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TIL insurance premium is cheaper if you add a 2nd bike with no coverage...

sammy5001

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Mar 15, 2013
Location
San Francisco
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compared to just having a single bike.

Then for people that own a single bike, is it legal for them to arbitrarily insure a 2nd bike that they don't own to get multiple-vehicle discount, which evidently in my case, is better than just insuring a single bike?
 
you can't insure something you do not own. if you are not the registered owner or on the title you can't insure it.
 
you can't insure something you do not own. if you are not the registered owner or on the title you can't insure it.

the vehicle code appears to provide for different types of insurance policies. I'm not sure an "operator's policy" would satisfy the OP's intent.

16451. An owner's policy of motor vehicle liability insurance shall
insure the named insured and any other person using any motor
vehicle registered to the named insured with the express or implied
permission of the named insured, against loss from the liability
imposed by law for damages arising out of ownership, maintenance, or
use of the motor vehicle within the continental limits of the United
States to the extent and aggregate amount, exclusive of interest and
costs, with respect to each motor vehicle, of fifteen thousand
dollars ($15,000) for bodily injury to or death of each person as a
result of any one accident and, subject to the limit as to one
person, the amount of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) for bodily
injury to or death of all persons as a result of any one accident and
the amount of five thousand dollars ($5,000) for damage to property
of others as a result of any one accident.



16452. An operator's policy of motor vehicle liability insurance
shall insure the person named as insured therein against loss from
the liability imposed on that person by law for damages arising out
of use by that person of any motor vehicle not owned by that person
,
and for any subsequently acquired motor vehicle for a period not to
exceed 10 days from date of purchase, within the same territorial
limits and subject to the same limits of liability as are provided
for in an owner's policy of liability insurance.
 
I had a CT70 that I had liability insurance on it, it was $11/month. My Sportster was $10 per month, liability only, because the Honda 70 had MORE POWER. Explain that.

I still have the 70. The POS Sportster is long gone.
 
the vehicle code appears to provide for different types of insurance policies. I'm not sure an "operator's policy" would satisfy the OP's intent.

In order to have insurance in the state of California the person must have a financial interest in the vehicle. you have to be on the title of the vehicle to insure it. I know the VC says this but all insurance policies have exclusions and this is one of them. They will not insure you for something you do not own.
 
depends on how the policy is underwritten...if you have a high insurance bike, a a liability insurance only coverage on a 2nd "junker" bike and the 2nd bike being your primary can lower the total cost compared to having just 1 bike...

also depends on the insurance company...some companies will take your word for it....others will assign the vehicle with higher annual miles as your primary no matter what....and, others will always assign the rider on the highest risk vehicle....if your higher risk bike is the bike that get most miles or that is your primary on your insurance, having a 2nd "junker" bike won't decrease your policy (just increase it very slightly)

technically, the registered owner(s) are responsible to insure a vehicle in ca...some insurance companies require that the name insured can only add vehicles under their name (also require any co-registered to be added as a named insured)...now...most do not bother requesting a copy of the registration unless they feel it's suspicious...they have the right to request proof and usually give you 30 days to send proof or get cancelled...other policies may allow vehicles registered under different names to be on one master policy as long as they are all on the policy as additional drivers and rated (e.q. house/apartment with bunch of roommates and their vehicles)...
 
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My insurance dropped when I bought my second bike....When I sold one, it not only hit the original policy price point, it went up. I switched immediately.
 
In order to have insurance in the state of California the person must have a financial interest in the vehicle. you have to be on the title of the vehicle to insure it. I know the VC says this but all insurance policies have exclusions and this is one of them. They will not insure you for something you do not own.

This really depends on insurance company. I think Markel and DairyLand would do it without any problem.
 
I own and insure 9 bikes.
They write me a check every month.
(Well, they should anyway)
 
Imagine "Spanky" owns 3 bikes and gets a multi-bike discount.

Then he sells one to "Curly".

It might be cheaper for Spanky to keep the sold bike on his policy than to cancel coverage and lose the discount.

The insurance company doesn't know if Spanky still owns it or not. They'll keep taking his money.

Spanky will never file a claim on the sold bike.

Curly (and anyone Curly crashes into) doesn't know Spanky still insures it, so they won't file a claim on Spanky's policy either. Curly has to get his own insurance.

Spanky could keep the sold bike on his policy indefinitely and maintain his multi-bike discount, or until his insurance company asks for an annual odometer statement (which they may never do).

Or so I've heard.
 
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Imagine "Spanky" owns 3 bikes and gets a multi-bike discount.

Then he sells one to "Curly".

It might be cheaper for Spanky to keep the sold bike on his policy than to cancel coverage and lose the discount.

The insurance company doesn't know if Spanky still owns it or not. They'll keep taking his money.

Spanky will never file a claim on the sold bike.

Curly (and anyone Curly crashes into) doesn't know Spanky still insures it, so they won't file a claim on Spanky's policy either. Curly has to get his own insurance.

Spanky could keep the sold bike on his policy indefinitely and maintain his multi-bike discount, or until his insurance company asks for an annual odometer statement (which they may never do).

Or so I've heard.

All true but still a form of insurance fraud. there are ton of things you can do or say but is it legal if it comes down to it. Keep unmind I am giving insurance answers because I am an insurance agent. you can get creative with anything but I am just telling you the way it works if you do it right.
 
All true but still a form of insurance fraud. there are ton of things you can do or say but is it legal if it comes down to it. Keep unmind I am giving insurance answers because I am an insurance agent. you can get creative with anything but I am just telling you the way it works if you do it right.

Good advice. I agree that motorcylists should always be aware of and follow the law, including insurance requirements, speed limits, emissions equipment, noise requirements, dashed-line passing, and turn signal/license plate placement.
 
Buy dirt cheap hobo scooter for 200 dollars. Throw it somewhere or store it with a friend.

Save money?

I ran into the same thing just yesterday. Tried to take my SV650 off my policy cause it is being stored in Cali for a few months not being ridden.

Taking it off would take my insurance to $691 a year for my Versys alone. Keeping the SV and lowering it to the bare min took it too $585... It is only that much cause Maryland has higher minimums.
 
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There ought to be collector's insurance.
There is, actually. It's been around for cars for quite awhile. But there are rules, ya' know. ;)

Edit: BTW, how does a parent insure a vehicle for a child, when said vehicle is only driven by the child. It happens. Apparently, there are exceptions to the rules.
 
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In order to have insurance in the state of California the person must have a financial interest in the vehicle. you have to be on the title of the vehicle to insure it. I know the VC says this but all insurance policies have exclusions and this is one of them. They will not insure you for something you do not own.

I've insured a car I was long term borrowing from a family member, State Farm didn't seem to care. Now I guess I never had a claim so it might not have been worth anything, but I kinda sorta remember asking about it and they were happy to take my money.
 
There is, actually. It's been around for cars for quite awhile. But there are rules, ya' know. ;)

Edit: BTW, how does a parent insure a vehicle for a child, when said vehicle is only driven by the child. It happens. Apparently, there are exceptions to the rules.

The exception to the rule is that the child is listed as a driver on the policy. The child cannot go out and buy a car and get a mulit-policy discount though. They are only a listed driver on a policy not the owner of a policy.

Say a kid turns 16 and the parent buys them the car. the car is in the parents name not the kids. The parent is the one that has to insure the car and list all of the drivers. When you fill out an insurance application you have to list all the drivers that live in the house. If you dont list someone and they live in the house the insurance can decide not to pay a claim. you being the owner of the car were not upfront about who had access to the car. Now there is another situation that comes in to play. Permissive user. This is when you let your friend use the car that you own and they are not on the policy. you can do this because the friend doesn't live with you so they do not have to be listed. Not all insurance companies off this on the policy though. Some policies you have to pay for this option. I can think of one off hand that makes you pay for it. Victoria insurance. Make sure you read your policy and understand what you have so that there is a claim you will know if you are covered or not.
 
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I've insured a car I was long term borrowing from a family member, State Farm didn't seem to care. Now I guess I never had a claim so it might not have been worth anything, but I kinda sorta remember asking about it and they were happy to take my money.

They way it should have been done is you should have been listed on the policy of the owner. If you ever have to do this again just be added to the insurance policy.

I bought my brother a car and it was in my name. I started the insurance policy because the car is mine. He is not on the title. In order for him to drive the car I added him to my existing insurance policy. It didn't change my rate at all but it does make it so no matter what happens the insurance company cant deny a claim because he is driving.

Like I said in a post earlier you can do this a lot of ways but if you want to be covered the correct way this is how you have to do it.
 
The exception to the rule is that the child is listed as a driver on the policy. The child cannot go out and buy a car and get a mulit-policy discount though. They are only a listed driver on a policy not the owner of a policy.

Say a kid turns 16 and the parent buys them the car. the car is in the parents name not the kids.......
You are saying that the car is still in the parents' name. I am saying the vehicle is in the offspring's name, but insured by the parents. I believe this is legal, is it not?
 
You are saying that the car is still in the parents' name. I am saying the vehicle is in the offspring's name, but insured by the parents. I believe this is legal, is it not?

if the car is in the kids name the insurance policy has to be in the kids name. the parents can be listed but the main person that starts the policy will be the kid.

The reason for this is to make sure the owner of the car gets the money if there is a loss. No listed drivers on the policy will get the claim check only the owner of the property.

Think about it like this.

If you own a house you insure the house. I cant insure your house unless I own the house with you.

You cant just go and insure things because you want to you have to own them or have a vested interest in them.
 
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