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Ways to Lower You Motorcycle Insurance Costs PDF Print E-mail
Written by George Tait   
Monday, 24 November 2008 08:39

It can be tough to justify the costs of keeping an extra vehicle these days, especially a motorcycle when it is not your main transportation. However, you may be able to cut your insurance costs on your bike, and even cut  all your vehicle insurance costs, in order to make it easier to keep your car, and your bike too!

If you are a young rider, or just a new rider, the best thing you can do to lower your motorcycle insurance costs is to complete an approved motorcycle safety class. Insurers will offer discounts for the training, and you will keep yourself safer. It is worth your time to protect your motorcycle, and your own health!  Even if you are an experienced rider there are classes for you too and the insurance company will probably give you a cut on your motorcycle insurance costs.

Of course, you know you should obey local laws and speed limits. One speeding ticket can give you a significant rate increase. On the other hand, a history of ticket-free driving should earn you preferred rates and if it does not go somewhere that does.

Many insurers also offer a significant discount for protecting your motorcycle when you are not riding it. If you keep your bike locked up at night, in a garage or protected area, make sure you ask your motorcycle insurance company if they offer a discount.  Other protection like lojack, a motorcycle tracking service if your ride is stolen,  often gets you a reduction as well.

And the same multi-vehicle discounts, or multi-policy discounts, that help you get cheap home insurance or car insurance, can help with your motorcycle insurance too!

Make sure to ask your insurer about each and every one of these discounts - I have discovered over the years if you do not ask you shall not receive.

Last Updated ( Monday, 24 November 2008 08:49 )
 
Motorcycle Insurance Basics PDF Print E-mail
Written by George Tait   
Tuesday, 14 October 2008 00:00

When you talk insurance, like Greek, you need to understand the language.  At the minimum you need to know where to go to find out what specific terms mean.  One of the best sites to learn all about insurance is esurance.  They have an excellent glossary and I will be using their definitions throughout this article specifically about the basics of motorcycle insurance.  

First you have to consider the state minimum coverage.  Every insurance company in Utah must sell insurance in compliance with the state minimum requirements.  In Utah the minimum coverage for motorcycles is 25 / 50.  What this means is that if you hit someone while on your motorcycle and cause injury then your insurance will pay them $25,000 per person up to $50,000 per crash.  In other words if you cause the crash and injure one person they will cover $25,000.  However, if you cause an accident and you injur 10 people the most the insurance will pay is $50,000.  The chances of you causing injury while riding your motorcycle are definately there and should be insured against.  The minimum insurance is probably enough.  I say this because the chances are that if anyone is going to be seriously injured in a motorcycle crash it is you - the motorcycle driver.

Put yourself in this situation.  You are negligently hit by a vehicle meaning they are responsible for te accident.  You are injured and have two broken legs and a severe head injury.  You recover but only after incurring $300,000 of medical bills.  The offending driver has only the minimal coverage and their insurance company gladly pays it - $25,000.  You can try to get more money out of the offending driver but chances are if they only have $25,000 coverage they do not have a lot of other assets.  You are now left owing $275,000 to the hospital and physicians.  So what do you do?

My best recommendation is to but enough insurance in the first place.  In this case that would be underinsured and uninsured motorist (motorcycle) coverage.  Each is defined:

Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury Coverage

Underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage is available in some states, where it's often mandatory. This type of auto insurance coverage pays for your medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages when you or your passengers are injured in an accident caused by a driver who has insufficient auto insurance coverage. This kind of auto insurance coverage typically pays the difference between the coverage limit you select and the other driver's bodily injury coverage limit. The amount covered by underinsured motorist bodily injury is capped at the limit you choose when you buy your auto insurance policy.

Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury Coverage

Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage is available in some states, where it's often mandatory. This kind of auto insurance coverage pays for your medical expenses, lost wages, and other general damages when you or your passengers are injured in an accident caused by a driver who has no car insurance. Uninsured motorist coverage also pays for injuries sustained in hit-and-run accidents. The amount covered by uninsured motorist bodily injury is capped at the limit you choose when you buy your auto insurance policy.

Both of these coverages are relatively cheap and can save you and your family from financial ruin.

Last Updated ( Monday, 13 October 2008 09:01 )
 
Motorcycle Insurance Types PDF Print E-mail
Motorcycle Insurance is oftentimes confusing and daunting because there is a sense that the insurance company will find some way to avoid paying in the event you are in a motorcycle accident so you may as well buy the cheapest insurance.  Nothing could be farther from the truth and nothing could be farther from the truth about what type of insurance you should buy.
 
 


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