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Wednesday, May 25, 2011

How to Buy Motor Bike Insurance

By Sanja Terry


Anyone who rides a motor bike or any motorized vehicle on public streets needs motorcycle insurance. Of course, it is required by law in most places, but beyond that you need to be covered in case something happens. You'll just get the minimum mandated by law if you call insurance companies and accept the one with the best price.. That may be what you need, but you should examine your alternatives first. These are the chief areas of motorcycle insurance to look for.

Medical Coverage for You and Your Passenger

Motorbike insurance can cover repair or replacement of your motorcycle if necessary. There are two things you need to think about here: sources of damage and fault. First, damage is usually only covered if it comes from specific sources. Your bike could be stolen, vandalized, burn in a garage fire and so on. Some policies only cover damage from traffic accidents. If you want to protect your investment, you need to think about other kinds of damage. If you leave anything to chance, you should at least know what it is. Second is traffic accidents. If the other party is responsible for the damage, you can collect from their insurance. But what if they don't have insurance, or their insurance is insufficient or it was a hit and run? What if you caused the accident? Is your bike covered then?

You also need to think about whether others riding your motorcycle would be covered. Does your policy cover your passenger? What if you loan out your bike and someone else is riding it? You also might want to check your regular health insurance. If you're covered under that, it might make a difference in whether you choose to address the issue in your motorbike insurance policy.

Insurance for Your Motorbike

You can buy a policy that will cover repair or replacement of your motor bike if necessary. You need to look at traffic accidents and damage from other sources as well. Many motorcycle insurance policies only cover damage from traffic accidents. If you are at fault, or if the other party is uninsured, your liability insurance won't cover damage to your property unless you have comprehensive and collision. Your bike could also sustain damage from something other than a traffic accident, like a flood, fire or vandalism. Find out under what conditions your motorcycle would be covered.

If your motorcycle is financed, the lender will probably insist that you carry coverage on it. If your bike is paid off, you may consider dropping coverage on it, especially if you could afford to replace it in the event of a catastrophe.

Legal responsibility

The thing that makes motorcycles scary is not damage to property, or even to other motorists, who are likely in cars. It's injury to those riding the motor bike. There's no steel cage, air bags or seat belt. Just a helmet and clothing. An accident that would be considered minor for cars can be deadly if there's a motorbike involved. If you are injured in a crash, how much would your insurance pay? Would it be enough to cover all of your medical expenses as well as living expenses until you could get back to work?

You also need to think about whether others riding your motorcycle would be covered. Does your policy cover your passenger? What if you loan out your bike and someone else is riding it? You also might want to check your regular health insurance. If you're covered under that, it might make a difference in whether you choose to address the issue in your motor bike insurance policy.

It's always a good idea to get several bids before you buy a motorcycle insurance policy. Know what you're looking for in a policy and get quotes on similar coverage so that you can compare prices accurately.




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