Bike Insurance... again

[ediddy]

Hey ragtop69gs,

I have been an insurance agent for 40 years and specialize in motorcycle insurance. I represent 6 companies that insure motorcycles. These are companies that I have dealt with for many years. I represent progressive, foremost, dairyland, american modern, titan, formerly victoria, and american reliable. Your question was about foremost and their claims service. If I had to pick one company out of the 6 to represent I would pick foremost. Their rates are competetive and I've never had anyone that had a claim with them complain about the settlement. Also they weren't previously Bristol West. They have been foremost as long as I can remember. Bristol West is now foremost. Farmers Insurance Company bought foremost and bristol west and they are now one company called foremost. If I had to rate the worst company for rates and claim service I would say progressive. Their rates here in Georgia are outrageous and I have had many people with claims complain about their claims service. I am on a mission to replace as many progressive policies as I can. From March last year until July I sold over 100 new motorcycle policies and the majority of them were with progressive until I replaced them. By the way one of my insured's with foremost was on his 07 venture with his son on the back and he hit a deer two weeks ago. The deer came out so fast he didn't even see the deer before he hit it broadside. He and his son walked away with just a little road rash. Very lucky. Foremost has already declared the bike a total loss and paid the claim.

[frodotoo]

I shopped around online and Dairyland was the cheapest for me, $186 for full coverage. Foremost wanted $75 more, Progressive was double Dairyland and Geico was double Progressive. Strange how insurance varies from state to state and city to city.

[ragtop69gs]

Ediddie, I have shopped everyone but Geico so far and all have been 200-500 higher than Progressive. Both the wife and I have no tickets or points, 2 accidents, both of those were someone rear ending her car. My insurance score is 938, I am stumped as to why we are quoted such high rates. If you can write Michigan insurance policies maybe we need to talk.

[bongobobny]

Have you tried State Farm Jay? I switched to them last fall, lots chesper than Nationwide. I dispise Progressive so much I didn't even bother getting a quote...

[ragtop69gs]

Have you tried State Farm Jay? I switched to them last fall, lots chesper than Nationwide. I dispise Progressive so much I didn't even bother getting a quote...

 

Had them years ago for the house and auto's, no claims or tickets and after 20 years they jacked our rates by 30% at renewal ! Needless to say we dropped them and have been with Farmers ever since, Foremost is part of farmers and was $350 higher than we pay now.

[Carbon_One]

Did you check with Allstate Jay? Had Progressive for a number of years but go tired of their annual price hikes so have been with Allstate the last several years who had saved me at the time about $350 over Progressive. No problems with them giving me a fair settlement on both our car and the bike. Both accidents were not our fault either and were taken care of promptly.

Larry

[ediddy]

Hey ragtop69gs,

I'm not licensed in Michigan, only Georgia, Florida and Alabama. I wish I was. It is interesting how the rates vary from state to state. In Alabama GEICO almost gives the coverage away. Here in Georgia they are higher than Progressive. Speaking of Progressive they are the number one cycle insurer in the US. That's hard to believe with their outrageous rates. Well there is one reason. Progessive put a call center in the Harley Davidson Insurance Agency so Harley is writing everyone with Progressive. Foremost put in a bid for the call center but Progressive offered to put more money in the center than Foremost. When people go to buy a Harley all they want to do is buy the bike and go riding. They don't care about the insurance rates until the renewal date then they find they are paying double and triple than other companies and some of them change. But a lot of harley riders and dealers are arrogant and think Progressive is best. I called on the harley dealer in Newnan, Georgia and he told me "Harley riders want to know they are with a quality insurance company just like they are when they buy a Harley." I just bit my tongue and walked out.

[djh3]

I know an older post. But its that time again it seems. On an earlier post in this thread I had just changed from Geico to Formost AARP. That change because the lil green guy went up like $100 in 2 years. Well guess what? Foremost went up better than $100 for renewal this year. My coverage for 100/300 full coverage is @ $742 a year. Thats just plain crazy. I have been looking most of the day. I hate doing that because it puts all kinds of spikes and stuff in credit report and messes it up. Plus I will get e-mails and phone calls for months now. Least expensive I have had quoted is Dairyland @ 633yr. Because of the uninsured motorist (which we have a ton of) that cost alone is $450 on Foremost.

[Carbon_One]

I got what seemed like a good deal from Allstate, but then again I have the cars with them too.

Same here. Also house is insured with them too.

Check them out you just might catch a break.

Larry

PS: OK I see this is a resurrected thread but still as DJ says it's that time of year. My ins this year went up about $35 for 2 bikes

Edited March 29, 2014 by Carbon_One

[Venturous Randy]

I have Farm Bureau and they have treated me very good. I have the house, two cars and the bike with them. If available for you, you might want to look into them.

RandyA

[Barrycuda]

The biggest hit, money wise down here in Florida is uninsured motorist. Because this is a no fault state, Florida has created that loop hole to allow others to slam into you and not be at fault. Who pays for it in more than one way? Us of course, the conscience hard working chaps. Uninsured motorist coverage, just to protect you from some A-hole who chose to not care about doing what's right can jump your overall insurance from $250 a year give or take to $750-800 year per bike!!! Amazing this Florida. They could easily make revenue and stop claiming they are broke by having car safety inspections and mandatory insurance like they do back in my home state of NY/ and NYC. Nope....Florida doesn't know how or want to be proactive...in many things...

[Brake Pad]

I have geico insurance on the 2012 wing. full coverage just under 400.00 dollars, my venture was 338.00 a year full coverage, and both times it also covered the trailer being towed

[dueyk1111]

I got Allied INS,devision of AMCO/Nationwide. 382.00 full coverage, 10,000 major medical, 3,ooo costom equipment, Had deer accident 1 1/2 years ago, treated me like a king. no hassle , paid more than they were supposed to on medical, gave 11,000 for 06 venture! did not raise my rates.

[tomephil]

Great, we still have 6 foot tall snow banks and now I am thinking about the bike insurance I pay... You don't want to know what we pay up here.

 

Hey, one way to look at it is, its only 9 months till Christmas...

AAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!

I think I'm going to jump off as snow bank.

[bongobobny]

Still with State Farm, and still happy.

 

I HATE no fault laws!!!!!

[Skid]

I have Geico and pay $257 a year. Have full coverage with uninsured & underinsured both.

Edited March 29, 2014 by Skid

[djh3]

I know the Canada deal is different. You sort of pay your insurance thru your vehicle tags. I think Fla is mandatory you have insurance, but I have only one time had to produce paperwork when paying for tags. In Oklahoma every year they checked and if your insurance lapsed they notified the Hwy Patrol. They didnt come after you but would look and check it out. Then revoke you tags, make you buy them again and fine you. We still had peeps with no insurance. But I dont think it was as bad. At 750 a year for a bike that is 5yr old I can see why some elect to not carry insurance. I have had to drop my 96 Dodge pick up down to liability only (although I do carry a high 100/300) or else in a couple years time I would pay more in ins than the truck is worth. Maybe I have the deductible to high, right now its $250. But I have been comparing apples to apples, same coverage's I currently carry so I know what it would be.

I am supposed to get a discount thru Nationwide with my company. So When I checked the site it says to call an agent. I think Farmers when I checked last would not cover a stand alone motorcycle policy. I hate this insurance crap shoot. Your betting your going to crash and they are betting your not. And if you do, they jack the rates up to be in their favor the next time around.

[billmac]

I switched to All State for my 07 RSTD full coverage with 250,000/500.000. cost is 628.42 yr. but can get a discount if you pay in full which I do it's $584.82 a year with $500.00 deductible. bad thing is they don't offer a discount for winter storage. I do insur house and veh's also. Also I have a bad zip code (48340). 1 mile north on the main hwy is a high accident corner and I pay for that.

[Midicat]

I would really be interested in a Canadian perspective on this discussion. I live in Ontario. I'm sore from the beating by insurance companies every year.

 

Thomas

[Mike G in SC]

As of last April I was still under $500 very good coverage for my 2006 RSTD and 2009 RSV, with Victoria (underwritten by Nationwide) through my local independent.

 

But I got a letter that that company will not be available for this April.

So, I will first get new quotes from my agent, he does well by me.

Then if not near same as last year, will chase it on-line.

 

Most of his quotes are linked to good credit. Got some friend with clean driving record but bad credit and he quoted them a bunch higher. Go figure.

[djh3]

Checked with Nationwide. Over 875. I would hate to see what it would be if a guy had bad credit, crummy driving record and tickets. Why there is such a difference in some of these rates is beyond me. Maybe because they figure you only get to ride 6 months or less.

[JohnT]

Just got double good news from my insurance agent. My policy is due in May and was quite surprised.

First I get to leave Progressive. Not fond of some of their politics and HATE Flo and her commercials.

Second, Minimum liability and ($3000) collision with comp and personal injury my insurance is going to be $50 a year.

[Mike G in SC]

As of last April I was still under $500 very good coverage for my 2006 RSTD and 2009 RSV, with Victoria (underwritten by Nationwide) through my local independent.

 

But I got a letter that that company will not be available for this April.

So, I will first get new quotes from my agent, he does well by me.

Then if not near same as last year, will chase it on-line.

 

Most of his quotes are linked to good credit. Got some friend with clean driving record but bad credit and he quoted them a bunch higher. Go figure.

 

Not often I get to quote myself,,,,

 

Anyhow, Titan Auto Ins is my new carrier due to the change above.

Same good coverage for $498 for my RSV and RSTD. That went up about $30 from last years carrier.

 

I will talk to my local guy to see if he thinks I should stick or shop.

I may check one or two on-line. But $500 with good coverage for two bikes ain't bad.

 

EDIT: I did just go on-line to Daryland Cycle Ins. Ran a quote on the two bikes based on similar (good full) coverage and got $385/yr. Will call to verify during the week.

Hey and be married! When I skipped that question it put me divorced and $67 higher.

Edited April 6, 2014 by Mike G in SC

[Yammer Dan]

Make sure you keep a good Underinsured and uninsured clause in there!! Most Idiots that run over motorcycles have little or no insurance. I KNOW THIS!!

[rickardracing]

We have AAA. Both bikes are less than $1000 a year. Mine is around $450 and my wifes is right around $400. Plus once I put them in storage at the end of the year, I get a rebate, so I think out of pocket on both bikes ends up being in the $700 range.