I know Carole Nash are the only UK insurers to offer more than 30 days abroad, so many people here may have no choice, but they've also had lots of good press (which until recently I would have agreed with), so I thought I'd post a wee warning...

Having been with Carole Nash last year, and had to use their breakdown cover in Europe, I not only kept the bike with them but moved my car over too (they have a "6-wheel" policy). It was slightly more expensive than keeping them separate, but worth it for ease, and breakdown cover etc. (Though I did get them to promise not to charge me £30 admin fee when I move house - I know I will be soon, and while a premium change is fine £30 for 5 mins of someone typing? I think not)

AFTER renewing, I received 2 phone calls asking me if I'd received my renewal notice (which I hadn't) and if I wanted to stay with them.

The paperwork turned up a week late, and then only because I phoned and chased it. This has resulted in me having to pay extra on my road tax because I couldn't buy it without the certificate of insurance.

The statement of fact is riddled with errors - both bike and car licence dates are wrong (and bear no relation to the real ones - we're not talking one digit out); both are down as being kept on driveways, even though I have never had a driveway to keep either of them on; the bike is down as the wrong address as well.

The amount of information needing to be changed means they now want to charge me an extra £72 on the premium - not bloody likely! They can't take my word for it that it's their mistake not mine (just about fair enough, though I think the fact the wrong licence dates knock years off my experience should be a clue that I'm not conning them, especially as the day and month are the same as the policy start date), but won't even check the calls till Tuesday because of the bank holiday (even though they're open for another 2 hours today), and won't then call me till Wednesday or Thursday.

I'm assuming that if I do leave, the chances of them genuinely refunding all my money are slim, though I'll keep you posted on that, but in summary I would say unless you need the long-term out-of-the-country side of things don't go near them - I certainly won't be renewing no matter how they deal with this one, and I really hope I don't need them to sort out a claim for me!

Laura