With recent news suggesting the number of people riding motorbikes without insurance is increasing, coupled with the fact that bikers are roughly 30% more likely to be involved in a crash than a car driver, it has never been more important to ensure you are covered properly when you start riding.
So what do you need to look out for to get the best insurance quotes around? Firstly, it's highly important to shop around. Make sure you check with lots of different motorcycle insurance providers - while many mainstream insurers will offer full cover on a 125cc bike for as much as 1500 pounds, a specialist motorcycle insurer could go as low as 300 pounds for a learner motorcyclist.
How do these insurers come to these insurance quotes? As with pretty much any type of insurance quotes, the insurer needs detailed information about the rider and the bike so they can get a better idea of your chances of needing to make a claim against them. The higher the chance of a claim, the higher your insurance quote will be.
Regarding personal details, a motorcycle insurer will typically require you to give the usual details such as your age, riding experience and where you live. This is so they can judge how likely you're going to have an accident, or if you're in an area susceptible to high levels of theft. It's also worth noting that an older rider, even if they are a learner, will probably get a lower quote than a learner motorcyclist still in their teens.
With the bike, you will need to declare the type of bike it is and any modifications made. If you were to be involved in a collision and you're insurer finds you're riding a different bike to that declared, or if it has modifications that haven't been noted, there is a good chance that the insurer won't pay up. Some providers may also require you declare what the motorbike will be mainly used for (i.e. for work or just leisure / commuting) and whether it will be stored in a garage or out in the street.
With all your details straightened out, your next step is to work out what level of motorcycle insurance best suits your needs. There are three levels of motorcycle cover - third party; third party, fire and theft; and fully comprehensive.
The lowest level of cover, third party, is the minimum legal requirement of any vehicle on UK roads. It basically covers any damages to other vehicles if you are found to be responsible for an accident. It doesn't cover damages to your motorcycle.
Third part fire and theft, or TPFT for short, covers the same as above plus the risk of damage caused by fire and your bike being stolen.
Fully comprehensive cover, typically the most expensive level of insurance, as the name suggests covers everything above, plus any damages incurred to your own motorbike. It's recommended in most cases that fully comprehensive insurance is the best to go for, as it will cover you in all eventualities - sod's law says something will usually happen if you're not fully covered!
So, now you're equipped with all the information you need, it's time to get out there and search as many motorcycle insurance providers as you can to find the best deal for you!
Weber writes about 125cc motorbike insurance at 125cc motorbikes, an information and resource site all about the 125cc bikes.
A Beginner's Guide to UK Learner Motorbike Insurance By Rik Weber
A Beginner's Guide to UK Learner Motorbike Insurance
Mexico Motorycle Insurance For Road Trips to Mexico
If you enjoy motorcycle trips, then a motorcycle trip to Mexico can be one of the best cycling adventures on the planet. Mexico has thousands of miles of scenic coastal highways, and the interior is full of quaint little villages and exciting terrain to explore. But before the fun begins, you need to first make sure you have Mexican insurance for your trusty steed.
Mexican insurance is required for all vehicles driving to Mexico. As most people know, US and Canadian insurance is not recognized in Mexico, so you need to purchase Mexican insurance for your vehicle before entering Mexico.
You can choose to purchase either a Mexican Liability policy which only covers damages you cause to third parties (it will not pay for damages to your motorcycle), or you can choose to purchase a full coverage policy which also includes theft and physical damage coverage for your motorcycle. The liability policy will fulfill your legal obligations in Mexico in the event you are in a traffic accident, and the full coverage policy will cover both liability and damages to your motorcycle. Obviously, the liability only policy will be less expensive.
Where to purchase Mexico motorcycle insurance
These days, most customers are finding the internet to be the easiest tool for shopping for Mexican insurance. You can also purchase Mexican insurance at the border, but this means you will have to wait until the last minute to get your Mexico insurance, and you may not be able to easily find a border insurance location that actually covers motorcycles.
Online Mexican insurance websites allow customers to get an instant quote in less than a minute, then you can purchase and print your policy in less than five minutes. Before using a Mexican insurance website, make sure to check for a visible valid insurance license and a phone number. As an added precaution, you may want to call the customer service phone number just to make sure there are live humans there ready to help you. Almost all of these websites are run by US based insurance brokers who have contracts with the Mexican insurance companies, so these brokers are regulated by US laws.
Full Coverage or Liability Only?
Only a handful of Mexican insurance companies will insure motorcycles, so it is highly recommended that you secure your Mexico motorcycle through an insurance broker before you leave for your trip. There are even less Mexican companies who will provide full coverage for motorcycles, so you may need to do some shopping around.
Of the few companies who provide theft and physical damage Mexico insurance for motorcycles, this coverage is usually limited to street motorcycles. Race bikes and off-road motorcycles are usually only eligible for Mexico liability insurance. Harley Davidsons, Honda Goldwings, and other non-racing type motorcycles are usually eligible for full coverage Mexico insurance.
What to look for in a Mexican motorcycle insurance policy
If you are only getting liability only, the difference between insurance companies are very small. Make sure to get at least $50,000 worth of liability coverage, and make sure legal services are included with the policy.
If you are looking for theft and physical damage coverage, then you need to be a bit more careful with your shopping. There are a few coverage categories that could make a huge difference in how your Mexican insurance claim could be handled.
Deductibles: Make sure you know exactly what your deductibles are for both physical damage and theft. The best Mexico motorcycle policies will usually have a $500 physical damage deductible and a $1,000 theft deductible.
Hourly Labor Rates for Repairs Made in the US or Canada: First of all, make sure the Mexico insurance policy allows you to repair your bike in the US or Canada. Then check to see what hourly labor rate the Mexican insurance company will pay for these repairs. If the Mexican company does not disclose this amount, then you can guess that it could be as low as $15 per hour. Only select a Mexico motorcycle insurance policy that pays at least $35 per hour for repairs made in the US, and try to find a policy that pays a higher US labor rate.
Medical Evacuation and Travel Assistance: Some of the better Mexican insurance brokers will bundle in free medical evacuation and other travel insurance services. If you are going to buy the insurance, you might as well get one that includes these extra features. An emergency medical evacuation runs anywhere from $15,000 - $50,000 these days, so this is a great coverage to have.
Once you have your quality Mexican motorcycle insurance secured, you are ready to get on with your Mexican motorcycle adventure.
A few driving tips for motorcycles in Mexico:
Never drive at night. The roads are not well lit, and debris and live stock are often on the roads at night.
Drive much slower than you would on US roads. Many of the Mexican roads are not well maintained, and it is not unusual for debris, sand, or gravel to accumulate on the roads.
Jeff Nordahl is an avid traveler to Mexico and a motorcycle enthusiast. He is also president of Adventure Mexican Insurance Services who specializes in Mexico motorcycle insurance. He has over 10 years of experience in the Mexican insurance industry, and he continues to work with Mexican insurance companies to improve the insurance products they offer to visitors to Mexico.
Mexico Motorycle Insurance For Road Trips to Mexico By Jeff Nordahl