Why Can’t I Get Motorcycle Insurance
Gas prices are rising, the economy is slowing and more and more people are buying motorcycles to save money. The term biker is used loosely these days. Grandma might even have one, or at least a scooter.
Insurance seems to be the largest issue for most new bikers. Finding motorcycle insurance is harder than you may realize. Some who have just purchased their motorcycle may have been informed by their automobile insurance company that they could not cover them. Anyone who is thinking of purchasing a motorcycle might be surprised to learn that not all insurance companies are willing to provide motorcycle insurance policies.
It might irritate you because your insurance company will not provide coverage. After all you are a perfectly safe driver and your policy has never lapsed. So what reason do they have to not cover you? You may want to save a few bucks by combining insurance policies. The fact is you may have to look for a new insurance company for your motorcycle. If you are unable to get out of your present policy you will have to deal with separate insurance companies.
Insurance companies have good reasons for denying coverage to motorcyclists. You may be surprised but their largest reason has nothing to do with you. The largest reason insurance companies will not provide motorcycle coverage is the other drivers on the road. There are too many drivers who simply do not notice bikers on the roadways making them a risk for more accidents even though the rider is not the cause. Most motorcycle accidents are because of other drivers and the main excuse is they did not see them.
Smaller accidents can create more serious injury on a motorcycle than in a car or truck. In a fender bender with a car or truck the insurance company might have to pay for paint and maybe a fender. In a fender bender with a motorcycle even a small mishap could bring a claim for replacement of the bike as well as serious injury to the rider.
If a biker is knocked off their bike and onto the road there is very little protecting them. This makes the claims for serious injury or bike replacement more likely. Insurance companies have to take into consideration that helmet laws vary from state to state. There are certain states that will make newer bikers wear a helmet while other states have no helmet laws at all. The fact that the rider could be on the bike and in an accident while not wearing a helmet can scare off some insurance companies causing them to refuse coverage.
While you are shopping for motorcycle insurance coverage keep all this in mind. You will find companies that provide coverage for bikers at an affordable rate but you may have to call several places first. Insurance companies want to protect us but they have to protect their business as well. Motorcycles just present a bad risk for many companies. With more bikers on the road these days you might find that some will begin to change their minds, but do not expect it.
Susan Reynolds is the webmaster for a leading South African Insurance Portal that provides consumers with the best Motorcycle Insurance Options.
