Motorcycle Insurance Articles
City Driving And How It Affects The Cost Of Motorcycle Insurance Quotes
2011-02-23
Riders expecting to find super low motorcycle insurance quotes are often disappointed when they take out policies for urban areas. These motorcyclists encounter steep city motorcycle insurance rates just because of where they live. City driving is dangerous for motorists and even more so when motorbikes are in play, so it's only natural that the insurance rates people pay are effected.
City driving makes it hard for motorcyclists to be noticed, partially because of a greater frequency of distractions, but also because of the visual clutter. The District of Columbia DMV's Motorcycle Operators' Guide notes that the in the majority of road accidents that involve motorcycles, drivers who hit them say they never even saw them. Whether this is due to the fact that cityscape traffic backgrounds make it much harder to see a motorcyclist on the road is uncertain, but in any cases, having a small profile doesn't help.
Insurance companies are well aware of these accident statistics and thus likely to increase their rates drastically. In some cases, they won't even offer insurance in the city you live in, preferring to only serve customers who play it safe in the suburbs and rural areas. This doesn't mean that you'll never find cheap motorcycle insurance quotes for your city lifestyle, just that you've got to do everything in your power to increase your safety practices if you don't want to pay so much.
City motorcycle insurance rates may be lowered if the rider in question has some experience under their belts. While there's no substitute for years of riding, if you're new to biking, you should consider taking a defensive driving specialty class much like the basic skills class you should have taken in order to get your license endorsement in the first place. Insurers view these credentials as indicative of more responsible, lower-risk riders. As you search for low online motorcycle insurance quotes try to find ones that take your specific bike setup and equipment into account. Items like reflective jacket and helmet decals, which ought to be worn both day and night, are bound to make you a bit more visible, so they're a good idea even if you don't get an insurance break for their use.
City motorcycle insurance rates are higher for people who have really expensive bikes, especially when they live in high crime areas. If you're still thinking about buying a bike, or your state requires you get insurance first, you should consider this as you make your purchase, and perhaps not go for the flashiest or fastest bike you can find.