Are Motorcyclists Above the Law?

The plan is currently being deliberated by other agencies that are worn out by bikers who are breaking the law. On a regular basis, teenagers and young adults living within housing estates who ride scooters inside of the estate are under the impression that they do not have to follow the law or that because they remain inside of the estate they are safe and have no need for the hassle or extra cost of insurance.

Sergeant Nigel Nevard of Kent Police noted: “We have spoken to a number of riders coming into North Kent. We are sending them a clear message that we will not tolerate their behavior and will seize their bikes when we catch them.”

Statistics from the Department of Transport have indicated that 6.5% of motorcycle owners failed to pay tax and insurance for 2007.

This lack of coverage was even higher than 9.8% – for so-called “active stock.” These are bikes which are not used on roads but which are liable for tax under the rules. Active stock includes those bikes used mainly for display or shows, but which are brought out on the road when they are ridden to their destination. No other group of road users has a higher rate of non-coverage, a major failing that endangers other road users.

Legally, each and every person who own or operates a motor vehicle must have no less than third-party coverage; therefore anyone who shuns insurance is committing a criminal act. Quite a few parents are now purchasing miniature motorbikes, quad bikes and scooters for their kids. These items are available sometimes for the very low price of ?150. For the most part, these bikes posses a lot of power and can very easily to go up to 40 mph and in some cases as much as 60 mph.

ROSPA has noted that the estimated ten-fold increase in sales of such bikes since 2002 “which are invitingly low-cost and can be bought online” has only exacerbated the problem.

The arrival of these inexpensive machines with inferior value and not enough attention being paid to adequate safety measures on the part of the merchants has only made the issue that much worse. “The message is clear; if it can be used on the road then it is at risk from other road users and should be insured.” If you don’t get the proper insurance then you are placing yourself endanger of not only losing your bike, but you are also increasing the chances that you acquire a record of criminal activity in the process.

Susan Reynolds is a content coordinator for a leading South African Insurance Provider that specialises in Motorcycle Insurance Policies.

Advice On Finding Cheap Motorcycle Insurance

Similar to your car or home, your motorcycle also needs insurance as it will guard your bike against damages and fund your medical expenses. Your insurance will guard you against the claims raised by others, if you are in a accident.

Just like any other item you buy, it’s smart to research before buying motorcycle insurance, and luckily, the internet makes research and comparisons of companies and policies very easy to do. If you have a motorcycle and need coverage then start by searching and reviewing a variety of policies and prices online. You’ll be able to choose the one that best fits your needs. Remember that the cheapest isn’t always the best; be sure you’re getting all the features you’ll need in the unfortunate event of an accident or theft.

You have plenty of choices when it comes to choosing the right insurance agent for you. Who are your friends using to insure their motorcycles? Does the dealer who sold you the bike have any recommendations? Once you decide on the right agent, make sure you are prepared to bargain. Your driving record and experience riding motorcycles will affect your quote and your ability to obtain bike insurance. Get all the details on the policy, but don’t be afraid to ask if there is a cheaper quote. Not every rider will need all of the coverage many companies offer.

The amount you have to pay to get insurance will depend on two factors. One is the density of population and number two is the crime rate of the area of your residence. To get a good quote from insurance companies it is always better to install gadgets like alarm or satellite tracking systems and arrange for locking of your garage in which your bike is kept. All these will reduce the chances of theft. Location of your residence also is an important factor for insurance quotes as risk of damage due to accident and other general factors increases if you drive long and drive throughout the year.

Insurance for motorcycles vary from place to place and motorcycle to motorcycle. While not all places require a license to drive a motorcycle, insurance companies will probably have lower rates for those who do have a license. The type of motorcycle you own can also changes the rate. If you own a fast bike, you will probably pay more, because insurance companies are inclined to believe you will drive faster; therefore you are more likely to be involved in an accident. Insurers also tend to believe you are more likely to file a claim if you own an expensive or unique motorcycle and therefore, they may charge higher rates. Another aspect to consider is using a motorcycle for business. If you must use your bike for business purposes, your risk for accidents increases and your insurance rates will be higher. It might be advantageous to consider other forms of transportation for business purposes.

You should understand your insurance policy fully so that you will know whether you are covered for first or third party insurance. Under the terms of first party coverage, the insurance company will pay you directly to compensate for damage to your bike or injury to yourself. When you have third party coverage, the insurance company will pay for damage or injury caused by you to the other party involved in the accident. There are limits to the amount of payments made each instance. In addition, there will be deductions where applicable. These will be the payments you will have to make in the event of an accident.

Influencing all of the above-stated variables to the extent that they suit you is not possible. However, even one small improvement might be able to help somewhat. Trying to maintain a clean driving record by being more mature in how you drive can already help you get a cheaper insurance quote.

If you’d like to read more on your motorcycle insurance then visit Insurance Quotes South Africa.

Why Can’t I Get Motorcycle Insurance

Current gas prices are on the rise and the economy is coming to a halt so more people are riding motorcycles than ever before. The biker type has certainly changed. Grandpa probably has one in his garage.

Locating insurance is the main complaint of many new motorcyclists. The search for coverage is actually quite tough. If you just recently bought your first motorcycle you possibly have been told already by your current insurance company that they will not be able to supply coverage for your bike. If you have not bought a motorcycle and are thinking about it, check with your insurance company to find out what their policies are.

It may bother you that your current insurance company has refused to supply you with coverage. You may be a perfectly safe driver who has never allowed their policy to lapse. So why would they turn you down? Most of us know that combining insurance policies is a great way to save money. The fact remains that you may have to start using a new insurance company to get your motorcycle coverage. If you are stuck n your current policy or maybe just renewed it you may have to deal with having two different companies insuring you.

Insurance companies have good reasons for denying coverage to motorcyclists. You may be surprised but their largest reason has nothing to do with you. The largest reason insurance companies will not provide motorcycle coverage is the other drivers on the road. There are too many drivers who simply do not notice bikers on the roadways making them a risk for more accidents even though the rider is not the cause. Most motorcycle accidents are because of other drivers and the main excuse is they did not see them.

Smaller accidents can create more serious injury on a motorcycle than in a car or truck. In a fender bender with a car or truck the insurance company might have to pay for paint and maybe a fender. In a fender bender with a motorcycle even a small mishap could bring a claim for replacement of the bike as well as serious injury to the rider.

There is very little protecting the biker from injury if they wreck and are knocked off their bike to the road. These issues make it more likely that there will be a claim for serious injury as well as a claim for a totaled bike. Helmet laws vary from state to state and insurance companies have to consider this. Some states will make a new biker wear a helmet and other states require no helmet at all. Travelling without a helmet is a huge factor in the insurance coverage and many companies are scared away from providing any coverage.

When you start shopping for motorcycle insurance you might find that many companies do not offer it. There are companies that will insure your motorcycle though, you may pay more than you expected the prices are still affordable. Insurance companies are here to protect us but they also need to make money and with motorcycles they see it as a bad risk because of the lack of protection the bike offers for the rider.

Susan Reynolds is the webmaster for a leading South African Insurance Portal that provides consumers with the best Motorcycle Insurance Options.

Motorcycle Insurance – Why Do Companies Fear It?

Most insurance companies in the world treat motorcycle insurance policies as high risk policies. Companies fear that they might have to pay for the heavy damages of the bike, as a result of an accident. For this vary reason, most insurance policies make you pay high monthly premiums. This articles aims to reveal the reasons behind this high risk factor seen by the companies, and also the means to find a low premium policy.

Many factors are taken into account before the insurance company decides the right premium for your policy. The factors include your age, occupation, bike model etc. After all the calculations and manipulations are done, the premium amount is still too high for your liking.

It is not a secret that bikes meet up with too many accidents in a year. The accidents are far too many as compared to any other kind of vehicles. There are quite a few reasons to these frequent accidents. To start with, majority of bikers are the younger lot of people. With a young age, they do not carry plenty of riding experience. Even though they are qualified riders and possess a valid license, the inexperience shows in their riding, leading to accidents at times. With more accidents, the company can end up paying too much of money for the damages.

Young guys and girls love riding at flying speeds. Such rash riding causes more accidents. No insurance company expects this young blood to ride at slow speeds, and they expect an accident with every bike they insure.

Most people find it easy to over take with bikes as against with any other vehicle. Bikers therefore tend to over take any vehicle that comes their way. Especially on narrow roads, the bikes are unstoppable. With so much overtaking, accidents are always on the card.

Bikes get more damaged due to an accident than any car could. The simple reason behind this fact is that unlike a car no bike has a front guard or a bumper that is as strong as that of a car. A car is well protected at the front and at the rear. The same does not hold true for the bikes though. At most, you could have a pair of leg guards on a bike to protect your own legs. This certainly implies that bikes get heavily damaged upon meeting with an accident.

Not for nothing do bikes give a nightmare to insurance companies. This is why you are asked to pay such high premiums by your insurance company. This however does not mean that you can not find a deal that suits you. You need to do a market survey and find out the best offer for you. With internet, it is not difficult to find a good offer. There are websites that provide all the details with policy comparisons. You can easily choose a policy that suits you. It is however important that you give equal importance to the policy and the grade of the company as you do to the premium amount.

Susan Reynolds is the content coordinator for a leading South African Insurance Provider who specialises in Motorcycle Insurance.

The Risky Saver: How to Cut Your Motorcycle Insurance Premium

You are stuck in a traffic jam on the way to work. The traffic in front of you is barely moving. You’re probably going to be late, when ZOOM! A motorcycle flies by your car, weaving in between lanes while all the other vehicles sit patiently waiting for traffic to move.

Motorcycling is incredibly dangerous. You are traveling sometimes at a speed over 80 mph on two wheels, and nothing but a few pieces of metal to support you. There is no seat belt and some riders even neglect to use a helmet. No wonder why when a motorist gets into an accident, it is often fatal.

A lot of people associate airplanes are more dangerous than vehicles. That couldn’t be further from the truth. You are much less likely to be in an airplane crash than you are a car pile-up. The same holds true for motorcycles. The odd of getting into an accident aren’t as high as people always think, but they are very deadly when they do occur.

Like a person who drivers a car, every motorcycle rider needs handled on an individual basis. Not all drivers are as dumb or crazy as other riders. The insurance industry understands that fact, and deals with motor bike riders on a case-by-case basis.

Do not be fooled. Passing the driving test and earning your license does not make you an expert on a bike. It only makes you qualified, but never an expert of the vehicle. A lot of riders disregard that common knowledge and automatically feel like experts on the road. No wonder why their premiums are so high.

Take an approved motorcycle training course. These courses are designed to teach safety and the proper ways to handle your bike. The courses are not only benefitted to the driver, but also go a long way in showing the insurance company you plan on driving safe and know what you are doing.

Insurance providers heavily analyze your past driving history before they even begin to issue a quote. Believe it or not, brokers will decline to even offer a quote if they do not agree with your reckless driving past. So make sure you have a solid driving history unless you feel like paying through the roof.

Premiums will also raise no matter how clean the driving record is or how much experience the driver features, due to the fact that bikes are easy to steal. They are out in the open and many thieves view them as cheap and easy snags. So unless you have a tracking device or other security features, an insurance provider is going to stay hesitant on your investment.

Motorcycle insurance is considered “high risk” and expensive, however with a few minor qualities, the quote can automatically drop and the premium stays much lower.

Graham McKenzie is the content Syndication Manager at insurance123.co.zaSouth Africa’s leading Motorcycle Insurance information portal

Motorcycle Insurance, the Nuts and Bolts

Motorcycle insurance costs are not as simple as 1, 2, 3 – A, B, C. In fact, motorcycle insurance is quite complicated and involves several factors that will weigh in on your expect cost. Here’s what you need to know:

Motorcycle insurance covers a driver against two basic events – accident and theft. Third party insurance for motorcycles is compulsory despite most claims involving motor bikes occurring as “solo events.” This happens because the driver is usually on their own when an accident occurs and generally presents no pose of danger to third parties or other vehicles.

Fire and theft are where rates really blow out of proportion. Insurance companies are unwilling to cover bikes against theft, because they can be stolen quite easy. Fire is also something that insurance companies have problems covering. If you want extended coverage, your premium can spike up in price quite quickly.

Accidents are the number one claim for motorcycles. Unfortunately, accidents involving motor bikes usually pose serious or severe injuries and even death. The driver is exposed to other vehicles because he or she does not wear a seat belt. This is another reason why insurance companies charge a higher premium.

Insurance companies cannot kill their integrity by jumping to conclusions when it comes to calculating costs and risks of motorcycles. Accidents and theft do happen, but the majority of bike riders are safe and smart on the road. The insurance company will also drop the rate if the driver is older, very experienced on a bike, and rides a bike that is not overly powerful.

The insurance company will also factor into the individual’s driving record. How many speeding tickets have you acquired? How many past accidents have you been involved in? These factors weigh in heavily on premium costs and decide how big of a risk you posses.

If the driver uses the motorcycle only as a secondary form of transportation, than expect an even lower premium. If you only plan to take the bike out on the weekends or on holidays, inform the insurance company. Insurance companies understand your desire for a motor bike and are willing to work with you to reach a satisfactory premium.

Graham McKenzie is the content Syndication Manager at insurance123.co.zaSouth Africa’s leading Motorcycle Insurance information portal