Posts Tagged ‘motorcycle insurance rates’

January 16th, 2012  Posted at   Motorcycles

There’s nothing motorcyclists love more than getting out and riding on a clear, sunny day. Whether you’re a cycling newbie or have been riding for years, motorcycle insurance costs might not be your favorite thing to think about. However, it’s important to become familiar with every aspect of your bike to understand how different factors can make motorcycle insurance rates drop or increase. Take care to understand these five factors and you might be able to lower your motorcycle insurance costs with just a little effort.

Personal Driving History Affects Motorcycle Insurance Costs

Just like with cars, older drivers will typically have lower rates; however, that doesn’t mean motorcycle insurance costs are calculated simply by age. A driver’s experience with a bike — that is, how long he or she has been riding one — also factors into the cost to insure a rider. A driving record is also a big determining factor. Riders who have a history of safety will enjoy lower premiums than a rider who’s had an accident or other traffic violations.

Training And Experience

Some companies offer reduced rates to riders who successfully complete a professional motorcyclist safety course. If you’ve taken one of these courses, it’s important to let your agent know. He or she may be able to reduce your premiums if you provide them with a safety course certificate of completion. If you haven’t taken one, contact your agent or your county’s Department of Motor Vehicles for information on how to find one.

How Often The Bike Is Driven

There are different types of riders. For example, someone who only takes his or her bike out on a weekend joyride may have lower premiums than someone who uses their bike as a primary source of transportation. This is because of simple probability – the less you ride, the lower your chances of an accident.

Location, Location, Location

You’ve probably heard this phrase in relation to real estate, but location also has a lot to do with your motorcycle insurance rates. A company will want to know if you’re located in a high crime area, if there is heavy traffic or if there are multiple accidents surrounding your home. (more…)

January 9th, 2012  Posted at   Motorcycles

If you feel that you’re motorcycle insurance rates are too high, then you’ll be happy to know that there are plenty of things you can do to lower your monthly premiums and get your insurance bill under control again. Here are five key areas where you can trim a little cost off the top to reduce your motorcycle insurance bill.

Downsize Your Motorcycle

One way that you can reduce your motorcycle insurance rates is by downsizing your motorcycle from a cost as well as a performance standpoint. Cruisers carry much lower insurance premiums than sport bikes because there is less risk involved with riding them. As you may or may not know, risk is one of the key functional items used to calculate insurance premiums.

Motorcycles that have bigger engines and travel at a higher rate of speed are considered to be more risky. This in turn means that the likelihood of getting into an accident is higher and thus there is an increased chance that a claim will be made. For those reasons there is an increased cost associated with insurance riskier motorcycles.

You might also consider buying used versus buying new because used motorcycles are worth less than new motorcycles. Often times new motorcycles must be fully insured if there is a lean against the title. Full coverage is going to be more expensive than that which is required for used motorcycles.

Opt For A Higher Deductible

Another way that you can reduce motorcycle insurance rates is by opting for a higher deductible. When you choose a higher deductible you are agreeing to pay more out of pocket cost when an accident occurs. This means your insurance company will have to pay out less for a claim so they will charge you a lower premium monthly premium. If you feel reasonably confident that you won’t ever have to submit a claim, then a higher deductible might be the way to go in order to reduce monthly premium costs. (more…)

January 8th, 2012  Posted at   Motorcycles

Having insurance for your vehicle is vitally important, whether your vehicle is a motorcycle, a truck, or a car. Every state has different rules about insurance, but the most important thing to understand is that you have to have it, although the amount of insurance required may vary by state. Fortunately, there are a number of excellent deals to be found on quality motorcycle insurance — it just takes a bit of research and the willingness to plan ahead. In this article we are going to cover the top tips for getting the best motorcycle insurance.

Before you start searching for your new motorcycle insurance, it is important that you have all the details about your bike in front of you. This includes the year, make, and model of the motorcycle and any details about modifications that you have on the bike. If you have any safety features installed such as an anti-theft system, have the details about this handy too as you might need to provide this information to get the best insurance rates.

You will need to enter some information such as your area of residence, often just a zip code, to get some accurate insurance quotes. Certain areas, such as big metropolitan areas, tend to have higher motorcycle insurance rates, for example. You will need to use the zip code for your permanent residence, which is the place where you reside more than six months out of every calendar year.

You will also need to be fully aware of your own driving record. This will include any tickets that you have had in the past — this information can impact an insurance quote dramatically. Your age is one of the major factors that determines your motorcycle insurance cost and coverage, so be sure to be accurate about your age. For example, a 19-year-old motorcycle driver will generally have to pay higher rates than a 50-year-old motorcycle driver. However, with every year that you keep up a clean driving record on your motorcycle, you will be eligible for steadily decreasing rates, so the higher rates do not last forever if you are still young! (more…)