Best motorcycle insurance? What do you suggest?

[DarkWolf]

I am buying a used bike, and I would like to ask a few of you to respond and tell me what you think are the best companies as far as rates and service for motorcycle insurance. I am looking at the following - Progressive, Geico, and my own private homeowners. Are there others you would suggest who are specialists more than others for motorcycle riders? I am in my 60's and have no driving violations in less than 3 years.

[Guest KitCarson]

You are going to get a lot of response on this one!! Just bear in mind it is always best to deal with a local agent. If something unfortunate does happen, you will get quick and professional service. Sometimes 50 bucks more a year is worth it.......even if you have a situation on a long ride......if you can get the bike home......you will get help much quicker than having insurance with a company who has to make arrangements to send an adjuster to see you......take photos.....contact the mother company.....a local agent will just take care of it within hours.

[Red Ryder]

So far for me has been Formost which is sold through Farmers $425 a year. But here in MI. all Insurance is expensive. Later-

[hig4s]

I belong to the AMA, and use Progressive because of the AMA discount.

[Gold Rush]

Have had Progressive since '01. Had two claims and both were very smooth and fair. :whistling: I've heard so many horror stories to the contrary so I feel very lucky.......:clap2:

[Pappa Bear]

I purchased liabilty thru gieco for my 89 venture royale, for 80 per year!

[Midrsv]

I would have to vote for Progressive. I totaled my bike in Sept. Had the wreck on a Thursday and had a settlement check on the following Tuesday which was very fair. Actually better than fair. The adjuster that I worked with was very prompt and courteous. When it is time to renew my auto policies I plan to check them out for auto insurance.

 

DT

[Dano]

I've got Progressive (Drive Ins) for my cars and my bike for 3 years now. Crunched in the front of my Durango, paid my share (500) and they paid the rest, no questions. Rates didn't even raise. Bike costs me 284 for the year, full coverage (84 standard).

 

Dan

[86er]

I use BikeLine.com which is Markel Ins. About 400/year for the 86 Venture Royal and a 97 1400 Intruder.

 

[eagleeye]

I once had an idiot run into me who had progresive, and they were great!!!

So, I always said that when I can, I'll get progresive. And now I do have them for my bike---------Hope that they treat me riight if I need them.

 

Steve

[cmiles3]

Progressive is who I use. I use and independent agent, so they check prices with several insurers. When the premiums go up, she calls me with a better offer before it renews.

[Guest KitCarson]

I am going to switch to Progressive next renewal time. For the AMA MoTow feature. Things change.....times change......I had progressive one time in Oregon when that lady ran over my 750 Honda in the grocery store parking lot, I came out of the store and my bike was sitting under her car...........it was a real hassle getting help......took forever..........but times change.....all the horror stories........time......waiting......all that was before......this is now, computers, instant communications.......more agents......more people......I think progressive is just as good as any of them now, is usually cheaper, and does offer the AMA roadside service......the last ten years has become a new world.

[Freebird]

I've had Progressive for over 10 years and the price for me has been good. I've never filed a claim though so can't attest to their service.

[yamahamer]

I USE DAIRY LAND AND MINE IS $330.00 PER YEAR FOR FULL ON 06 RSV AND LIABILATY ON A 82 GOLD WING. NEVER HADE ANY CLAIMS THOUGH:080402gudl_prv:

http://www.sentry.com/DairyLandInsurance/Default.aspx

[AmnChode]

Progressive here, as well. Had them for about 4 years on the cars and now on the bike...No problems with them yet.

[ediddy]

Find an independent agent who knows motorcycles. Don't deal with an 800 number or the internet. Let me give you an example why. I recently had an insured that totaled his 97 goldwing. The company I insured him with gives you 1,000 for accessories. You can purchase more but he didn't want more. The claims rep told him he would have to provide the receipts for the accessories coverage. He called me and asked if that was what companies required and if I had the receipts for my bike accessories. I told him all companies want the receipts and I do keep them but I doubt the majority of the people do. If I wasn't an agent I probably wouldn't. He said he had over 5,000 in accessories on his bike. I called the clalims rep and told her I ride and know motorcycles and that just the extra large windshield and mustang seat he had would be close to a thousand dollars so lets be reasonable. We know he has at least a thousand dollars of accessories. The claims rep said to tell him to just make a list of the accessories and the value so she would have something in her file and she would include the 1,000 accessories coverage. Try explaining that to someone on an 800 number or on line with your computer and see how far you get. Also another advantage of dealing with an agent is the agent places many customers with the company so if the agent says you are not treating my customer right so I may have to move the customers I have to another company the company listens. If you are dealing direct you are only one customer. On the goldwing claim the rep offered my insured 8,500 for his bike. He said he felt like 9,000 was fair so I went on cylce trader.com and there was only one 97 goldwing in the US and the owner was asking 10,500 for it. I called the claims rep and told her 8,500 wasn't enough so she said get me some details of other bikes and send them to me. I asked my insured to go to the local honda dealer and ask them to write a letter stating what they felt the value of this bike was. They gave him a letter stating that they felt the bike was worth at least 10,000. When I sent this to the claims rep she offered my insured 9,500. He was very happy as he would have accepted 9,000. He said he was going to write a letter to the gold wing assocation telling them what great service he got from my agency. As Kit said it is worth having an agent to be your advocate when you need service. Hey Kit, if I ever make a commercial can I get you to be in it?

[86er]

Another thing to make sure of with your policy is that it has medical coverage for YOU! My friend that went down on our summer trip found out after the fact that his policy only had med coverage for a passenger!

 

I came home and checked mine and it was the same. I think I pay an extra twenty bucks a year for med coverage for myself.

 

[Bummer]

Progressive. They've been good to me.

 

Max out the uninsured/underinsured coverage! It's worth it. Medical too.

 

A crushed leg costs over $150,000 and at least six months of down time to fix. The last thing you want is to be run over by a moron in a cage, then get stuck owing the hospital because his insurance ran out, or he didn't have any.

[Condor]

I am buying a used bike, and I would like to ask a few of you to respond and tell me what you think are the best companies as far as rates and service for motorcycle insurance. I am looking at the following - Progressive, Geico, and my own private homeowners. Are there others you would suggest who are specialists more than others for motorcycle riders? I am in my 60's and have no driving violations in less than 3 years.

 

I got a quote from Progressive when I bought the first '83, and it was a heck of a lot better than what was quoted by my main insurance co. State Farm. 'Course anything would be better after being shell shocked by SF. Anyway just for the heck of it I also got a quote from Geico. They beat Progressive by $60 bucks, so I went with them. I was in much the same situation as you. Over 60, riding for 40+ years. Right now I have 2 1stGens insured with them at $400 per year for both bikes. That's 100/300 uninsured full coverage. The works. BTW make sure the policy you get has uninsured as well as underinsured coverage. After what a couple of our members went thru after their accidents I made sure I had the under coverage.

[ediddy]

Condor,

 

Wow, you saved 60.00 per year with GEICO. Have a claim or problem and you will regret not having an agent for 60.00 per year. A friend of mine bought an 08 harley last week. His current coverage is with GEICO but comes due in february and he is going to move his coverage to me. He called GEICO from the harley dealership to delete his kawasaki and add the harley. He got transferred to 5 different people before he got someone to make the change. When I am writing his coverage and that happens I would have him a binder and ID card to the dealer before he got off the phone with me. GEICO is 700.00 per on the harley but my rate with progressive will be $440.00.

[Condor]

Condor,

 

Wow, you saved 60.00 per year with GEICO. Have a claim or problem and you will regret not having an agent for 60.00 per year. A friend of mine bought an 08 harley last week. His current coverage is with GEICO but comes due in february and he is going to move his coverage to me. He called GEICO from the harley dealership to delete his kawasaki and add the harley. He got transferred to 5 different people before he got someone to make the change. When I am writing his coverage and that happens I would have him a binder and ID card to the dealer before he got off the phone with me. GEICO is 700.00 per on the harley but my rate with progressive will be $440.00.

 

I didn't mean to get you upset, but I've never....ever...had any the problems your describing. Geico has always treated me politely, fairly, and with courtesy when I've had need contacted them by phone. I guess if you have an axe to grind, you would be upset by someone getting their insurance online, but you can also get insurance thru Progressive online and save. It's happening with a lot of carriers, and with the internet getting stronger....daily... I'm sure others will join in. It's unfortunate for insurance agents, but it's not something that hasn't happened to others in their businesses lately. The internet is changing the way the world is doing business. I have a sense you're making light of the fact, that in my case Geico, was the lesser quote, and toss out an example to support your cause. My original quote from Progressive was $190, and with Geico it was $127, for one year, for the same identical coverage. Geico renewals went down the second and third year to $115 and $96 respectively. BTW I had my proof of insurance card and policy printed up and the card in my wallet in two hours. I've found that insurance is never one sided, and depending on circumstances and the moon phase premiums can go either way. I'm glad you were able to save your buddy some serious money. Keep up the good work.... I think I'll stick with Geico online.

[ediddy]

Hey Condor,

You didn't upset me. I was just trying to make the point that having an agent was worth more than 60.00 per year. You need to read my previous post. You may have been treated fairly so far but if that changes try calling GEICO and tell them you want to speak with the person that gave you your quote and wrote your policy. You won't get to talk to that person again. They probably aren't even with the company anymore. I recently replaced a GEICO policy and the rep with them gave the insured credit for completing the motorcycle safety course. I asked them for a copy of their certificate and they said they had never taken the course and didn't tell the GEICO rep they had. The rep probably needed to make a sale that day. I wonder what would have happened if they had a claim and the adjuster found a misrepresentation on the app. With an agent you can go into their office and look them in the eye. You can get insurance on line with progressive but the rates for motorycles, boats and motorhomes is the same whether you use an agent or deal direct. Most of the time I am lower than the direct rate. Why? Because I had found a few quirks in the rating that will give a lower rate. I wish you could spend a week here in my office and see the people that come in that have gone direct and are frustrated with the service and tell me "we won't to be able to see someone eye to eye". Yesteday a gentleman came in who got his car insurance on line with progressive and now that the second payment was due they were surcharging him $423.00. An agent can't access the records of someone that is direct but he had a user id and password to access his policy. I asked him if minded if I logged in and looked at his account. The web site for insureds is very confusing. It took me several minutes of clicking on different tabs until I finally found where his mvr was a no-hit so they were surcharging him. I told him that is why you need any agent. If I had written the policy it would have told me immedately that the mvr was a no hit and all I would have to do is make a copy of his drivers license and fax it to progressive and they would remove the surcharge. He said cancel this policy and re write me with you as my agent. Guess what? The premium going direct was 1,184.00 before the surcharge. My premium was $904.00. So much for saving money on line. I have people that went direct come in every week to make a payment or get an id card. I tell them sorry, you'll have to call the company. One more story. I have a friend in Atlanta that was with GEICO for years and I never asked him to let me handle his insurance. He bought his wife a new Jaguar and two months later they got caught in a hail storm in the Jag. The dealer told him it could be repaired for 8,000. The GEICO claims rep gave the ok to repair. A few days later the dealer called and said after starting the work it had more damage than they realized and would cost more like $10,000 to repair the jag. The claims rep with GEICO said go ahead and repair. My friend called me one day upset because when he went to pick up the car the dealer said you owe me $2,000. He asked why and the dealer said GEICO decided not to pay the $2,000 extra. And who did he call. Me, an agent. I told him he would have to call the 800 number and talke to the claims department and if that didn't work he could file a complaint with the insurance commissioner. A few months later his car insurance was due and he asked me to write it. I increased his liability from 300,000 to 500,000 and the rate with progressive was $800.00 per six months. GEICO's rate was $1,700. A few months later someone through a brick off a bridge and damaged his hood and windshield. He couldn't believe how fast progressive paid the claim and made this statement, " There was no comparison between the service with GEICO and Progressive. As far as I know he never got the additional money from GEICO. Next, what are you going to do when your rates goes up with GEICO? The can't say well, we have several other companies so let me quote with them and see if we can get you a better rate. Insurance is not a commodity where the price is the only consideration such as buying a pair of pants or shoes. You need professional guideance as to the coverage you need and someone who will build a relationship with you and look after your best needs and not the best interest of the insurance company. The company reps don't care anything about you, they do whats best for the company. I called GEICO one day and got a quote on my motorcycle. I got a young girl that probably doesn't know a motorcycle from a houseboat. She asked me what liability limits I was carrying and I told her 100/300/50. She told me I didn't need 50,000 property damage that 25,000 was enough. I told her my current company only charged $1.00 more per year to go with 50,000 property damage instead of 25,000 so why would I do that. I got a long silence. If I as an agent told someone they didn't need as much coverage as they had and they had a claim I could be sued for giving such bad advise.