damn insurance companies!!!

[windsorgreen1]

Gee... thanks.  I like being called scum.

And it's not crap.

Maybe the insurance companies from where you hail from are allowed to "rape" people for fun.  Yeah... right.  Where I come from, the rates have to be justified through experience.  Sportbikes end up in the parts bin for a reason.  Inexperienced people riding the roads like they were on a track.  Yes, Hardlys end up there too, but not by young guys carving up roads.  It's not all about the value of the bike.  It's about liability, and medical bills.  You obviously are an uninformed insurance consumer.  I'd suggest doing a little research before you start calling people scum.  I'm not your ex-wife.
That is all.

Maybe it's that you have low self-esteem. You could be one of the few who aren't scum but since you thanked me ..... , but you're right- I shouldn't have painted with such a broad brush.

Yes it is crap. Another instance my best friend is in the military. One of his military buddies bought a 2004 cbr1000rr as his first bike (dumb) .When Progressive won't even touch a Honda CBR1000RR for under 3 grand a yr for a new 36yr old rider with no prior accident or tickets on his record ( and he had to call to get that quote because progressive didn't have it listed on the website) but State Farm covers the same bike, full coverage, for $1000 a year - that my boy IS crap.

[bluedogok]

One thing that irritates me is the fact that you have to insure each bike separately when you can only be riding one of them. I guess it would make too much sense to base insurance on the rider/overall value than the bike much like small dealer insurance coverage works.

[Hickey]

One question that hasn't been asked in this thread: why are rates in Canada, or at least that province, different from what's commonly available in the U.S.?

I've got no idea, but in these kinds of threads I've noticed that our Canadian friends are paying at least twice what one might expect in a high rate area of America.  If American insurance companies can insure bikes at a profit here in the US at our prices, then why can't the Canadian insurance companies turn a profit at a lower rate than they charge now?  Or are they really raping their customers up there?  Or is there some kind of government imposed tax on insurance up there that we don't have?

[dr dralion]

I don't think liability rates have anything to do with the age or value of the bike, although I guess in some places the bike "style"--sportbike, cruiser, etc--may play a role.  Where I live, liability premiums are based solely on displacement (which means a Harley rider is always gonna pay more than a 600RR rider).

My bike, address, driving record, etc. didn't change but my age did and therefore I can attest that liability does have something to do with age.  Being in the 18-24 year old male cagetory costs alot in insurance.  Liability has to do with the chance I'm going to damage someone else's vehicle or property.  And apparently being younger makes for a greater chance that'll happen.
Kev

[Global Rider]

Is it just me or does it seem like insurances is trying to make it as hard as possible for any new riders to start riding? DAMN THE INSURANCE COMPANIES.

sorry, just needed to vent a little.

Fully understandable...the venting part.

Insurance is effed in Ontario and if you want to get right down to it, fraudulent. The reason we pay so much is due to accident benefits which pays for your expenses that OHIP doesn't pay for and for loss of income, etc.

You want to hear the fraudulent part of it...they don't have to pay you if you are covered through your workplace (as I am)...yet you are forced to pay the premiums. Same for seniors who receive a monthly penison payment.

So in the US I can sue for $10M but pay nothing in insurance premiums. In Canada you can't sue for anything but get reamed by the insurance companies. Makes sense ehhh?

[R1150RTMark]

In addition to age, marital status for a young male has a lot to do with rates here in Ohio.  Wanna lower your insurance rates a TON if you're under 25?  Get married!  

[CLAY]

One question that hasn't been asked in this thread: why are rates in Canada, or at least that province, different from what's commonly available in the U.S.?

Borderline Socialism and governmental healthcare?

  Just a thought...

[2XX2]

Maybe it's that you have low self-esteem. You could be one of the few who aren't scum but since you thanked me ..... , but you're right- I shouldn't have painted with such a broad brush.

Yes it is crap. Another instance my best friend is in the military. One of his military buddies bought a 2004 cbr1000rr as his first bike (dumb) .When Progressive won't even touch a Honda CBR1000RR for under 3 grand a yr for a new 36yr old rider with no prior accident or tickets on his record ( and he had to call to get that quote because progressive didn't have it listed on the website) but State Farm covers the same bike, full coverage, for $1000 a year - that my boy IS crap.

Nope... No "Low self-esteem" here.  I'm a very good agent, and believe that insurance can be a worthy industry.  Yes.. there are some that look to take advantage of certain situations, but that happens in everything.  Every business.

What I hate is uninformed people running off their mouth stating exactly what you are saying.  Obviously, you know nothing about how the industry works, so quit yakking.  You're doing nothing to inform people about what they really need.  Which is to understand the truth.

NO!!!!  It is not crap.  Here's the deal.  

First, each company can decide if it wants to even sell insurance to motorcyclists.  Some do, some don't... Those that do may place restrictions on what they sell.  That is their choice.  Nobody HAS to sell you insurance.  Companies are in the business to make money, not make sure YOU get the lowest rate possible.  That's your job.  Shop around for the best rate in your area.

Second.  Each company has it's own "experience" records with certain rider types, bikes, and areas.  They set rates based on this experience.... the experience they have seen with previous policies they have written to that group.  Obviously, some companies have different experiences with the different groups.  Therefore the difference in rates between companies.  In my part of the world, this is all supervised by our State Insurance Department.  The insurance department only allows the setting of rates based on "experience" records.

Insurance companies aren't there just to screw you.

In closing.... AGAIN... educate yourself before you mouth off.

 

[dezXrider]

It pays to check rates before buying the bike some are higher than others, I checked on the XX and Busa before I bought and the XX was way lower so that made my choice easier, and the Busa seemed kinda ugly. Some Insurance companies allso like to see you married, owning a home, using the bike for pleasure (touring) less than 7k miles a year, have completed the MC driving course and a AMA member. My XX is $75 a year for the min required coverage, it is only $15 more than my 1990 CBR1000F was. I still prefer Fl. no insurance necessary, I had 4 or 5 bikes at a time and would have had more but there was limited space in the dining room, tags were only $20 and no emmissions test.

[Scoop]

Insurance is effed in Ontario and if you want to get right down to it, fraudulent. The reason we pay so much is due to accident benefits which pays for your expenses that OHIP doesn't pay for and for loss of income, etc.

You want to hear the fraudulent part of it...they don't have to pay you if you are covered through your workplace (as I am)...yet you are forced to pay the premiums. Same for seniors who receive a monthly penison payment.

So in the US I can sue for $10M but pay nothing in insurance premiums. In Canada you can't sue for anything but get reamed by the insurance companies. Makes sense ehhh?

I am sorry 2XX2.  I have to chime in with Global Rider here against the borderline criminal practices of the insurance companies.  It costs me $14.00 per year to insure my DL1000 with Primmum.  That's not a mistake....fourteen dollars per year for liability insurance.  That's all.  Great rate yes?  But, I have to pay almost $500 per year for "accident benefits".  Term insurance that I can never collect because I have health insurance, additional insurance through work and my own personal insurance.  But, the insurance companies have managed to make that part of the Ontario Insurance Act.  Why would the government mandate useless term insurance for consumers?  Because, when the public forced the Ontario government to look at "gouging" by insurance companies, the companies responded by lowering rates and lobbying the government for the term insurance, which was made law.  According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, that is because some Canadians are otherwise under insured (quote from the IBC).  So, now when we cry foul, the government and insurance companies show us how low our rates are and that is as far as it goes.  
I may not have proof, but I am sure it is a pretty safe bet that money changed hands, favors were done.  I put that into the criminal category.

[Scoop]

But, to stop ranting and answer the original post....
Yes, shop around.  I was once with Jevco, the blackest of the black.  I switched to a few and stuck with Primmum for a long time.  They had pretty good rates overall.  I am with Riders Plus this year, they are about 60 bucks cheaper than Primmum.  

[NoDak]

I have a 1999 Triumph Adventurer ($125.00/year) and a 2005 Triumph Sprint ST ($240/year).
I'm 39, married, live in North Dakota, and have a clean record.
The company is Dairyland Insurance.

[CLAY]

Insurance companies aren't there just to screw you.

In closing.... AGAIN... educate yourself before you mouth off.

 

I agree with much of what you say- one difference though between insurance and a regular business- if we want to drive we are *required* to do business with one of you.  That's not true with other businesses.  Just pointing out an observation.

The more the goverment gets involved, the more the average Joe gets screwed.

For the record- 500 bucks for my 03 Bandit 1200S and 2- XS650's.  I'm getting a great rate- but I'm a clean record, married, experienced rider.  I'm 37 and have had my MC endorsement since I was 20 (if that makes a difference).

[2XX2]

I am sorry 2XX2.  I have to chime in with Global Rider here against the borderline criminal practices of the insurance companies.  It costs me $14.00 per year to insure my DL1000 with Primmum.  That's not a mistake....fourteen dollars per year for liability insurance.  That's all.  Great rate yes?  But, I have to pay almost $500 per year for "accident benefits".  Term insurance that I can never collect because I have health insurance, additional insurance through work and my own personal insurance.  But, the insurance companies have managed to make that part of the Ontario Insurance Act.  Why would the government mandate useless term insurance for consumers?  Because, when the public forced the Ontario government to look at "gouging" by insurance companies, the companies responded by lowering rates and lobbying the government for the term insurance, which was made law.  According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, that is because some Canadians are otherwise under insured (quote from the IBC).  So, now when we cry foul, the government and insurance companies show us how low our rates are and that is as far as it goes.  
I may not have proof, but I am sure it is a pretty safe bet that money changed hands, favors were done.  I put that into the criminal category.

Hey scoop...  that doesn't sound like abuse by the insurance companies.  That sounds like your government is screwing you.  I'm close enough to Canada (NY) that I'm pretty sure you still have an elected government.  ANY industry that is in business to make money is going to take advantage of an opportunity if it presents its self.  In your case, you are required to purchase this "accident" coverage?  That's not the insurance industry mandating that.  That's your government that has the criminal practices.  So here we go.... all the insurance industries fault... right?

My whole problem with this issue is that the opinion that "all" insurance companies (therefore everyone in the business) are out to screw everyone is just plain wrong.  It's simply not so, and hearing it repeated over and over does nobody any good.  Overall, in all the years that I have been involved, the great majority of people in insurance do the right thing.  Is there corruption in the industry?  Yes.  But, that can be said in any industry.

The key thing is to shop around for the best coverage / premium.  Find an agent that you trust, that is knowledgeable, and can keep you up on insurance trends/changes.  Educate yourself about how insurance works.  And in your case... vote!

The uninformed opinions and stories about "my buddy this", and "my buddy that" doesn't do one bit of good for anyone.

[bluedogok]

Insurance companies aren't there just to screw you.

In a way, yes they are. They mainly exist to make money for their shareholders....if they can screw some people to make a larger profit to satisfy those shareholders, most will. But they are just like almost every other public (and most private) companies out there in that respect, it is not exclusive to insurance companies.

As far as the Canadian accident insurance, lobbying (and buying of legislation) to get a bill passed by those who will profit from a compulsory rule is pretty much "screwing" those who will have to purchase it. That way they get someone else to be the public scapegoat when in fact they were the reason behind such legislation. We all know corrupt businesses and politicians exist all over the world.

You do bring up some good points, but you also have a vested interest in the subject so you are far from neutral in regards to this discussion. We can be disgusted at paying high rates just like can not like the discussion of those rates. Just because you get paid by the industry doesn't mean that we have to agree with YOUR interpretations of an industry that in your livelihood. Higher rates typically get you higher commissions, it is no different than any car salesman.

I had a crash last weekend (20-25 mph low-side), my first in 25 years on a motorcycle and almost 20 years since I had one in a car. I am not going to claim it on my insurance because I don't want the premium go up because of one accident in the past 20-25 years. I am lucky in the fact that it is not bad enough to warrant making a claim, I am just going to repair it myself. If it had been a crash that damaged the bike significantly to where I wouldn't have been able to ride it home and repair it I probably would have made a claim because then the cost would have been justified.

You ought to know by now that most of us are too old to change our minds when it comes to things like this  

[2XX2]

In a way, yes they are. They mainly exist to make money for their shareholders....if they can screw some people to make a larger profit to satisfy those shareholders, most will. But they are just like almost every other public (and most private) companies out there in that respect, it is not exclusive to insurance companies.

As far as the Canadian accident insurance, lobbying (and buying of legislation) to get a bill passed by those who will profit from a compulsory rule is pretty much "screwing" those who will have to purchase it. That way they get someone else to be the public scapegoat when in fact they were the reason behind such legislation. We all know corrupt businesses and politicians exist all over the world.

You do bring up some good points, but you also have a vested interest in the subject so you are far from neutral in regards to this discussion. We can be disgusted at paying high rates just like can not like the discussion of those rates. Just because you get paid by the industry doesn't mean that we have to agree with YOUR interpretations of an industry that in your livelihood. Higher rates typically get you higher commissions, it is no different than any car salesman.

I had a crash last weekend (20-25 mph low-side), my first in 25 years on a motorcycle and almost 20 years since I had one in a car. I am not going to claim it on my insurance because I don't want the premium go up because of one accident in the past 20-25 years. I am lucky in the fact that it is not bad enough to warrant making a claim, I am just going to repair it myself. If it had been a crash that damaged the bike significantly to where I wouldn't have been able to ride it home and repair it I probably would have made a claim because then the cost would have been justified.

You ought to know by now that most of us are too old to change our minds when it comes to things like this  

That's the point.  Too many people, for no reason, think everyone (in insurance) is out to screw them.  Had you been my insured, I would happily tell you that you should place a claim on your recent accident.  I would have placed you in a good company that allows for long term customers to "not" get beat up.  You would have had "accident forgiveness" on your first accident in a 3 year period.  therefore, no increase due to your recent mishap.  In other words, you wouldn't be screwed.

I realize that I'm an insider, and that I'm paid by the man.  But ultimately, if I don't have any customers (YOU) due to dissatisfaction, I'll be out of business.  It's pretty simple.

Bottom line... we are not all out to screw everyone.  Those that think that are just plain wrong.

[Global Rider]

In your case, you are required to purchase this "accident" coverage?  That's not the insurance industry mandating that.  That's your government that has the criminal practices.  So here we go.... all the insurance industries fault... right?

Its called "Accident Benefits". Sure, the provincial government may have implemented AB, but they don't tell the insurance companies what to charge for it. In that case, knowing full well that they (the insurance company) won't have to pay out, why aren't they charging a premium accordingly...like $10 instead of $250 or more.

You want to know how screwed up insurance is up here. If you get hit by a car crossing the street, the AB of the car owner pays out your expenses if you don't own a car. If the pedestrian getting hit owns a car and has insurance, his own insurance pays the expenses. Doesn't that make sense?

My whole problem with this issue is that the opinion that "all" insurance companies (therefore everyone in the business) are out to screw everyone is just plain wrong.  It's simply not so, and hearing it repeated over and over does nobody any good.

Just ask the residents of New Orleans. They're getting about 15 cents on the dollar for claims. They all entered and both parties agreed to a contract, an insurance policy. So why is it they have to go to court to get money from those low life insurance companies. Oh, they're quick to collect your money...just watch out when they have to pay out.

[Global Rider]

I had a crash last weekend (20-25 mph low-side), my first in 25 years on a motorcycle and almost 20 years since I had one in a car. I am not going to claim it on my insurance because I don't want the premium go up because of one accident in the past 20-25 years.

And that is exactly why I get the bare minimum in insurance. I never get collision simply because it is a big rip off. Insuracne companies do what is cheapest for "them", not what is best for you. When you have an accident, they'll write off your vehicle if it is cheaper than fixing it....and they get to keep your vehicle, sell it and further cut their loses.

And why is it my rates don't go down from year to year? The vehicle is worth less after five years.

[highside]

The katana is no speed demon by any means. DAMN THE INSURANCE COMPANIES.

Do not blame the insurance companies for the price of liability insurance in Canada. Insurance companies are allowed to essentially run amok in the U.S. without interference and we don't pay anything like what you guys do for liability insurance. For example, i pay a whopping $78 / YEAR (that isnt for a huge amount of liability though).

[bluedogok]

And that is exactly why I get the bare minimum in insurance. I never get collision simply because it is a big rip off. Insuracne companies do what is cheapest for "them", not what is best for you. When you have an accident, they'll write off your vehicle if it is cheaper than fixing it....and they get to keep your vehicle, sell it and further cut their loses.

And why is it my rates don't go down from year to year? The vehicle is worth less after five years.

The collision only added $6.00 a month ($72.00 a year) to the overall policy for me, which is pretty reasonable overall. I consider it a "catastrophic care" type of insurance. I just busted up bodywork and already have a line on some replacement plastic from a member here for much, much less than new plastic. Replacement bodywork would be more than the deductible but I will be able to get used bodywork and painted for less than the deductible. I got lucky it wasn't that bad.