It's a bird... it's a plane...

**Ocean1** · 30th December 2008, 11:54

… It’s a Spyder fer fook’s sake.

Hello, welcome to Acme Auto Insurance, my name is Sharlene, how can I help you?

Good morning Sharlene, I want to insure my Spyder.

Certainly, Sir, what capacity is it?

It’s 990cc.

How many doors does it have?

None.

Um… pardon?

None, zero, it’s a sort of hybrid motorcycle/car, it’s got three wheels and you sit on it rather than in it.

Oh. But it’s got seat belts?

No, that wouldn’t be a good idea. I believe one needs to wear a helmet, however.

Er, excuse me for a moment while I check with my supervisor.

Fine.

Hello, Sir, my name is Nigel. We don’t seem to be able to identify this vehicle in our database, who is the manufacturer?

Hello Nigel, it’s made by Can Am, they’re a subsidiary of BRP.

Well they’re not in our database.

I’m concerned to hear that, Nigel. Does that mean you can’t insure it?

Oh no Sir, we offer policies for some of the most rare and special vehicles.

That sounds promising, how do we manage that, then?

Um, I’m not sure. If you give me a moment I’ll talk to my Manager...

...Hello, Sir, my name is Roger, how can I help you?

As I’ve been explaining to Sharlene and Nigel, I want to insure my Spyder.

Yes, I see. Unfortunately we don’t know anything about them.

But I understood that you offer policies for both rare and special vehicles.

Oh, yes Sir, we’re very proud of our outstanding record in tailoring a policy to suit any client.

Well, then, might I ask that you start stitching, Roger.

Yes, Sir. Certainly. There does seem to be a problem, however, in that your vehicle appears not to be in our database.

Yes, we’ve established that, some 20 minutes ago, Roger. How do we get it there?

Ah, I’m not sure. I’ll have to talk to the Managing Director, when he returns from holiday

Great, when’s that?

Well he’s usually back from his Xmas break well before the quarterly board meeting.

The next one being?

March, Sir.

Roger… never mind. Please pass my sincere best wishes to your boss, and ask him to bend you over your desk and violently insert a large pineapple up your rectum. Backwards.

Well, Sir, it seems in this case there’s nothing we can help you with, I’m sorry…

Click.

Hello, welcome to Zenith Motorcycle Insurance, my name is Deborah, how can I help you?

Hello Deborah, I”d like to insure my Spyder please.

OK, what size bike is it?

Look, can I save us both a bit of time? If you were to google “BRP Spyder” the information is all there, OK?

*Waits*

Oh, I see, how weird. Well, I guess we should be able it do that under our standard motorcycle policy. As long as it never leaves the approved designated security facility and no person under 60 yrs old ever lays eyes on it…

Excellent, can you please email me the policy documents and quote.

Certainly, Sir. Can I please have the registration details of the bike?

It’s not registered yet. And when it is it’ll be registered as a car.

Um, pardon?

It’s not a bike for the purposes of registration and licensing, it’s a car.

Er, excuse me for a moment while I check with my supervisor…

Repeat.

Repeat.

Repeat.

Does anyone have any suggestions? (no, not regarding the pineapple).

**Gremlin** · 30th December 2008, 12:03

Isn't it fun having something that can't be put in a conventional box?

**racerhead** · 30th December 2008, 12:24

Originally Posted by Ocean1

Roger… never mind. Please pass my sincere best wishes to your boss, and ask him to bend you over your desk and violently insert a large pineapple up your rectum. Backwards.

That was brilliant

Anyway about the insurance issue good luck on finding something because it does seem like a case of round peg in a square hole

**disenfranchised** · 30th December 2008, 12:31

I can't see why the companies need a specific category.

You tell them that it's a vehicle, it gets ridden like a motorcycle (hence associated risk profile) but is counted as a car (license conditions for policy validity) and is worth $x.

In the event of a claim they can research all they like and re-validate the price etc...but if you never make a claim then that's a whoel lot of administration work saved.

End of the day...$x with appropriate risk etc = policy for $y per month and an excess of $z.

Job done.

Or you could try telling them to treat it as a harley trike or something similar untill they can work it out properly

**Ocean1** · 30th December 2008, 12:34

Closest I've got so far is Classic Cover.

And they require it to be driven by someone with a full motorcycle license.

Not an option.

**Slyer** · 30th December 2008, 12:43

Safety of a bike but the fun of a car.
WHY?

**slofox** · 30th December 2008, 12:43

Get a broker - they can fix anything...for a price...

**Slyer** · 30th December 2008, 12:55

Originally Posted by slofox

Get a broker - they can fix anything...for a price...

I'm a breaker, I'll break anything...for free...

**nosebleed** · 30th December 2008, 13:02

Originally Posted by Ocean1

Closest I've got so far is Classic Cover.

And they require it to be driven by someone with a full motorcycle license.

Not an option.

bit of a long-shot given your previous conversations... but any reason why you need a Full Bike Licence for a vehicle registered as a car?

**DingoZ** · 30th December 2008, 13:24

Originally Posted by Ocean1

Closest I've got so far is Classic Cover.

And they require it to be driven by someone with a full motorcycle license.

Not an option.

Don't see how they can demand or require it to be operated by someone who has a motorbike licence when that is not necessary and it's not being registered on the NZ roads as a bike. To legally operate one, the rider/driver operator whatever you want to call them, only according to NZ law requires a Full Class 1 licence. Do not need a motorbike licence, be it a 6l 6r or 6f. So joe average without a class 6 (any stage) can use one, as long as they have a full car licence.

**Ocean1** · 30th December 2008, 13:26

Originally Posted by Slyer

Safety of a bike but the fun of a car.
WHY?

It's complicated. It's as close as SWMBO is ever going to get.

Originally Posted by slofox

Get a broker - they can fix anything...for a price...

Yeah, my last one was good, but he's dead just now.

Originally Posted by nosebleed

bit of a long-shot given your previous conversations... but any reason why you need a Full Bike Licence for a vehicle registered as a car?

None given. That was for nominal bike policy cover though. I've yet to find anyone prepared to cover it as a car.

**Ocean1** · 30th December 2008, 13:28

Originally Posted by DingoZ

Don't see how they can demand or require it to be operated by someone who has a motorbike licence when that is not necessary and it's not being registered on the NZ roads as a bike. To legally operate one, the rider/driver operator whatever you want to call them, only according to NZ law requires a Full Class 1 licence. Do not need a motorbike licence, be it a 6l 6r or 6f. So joe average without a class 6 (any stage) can use one, as long as they have a full car licence.

An insurance policy is an agreement, they're not constrained by what LTNZ call it, they simply don't agree to insure it for anyone not holding a bike license.