I'm with Shannons on my motorcycle, contents and Mini, so I get a discount for having multiple policies with them.

I agree with earlier comments re service - sometimes I get someone on the phone who actually cares about their job and knows what I am talking about (or asks questions so that they can understand), other times they just punch in random things that don't make sense when I receive the policy in the mail.

My Mini is being restored so I have "laid up" cover like Kimini mentioned earlier in this thread - as long as it doesn't "move under its own power", it only costs me $100 or so a year. This includes getting towed to the panelbeater, etc, just as long as the engine isn't pushing it. This is easy cuz the engine is on the floor of my shed

One the downside, I was in a not-at-fault accident on my motorcycle in NSW a few years ago. The driver of the car who hit me got a ticket, but the Shannons' assessor had never read my policy and so was applying rules that were irrelevant - I even had to fax copies of my policy to him. Bast..d even tried to run off with my two day old $850 riding jacket... the very thing that saved me in the accident... despite my policy clearly stating all gear to be returned to owner (kinda like the free salvage rights clause on my Mini). Then when I went to pick up the bike after repairs, the excess was outstanding because the assessor didn't do the paperwork correctly, so I had to come back a couple of days later. Beware of dropkick assessors, they often are not employees of the insurance company and they don't always read YOUR policy wording, yet their report tells your insurer what to pay

On the other hand, several years ago I pranged my car. I was insured with another company and after three months they still hadn't decided whether to pay for repairs and wouldn't tell me when they might decide. They suddenly agreed to cough up when my dad (retired insurance claims manager who previously worked for same company) suggested he drop by their office for a detailed chat on the specifics of my claim, the finer points of insurance law and the industry code of practice

Like many have said before on this and other matters, check the fine print, make sure you know what you are entitled to and be prepared. Your interests and their interests are not always the same.

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i'm with AAMI although its only third party for 2k..... they seem to be alright..... shannons wouldn't insure me because of my age (17 p-plater) and because i hadn't been involved in motorsport or a member of a club for long enough .....

Aron