QUESTION 5:
Will I get a discount from my insurer if I get a second bike?

ANSWER:
You might do – though it is easy to miss out on them. Around 200,000 riders own more than one bike and Bennetts reckons they are collectively wasting £23 million by paying full price to insure every bike separately rather than getting multiple-owner discounts. So contact your existing insurer when you get a new bike to check its best offer. Then shop around again on both your new and existing bike – you could save by taking both pieces of business elsewhere. Experts also say you should never stick to the same insurance policy for too long. Firms often offer super-low prices to new customers on the hope that they can quietly start charging above average renewal rates later on. So don’t assume last year’s best-buy provider will be good value 12 months later. Finally, if you’re buying another bike it also pays to check it out properly. Credit reference firm Experian has a tracing service that aims to stop stolen or damaged bikes being resold. Find out more at www.checkabike.co.uk.