B8 Insurance in UK: Suggestions appreciated - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

IAS · 3rd February 2006, 00:26

Hi - I'm thinking about buying a B8 4.6 and have been shopping around for insurance. I have not been able to get a quote because I already have another car (happens to be a B3 S Cabrio) that has a no claims bonus attributed to it. I have no plans to sell the B3 S, so the no claims is not transferable/cumulable. Therefore the insurance companies I have contacted have declined to insure the B8 because they do not insure this category of cars without at least 2 years no claims discount...

As crazy as it may sound, the B8 will have to start with zero no claims bonus despite the very low miles/kilometers I intend to do in it - assuming I can find insurance for it. So far I have not been able to obtain a single quote from any insurance company in the UK that I have contacted.

I find it hard to believe that so many people in the UK will accept to pay full undiscounted rates for specialty cars that they only occassionally drive as second or even third cars. Therefore if anyone out there knows of any UK company that is willing to quote a reasonable rate for a driver with full no-claims bonus and 2 Alpinas, I would be delighted to know who they are.

Thanks for your help!

Imad

fastsaloons · 3rd February 2006, 00:41

I think you stand a decent chance of getting 2 cars insured on the same no claims provided at least one of the cars is 'normal'

I have the same issue I have 3 cars - Espace, Mini Cooper S Works and Subaru Impreza Sti 4.

The Mini and Subaru can't be insured without a NCD - The problem for me is the Subaru in that it is not standard power up 20%ish, has different exhaust, adjustable suspension and bigger brakes. Some companies would entertain the dual car no claims - up until I got into the details of the scooby at which point most companies declined to insure it.

So I am currently insuring both the mini and scooby using my wife and my NCD - the espace has had to start all over again

Youre best bet is to talk to a broker who is knowledgable about ALPINAs - who may be open to sharing the NCD - are they both your cars - e.g. will you only ever be driving one at once ? That may make a difference.

WE have a thread over on my site that tracks UK ALPINA insurance - it might be worth a look...

the thread is here

hythe · 3rd February 2006, 00:45

Try Autotorque - www.autotorque.co.uk - talk to John there. Used to insure my B8 through them - as I recall, they managed to get AXA to insure 2 of my cars on the same NCB at one point.

I think at one time I had the B8 insured on 0 NCB through Flux, but painfully expensive.

IAS · 3rd February 2006, 01:10

Thanks for your suggestions. To answer your question Neil, both cars will be registered in my name. But that has not helped me get a quote...

Hythe, I will try Autotorque and hopefully will have better luck. I just find it incredible that there isn't an insurer out there that will see that this is a relatively low risk proposition and price it accordingly.

fastsaloons · 3rd February 2006, 01:13

Same with the Subaru - its a plaything brought out occasionally and for trackdays - but that hasn't help - the only other thing I have been able to do is to flip it from fully comp to fire and theft and securely store it - that works out very cheap - Its a bit of a fag sending the certificate back and forth but still worth it for me.

I tried getting a limited mileage policy but it is setup more for Classics - and certainly not Imprezas !

IAS · 3rd February 2006, 10:28

All the companies that I talked to wouldn't insure cars third party, fire and theft only if it's value was more than £5,000....

Tinker · 3rd February 2006, 12:33

Try NU they let me insure 2 cars .... no they don't know what an Alpina is!

Try AON on a classic policy, should just go through ...

BlueB8 · 3rd February 2006, 20:27

I insure my B8 with adrian flux, it is a second car, they did me a classic policy limited to 5000 miles a year. cost £900, age 28

fastsaloons · 4th February 2006, 16:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by IAS

All the companies that I talked to wouldn't insure cars third party, fire and theft only if it's value was more than £5,000....

The Scooby is worth more than £5k - I'm actually insuring it for just fire and theft (e.g. not insured for driving ) It works out at c. £3 / month !

When I need to drive it I flick it back to fully comp (the difference between 3rd party and fully comp is negligible). There is a small admin charge for doing this but it is still seems a cheaper option.

Sounds like your options with the B8 are better...

IAS · 4th February 2006, 20:15

I tried Adrian Flux but was not able to get a rate (I think it had to do with my SW postcode). However Autotorque did give me a quote for limited mileage use and on condition the car is parked overnight in a secure parking: about £1,100.

As per Tinker's suggestion, I also called AON and found they had the best rate: £627 including RAC Europewide Assistance. They also make it conditional that the car is parked in a secure parking overnight ("between 10:00pm and 6:00am"), and also want a Thatcham Cat 1 alarm/immobiliser installed. They are also considering this as a second car and have imposed a mileage limitation of 3,000 per annum, which is fine with me. This is clearly the better of the two quotes.

Many thanks to all of you for your help.

Imad