Motorbike insurance
Scenario 1: You are cruising on your motorbike, enjoying the wind whistling through your ears, when suddenly, out of nowhere, a motorist dashes against your bike and you find yourself on your back, staring at the sky.
Scenario 2: You return home from work, park your bike and lock it securely in a place that you are sure is very very safe. Next day, it has vanished from that safe berth.
If you have been unfortunate to be in one of the above situations, lets hope you have been fortunate to have taken motorbike insurance. Even if you have been lucky not to be in one of the above situations, you must take insurance for your motorbike before your luck runs out.
Why You Wont Get Motorbike Insurance When you repeatedly drive after getting tipsy and are booked time and again for driving under the influence of alcohol. When your motorbike is not in a fit condition to be used. When you foolishly lend your motorbike to a third party who is in no way legally qualified to drive it. When you drive your motorbike in a race. When the motorbike is used for work-related purposes (e.g. messenger services).
What May Not Be Covered By Motorbike Insurance- some policies do cover these, so find out first! Any type of fancy gizmos and accessories Those horrendous lawyer s bills and any subsequent expenses when an accident occurs. If your motorbike dies on you and you need to get it recovered from the place where it brokedown. This may be covered separately.
OK- so now that we have got all the negatives out of the way, lets look at the positives.
When Your Motorbike IS Covered By Insurance. When you are commuting to work / returning home on your motorbike. When you are generally riding it, like cruising around, or using it for a chore like riding it to the supermarket for shopping.
Situations In Which You Can Get Claims (and exceptions to the rule) »An Accident: First and foremost, there is what is called collision coverage - under this, you can get claims to any kind of injuries to your motorbike (dents, broken parts, etc). However, remember that this is applicable only to the original components of your bike and not to any additional parts that you put in later. Secondly, you can get coverage for injuries sustained by the your co-passenger. Thirdly, if that motorist who smashed you and your bike has not obtained insurance for himself, you can have your medical expenses covered + the pay that disappeared on the days you were unable to work due to the accident.
» An important point to remember: You must report the accident to your insurer within one week.
» A Theft: You can make a claim if your motorbike is stolen, but you will have to prove to the insurer that it was securely locked up.
» A Fire: If the flames of an explosion or fire consume your motorbike, you can get claims for it. Note: Both fire and thefts come within the category of comprehensive insurance.
Insurance For Helmets Most riders are more concerned about providing first-aid to their bikes, and then for themselves. They may not even think about what is on top of their heads- the helmet!
Some insurance policies include helmets under the spectrum of accessories . So if your helmet gets some nasty scratches or dents, you can claim the amount for the damage caused to it.
Old Is Gold By this I don t mean a motorbike that is in a ramshackle state and has aged over time! If you are the proud owner of a motorbike that belongs to the era of yesteryears, such as, you are really very lucky. You should consider going in for a Vintage Motorcycle Insurance policy. Under this policy you need to pay premiums that are lesser than ones for a new motorbike.
Insurance For Ladies There are a whole lot of motorbikes out there that are specifically made with women riders in mind (e.g. seat is at a lesser elevation than for those made for men). Also, some insurers will that women are less likely to be rash drivers and hence are considered low risk. Hence, there are some policies specifically aimed at lady drivers.
Insurance For Beginners As a rider who is just starting to learn driving the motorbike, you can obtain a Learner Motorcycle Insurance policy.
Since this is generally obtained by teens in the prime of their youth and who are out to show off their skills, the insurance firm will make you pay a high premium. The best thing to do is to undergo an approved training course and avoid riding a motorbike that is risky (e.g. a sports bike).
Now that you are aware of what is / cannot be / maybe / won t be covered, lets talk about finding an insurer.
» Absolutely the first thing you
must do is to obtain the advice of a motorbike insurance specialist. He is
the one who will tell you exactly what type of coverage you will really require
and all about inexpensive insurance.
» If you are already covered, check
your policy maybe there are sections that are no longer applicable for your
requirements.
» Log on to the worldwide web and compare insurance quotes
for a better deal.
Important Advice
»Always be honest tell him if you have had to pay
any fines or penalties vis-à-vis your driving records.
» Always
be honest you should inform your insurer if you make even a single change
to the original components of your motorbike. This may cause a problem later,
as your bike was insured as a factory piece and not for some fancy customized
piece of work.
» You may have to pay administrative charges if you cancel
your policy.
Tips
» You can obtain a discount if you are a member of an accredited
motorcycle organization.
» You can obtain a discount if you take insurance
from the same firm that is providing you with auto insurance for your automobile.
» Find out if the policy is applicable if you take your motorbike out
of the country of your residence.
» Take an insurance policy which covers
the eventuality that you die or are permanently disabled.
Some Friendly Advice: Always be a cautious driver- remember: Safety First!
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