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12th March 2007

Motorcycle Insurance - What Coverage Do You Need?

Owning a motorcycle can be a lot of fun, but when it comes time for insurance, I see many of the same people become lost as to what type of motorcycle coverage they really need. So, just what do you need to look for in a motorcycle insurance policy? Here are some quick tips to help.

Protecting Yourself And Passengers

Liability Coverage - Naturally, liability coverage is a must to help in protecting others in case you’re deemed to be at fault in a covered accident. Talk with your insurance agent about the amount of liability coverage you need.

Guest Passenger Liability Coverage - This coverage provides protection for bodily injuries to any passenger that you may have on your motorcycle should you be at fault in a covered accident.

Medical Payments - This coverage provides payments for reasonable medical treatment for you or another injured person in the event of an accident.

Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist - This protection will cover damages caused by those drivers who fail to carry any insurance at all, or don’t carry enough to pay for the damages.

Protecting Your Motorcycle

Collision - Pays for the repairs or replacement of your motorcycle in the case of a covered accident. Generally, you’ll use this coverage if you are at fault, but in other cases it can be used even if you’re not at fault and the other insurance company is slow to settle the claim. Once they do, your insurance company will refund you back your deductible.

Comprehensive - This motorcycle insurance coverage pays for covered losses from damages caused by peril other than collision. Typically, this would include fire, theft, vandalism, storm damage and other covered causes. Talk to your agent for a complete list of covered causes.

Added Equipment Coverage - Have you added on some custom options to your motorcycle? You may need to have this coverage added to your policy. It covers a loss for equipment that was not included as standard equipment, or equipment that was not permanently installed by the manufacturer. This is an important coverage to consider adding.

Towing - This option provides for reimbursement of towing charges up to the policy limit in the event your motorcycle breaks down.

Rental Reimbursement - In the event of a covered loss, if you also have comp and collision coverage on your policy, you can have rental transportation while your motorcycle is being repaired. You’ll be able to rent a car and the policy will reimburse your expense up to the policy limits.

Other Discounts

Multiple Motorcycles - Many motorcycle insurers will offer a multi-cycle discount if you have more than one motorcycle on the same policy. This discount can really add up over time, so check to see that a company offers this coverage if this applies to you.

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12th March 2007

Online Motorcycle Insurance Quote - Where to Get One

Getting an online motorcycle insurance quote is very convenient, but the online motorcycle quote that you get may not be accurate. You may be in for a surprise if you don’t carefully check the information that you send in for the quote, and check the information you receive when you are given a quote.

Start with the information that you are supplying on the form. If you omit any information, or if you get any information wrong, the quote that you receive will not be accurate. You need to remember that this is just a quote. You are not applying for the insurance, and by supplying wrong information, or omitting information, you won’t be doing yourself any favors.

You cannot fool the insurance companies. Omitting information will not get you a lower rate, because when you actually apply for the insurance, the insurance company will get a copy of your driving record, and possibly a copy of your credit report as well. They may require pictures of the motorcycle, or they may require you to bring the motorcycle to an agency for inspection. If you’ve omitted any information – whether it was on purpose or on accident – the insurance company will find out during the application process.

Most online quote sites don’t allow for discount information. In other words, if you are eligible for specific discounts, you won’t see those discounts when the comparisons are done. You will need to contact the insurance companies for a more accurate quote that includes your discounts.

After you get your online motorcycle insurance quote, call the insurance companies for a more accurate quote, and apply for the insurance over the telephone if possible, as opposed to applying online. This way you can be sure that you are getting the most accurate quote possible.

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12th March 2007

Factors Affecting you Motorcycle Insurance Premium

Though it isn’t officially required in several states, many motorists prefer to get a motorcycle insurance. It is a good and extremely significant coverage in case the inevitable happens. After all, simply being careful while driving your motorcycle and wearing safety gears isn’t the only insurance you need.

Most of us are aware that motorcycles have higher rate of accidents per unit distance compared to cars. This is because of the exposed driver and the reality that most vehicle drivers are unable to see these smaller driving machines in the traffic line.

If you are transferring to a new state or you have just purchased a motorcycle, you should check first the insurance law of your state before whooshing down the road with your bike. This way, you can be sure that you are driving or riding legally. In case your state requires you to have liability coverage, then there are lots of motorcycle insurance options available for you.

To find the best deals on motorcycle insurance, it is always advisable to inquire first before setting your hands in a particular policy. There are key factors that affect your motorcycle insurance premium. Among them are:

1.)Engine displacement size (in cubic centimeter) of your motorcycle. Most of the times, you’ll have higher motorcycle insurance premium if your bike employ a larger displacement engine. This type of motorcycles is generally more expensive and they boast superior performance.

2.)Make or brand of the Motorcycle. It isn’t such a big factor, but it is usually considered in calculating the motorcycle insurance premium. A motorcycle brand with few models usually cost higher than a usual brand.

3.)The age of the driver or the owner. Older drivers normally benefit from cheaper motorcycle insurance rates than younger drivers using the same type of motorcycle.

4.)Type of bike. The type of bike you own and you are planning to insure also affect the rate of your motorcycle insurance. Sport bikes are normally expensive and thus require higher premium.

5.)Is your motorcycle garaged? If your bike will be parked in a garage if you’re not using it, your premium won’t be as high as those who are leaving their motorcycle parked out along the pavement. In the latter case, the motorcycle will be prone to accidents and theft and consequently, it will require higher insurance rate.

6.)Driving Record. Your driving record as well as your experience affects your motorcycle insurance payment. If your driving record has been messed up by too many tickets and accidents, then you should expect to pay for higher rates.

7.)Number of miles driven every week. It is an important consideration in calculating your motorcycle insurance payment, since the mileage you are likely to put on your motorcycle will push your premium up or pull it down. So you have to decide first if your bike will serve as your service in your daily commute or it is intended only for leisure. If you will use your motorcycle in your everyday activities, then expect to pay higher premium.

8.)Locality. This factor also matter in the computation of the cost of your motorcycle insurance. If you are residing in a big city, expect slightly higher rates compared to those who are living in a rural area but are insuring the same type of bike.

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12th March 2007

Affordable Motorcycle Insurance

Numerous insurance companies provide insurance coverage for motorcycles. Such coverage differs from one company to the other, with different policies and quotes. So with all these diverse policies, how do we find affordable motorcycle insurance?

Finding suitable motorcycle insurance can be really tough. Such decisions are difficult and confusing, but have to be carefully made. Hence, adequate research is needed to find out which insurance company or agency provides the coverage we need at an affordable price.

Motorcycle insurance quotes can be obtained online. Today many insurance companies offer quotes completely free after collecting a few details of our motorcycle and personal experience. Such quotes make it possible to compare prices and know which one would suit us better.

Motorcycle insurance can be found in different coverage policies. It is extremely important to know what the insurance covers before taking it or considering its affordability. Some examples of the different types of insurance include uninsured or underutilized insurance, comprehensive and collision insurance, medical payments, custom parts and equipment insurance, and much, much more. Research shows that it is always advisable to have the uninsured or underinsured motorcyclist insurance.

Some companies which offer affordable insurance plans include Allegiance Insurance, GEICO Motorcycle Insurance, Bike-Line, Rider Insurance Agency, Foremost Insurance Group, Motorcycle Services, IIc, All State, Ace Insurance Services, and many more.

Usually companies offer flexible plans for premium payments, which help us make regular payments without difficulty. Apart from flexible payment options, some companies, like Sentry Insurance and Ace Insurance Services, provide free equipment coverage plans worth up to $3,000.

Insurance rates vary, taking into account several factors such as model of the bike, your age, your address, special motorcycle training, bike security, and your driving history, besides others. For example, a newer model requires more insurance, an unblemished driving history helps a motorcyclist get discounts, an address in a bad neighborhood requires higher premiums, and so on.

Some companies even have discount plans. Such discounts are available to safe drivers, drivers who have undertaken special safety courses, and others.

The best motorcycle insurance combines affordability with good coverage options. Hence, before buying a policy, it is always advisable to look at the coverage and any discounts it offers.

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12th March 2007

The Demand for Cheap Motorcycle Insurance

Motorcycle owners know the importance of protecting their vehicles and themselves from unforeseen events. As consumers, motorcycle riders are always on the look out for good deals. These riders would be pleasantly surprised at the growing number of insurance companies offering cheap motorcycle insurance. The companies themselves shun the term cheap though; they fear that consumers might view cheap as having low quality, or in the case of insurance coverage, being inadequate and weak. Insurers have found ways of cutting down the cost of insurance premiums to attract more customers. Apart from the basic reduction in rates, companies have devised economical packages and combinations of coverage to suit every driver’s needs.

Insurers have also adopted a more lenient definition of insurable risks. They now offer insurance to new riders and to companies that use motorcycles in their operation, a segment of the market which, before, has been neglected for posing too high a risk to riders. Cheap motorcycle insurance nowadays comes with high standards of coverage and customer care at the barest of requirements. And as with all other providers of products and services, insurance companies have recognized the potential of offering their products over the Internet. The perennial bricks and mortar insurance industry has been quick to get into the dot.com bandwagon. Insurance products offered online have been warmly received by the market. This has also enabled insurers to reduce costs in various aspects of their business.

Motorcycle riders seeking insurance coverage now have endless options available to them. Experience shows that a large portion of the market still prefer the human element when acquiring insurance coverage, but a growing number of motorists are turning to the online insurance providers for a faster and more economical service. Most insurers offer both options and they keep the expenses incurred and the prices of products of their online and offline operations separate while both focusing on the needs of their customers. Of course, the rates between these two selling channels vary due in part to the different cost of doing business.

The more comprehensive insurance packages offered by companies usually offer coverage for bodily injury and property damage liability, own-damage and collision, uninsured and underinsured motorists, medical costs, custom parts and equipment and roadside support. Different jurisdictions require different extents of coverage but motorists should always consider purchasing more than what is required to better protect themselves against lawsuits and larger expenses.

Nothing comes cheap these days but with the competition in the motorcycle insurance sector, insurers have began to see their way through offering cheap motorcycle insurance to address the growing demand for easy-access, no frills coverage. Motorcycle riders now have a wide range of choices for insurance coverage at very reasonable costs.

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