Warning: Do not use AMI for third party insurance!

**Karsten** · 29th March 2007, 15:31

Hi all,
Just let you guys know that I have been advised that AMI will not pay the $3k for accident with uninsured drive on motorcycle insurance.
So do not use AMI…..
Other insurance like AA are happy to cover us for this kind of events.
Refer to:
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...hlight=karsten

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...hlight=karsten

Cheers Karsten

**bungbung** · 29th March 2007, 15:35

Third party insurance covers a third party.
Did your policy have mention of an cover from damage to your property from someone else?

**judecatmad** · 29th March 2007, 15:42

Originally Posted by Karsten

Hi all,
Just let you guys know that I have been advised that AMI will not pay the $3k for accident with uninsured drive on motorcycle insurance.
So do not use AMI…..

Is it specified in their policy documents? And spelt out clearly to you at the time you take out the policy?

If not, you have a fair case to take to the Ombudsman and to Fair Go.

Keep on at them, talk to someone higher up than the call centre monkeys, force them into a deadlock situation and then you can take it to the Ombudsman.

Our TOWER policy allows us a replacement vehicle while ours is being repaired - they don't state in the policy that this is only a vehicle that can be supplied through Avis...good job I have a car licence! Can't be bothered taking them to task over it tho. It's not as tho they're declining part of the claim or anything.

Yours is a bit more serious tho. These general insurers need to be a lot more specific if there are things about their policies which do not apply to bike covers. If they are willing to accept the covers onto their books, they need to be a lot clearer with their altered clauses.

Seriously - keep at them.

**judecatmad** · 29th March 2007, 16:04

Originally Posted by bungbung

Third party insurance covers a third party.
Did your policy have mention of an cover from damage to your property from someone else?

A lot of 3rd party vehicle policies do have a clause whereby they will pay out a small sum in the event that you are hit by an uninsured fuckwit.

From reading the post relating to the accident, it would appear that AMI would be prepared to pay out $3k if it had been a car vs car, but they are declining to pay the $3k due to this accident being car vs bike.

I think that's how it goes.....

**avgas** · 29th March 2007, 16:29

So hang on, you were uninsured and then tried to make a claim?

**peanuteater** · 29th March 2007, 16:49

Your post reads is if the rider of the bike was uinsured!??,was it NOT you?
my 3rd party on bike is with ami, and its only 3rd party for myself, no one else regardless off age etc. and reading papers, would expect it to be same as per as per 3rd party on cars.

**judecatmad** · 29th March 2007, 16:54

Originally Posted by avgas

So hang on, you were uninsured and then tried to make a claim?

How 'bout you read the original thread?

To save you the hassle of doing a search (it's a neat function you know...):

Karsten IS insured, but only with 3rd party cover. Bike was hit and dragged along the road by an uninsured tosser who then took off without so much as an 'oh shit, are you ok?'. Karsten managed to track down the dickhead and I guess that's being dealt with by the boys in blue (but you never know...).

Unfortunately, 3rd party cover doesn't cover the costs of repairing your own vehicle. And if the other person is uninsured, you have nowhere to turn for help with the cost of repairs (other than disputes tribunal).

Which is where the 'hit by an uninsured 3rd party' clause comes in.....

But AMI are saying that they won't pay out under this clause if it's car vs bike (they will only pay if it's car vs car).......which is a load of cr@p if it's not specified in the policy document or on the policy schedule.

**Jantar** · 29th March 2007, 16:57

I have had 3rd party motorcycle insurance with AMI in the past, and the policy is quite clear. You are not covered, only the vehicle that you may hit or any property that you damage is covered.

However in this case you know who is at fault, you know his address. Take him to court and as he has a vehicle which he can sell, do not accept payment at $x per week.

**Fub@r** · 29th March 2007, 17:14

AMI Insurance

The Third Party Innocent Party clause only applies to car insurance not motorbikes

"$3,000 Innocent Party Protection. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident caused by an uninsured driver, who acknowledges their involvement in the accident, and you can provide the name, address and registration number, you automatically have Market Value cover up to $3,000 on your vehicle. This is the only cover for your vehicle in a motor accident"

http://www.ami.co.nz/products/third.html

Motorbikes found here:

http://www.ami.co.nz/products/motorcycle.html

Clearly states:

third party cover provides cover only for damage you cause to other people's property through the use of your motor cycle.

State Insurance Third Party Policy:

damage caused to your motorcycle by uninsured drivers up to $1,000. You pay no excess and keep your Claims Free discount.

Originally Posted by Karsten

Hi all,
Just let you guys know that I have been advised that AMI will not pay the $3k for accident with uninsured drive on motorcycle insurance.
So do not use AMI…..
Other insurance like AA are happy to cover us for this kind of events.

Just had a look at the AA policies, not bad up to $4k payout if in an accident with an uninsured driver, but doesn't say whether it has to be the uninsured's fault to qualify.

Be interesting to see a policy quote comparison between AA and AMI on the same bike.

**avgas** · 11th April 2007, 18:07

So back to my point, you were uninsured (3rd party only covers someone else for bike) and you tried to make a claim??

**Mully** · 11th April 2007, 18:43

Originally Posted by avgas

So back to my point, you were uninsured (3rd party only covers someone else for bike) and you tried to make a claim??

I read it that he was trying to claim on the "Innocent Cover"; most 3rd party contracts cover this. You give them Noddy's name, address and rego number and the company pays you out and goes Noddy for the money.

All my 3rd party contracts have had this. My reading was that the toys were thrown from the cot when AMI decided to not honour "Innocent Cover" because a bike was involved. If it was in the contract, I guess it's fair enough, but it's pretty shitty if all the other companies honour it.

Pays to read your insurance policies carefully. *Goes to find insurance policies to read*

I had 3rd party with AMI when I had my bike. Thankfully I never had to claim.

**Fatjim** · 11th April 2007, 18:48

Is the guy who hit you definitely not insured? Taking a civil action through the small claims for the maximum amount is probably the only course unless you sell the debt to the Black Power or Mongrel Mob.

**Matt_TG** · 11th April 2007, 19:07

Technically he was uninsured, as the policy didn't cover him for that event. In many cases people think they are insured for something they in fact are not - it comes down to reading the policy and understanding what terms you are agreeing on when you pay your premiuim. An insurance policy is a contract, you agree to provide them with all the information deemed necessary to cover you and if you claim you have agreed on the basis of cover and/or settlement.

I cannot imagine that a pure third party only policy would cover the bike itself, it essentially is a liability policy, it insures a driver of a particular vehicle against damage they cause to other property.

Insurers are often part of a 'knock for knock' agreement. Not all insurers agree to this though. Essentially this means they don't try and recover costs off each other as what goes around comes around, however a motorbike is a bigger risk and I do not believe that bikes are part of that agreement.

My suggestion is; Speak to the manager of the branch where you took out your policy. If, when you insured your bike, you understood that a certain feature of AMI's policy (Innocent Cover) would have covered you in this event, you may have a right under Section 10 of The Insurance Law Reform Act 1977. The part of the legislation basically says that anything you say to an agent of the insurer is deemed to have been told to the insurer itself.

You may be able to prove that you were told by the representative that cover existed for damage to your machine by others, but how you do that I would have no idea... Did you ask for the specific differences between the covers?

Insurers do have discretion to offer an Ex Gratia payment (when strictly the policy doesn't respond) and you may be able to negotiate some sort of settlement - have you or your family a history with AMI?

Good luck!

**JimO** · 11th April 2007, 19:11

a good advertisment for having full insurance

**dmouse** · 11th April 2007, 19:28

i have full cover with star insurance and i was knocked off my fatboy by a dickwit who ran a red light and hit me in the back knocking my bike 60 meters down the road i was ok due to proper gear but this was on the 7/1/07 and as my bike is custom painted we are argueing the cost of repainting the bike i have written a letter of complaint to the company but they say that an agrement can still be made and i have to supply more quotes for a repaint which is around the 4k mark, they just keep dodge the letter of deadlock so i can drag in the ombudsman. i just want my bike back !!!!