning idiot is the guy who decided to use a bright orange, stolen Dodge Viper to conduct a house burglary. Unfortunately for Vincent Dijulio, he spent so long fiddling around in the victim’s carport, that he didn’t have time (not to mention space) to steal anything from the house before the police arrived, so he never got the chance to find out if the Viper’s speed would make up for it’s obvious shortcomings as a swag-hauler. But, still, he did get to drive a Viper.

Following the extensive civil disturbances around various major cities over the last few nights, and the wanton destruction of property which has occurred, many folk will, no doubt be concerned about their own homes, cars and possessions. In particular you may be wondering whether your insurance policy will pay out for any damage caused as a result of rioting, civil unrest and looting.

The good news is that most situations will be covered, and I would expect the vast majority of claims for riot damage will be met. If your property or possessions have been impacted by these events it is essential that you inform the police immediately, if you haven’t already done so, and contact your insurer straightaway so that help can be arranged – speed can often be of the essence.

The public order act of 1986 defines riot as follows:

“Where 12 or more persons who are present together use or threaten unlawful violence for a common purpose and the conduct of them (taken together) is such as would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for his personal safety, each of the persons using unlawful violence for the common purpose is guilty of riot.”

That being the case, there is little doubt that the events of the past few days will, when the dust has settled, be defined as a riot. So what will that mean.

Home Insurance

According to the ABI, all home insurance policies should cover people for fire, looting or damage resulting from the civil unrest. The exception might be if the home has been unoccupied for a while (how long will be stipulated in the policy booklet or schedule (unless you have specialist unoccupied home insurance)). Many house insurance policies will also offer an accomodation allowance if you are unable to remain in your home.

Commercial & Business Insurance

Commercial policies should also cover business for damage to premises and stock, as well as business interruption. Some policies may also cover businesses whose trade has been indirectly affected by the aftermath of the riots – you should check your documentation or ring your insurer to confirm what cover you have in place.

Car Insurance

Many people may be concerned about car insurance, having seen the vehicles set alight in the street. The situation with vehicles is less clear cut, as there is wide variation in policy cover between different providers and different levels of cover.
Third Party Only: Unfortunately, anyone with a Third Party Only policy will definitely not be able to make a claim against their own policy, as damage to the vehicle is not covered by TPO cover.
Third Party Fire and Theft: TPFT policy holders may be able to claim for fire damage, although many policies exclude arson and vandalism specifically, so you will need to check policy wordings.
Fully Comprehensive: Comprehensive car insurance policies often have a clause excluding riot damage – but, crucially, in most cases the exclusion only applies outside of Great Britain, so the overwhelming majority of people with a fully comprehensive policy will be covered. However there are some companies, for example, Highway, Zurich Connect, XS Direct and KGM, where the standard terms and conditions appear to exclude riot damage even within the UK mainland.

If you are in any doubt, you should check your policy document, or ring your insurer to confirm exactly what cover you have. Adrian Flux customers can find their policy booklets online.

UPDATE 18:04 9/8/2011:

I have just been contacted by Keith Lewis at Zurich Insurance, who tells me that relatively few people still have a Connect policy. He goes on to say:

We have made the decision that Connect customers will be covered for any riot related damage as this is an anomaly in our suite of products. Our Connect Home product doesn’t have that exclusion.

which is really excellent news for any Zurich customers caught up in the unrest who might otherwise have been worried by their policy wording.

Pictures from Flickr users hozinja, andyarmstrong & stolengolem.