You are a motorcycle owner and proud. You love pulling that bike out every spring and can’t wait to get out on the open road. You are safe and always wear your leather gear. You are sure to always stay on top of your registration.
But what about insurance? It isn’t required by law so why even bother? Are you even sure what to do if you get in an accident? Who would you call and would you have to pay for everything yourself? You love your bike too much to risk throwing it all away.
Is my motorcycle covered under my auto insurance?
Unfortunately, no. The truth is your auto policy does not cover other motorized vehicles other than your car, and does not apply to your motorcycle in any way. Do not make the mistake of assuming that your auto coverage extends to your motorcycle. Not only that, it will not protect you while you are riding your motorcycle.
If you want to have liability protection and collision coverage or medical costs covered while you are riding your motorcycle, you will need to purchase a separate motorcycle insurance policy.
If you own a motorcycle and enjoy riding it on a regular basis, we strongly recommend that you contact our office at resource Insurance Group and we will help you create a policy that will protect you and your bike no matter what happens.
Why should I buy Motorcycle Insurance if it’s not even required by law?
Even though the odds of being at fault in a multi-vehicle accident are very low for motorcyclists, liability often doesn’t clearly lie with the other party, either. And even though bikers are often the victims when it comes to cycle – car collisions, it doesn’t mean that you don’t need liability insurance. What if you hit a bicyclist or a pedestrian? What if you accidentally scratch a car as you back out of your parking spot?
Motorcycle insurance will help protect you, your bike, as well as your assets in case you ever find yourself in a liability lawsuit. Resource Insurance Group can help you protect almost any type of motorcycle, whether it’s a Dirt Bike or a Street Cruiser, a Vintage bike or a customized high-performance machine. Give us a call!
Motorcycle insurance is quite similar to an auto insurance policy. It includes various coverages:
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Bodily Injury / Property Damage Liability Coverage: This coverage applies if you are considered at-fault in causing damage or injury to a third party, up to the limits you select. This can be very important for you, since this coverage helps you protect your own assets.
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Comprehensive / Collision Coverage: This coverage pays for repairs to your bike if it is damaged in an accident, if it’s stolen, or, for example, if it’s damaged or destroyed by a fire.
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Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UM/UIM): If you are in an accident in which the other party is at fault, this coverage will protect you if they don’t have the insurance or resources to pay for your damages and/or injuries that they are legally liable for. That includes medical payments and loss of wages.
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Medical Payments: Medical payments cover the cost of any medical treatment you receive, regardless of who is at fault. This coverage is often limited to the first three years after an accident happened.
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Custom Parts and Equipment: This coverage provides protection for accessories and ‘extras’ to our bike that exceed $1,000 in value, other than those originally included by the manufacturer. It also covers sidecars, trailers that are intended to be pulled by a motorcycle, custom paint jobs, safety riding gear and helmets, and trike conversion kits. Custom parts and equipment are covered up to $1,000 under comprehensive coverage.
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Roadside Assistance: Provides immediate roadside repair services for break-down, dead battery, flat tire, or running out of fuel, and towing.
The most important coverage on your Motorcycle Insurance policy
Since your buddy Louie lost his leg, you’ve become more apprehensive. On a bike, it’s easy to feel free. Invincible, even. But many car drivers don’t turn to take that extra look. They don’t watch out for anything smaller than their own vehicle. They look for big things.
That’s how Louie got hit. Got swept right out of his lane by a pickup truck, whose driver was too preoccupied texting while passing another car. Luckily, Louie survived… barely. His leg didn’t.
The guy who hit him didn’t have insurance. Louie did. And his insurance helped take care of the medical bills, physical therapy, and the months he was without a paycheck.
Louie’s accident taught all the guys in your group a lesson. Since Louie’s accident, you’ve vowed to become more cycle-smart and get your stuff in order before you take off again. Get motorcycle insurance.
As we have reviewed countless policies and claims, we believe that the most important coverage to have on today’s road is Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. There are so many drivers out on the road that don’t carry insurance, even though it is required by law. And the fact of the matter is that as a motorcycle rider, you are not likely to be found at fault in most collision, so you are going to be dependent entirely on the other guy’s insurance. If you do get in an accident and the other driver either runs, or admits to having no insurance you will have to pay for all the damages to your bike and you, yourself or take the matter to court.
Your UM/UIM coverage will pay for you injuries, medical payments, loss of wages, and damage to your bike in the event of an accident. We are here to protect you, no matter what happens. But only if you have the right insurance policy.
To sum it all up: You want Motorcycle Insurance so you can protect yourself! Whether that is a liability lawsuit, or an irresponsible driver who hit you. Because a driver who isn’t responsible enough to look for motorcycles on the road might not be responsible enough to carry adequate insurance limits.
Give us a call today 205-823-9869. We can help you find a motorcycle policy that provides you with the protection you need, while giving you the best value for your dollar.
How can I get a discount on my motorcycle policy?
You know that there are many discounts available to homeowners and auto owners, and you may ask what discounts we can offer you for your motorcycle insurance policy.
Well, depending on the company, a variety of discounts may be available to you:
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Claims-Free Discount: If you didn’t have any claims or accidents during the previous policy period, you qualify for this discount when your policy renews.
• Homeowner Discount: If you own your home, you qualify for this discount. Why? Because insurance companies assume that if you own a home, you are a responsible person. Responsible people are responsible drivers (or riders) and deserve a discount.
• Multi-Policy Discount: If you have more than one policy with one company, you may qualify for a multi-policy discount.
• Safe Driver Discount: If you’ve been cruising without accidents or violations for 3 years, you qualify for this discount.
• LoJack Discount: You can save on your motorcycle policy if your bike is equipped with the LoJack tracking system.
• Safety Course Discount: Completing a Safety Course can save your life. And offer you a discount on your motorcycle policy. Sign up for a class today. (To keep the insurance discount active, you have to complete a safety course every three years.)
There are many aspects of your bike that we take into consideration when your rate is determined. It depends on your type of bike, the engine size, brand, level of customization, and the miles driven. Sometimes, you may even save a little money if you store your bike in a garage or if you have an anti-theft device. So as you search for the bike of your dreams, keep in mind all these factors may help you save some money on your motorcycle insurance.
Please give us a call if you have any questions or concerns as you are looking for a bike. We can point you in the right direction and help you find the right policy for you and your budget.
What about insurance for mopeds, scooters or ATV’s?
The fact is, Mopeds and scooters can all be insured on a motorcycle policy, with all the same discounts and options available.
ATV’S, however are covered under your homeowner’s insurance policy, but only if you drive it exclusively on your own property. If you are planning on driving your ATV anywhere other than your own property, that includes any roads, trials, or even across the street, you should plan on getting a separate ATV (or Snowmobile) insurance policy.
We at Resource Insurance Group will strive to do everything that we can to make sure that you have all the protection you can get when you are riding your motorcycle. Give us a call today to set up a policy for you and your family.