Tag Archives: Claim

AIB Talk Motorhomes

We interviewed Kirby from AIB Insurance, a motorhome, campervan and RV specialist to talk about the latest happenings in the world of insurance:

Are you seeing anything interesting with Motorhome and Camper claims?

The last 24 months have been challenging times for insurers with motorhome, RV’s and camper thefts on the increase. Take North Wales for example – police recently revealed that 30 vehicles worth over a million pounds had been stolen over the past 16 months. They believe thieves in that area were mainly targeting Fiat Ducato and Peugeot Boxer motorhomes using technology widely available on the Internet to override the manufacturer’s security measures that included the electronic immobiliser.

On a national basis though, Ford continues to be the vehicle of choice for most thieves.  Our insurance partner Ageas Insurance tells me Ford manufactured motorhomes make up less than 6% of their motorhome book but the theft rate is ridiculously high. There is no pattern as to where the motorhomes are kept, how long they have been owned or the level of security measures as they’ve seen a variety of scenarios. They have had over £350,000 worth of Fords stolen last year alone which is why they took the decision to work out what model ranges/years of manufacture were affected and decline them.

According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), motor theft claims have increased by 20% in 2019 and motor theft claims paid by insurers in the first quarter of this year were at their highest for any quarter since 2012 with a payment made relating to vehicle crime every eight minutes. The ABI claims that the increase is in part being driven by keyless car crime whereby hi-tech criminals are able to bypass keyless technology in as little as 20 seconds. This would certainly seem to be the case with a large number of motorhome thefts as an increasing number are being stolen when they are parked on driveways.

Has this seen the cost of insurance increase?

Historically, motorhomes have been rated on three main factors: year, engine size and value (ignoring left hand drives, imports and modified vehicles etc.).  Over the last 12 months, three major motorhome insurers, Aviva, Ageas and Markerstudy have taken the unusual steps to load the premium further or even decline specific years of manufacturer, especially Ford.

Generally, motorhome and campervan insurance rates have remained stagnant apart from specific manufacturers. DIY conversions tend to cost more to insure than a coach built one.

So how can owners prevent a vehicle being stolen?

If your motorhome is stolen, having the right insurance policy in place will mean that you can at least have the peace of mind of knowing that you’ll be compensated financially for your loss. However, an insurance payout can never compensate you for the inconvenience and disruption that vehicle theft causes.

The good news is that most theft is opportunistic and thieves generally don’t like to work too hard. So, if they see a motorhome fitted with wheel locks, steering or handbrake locks or wheel clamps, it may be enough to put them off.  Of course, you can go further by installing an alarm, immobiliser, a tracking device or even installing PIR lights trained on your parking space that illuminate when they sense movement.

What should people look out for when insuring a motorhome, RV or campervan?

It is vital, that you take out appropriate motorhome insurance and select a policy that will cover all your needs.

Motorhome insurance is not like car insurance, it requires specialist knowledge and as such, you should speak to a specialist motorhome insurance provider. Most specialists will provide additional European cover, additional contents cover and cover for gas cylinders, generators and awnings.

We would encourage you to purchase legal expenses as, if you find yourself in a dispute, legal fees can be expensive. Likewise, breakdown cover can be challenging as non-specialist providers may place a height, length or weight restriction on the vehicle they cover.

Another thing to mention when buying cover, is the level of windscreen glass cover that the specific policy your purchasing provides. Many insurers restrict the windscreen cover to £500-£1000 but an owner of an A-Class could be left short and should seek insurers that provide unlimited glass cover.

The motorhome market continues to grow especially relating to the sale of higher value models that cost over £100,000 and that represents a different risk for insurers if they go missing.

What is happening in the classic car world – are vehicles still going up in value?

The classic vehicle market is renowned for its stability and consistency and the VW campervan is a prime example of that. Over the past 10 years, classic vehicle values have been consistently going up, outperforming just about everything I can think of apart from vintage wine. I’d argue that classic vehicles are a better investment here too as it’s possible to use them without instantly destroying their value!

That said, at the top end of the market such as Ferrari, Lamborghini and the like, it looks as though we’re finally seeing the pace slowing and interest levels cooling.

One element of this could be uncertainty. When it comes to high value classics, it’s a global market. Investors may simply be less prepared to spend big at a time of trade wars and uncertain future trading arrangements.

The classic vehicle market is forever evolving as new cars become classics as each year passes.

What’s your favourite classic within the motorhome and campervan arena?

I love the 1967 BMC Princess – it looks bonkers. Whilst it looks like a DIY conversion, it was actually coach-built on a Vanden Plas Princess chassis but was unusually modern for it’s time enjoying power steering and an automatic transmission.  Another favourite would be the VW T25 hightop campervan. Again, it looks so cool and I can imagine myself sitting in it with a hot cup of tea on a cold day looking out over the ocean.

Almost 3,000 UK Citizens A Week Claim On Travel Insurance For Medical Treatment Abroad

It is that time of year when people are looking forward to a much needed holiday abroad whether that is a week or two across the English Channel in France or Spain or further afield to the likes of the USA or Mexico. Unfortunately, not everyone bothers to arrange travel insurance that includes medical cover but having read the following statistics published by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) we are sure you will agree it would be sensible to do so.

According to the ABI, in 2018 there were 153,000 people who claimed successfully on their travel insurance policy for overseas medical treatment. That is not far off 3,000 people a week – a significant number.

The average amount paid out per medical claim reached a record level – £1,368. That is almost twice what it was 10 years ago when the figure was £768. That equates to around £209 million.

In total, £400 million was paid out last year relating to all sorts of travel insurance claims with an average amount of around £800 per claim with this being a record.

The amount paid out in 2018 for cancellation of holidays amounted to a huge £145 million. This was made up of 167,000 successful claims with the average amount paid per claim reaching a record level of £869.

£17 million was paid out to 79,000 people who had lost money or baggage with the average amount of a claim being paid out totaling £214.

In some cases, claims can run into tens of thousands of pounds so it is important that travellers have suitable cover in place. In one case, a couple on holiday in America were seriously injured having been hit by a drunk driver and the medical bill amounted to £587,000.

So, what has happened to premiums for travel insurance in 2018? Well, you would have thought they had increased but this is not the case as the average cost of travel insurance has fallen by £38 per annum.

You will be pleased to read that, if you are shortly to embark on an overseas trip, either on your own, with your partner or your family here at AIB Insurance we have many years experience in helping arrange suitable, quality, competitive overseas travel insurance to most countries around the world. So, why not give us a call on 02380 268 351 and speak with a knowledgeable, friendly member of our team who will discuss your requirements and obtain a quotation without any obligation.

Lady Accused Of Severing Hand And Claiming On Insurance Policy

Apparently, a female has been accused by the police force in Slovenia of deliberately getting a member of her family to help her cut off one of her hands. So, why would someone do such a thing?

Well, it is claimed that the 21-year-old lady, not too long ago, took out an insurance policy that would pay out in the event of an injury. This policy is believed to have provided cover in the event of such a claim for in the region of a lump sum of 400,000 Euros plus 3,000 Euros per month. We are sure that you will agree these are significant sums of money.

It is claimed that a circular saw was used to severe the woman’s hand from just above her wrist. We are sure that you will agree this does sound rather gruesome and, if proved to be correct, shows what extreme lengths someone will go to try to defraud an insurance company.

Apparently, the woman in question along with a relative of hers are in police custody and could end up spending as long as 8 years in prison if found guilty of what they have been accused of.

It is also claimed that some relatives of the woman who is under investigation got her to the hospital but did not bring the hand that had been cut off with them and informed hospital staff she had been sawing some branches at the time the injury took place. Subsequently, the lady’s hand has been located and re-attached to her arm.

If her and the detained relative are found guilty then they could face as long as 8 years in prison.

Here in the UK, a Personal Accident Plan will usually pay out a lump sum for a legitimate claim due to a certain occurrence such as the loss of a limb. If this is something you are interested in then why not give us a call here at AIB Insurance on 02380 268 351 and a member of our team will be pleased to discuss your requirements and obtain a competitive quotation for your consideration without any obligation.

How To Reduce The Possibility Of Your Motorcycle Being Stolen

There are just under 1.3 million motorcycles registered here in the UK and, unfortunately, it is estimated that in the region of 30,000 are stolen every year – that is 2.3%. Regrettably, only about 40% of the motorcycles stolen are believed to be recovered and returned to their legal owners

So, what can you do to reduce the possibility of your motorbike being stolen? Well, it will come as no surprise to read that there is an awful lot of advice on the Internet but below we mention some of the things that can be done to help deter the theft of your beloved bike.

Cover

A thief is often looking for a particular model of motorbike to steal so a cover should act as a deterrent. In view of the additional time taken to remove a cover that should also put off some thieves.

Lock/Chain

A grip lock will secure the throttle and brake controls and a disc lock will assist in securing the front brake disc. Thread a chain lock through the back wheel.

Alarm

A Thatcham approved alarm system incorporating immobilization and tracking devices should help act as a deterrent but also locate the vehicle should it be stolen.

Mark the parts

Property marking the parts should help deter the thief as the parts would be difficult for a thief to sell. The parts can also be identified as coming from a particular stolen bike.

Parking your motorcycle

If you are out and about on your bike perhaps to go for a meal on an evening then don’t park it in a dimly lit side street. Instead park it in a well-lit car park or in a well lit street along which there is a regular flow of pedestrians.

Where to keep your motorcycle at home

Either leave it in your locked garage or locked shed. In addition, why not have a ground anchor fitted.

If you do not have a garage or shed then park it in a visible location in a well-lit place and make sure it is secured perhaps to a lamp post.

Motorcycle Insurance

You will obviously want to make sure that you have quality motorcycle insurance in place. Here at AIB Insurance, we have an extensive panel of insurers so why not give us a call on 02380 268 351 and speak with a knowledgeable, friendly member of our team who will discuss your requirements and obtain a tailor-made quotation for your consideration.

Whilst Defrosting Your Car Don’t Leave It Unattended

DefrostIt is that time of year when you wake up to find that there has been a severe frost meaning that you or, if you are lucky, your partner needs to de-ice the car windows before setting off to work or dropping the children off at school. Time is usually at a premium first thing in a morning and nobody likes to stand outside in freezing temperatures scraping the ice off the windscreen.

Unfortunately, a lot of people make the mistake of popping out to their car, start the engine, put the heating on at full blast and then go straight back inside their warm home leaving the engine running with the keys still in the vehicle and have their breakfast or finish getting ready for work. Why do we say this is unfortunate?

Well, a lot of motorists do not realize that, if their vehicle is stolen by a car thief whilst being left say unattended on their drive or on the road outside the front of their home, their car insurance provider will not pay out should you submit a claim as this sort of situation is not covered on the policy. Needless to say, this would be devastating news as you could be left with having to pay out many thousands of pounds to find another vehicle and still have to maintain the car loan repayments on the vehicle that has been stolen.

It is also worth noting that, if you leave your car unattended on say a public road with the car engine running, you are breaking the law and could be subject to a fine if caught by the police. Furthermore, if you do not completely clear your car windows of snow and frost before driving it then you could be subject to a fine of £60 and also receive 3 penalty points on your driving license that could also mean your motor insurance premiums going up.

So, tempting as it may be, do not leave your car unattended with the engine running to defrost the windows otherwise it could end up being a costly decision in more ways than one. Instead, why not get up a few minutes earlier than normal, wrap yourself up to keep warm and get the ice scrapper out and get rid of the unwanted snow and ice from all the windows on your vehicle.

For comprehensive cover on your vehicle give us a call on 02380 268 351 and speak to a friendly, knowledgeable member of the team who will discuss your requirements and obtain a quotation from our extensive panel of quality insurers.