Comprehensive Insurance Only?

[SheRidesABeemer]

Due to my economic indicators I've decided to take the GT off the road.

When I called Markel to drop everything but the Comprehensive (fire & theft) they told me that will not write such a policy. They told me they can drop roadside assistance and collision, but bodily injury, passenger liability and medical are all required. I asked her repeatedly if they were required by Markel, because the State of NH does not require me to carry ANY insurance (yes...that's right, not smart, just possible). She kept blaming her "system", but then asked a supervisor (for what that is worth). She got back to me to say they can not cover me for just comprehensive.

Does anyone else carry just comprehensive on a bike that is sitting in the garage?
I hate to leave Markel over this, but they won't write me a policy that I need.

[drswift]

Most insurance companies are focused on liability and uninsured motorists. Comp coverage usually is the option, not the other way around.

Talk to your homeowners insurance agent. See if they will write a binder to cover the bike for fire/theft as personal property. If they won't, talk with an insurance broker who writes umbrella policies for special situations.

Make sure to tell them the bike is being stored, not ridden.

[Manfred]

In Texas, vehicles that are parked at or in your residence are covered by home owner's insurance. A camping trailer that is not insured or a bike (typically a dirt bike) would be covered is kept on the insured property. In Texas.

[chasman]

At one time State Farm offered Comprehensive only when bikes were in storage for extended periods or under lengthy restorations. Don't know if they still do?

[108625]

I carry Comp only on both of our GasGas enduros; which do have license plates and trail stickers on them. The only roads they ever see are when we cross fire roads and such in the mountains.
I have also repeatedly stepped down my coverage on ALL of my vehicles whenever I was deployed; no need for liability or collision when my bikes/car/truck were parked in the states and I was in the middle east. If you have a loan on it usually even the lender will work with you and let you lower coverage as long as you sign something stating it will not be on the road.
Sounds like you do need another insurance company, or perhaps a different agent can give you a better answer.

[AKBeemer]

I have Allstate and switch back and forth between full coverage and comprehensive-only as the riding season comes and goes. All it takes is a phone call.

[SheRidesABeemer]

No loans involved. I called my homeowners insurance (Allstate) but got a central help desk who said it can't be done (home rider or bike policy),
I'll try again Monday and talk to my agent. I called Progressive, they won't make that coverage, Geico does not write in NH.
The home owner coverage makes the most sense to me...it should be like covering jewelry (not that I know anything about that)

[EXR911]

Possibly a "collector, classic or specialty vehicle" type of policy might be available which could just be "fire and theft only" coverage.
I have that coverage for motorcycles which are part of a collection and not used on the road.

PT9766

[Montana]

When I had Dairyland coverage I wanted to change the winter coverage to save a little money and they told me a storage period was factored into their coverage of motorcycles in states that have significant winter downtime. You might check with them.

[flymymbz]

State Farm still does. Insurance isn't required on m/c's here in Washington, either. They have never had a problem with just doing comp only on any of my vehicles. 2 or 4 wheeled. The call it 'parked status' or something like that. I don't have any of my bikes currently on it, but the Benz still is. $60.79/6 months, comp only, $50 deductible. Just in case the snow load on the hangar roof gets too heavy.

If you live in a state that has 21st Century, they will do it as well.

[osbornk]

If you live in a state that has 21st Century, they will do it as well.

My sister-in-law is a paralegal and she said she understands that 21st. Century is AIG in disguise. She said the claims addresses, phone numbers and everything else is the same as the AIG numbers. She found out when one of the firms clients had a claim against them.

[tommcgee]

When it comes to insurance, every state is different and has its own rules -- except there is some sort of universal 50 state law that sez they all have to be equally annoying.

[jasonTDI]

Being formerly licensed in 6 states to sell insurance EVERYONE in the midwest offered comp only. You had to have othe rpolicies in some cases but it sounds like you are dealing with the wrong people. You need to speak to a district manager who SHOULD know the real deal or the head of personal line policy issuance or a personal lines underwriter.

I take all 5 bikes down to comp and the BMW convertible as well. costs me about $150 for the lot for the 5-6 months they are stored.

Just keep at it. You haven't got the right person yet....

[SheRidesABeemer]

I spoke with my Allstate agent this AM, they currently carry my homeowners. He said that the bike can not be covered by the homeowners. He emphasized that it is a common misperseption that vehicles in the garage will somehow be covered for loss under the home insurance. So if the bike is in the garage, the house burns down, the bike is NOT covered.

He'll give me a quote for covering the bike, he was not sure they offer only comprehensive.

What seemed like a logical move to save some money by moth-balling one of my bikes has turned into an eye opening exercise; I may be stuck with the entire $350 load for a bike that will likely remain in the garage due to lack of funds to maintain it. :cry

[osbornk]

Since the bike is going to be in protected storage, wonder if an insurance company would schedule it like they do with jewelry, antiques or collectables? I used to find some really unusual stuff scheduled on policies. I frequently handled claims on scheduled farm equipment. Maybe you could check with some agents that handle farm policies.

[xp8103]

That sure stinks. I would have to imagine that decisions like that have to be completely monetary on the part of the ins company.

Might be worth calling around to other INS companies!

Good luck!!!

[Paul_F]

I spoke with my Allstate agent this AM, they currently carry my homeowners. He said that the bike can not be covered by the homeowners. He emphasized that it is a common misperseption that vehicles in the garage will somehow be covered for loss under the home insurance. So if the bike is in the garage, the house burns down, the bike is NOT covered.

He'll give me a quote for covering the bike, he was not sure they offer only comprehensive.

What seemed like a logical move to save some money by moth-balling one of my bikes has turned into an eye opening exercise; I may be stuck with the entire $350 load for a bike that will likely remain in the garage due to lack of funds to maintain it. :cry

I realize that you are trying to save insurance dollars Gail, but consider yourself lucky if your bike's insurance is only $350 a year. Up here in Canada, mine costs double that for a year's coverage, on a much older bike. Wish I had your insurance rate.

Bottom line is that it seems that insurance companies always look after their own interests and leave their clients much lower on their agenda. After all, northern snow bound states and provinces shouldn't have to have full coverage during our winter non-riding months.

[BubbaZanetti]

as others have said, State Farm will do this. they actually offered it to me, but i kept my regular insurance this winter so i would be covered for driving the gf's car.

[adamceckhardt]

.

they told me that will not write such a policy. They told me they can drop roadside assistance and collision, but bodily injury, passenger liability and medical are all required.

So did you get a quote for that? Dropping those things, especially collision, ought to make the insurance more affordable.

I've got allstate in NH, and they offered "basic" coverage for the our two bikes for something like $120 a year. We took collision, of course, which about doubled the rate.

[flymymbz]

My sister-in-law is a paralegal and she said she understands that 21st. Century is AIG in disguise. She said the claims addresses, phone numbers and everything else is the same as the AIG numbers. She found out when one of the firms clients had a claim against them.


Yeah. apparently it is now. Wasn't always that way! I was a customer for about 13 years. No questions asked on any of the three minor claims I had, and until recently, was the cheapest insurance around. They don't insure m/c's here in WA, so I went with State Farm. SF made me an offer I couldn't refuse when my car policy came due in January, and at half of what 21st was charging (for more coverage), how could I resist???

[SheRidesABeemer]

I did drop collision it was 1/3 of the bill. I was hoping to pay 1/3 not 2/3.
What I learned from the agent was the company already assumes that you are using your bike for only half the year. So they no longer offer anything resembling suspension of the policy. I did learn that Allstate and Markel's rate are the same.

[ghostrider1964]

My full coverage is $259 a year for full coverage on an 08 R1200GSA with optional $5000 in equipment coverage. It is through Dairyland...:dance

[Fritzc]

I pay $209.15 for 12 month coverage including comprehensive which is $20.00.
I figure my 2001 R1100RTP is worth $5000. That is about what I put into the bike after hitting a deer two years ago. Twenty bucks is cheap, in my opinion.
FWIW, I live in Michigan and pay $123/$209 for Michigan Catastrophic something or other. Total bill is $209.15 for 12 months in order to allay any confusion.

[iRene]

What if you paid to store it at some other facility, like a dealer or storage unit?
There has got to be a way, darnit!

[PGlaves]

Back when we had bikes insured with state farm, the policy had an annual premium and a stated premium schedule that said it apportioned premium by month - 1% or 2% apportioned to months we would normally call winter, and much higher - 20% or 25% to peak riding months. And they stopped letting you start and stop liability coverage. This was in a snowy northern state.