Insurance telling me I can't take a pillion

[Jody]

Odd one this, not something I've heard of before either....

I already have my KTM250 XC SM insured and I wanted to add my new (to me) KTM 690.

Both bikes TPFT, only an additional £80 to add the 690 but I can't have pillions ??

On the 250 that makes sense as there's no pillion footrest anyway, but on the 690, I don't get it. Does it mean I can take pillions but if we crash they can't claim off my insurance, but would be able to claim off a third party (assuming the third party caused the crash) ?

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

It means you're not insured if you've got a pillion on the bike, it's not an unusual clause, you can pay a bit more to get rid of it

[Mr. Dazzle]

I'd also assume you're not insured at all if you have a pillion...it wouldn't just be the case that they can't claim on your insurance, your entire cover could be void and you'd get a "driving without insurance" charge aswell (if that's a thing in France?)

Every policy I've ever had has had the option of pillions or not. I'm surprised they didn't just give you the choice to pay a bit more.

[JackyJoll]

You may be asking the wrong people about insurance laws in France, if that’s where you are (you didn’t say).

[Jody]

Thanks for the replies, I probably should have clarified that this is a UK bike, insured with a UK company and for now being used in the UK

[Mr. Dazzle]

Then in that case I definitely wouldn't carry pillions if j were you. They'd be able to argue - pretty convincingly! - that you're not abiding by the terms of your policy and hence you're not insured.

Maaaay be something you'd get away with, but I doubt it would even make your policy price go up much - if at all - to add pillions?

[Skub]

For some insurance outlets now the default position is no pillion and not covered to ride other bikes. Unfortunately folk have been caught out with this,so it's worth checking.

In my case it didn't cost any extra,they just want to know.

I haven't heard of the pillion option not being available at all,though.

[JackyJoll]

Passenger insurance was made compulsory back in the 1970s. Has that changed?

The insurance company probably couldn’t get out of paying for personal injury to third parties (including your passenger), but I expect they could sanction you in a costly way for lying to them.

[crust]

They'v cut back on a few 'givens' over the last few years - pillions, riding other bikes, commuting.

You have to ask/demand them nowadays, I was quite shocked when I bothered to read all the clauses when I changed companies a couple of years back.

[Rockburner]

They'v cut back on a few 'givens' over the last few years - pillions, riding other bikes, commuting.

You have to ask/demand them nowadays, I was quite shocked when I bothered to read all the clauses when I changed companies a couple of years back.

They are also the clauses that tend to be left off on the auto-renewal policies

[Supermofo]

I have to specify that I want to take pillion, I think the default is no pillions. I've taken 1 pillion in about 12 years but always want the option just in case

[Asian Boss]

It means you're not insured if you've got a pillion on the bike, it's not an unusual clause, you can pay a bit more to get rid of it

More like computer says you have to pay £300 to cancel the policy and then another £400 to take out a new one. They have to make up all those comparison site losses.

I think one of my bike policies is no pillions. I don't worry about all that bollocks and just get it up on t'back wheel.

[Bigyin]

I have to specify pillion cover on my policies but hasn’t made any change to the cost when I do. I need it for that 2 or 3 times a year the missus wants to go somewhere on the bike but mostly for business if a students bike packs up and I need to get them back to the base on my bike.