While oil doesn’t degrade in the same way that modern petrol does, it can still become contaminated. The biggest problem with overwintering a classic bike is if moisture gets into the engine and emulsifies the oil. You’ll be able to spot if this has happened as the oil in the indicator window will have a milky appearance. If you notice that, or if the consistency of the oil on the dip stick is watery and thin then your trusty steed could probably benefit from an oil change before you hit the road.

5. Chain

The final drive chain delivers the engine power to the back wheel, and is one of the most important parts of the bike. It’s also a consumable, and subject to heavy (and surprisingly rapid) wear if it isn’t looked after. Check the condition of the chain and if necessary, take it off and give it a warm oil ‘bath’ (a soak in warm oil for a couple of hours). This can revive an old, rusty chain, but if it’s worn beyond repair then replace it. Don’t forget to check the sprockets for any ‘hooking’ on the teeth that would indicate they’re worn too. It’s usual to replace both chain and sprockets together.

6. Polishing up the paintwork

Once you’ve done all the mechanical checks, it’s time to get the bike looking its best with a good clean and polish. This also gives you the opportunity to check the bike over for any rust, flaking paint, or other issues. Our top tip: Try using scrunched-up baking foil to clean the down-pipes: it will bring those exhaust pipes up a treat!

7. Riding gear

Now that the bike’s all checked over and ready to go, it’s time to look at your riding gear. While spring may be full of sunny days and glorious blue skies, it’s still a pretty unpredictable time of year, and a chilly wind or a sudden downpour can put a dampener on your Sunday afternoon bimble. As with the bike, start at the bottom and work up. Check your boots and if necessary, get some waterproof spray (or dubbin if they’re leather) and give them a good covering. Make sure your protective gear is in good condition – if you have armoured clothing then don’t forget to take the armour out and check it over as it can degrade over time.

Give your gloves a bit of TLC with some leather treatment or more of that waterproof spray. It’s well worth investing in a pair of battery-powered heated gloves for the spring, especially if you’re planning on doing any long-distance riding. The temperature and wind chill can quickly make your hands uncomfortably cold, which in turn can affect your ability to control the bike.

Finally, check your helmet. If it’s been dropped then you’ll need to replace it. Give the visor a good clean, and evict any spiders that may have taken up residence over the winter!

8. How rusty are you?

Be honest with yourself. If you haven’t been out on the bike for a while then you’re going to be a little bit rusty. Your reaction times are going to be slower, and your awareness will need to be ‘sharpened’ back up. Our top tip: Take a refresher riding course with an organisation such as the Institute of Advanced Motorcyclists. Not only can they help you to become a better rider, but completing an advanced riding course could help bring down the cost of your bike insurance too.

9. Classic bike insurance

As it’s the time when most classic bikes are back out on the road, spring is usually the time when owners either have to renew their existing insurance, or are thinking about looking around for a better deal. Not all insurance providers offer classic bike insurance, so you may need to look for specialist providers who understand the quirks and foibles of owning ‘old iron’.

Classic bikes are usually (but not always!) owned by older riders with more experience, a better driving record, and a clean licence. They also do fewer miles so look for packages that provide reduced rates for limited mileage, discounts for older riders, and that all-important no claims bonus protection. Easy2Insure can help you find cheap classic motorcycle insurance at a price that’s right.

Getting back out on the road – enjoy yourself!

We’ve covered just about everything, so the only thing that’s left to do now is to kit up, throw your leg over, and hope the little devil starts! There’s no feeling in the world like the open road and the wind in your hair, so pick a sunny day, top up your tank, and enjoy your ride!

Storm damage. Fire. Theft. They are all devastating emotionally, and are not particularly kind to your wallet, either. The latest estimate from the Crime Survey for England and Wales showed an 8% increase in theft compared with the previous year. Extreme weather has become more commonplace in the UK, and a whopping £7.8million is paid out every day by home insurers.

The right home insurance can protect you and your family financially from everything that can go wrong. While we all like to get the best price deal on insurance, it’s also important not to skimp on cover. If you do, you could find it costing you a lot more in the long run. That’s why we’ve put together this Easy2 understand Home Insurance Checklist, to help you to decide what you need from your home insurance.

First, understand the difference between buildings and contents insurance

There are two main types of insurance for your home:

• Buildings insurance covers the structure of your building against damage. For example, if there is a fire or flood, this insurance will pay for your home to be repaired or rebuilt. If you own your home with a mortgage it is likely to be a condition of your mortgage that you have buildings insurance. If you rent your property, your landlord will be responsible for buildings insurance so you will not need to take out a policy.
• Contents insurance protects the items in your home, including (in some cases) property kept in sheds and garages. Your contents are protected against damage caused by fire, flood etc., as well as theft.

You can buy buildings and contents insurance separately, but if you need them both then it’s often more cost effective to buy them together as a bundle.

Buildings insurance checklist

• Is your home listed or made from an unusual material? If so, you’ll need to declare this and may need a specialist policy. Failure to tell your insurer this information could invalidate your policy.
• What is the upper limit your policy will pay out? Is this enough to cover rebuilding your property if it’s damaged? The rebuilding cost is not the same as the value of your house (it could be a lot more or less!) If you’re not sure how much it will cost to rebuild your house, ask a surveyor.
• Does your policy provide alternative accommodation if your home is left uninhabitable? This is often excluded from cheaper home insurance policies but could leave you severely out of pocket if you are unable to stay with friends or family during repair works.
• Is your home in a high flood risk area? If so, are you covered by your insurance?
• Are outbuildings, like your shed or garage, covered by your buildings insurance policy?

Contents insurance checklist

 One of the biggest mistakes people can make is undervaluing the contents in their home. When you’re working out your value of contents, don’t forget even the smallest items, like replacement cutlery and bed sheets. It can help to write down all the rooms in your home and then go through listing an approximate cost to replace everything.

• Does your policy provide a new for old replacement? Some policies will pay out for a replacement item of the same age and condition. If you want any replacements to be brand new, make sure that is offered by your insurer.
• If you have high-value items like jewellery and watches, check the upper limit for single items on your policy. Depending on their value, some items may need to be specified. Some jewellery and watches have shot up in value in recent years, so get an up-to-date valuation. Find out if there are any special conditions set, such as the item is only covered while being worn or when stored in a safe.
• Is accidental damage included? If you have accidental cover, you can make a claim for a replacement even if the damage is caused by accident, for example, your dog jumps up at the TV, knocking it over and smashing it. For example, if you have got pets or children it can be a prudent add-on.
• If you regularly travel, are your items covered abroad?
• Are contents in outbuildings, like the shed or garage covered? Expensive items such as bikes may need to be specified separately. Check your policy to ensure you have the level of cover you need.

It’s Easy2Insure your home

Our specialist team makes it Easy2Insure your home with confidence. As an independent insurance broker, we’ll shop around some of the UK’s most trusted names in insurance to get you the best deals. We’ll negotiate a great price deal on your behalf making sure there are no nasty surprises in the small print. Call us on 0800 9179522 or get a free quote.

Burst pipes are one of the damaging home emergencies you can face. Costly and messy, burst pipes = stress and inconvenience. Fixing the leak is just the start. Finding the location of the leak in the first place can take a long time and a lot of digging. And that means costs quickly stack up. Then putting right water damage to your home, and reinstating floors and pathways, can cost £thousands. With extreme weather, like the Beast from the East, becoming more common and widespread across the UK, burst pipes are something we all need to prepare for. So we’ve put together this Easy2read guide with 12 ways to protect your home this winter.

First, understand what causes burst pipes in cold weather

In the wintertime, when temperatures fall, the water pipes in your home are at risk of freezing. When water freezes, it expands. If it freezes within the confines of a pipe, it can cause the pipe to crack. When the ice thaws, water can then escape from the hole or holes that have been made.

How cold does it have to be for pipes to burst?

Water starts to freeze when it reaches 0 degrees centigrade. Prolonged periods of cold weather or extremely low temperatures put your pipework at risk of freezing.

How can I prevent water pipes bursting in cold weather?

Luckily, there are a number of steps you can take to help reduce the risk of frozen pipes this winter and minimise damage.

• Lofts are unheated and a prime location for frozen pipes. If you have a water tank in your loft, take care to insulate it well. Insulation can be purchased from most DIY stores and helps to protect the pipe from cold temperatures.
• Don’t forget to insulate the water pipes feeding into and out of your water tank to help stop them from freezing. Take care to make sure there are no gaps in the insulation.
• Even if you don’t have a water tank in your loft (for example you have a combi-boiler), you may still have water pipes running through your loft. Check for them and insulate as necessary.
• If you do have a tank or pipes in the loft, it might be worth opening up any hatches during very cold weather. This will allow heat to rise into the roof space. It may increase your heating bills, but it could help prevent frozen pipes.
• Garages are another cold spot in your home. Check for pipes running along the wall or roof of your garage and ensure they are adequately insulated.
• Again, in freezing weather, consider using portable heating to increase the temperature in this space.

More tips to stop pipes freezing

• Pipes can also burst in other parts of your home. Check windows and doors for draughts that let cold air in, especially in parts of your home with no heating.
• Temperatures can plummet in empty properties, so if you go away, set your heating to low. If you can’t do that, ask a neighbour to pop in and put the heating on regularly.
• If the property will be left empty for a long time, consider turning off the water at the stopcock. You’ll also need to drain the system, so there is no water standing in the pipes. You can do this by opening all the taps and letting the water drain away.
• It’s not just piping bringing water into your home that can burst. Pipes taking it away can be damaged too. If you have a dripping tap, get it fixed. Otherwise, that water could freeze resulting in damage.
• Know where your stopcock is. If you have a leak or suspect a pipe has frozen, you’ll want to stop water flowing through the pipes as soon as you can to minimise water damage in your home. If you know where your stopcock is, you can turn off the water straight away. As a general rule, turning them in a clockwise direction closes stopcocks.
• If you think a pipe has frozen try to warm it up gently. You could use a hairdryer on a low-heat setting but don’t use a high setting or a blowtorch. If you do, the extreme changes in temperature could cause more damage to the pipe.

Can pipes burst in warm weather?

Water pipes can burst for a number of reasons, and it’s not just limited to the wintertime. Plastic pipework used in the 1970s has a limited lifespan and can degrade over time resulting in small holes that can get bigger under water pressure. If you’ve got older metal pipes, these can corrode over time resulting in holes. Pipes can also burst thanks to DIY accidents. For example, you put a nail through a water pipe when putting a picture up on your wall.

How big a problem is a burst pipe?

Water is supplied to your home under pressure. That means that if a pipe bursts, up to 400l an hour can leak into your home. The average bath holds 200l, so this is a substantial quantity. It can cause significant damage to the structure of your home as well as contents and furnishings.

Insurance for water leaks in your home

The cost of finding, fixing and making good a water leak can be £thousands. But many ordinary home insurance policies won’t cover everything if you have a water leak. For complete peace of mind, take out home emergency insurance cover. These are designed to take away the cost and stress of emergencies in your home, including mains service supply, plumbing and drains, home security, lost keys and primary heating. You could even opt for a policy that includes boiler insurance.

Home emergency cover can be purchased separately to your standard home insurance and can vary in price. Ask the experts at Easy2Insure to find the most competitive price, with no compromise on cover, for you. Call us free on 0800 9179522 or get in touch.

Hiring out your classic car can be a great way to get a little extra income from your passion. It can help pay for your maintenance bills. And it can help you to justify keeping your prized possession. But there are some key considerations, like the implications on your classic car insurance to think about. Here’s our Easy2understand guide to what you need to know.

Ways to hire out your classic car

There are two main hiring options to consider if you want to make some extra cash from your classic car.

1) Using your classic car as a private hire vehicle

The first type of hire you may consider for your classic is where you’re driving and taking paying passenger(s). For example, you’re using your classic Rolls Royce for a wedding.

The wedding market is lucrative, and vintage vehicles can command big fees. For example, Bridebook recommends that the happy couple budget £395 if they want the use of a classic Bentley for three hours.

Bear in mind: If you do decide to hire your classic car as a wedding, or any other event, vehicle, you’ll need to apply to your local council for a Private Hire Vehicle Licence (PHV licence). You’ll need this licence even if you only hire your vehicle once a year.

2) Hiring out your classic vehicle for others to use

The second way of hiring out your classic car is to paying customers who will drive your vehicle on the road for a set period of time. This is attractive to people who like the idea of having a classic car but don’t, or can’t, go the whole way and buy one. These ‘experience’ days can be especially popular with people looking for a more unusual weekend break or honeymoon. And there are lots of classic and vintage car hire companies out there that you can use to hire out your classic.

You may also want to consider hiring out your vehicle for use on photo-shoots or film and TV sets. Again, there are agencies that specialise in sourcing vehicles of all ages and makes for film. Be wary of any company that charges a fee just to register – there is no guarantee that your vehicle will be used, so you could be out of pocket. Look for a reputable company that pays a good fee and will ensure comprehensive insurance is provided whilst your vehicle is being used on set. Don’t forget to check things like agreed value or modifications are included.

Bear in mind: If your car is in Concours condition or you would be upset if it got the old scratch, then hiring it out to others may not be the best option for you.

Insuring your classic car for hire

If you’re planning on hiring out your classic car and taking paying passengers, you’ll need ‘hire and reward’ car insurance. This is specifically designed for anyone who takes payment in return for taking passengers. If you have a classic, it’s likely that you won’t be using your car for hire and reward every day. That means that standard hire and reward insurance may not be the best value for you. Instead, speak to a specialist classic car broker like Easy2Insure. We can look at all your options and how you intend to use your vehicle. That way, we can tailor your policy to meet your specific needs at the best value price possible.

Insuring imported classics for hire

If you’ve got a left-hand drive classic, like a Chevy or a Plymouth, that you want to hire out, you’ll need specialist insurance. Easy2Insure can cover imports and all ages and specifications for your peace of mind.

It’s Easy2Insure your classic car

Making money from your motor can be relatively straightforward. But you need the right insurance, or you could find your money-spinning idea costs you more in the long run.

At Easy2Insure we understand that your classic car needs more than just standard insurance. Whether you plan to hire it out or not, we offer competitive quotes that give you real peace of mind. As an independent insurance broker, we are free to shop around to find you the best price without compromising on the level of cover. This includes:

• Flexible limited mileage options
• Modifications
• Agreed value cover options
• Modifications covered on a like for like basis
• Uninsured loss recovery for non-fault claims
• Legal cover up to £50,000
• Left-hand drive models

We can also help you to keep the costs of insurance down with:

• Second car insurance policies
• Multi-car insurance policies for collectors
• Security discounts
• Club member discounts

Call our friendly team on 0800 917 9522 or get a classic car insurance quote today.