new scooterist insurance

Post by **ericalm** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 9:11 pm

There's been a pretty good discussion of insurance rates in this thread, but I'm wondering what those who are new to scootering/riding a 2-wheeled anything have wound up paying and who their insurer is.

When trying to find insurance for my wife (GatsbyGirl), I have yet to receive a quote for the 2 of us that's less than $800, even with my current insurer, where I pay less than $250 for myself. Progressive quoted me $837/yr. for her alone. I understand we'll pay a little more because we live in CA. But though GG is new to scootering, she's over 30 and has a spotless driving record. Unfortunately, our home/auto insurer doesn't do scoots.

So have any of the new scooterists found a good deal?

bethtrittipo · Post by **bethtrittipo** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 9:36 pm

If you or a parent or a spouse's parent were in the service, you can get insurance through USAA. We already have our car insured through them, and it was only an additional $65 bucks or so to add the scooter.

AxeYrCat · Post by **AxeYrCat** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 9:46 pm

As mentioned, Allstate was uber reasonable for me.

BlueMark · Post by **BlueMark** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 10:54 pm

Deleted by user

vitaminC · Post by **vitaminC** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 11:22 pm

ericalm wrote:But though GG is new to scootering, she's over 30 and has a spotless driving record. Unfortunately, our home/auto insurer doesn't do scoots.

Have you considered switching insurance providers? There's nothing wrong with changing periodically. I've had good luck with State Farm, especially after combining multiple policies, and having a clean record definitely helps get a lower rate from them. Also, their rates are based on displacement, so scooters are very affordable (and so are smaller displacement motorcycles, regardless of "class"!).

jaded · Post by **jaded** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 11:59 pm

State Farm was very reasonable for my full coverage, girl, San Francisco, approx $250/year. And was similar for several other people I referred to them.
Good luck.

Post by **ericalm** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 1:02 am

vitaminC wrote:
ericalm wrote:Have you considered switching insurance providers?
We get a good deal on our home and auto, so will likely not change that. I'd be more than happy to leave Geico for another insurer for the scoots, though.

I'll try calling Allstate and State Farm agents on Monday.

Thanks, all!

Corsair · Post by **Corsair** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 1:28 am

Geico doesn't even provide motorcycle insurance for Detroit

paige · Post by **paige** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 1:35 am

Allstate doesn't do motorcycles in Northern Ca., they shop you to McGraw. We have them for auto. Went with State farm for best rates and good service. About $320 per bike, full coverage. Also, ask about "permissive" vs "named" policies. We can let someone ride our bike and still be insured. Named means only the policy owner is covered.

Post by **ericalm** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 1:58 am

paige wrote:We can let someone ride our bike and still be insured. Named means only the policy owner is covered.

You'd let someone else ride your scoot?!

Given that last time GatsbyGirl let me on her Buddy I totaled it, we probably won't even be riding each other's scoots!

Beamie · Post by **Beamie** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 3:15 am

No one is mentioning Progressive.
My wife is a New license holder and adding our buddy with full coverage and high liability for the both of us run under $150.
That was added to my cycle policy, but that's dirt cheap all the same.

Corsair · Post by **Corsair** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 4:18 am

Beamie wrote:No one is mentioning Progressive.
My wife is a New license holder and adding our buddy with full coverage and high liability for the both of us run under $150.
That was added to my cycle policy, but that's dirt cheap all the same.

progressive quick quote quoted me (25yrs/Male/Detroit no violations or accidents with 20/40/10 coverage and no medical benefits) from around high $800 to over $1000 depending on deductible - Then I put in a non Detroit zip (Ann Arbor, MI) to see the difference: $400 a year (less than half the rate quoted for Detroit) - Where are you all finding $100 a year insurance?!

Post by **ericalm** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 7:36 am

Beamie wrote:No one is mentioning Progressive.
My wife is a New license holder and adding our buddy with full coverage and high liability for the both of us run under $150.
That was added to my cycle policy, but that's dirt cheap all the same.

I mentioned it in the original post.

$837/yr. for my wife alone. Maybe I need a new zip code.

lobsterman · Post by **lobsterman** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 11:22 pm

Nationwide $115 full coverage here in Cincinnati

We have our car covered with them as well.

smorris · Post by **smorris** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 2:48 am

State Farm in far west suburban Cleveland. We have house, life, 4 cars, and two scoots insured through them. I'm 53 with no accidents or offenses. On my 2006 Vespa LX 150:

$100k/$300k/$100k bodily inj/prop damage $13.52
$100 deductible full comprehensive $15.37
$100 deductible collision $38.20
Uninsured Motorist $74.97

Total for one year: $142.06

The same coverage on our 2005 Honda Metropolitan is ~$130

mybuddy · Post by **mybuddy** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 2:58 am

I am getting the same as Lobsterman, except it is $95/year. I also have a home owners policy with them.

PasadenaSue · Post by **PasadenaSue** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 1:30 am

I just read the threads on insurance and I have a question for whomever insures thru Progressive. I just called to buy the insurance and I was told (as others have mentioned) that Genuine Scooters wasn't listed so I couldn't get comprehensive insurance. They do have PGO but only one model is listed. The rate they quoted was pretty good - $115/yr but I would like comprehensive insurance on my Buddy.

So, Progressive insurees, how is your Buddy listed on your policy?

Thanks!

cakeies · Post by **cakeies** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 1:40 am

I have progressive. It was really easy, but I chose not to get comprehensive, but it seemed as if i could have gotten it if i wanted it, and they did have genuine scooters, and the buddy listed as a choice.

I'm paying just $75 for a very basic coverage. If i added even a little comprehensive or collision it went up to almost 400 a year.

I have geico for my car and they quoted me a hundred dollars more for the same coverage on the buddy

San Francisco · Post by **San Francisco** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 2:37 am

I have been with Nationwide since I started driving. So after 20 years they give me good rates.

The Buddy was $224 to add [for one year]. Full comp and collision with $50 deductible.

Nationwide does not insure motorcycles, but they have to if one has auto insurance with them.

I'd shop around for insurance through a number of agents. Put them to work for you.

Don't just use one agent because he or she may only handle certain
carriers.

Keys · Post by **Keys** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 2:54 am

I pay $237 a year for both my Buddy and my wife's Helix for full coverage including theft. Geico.

--Keys

moniraq · Post by **moniraq** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 3:15 am

Progressive tried to kill me! I went with Dairyland, aka Sentry Insurance. About $500/yr for full coverage and uninsured/underinsured. I only needed liability for Texas but since I paid cash for my Buddy and since I wouldn't be able to replace it if I messed it up, I opted for full coverage. They do discounts for rider groups like AMA.

Sounds kind of pricey compared to all of your quotes but oh well.

weaseltamer · Post by **weaseltamer** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 4:09 am

In Ks, i have 2 cars and my scoot on with American family, (multiple policy discount) and a clean driving record and good student discount, my scoot is about $145/yr. i have full coverage, including personal medical bills and replacement from an accident (my fault, or anyone else's) and theft. i think my deductable is $500. i think... not sure tho.

rossini · Post by **rossini** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 5:28 pm

Geico $400 in CA. $50 deductible on everything.

krylonics · Post by **krylonics** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 5:43 pm

I was quoted $240 a year for a Buddy, I thought that was quite reasonable. That was from State Farm. Unfortunately they do not give multi line discounts for scooters, the reason being they consider it a toy.?. Oh well.

San Francisco · Post by **San Francisco** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 6:07 pm

San Francisco wrote:I have been with Nationwide since I started driving. So after 20 years they give me good rates.

The Buddy was $224 to add [for one year]. Full comp and collision with $50 deductible.

Nationwide does not insure motorcycles, but they have to if one has auto insurance with them.

I'd shop around for insurance through a number of agents. Put them to work for you.

Don't just use one agent because he or she may only handle certain
carriers.

Forgot to add, San Francisco has one of the highest rates in the U.S., for
obvious reasons.

Also, my price included multi-vehicle discount, good driver discount, long-
term custo discount, and recreational use [2000 miles or less use a year].

The rate I got was so low I did not bother checking to see how much
my rate would decrease with a higher deductible. I will call them when
I have more time, at the time I was insuring the Buddy I was in a hurry
so I could not spend time checking on alternate rates.

You should always opt for a higher deductible because low deductibles
do not pencil out in the long run. For example, you might pay $200 a year
more on insuring your car with a $250 deductible, but one only has to
NOT make a claim within a year or more for you to lose the value of
having such a low deductible.

On my cars I have $500 deductibles, not $250.

PasadenaSue · Post by **PasadenaSue** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 6:18 pm

Thanks for all the feedback. I opted for Geico and got what I think is a decent rate, $199/year (which will go down once I fill out my "Safe Driver's Discount" paperwork). CA is expensive...

BI 100/300 ($28)
50K ($6)
medical 1,000 ($20)
UI/UnI 100/300 ($64)
Comp 100K ($46)
Liability 250 deduct ($35)

We worked thru all the variables. Intersting how some things made very little difference, and others really jacked up the cost. And in California at least, there is a lifetime discount of 5% for taking the Motorcycle Safety Course. I still need to tdo this.

Anyway, I'm legal now.

aerogirl7 · Post by **aerogirl7** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 9:52 pm

PasadenaSue wrote:So, Progressive insurees, how is your Buddy listed on your policy?

Here in Ohio, having Progressive is technically having Drive insurance through Progressive...it's like an offshoot of their company or something. Both on their website, and on the phone, I had no problems with them finding the Buddy and I have full coverage with theft protection. Mine runs about $350 a year, but it's a little high right now due to a speeding ticket (got the ticket driving the cage...not the Buddy

) within the past 2 years and the fact that I'm under 25.

Hope that helps

Post by **ericalm** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 12:30 am

PasadenaSue wrote:Thanks for all the feedback. I opted for Geico and got what I think is a decent rate, $199/year (which will go down once I fill out my "Safe Driver's Discount" paperwork). CA is expensive...

BI 100/300 ($28)
50K ($6)
medical 1,000 ($20)
UI/UnI 100/300 ($64)
Comp 100K ($46)
Liability 250 deduct ($35)

We worked thru all the variables. Intersting how some things made very little difference, and others really jacked up the cost. And in California at least, there is a lifetime discount of 5% for taking the Motorcycle Safety Course. I still need to tdo this.

Anyway, I'm legal now.

That's actually not a bad rate for LA-area. I pay a little more for my Vespa through Geico. We got the Buddy insured through AIS (who farmed it out to Foremost) but opted not to get comprehensive. The quotes were just too damn high. Once my wife has her full license for a while, I'll probably start looking again.

I'm still fairly convinced that once all variables used to provide quotes are accounted for, there's a "female" penalty. I couldn't get Geicio to admit this on the phone, but they also did not deny it and instead skirted the issue, saying it was due to lack of experience, blah blah blah...

mandelia · Post by **mandelia** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 5:14 pm

aerogirl7 wrote: Here in Ohio, having Progressive is technically having Drive insurance through Progressive...it's like an offshoot of their company or something. Both on their website, and on the phone, I had no problems with them finding the Buddy and I have full coverage with theft protection. Mine runs about $350 a year, but it's a little high right now due to a speeding ticket (got the ticket driving the cage...not the Buddy ) within the past 2 years and the fact that I'm under 25.

Hope that helps

i work for progressive insurance (in the department that insures scooters and other "toys")... drive insurance is actually what we call our agency business; so, if you buy through an agent, you're getting "drive insurance" and if you buy direct it's "progressive direct"... the rates are the same, though... just thought i'd clarify. not that anyone other than me would have even noticed

if you want advice from someone in the business, i'd say shop around as much as possible... insurance rates don't simply vary by company... the same company could have great rates for person A, and horrible rates for person B, compared with another company...

for what it's worth, i'm not insured through progressive, because they were too pricey for me!

Post by **ericalm** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 5:49 pm

mandelia wrote:the same company could have great rates for person A, and horrible rates for person B, compared with another company...

Admit it—you guys spin a giant Wheel of Rates, right?

I'm sure there's some "scientific" method to determining rates, but I also think it has a lot to do with who you get on the phone. The agent that got me my Geico plan may have been trying to make a sales quota that week. She really massaged the numbers (and possibly my info) to get close to my target payment.

mandelia · Post by **mandelia** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 5:55 pm

ericalm wrote:Admit it—you guys spin a giant Wheel of Rates, right?
I'm sure there's some "scientific" method to determining rates, but I also think it has a lot to do with who you get on the phone. The agent that got me my Geico plan may have been trying to make a sales quota that week. She really massaged the numbers (and possibly my info) to get close to my target payment.

it really does seem like that sometimes... as far as geico is concerned, a friend of mine told me they did that for him, too, with his auto rate... but i seriously doubt it's standard practice... after all, we pay a bunch of people a bunch of money just to calculate rates...

i probably shouldn't say too much more, though... i can just hear HR's collective voice in my head

San Francisco · Post by **San Francisco** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 6:21 pm

Not to pee on all insurance companies, but most of them are the biggest
crooks on the planet.

I have plenty of evidence to support this, including a recent case that
settled for millions because the carrier was secretly discriminating
against certain races when setting rates [this was a national, well known
carrier who basically set higher insurance rates if prospective customers
were a certain race. Imagine that, calling a carrier and not knowing that
the carrier's quote was higher because they could tell from your name or
accent that you were a certain race].

All I'm saying is that insurance is a necessary evil that we cannot avoid,
but don't for one minute think that the insurance companies care about you. You have
to watch every step they make, starting at the time they give you a quote.

Like I said, I have plenty of war stories to back up my jaded opinion, but
this is supposed to be a fun site, so I won't digress.

Just be careful out there when shopping for scooter insurance.

scullyfu · Post by **scullyfu** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 3:21 am

hi, folks, i just joined and this is my first post. my dealer turned me onto this board. let me clarify that, my *scooter* dealer turned me onto this board.

i just purchased a new classic italia and insurance cost was a big surprise. here in washington state insurance is not required, yet. so anyway, i tried the folks who carry my homeowners and they don't do scooters. AAA doesn't do scooters. GMAC doesn't do genuines.

so i tried progressive and geico. gotta tell you i was floored by the price of geico...it was $400 more a year than progressive for the same coverages. as it is, i'm paying $335/yr for full coverage with progressive.

i'm financing, so i must carry insurance. but i'd do it anyway just for piece of mind. and as a homeowner i'm probably carrying a lot more than some folks cuz i don't want any chance of someone suing me out of my home. i know, its not likely, but damn some peoples is ca-razy!

weaseltamer · Post by **weaseltamer** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 5:19 am

scullyfu wrote: i know, its not likely, but damn some peoples is ca-razy!

that is SO true.

awfulshot · Post by **awfulshot** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 4:59 pm

Sorry for the long bump, but ericalm, did you ever find cheaper insurance? I am new to scooting and looking for insurance and my first quote was $1000+ i did call a few places and the lowest was around $900. I'm just wondering how low you got it down to? ( I will have a license, I am going to take the safety course, and I have a good student discount)

oh, and hi to all of you!

StL_Stadtroller · Post by **StL_Stadtroller** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 5:16 pm

i just went through this with the wife and her new 125...

my insurance - Geico - would not insure her no matter how I worked the policy - as her own, with me, anything.

Progressive gave her a rate of like $140/yr, on 100/300/100, $250 deductibles.

When I ran the #'s for me (on my '68 SS180) they wanted like $120/yr on the same levels.
Geico got me @ @80/yr.

Dennis Abrams · Post by **Dennis Abrams** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 5:16 pm

$1000.00????

That seems awfully high, even for California. I'm in Texas, and with full coverage, (the same as my partner has on his car!) I'm paying $177.00

twharton · Post by **twharton** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 5:32 pm

$98 x 2.

I have a Buddy 125 and a PX-150. I have the minimum coverage as these are kept in a very secure location and not ridden much due to time constraints. Also I've been a longtime customer of Geico. All that said I got a better deal with max coverages for my Mini Cooper that my 16 yr old daughter drives with Progressive.

Go figure.

Tom

awfulshot · Post by **awfulshot** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 6:56 pm

yeah, sort of ridiculous that its so expensive.

another problem I have had with insurance is that the buddy isn't listed and they just quote my on 125cc or the stella. does this effect the pricing? anyone else have that problem?

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