Motorcycle Insurance 101
Michelle Morton
If you've just bought your first motorcycle, or are thinking about getting one, the first thing you should think about that riders often overlook is insurance. You can go through the company that already insures your car or you can find another that specializes in motorcycle insurance. If you haven't bought a motorcycle yet, remember that the type of bike you buy affects how much insurance will cost you. Just like with your car, the neighborhood you live in will also affect how much you pay for insurance. How old you are and what kind of driving record you have will also affect the price you pay for motorcycle insurance.
Unlike car insurance, motorcycle insurance works a little bit differently. You can have the insurance cover the bike only and not the rider. Your other option is to cover the bike and the rider. You can also choose to add coverage for anyone you might be carrying on the back of your bike. You'll want coverage for property damage in case you cause damage to another vehicle or property. You're also going to want to have bodily injury coverage in case you're at fault in an accident that injures another person.
You can obtain as much coverage as you desire, but you should check with your state to see what the legal minimum requirements for motorcycle insurance are. Just like with car insurance, you can choose to add uninsured motorist coverage to your policy in case you get into an accident caused by someone who doesn't have insurance. Choosing to opt for roadside assistance and towing costs could be another idea, especially if you don't consider yourself to be the best bike mechanic and you plan to take long rides.
A lot of people get on a bike with a false sense of confidence and very little training. Your insurance company may offer up to a 10% discount for those who enroll in a recommended riding course such as the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. You'll learn how to avoid dangerous situations while riding no matter what other motorists do around you on the road.
If you want to get your motorcycle insured for the absolute lowest rate, buy a cruiser instead of a sport bike. Sport bikes usually have a rate surcharge for the speed. Put your bike in a garage so it's protected from theft, vandalism, and accidents. That will also lower the cost of your insurance premium. If your bike is going to be your only mode of transportation, expect to pay a lot more in insurance. If you're under 25, you're also going to pay much more than someone who is older. Another way you can save money on insurance is if you live somewhere where it snows. Then you can choose to lay-up your bike for the winter so that some coverage is suspended during the winter months when you won't be riding anyway.
You can comparison shop for various company quotes from one website called InsuranceMotorcycleQuote.com
http://www.insurancemotorcyclequote.com
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