Motorcycle Insurance Articles
How To Reactivate Motorcycle Insurance After A Long Lapse
2011-02-16
Many motorcycle owners have other vehicles, and it's not uncommon to neglect your bike for anywhere from a few months to a few years. If your bike is sitting in your garage, there's a good chance that you've canceled your motorcycle insurance to avoid the extra cost. This makes sense, but it can cause a rise in your rates if you decide to go about reactivating motorcycle insurance to ride your bike again. Insurance companies charge more for riders whose policies have lapsed because there's a higher chance that these riders will be involved in accidents. They may have lost some of their road instincts, and they're generally not as safe as experienced riders.
When you're reevaluating motorcycle insurance, there are a few things that you should keep in mind to avoid drastically increased rates. First of all, since insurance companies are effectively charging you for being off the road, you might be able to lower your premiums by looking into motorcycle training courses. These are easy for experienced riders, and many motorcycle insurance companies will offer discounts to riders who make an effort to lower their risks by way of these courses. Your insurer might also have other discount programs, and of course, you can always look online for motorcycle insurance quotes to keep your costs low.
If you're thinking about letting your motorcycle insurance coverage lapse, try to avoid this strategy. You'll keep your rates low in the long term by scaling back your coverage to just your state minimums and maybe some comprehensive coverage to protect your bike as it sits in your garage or in your yard. Your insurance provider might even have a special policy for riders who won't be riding for a while, so call and ask--you could save a tremendous amount of money.
Finally, stay safe and legal. One of the most important things to remember when reactivating motorcycle insurance is that you cannot ride before buying a policy and receiving proof of insurance. If you're caught riding without insurance, your rates will rise dramatically--not to mention the fact that your riding privileges might be in jeopardy, depending on the laws where you live. Take your time when looking for motorcycle insurance in order to make the best possible decision and look at a variety of options, but whether you're reactivating an old policy or buying a new policy, get proof of insurance. You'll stay safe and reduce the risk of a costly accident, and once you've got proof, you can rest assured that you're protected on the road.