Newbie with Insurance Question

gng · Post by **gng** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 2:46 pm

Just got my Buddy 125 in San Diego. I called AAA to insure it, and they seemed perplexed why I would want to do that and even tried to send me to my homeowners policy to add it there. I kept saying "but what happens if I hit some guy's Mercedes" and she finally gave in and sold me liability and comprehensive with a $100 deductable for $148 a year. Something seems odd here as when I asked for a higher deductable, it was the same price.

So - could someone tell me legally what I need to buy? Again, AAA seems to think I don't need anything since it is not freeway legal. I know, I probably got a bad rep and need to call back in, but just checking here and hoping someone could give me the straight scoop.

Piedmont · Post by **Piedmont** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 2:49 pm

Yeah, call back in and get another rep. If they have an agent that specializes in motorcycle insurance, they'll know what's going on. The guy I used for car insurance rides and actually confided that he sends his riding buddies and family to another company for motorcycle insurance. Shop around, it may not necessarily be cheaper to have everything on the same policy in this case.

docutech · Post by **docutech** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 2:53 pm

I am with USAA and they use Progressive as the insurer of choice, plus I get a discount. Full coverage insurance is what I would recommend. It will protect you from theft, damage if not at fault and damage if you are at fault. I opted to skip the medical payments because I have health insurance with my full time job. Seems that if you do get medical payments added to your policy your rate will jump quite a bit. Deductibles are pretty much up to you. The higher they are the cheaper your rate will be. Don't be stingy with the insurance, you never know when you will need it.

anndelise · Post by **anndelise** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 3:41 pm

For the past four years I've been with Geico. But when I asked about motorcycle insurance, they gave me an outrageous price AND wanted to set my van's insurance to the same set up I wanted for the scooter. Pfft, my scooter's worth a heck of a lot more than my van. I don't care if the van gets damaged or stolen, but I do care if the scooter does.

So I contacted an insurance guy that one of the Honda dealerships had referred me to when I had questions about derestricted 50cc. The insurance guy had been really helpful, even going out of his way to try to find the answers for me...which weren't even part of his job, but knowing the answer could help him with someone in a similar situation as me, down the road. Anyways, he works for Progressive. The quote given me was nearly $300 less than Geico's, and covered a heck of a lot more than Geico's was covering. More coverage for less money?? I'm there!

On the van I have the minimal legal amount required by law. I don't feel a need for my medical to be added on there as I figure the van would protect me from most damage and my crappy regular insurance would cover the rest.
In my state, there's no legal requirement for insurance on motorcycles. But for the scooter I got everything. It's protected if it gets damaged ($250 deductible), stolen, etc. I, personally, am better protected medical wise with this insurance than my crappy regular medical insurance would even consider covering. And any accessories up to $1000 is also covered.

I figure motorcycle/scooter insurance is pretty much like gear.
With gear you wear what you want to crash in.
With insurance, insure what you want to crash/lose with.

buddyboop · Post by **buddyboop** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 3:48 pm

I have insurance with Calif. Cycle insurance. Armondo is great and the insurance is with Progressive but if you call Progressive you get a higher rate. PM me if you want info. You only need insurance if you and your scooter want to be protected . I have full coverage on all our scooters.
Like safety gear, you don't need it till you need it.

schroeder · Post by **schroeder** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 4:01 pm

If you are over 50 you can get a good deal thru AARP.. I will (if my Buddy ever gets here) have full coverage and roadside assistance for about 150 a year with a 250 deductible. I think that is a great deal.

EP_scoot · Post by **EP_scoot** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 4:07 pm

GNG,
at a minimum you need liability if you are giong to be riding in public roads.
For the cost, is worth it to get a full load with low deductible (collision, theft, vandalism, etc).
Either get a AAA rep that specializes in MC or go somewhere else. Also, shop around, if you find something better, cancel the AAA policy and get a get the new one.

paige · Post by **paige** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 4:15 pm

In California, the Buddy is a motorcycle. That means all the rigamarole of motorcycle ownership. License endorsement, registration and insurance. The rep you spoke to is not only clueless, but could be dangerous. If you can, go in to the office and speak to someone, it will clarify things. We have purchased a few bikes that did not show up in the insurance databases, so we have to go in and have them hand write a policy until the database catches up. There are thousands of Buddies in California. The insurance companies do know what they are. If you are unsure or suspicious of an answer from them, or if you "hear from someone" that something is true, get a second opinion. ( As an aside, I have seen reference to motorcycle riding being considered a "dangerous hobby" therefore not covered under regular health insurance policies. Might look at that aspect also.)

Howardr · Post by **Howardr** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 4:56 pm

Anndelise, Holy crap! $300 LESS!!!!!. I don't even want to know what the original amount was. Insurance rates here in Tucson are incredibly high, but I couldn't pay $300/year for insurance if I wanted to! Please shop around, my insurance is $170 a year. I even reduced my deductible from $500 to $250 since is was only $7 more to do so. Insurance companies make me crazy!

Howard

krysbrezinski · Post by **krysbrezinski** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 5:14 pm

Yeah, I'm on Progressive. It's easy to set up and quite affordable--I even did it online.

Post by **ericalm** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 5:32 pm

Progressive quoted me over $900/year for our 2 scooters when I tried to consolidate 2 policies with different companies that currently cost us less than $400 (comprehensive on one scoot, liability on the other).

As has been noted in many threads, insurance rates vary by location, riding experience, age, driving history, and a multitude of other factors. You may get quotes from companies that differ by hundreds of dollars for the same types of coverage. And what you get may be totally different than someone else one city over or a few years older than you, etc.

The best way to get a good rate is to shop around—a lot. Go beyond the big-name insurers like Geico and Progressive (both of which contract out motorcycle insurance to other companies in some states). Ask your local dealer for a suggestion. If you have auto, home, or other insurance, call those insurers first to see if you can get a break on a premium. Don't rely on online calculators, call to speak to someone as they can sometimes help you lower your rate (when I got my insurance, the agent asked what I wanted to pay and worked whatever magic to get it pretty close to that).

We tried about 8 companies when searching for insurance for my wife (though companies deny it, I suspect there's a gender bias as well) and Geico and Progressive gave us some of the highest quotes—and one of those was a few hundred more than the other!

For what it's worth, I got a decent rate from Geico. My wife is insured by AIG.

Xena · Post by **Xena** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 5:44 pm

I pay $440 for TWO scooters per year and that is with Progressive...they were by far the best rate I found in my area of Rhode Island.

anndelise · Post by **anndelise** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 6:03 pm

Howardr wrote:Anndelise, Holy crap! $300 LESS!!!!!. I don't even want to know what the original amount was. Insurance rates here in Tucson are incredibly high, but I couldn't pay $300/year for insurance if I wanted to! Please shop around, my insurance is $170 a year. I even reduced my deductible from $500 to $250 since is was only $7 more to do so. Insurance companies make me crazy!

Howard

yeah, it was pretty crazy. For the 50cc scooter, Geico wanted over about $455/yr, Progressive ofered $164/yr. When I upgraded to the 125cc, I admit that I didn't call Geico for a quote, just took the Progressive $280/yr cuz I was tired of all the researching and such I'd been doing with other stuff. And I wanted to ride my scooter, but I didn't want to ride it without insurance...just in case!!

But even my van insurance dropped $50/6months when I switched it (it's now $140 for absolute legal minimum). Part of that was a 10% discount for already having a policy (scooter 2 days prior) with them. Lol, the insurance guy drove out here twice just to help me get the discount.

A few months before the end of this policy term, I'll likely start calling around and such. But I think it was pretty high because of never having had a cycle before, not having taken the msf course yet, and being a credit liability (not quite sure what that has to do with insurance, unless there's some kind of statistic saying that people with really bad credit tend to 'deliberately?' cause accidents in order to receive free money, or such). Oh, and the other reason given was because my method of payment (cash) wasn't their preferred method.

who doesn't want cash??

I do feel as if I've been taken....but it's only for one year right now and I'll be better prepared next year.

k1dude · Post by **k1dude** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 6:13 pm

Progressive quoted me $700. AAA quoted me $500. Geico quoted me $125. As ericalm said, shop around. Surprisingly, if I called a couple weeks later, odds are I would get the same kind of numbers but the 3 company's would be switched around (ie Geico would be $700 and AAA would be $125). Go figure.

Xena · Post by **Xena** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 6:18 pm

I think at the time, I didn't even know Geico offered for scooters...I may give them a call just to get a quote...

irishtim · Post by **irishtim** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 11:36 pm

We have 5 scoots modern and vintage. ALL are insured with State Farm. I like great coverage, low rates and an agent I can talk to (and actually see around town).

Call your scooter shop and find out if they know an agent who rides. This is the best.

PamplonaLady · Post by **PamplonaLady** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 12:02 am

I checked GEICO and Progressive - they were too high. My dealership has an insurance agency on site. They write the motorcycle policies with Dairyland Insurance. Don't know if they write policies in CA though. Worth a check. The rate for full coverage, minus medical payments and a $250 deductible was reasonable. I have had to use my coverage and I was impressed with the service. I reported the accident 2 weeks after it happened, there was no police report and they have already had an adjuster review the repair estimate. Four days from the time I reported the accident to them putting a check in the mail to me. Can't ask for any better service than that.

JettaKnight · Post by **JettaKnight** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 5:27 pm

docutech wrote:I am with USAA and they use Progressive as the insurer of choice, plus I get a discount. Full coverage insurance is what I would recommend. It will protect you from theft, damage if not at fault and damage if you are at fault. I opted to skip the medical payments because I have health insurance with my full time job. Seems that if you do get medical payments added to your policy your rate will jump quite a bit. Deductibles are pretty much up to you. The higher they are the cheaper your rate will be. Don't be stingy with the insurance, you never know when you will need it.

+1 for Progressive. They've always been good when I've made claims (2 or 4 wheels). Make sure you keep receipts for all of your riding gear and accessories as they'll want that if you claim damage.