Insurance

[rww930]

FYI...someone backed into my 98 tourer. looked minor but two estimates were for 5500.00. their insurance company was nationwide and they are definitely not on your side. i could go on and on but they were horrible. stay away from them. i ended up claiming it with progressive. they were outstanding from the start. not just the money...customer service was excellent. they do the whole thing while sitting in your driveway, check and all. i was pleasantly surprised.

nationwide insurance sucks...

[Momz]

I've had Progressive for years and I'm quitye pleased with their customer service.

[Sneaky Snake]

That's good to hear!  I just switched from Geico to Progressive last month when I got my Valk.  Progressive was significantly cheaper that Geico.
Chris

[R J]

It makes no difference which Insurance Company you work with.

You are working with an agent, that works for about 1/2 the companies as an adjuster.   He is out to make himself a nickle or 2.   What he saves them out of the initial fund for the claim, he receives a % of it for his pay.

Don't get pissed at him, just stand and hold your ground.    That is what I did when the wife totaled her Infiniti.   The subject who run the stop sign was a Nationwide insured.   Mine was Shelter, and I worked wih Nationwide till we agreed on what her car was worth, after that I let my Insurance take over on getting rid of a totaled car, all the wrecker service, lot storage and etc.   No problem, except in how much for her car.    I got within $10.00 of what I wanted, it took some going back and forth, but I won as far as I was concerned.

[TearlessTom]

Unfortunately I have had to deal with Progressive 3 times, they were awsome every time. Suprisingly I haven't seen a rate hick yet.

1st claim was on us. wife dropped the VTX coming into the driveway, About $2000.
2nd claim was on other driver, about $2000.
3rd claim was on my un-insured motorist,/ driver left the scene of the accidnent. About $5500.

[Oyeaa]

Ditto what RJ said.  If you do not like their first offer then just refuse it and tell them to come back with a better offer.  I wrecked my 99 IS a few years ago.  Be firm with the insurance and demand what you want, what is the worst that can happen? When I wrecked my bike and the first offer was around $8,000 and that was their first and only offer take it or leave it. I sent them packing and they came back with a second offer in writing of 10,699 as their final offer. I gave them a print out of all the similar bikes listed for sale and told them that was the going price and I would not take any less. I asked them where they got their price from and they told me a dealer about 100 miles away has two available and that was their asking price. I explained that since I needed a bike it would be nice of them to give me the number so I could arrange to buy one. I called that dealer while the insurance man waited and the dealer had no bikes and had not had any for over a year. I confronted the insurance man with that information and demanded that they meet my demand. A few days later they came back with a new written final offer of 12,622.   My my premium has come down significantly!   Go figure.  I am still with Progressive even if I had to twist their arm to get a reasonable settlement they came through and have great rates!

Still not happy with the police for not arresting the driver responsible that also fled the scene in her car until it broke down about 3 miles away. (she was old)  They did not even give her a citation for it.

It makes no difference which Insurance Company you work with.

You are working with an agent, that works for about 1/2 the companies as an adjuster.   He is out to make himself a nickle or 2.   What he saves them out of the initial fund for the claim, he receives a % of it for his pay.

Don't get pissed at him, just stand and hold your ground.    That is what I did when the wife totaled her Infiniti.   The subject who run the stop sign was a Nationwide insured.   Mine was Shelter, and I worked wih Nationwide till we agreed on what her car was worth, after that I let my Insurance take over on getting rid of a totaled car, all the wrecker service, lot storage and etc.   No problem, except in how much for her car.    I got within $10.00 of what I wanted, it took some going back and forth, but I won as far as I was concerned.

[asfltdncr]

All are not the same.  Nationwide in particular is one of the companies that screwed so many after Katrina.  If for no other reason, I would find someone else-don't reward bad behavior.

I have Dairyland Insurance and for any of you that may have a sport bike, you might try them.  A lot of the differences in the companies is how they categorize a bike.

I had Foremost and was satisfied with the premium until I bought my Buell and Interceptor.  They wanted about $1200 full for a year for those sport bikes whereas Dairyland has picked them up full coverage for about $250.

[Valkahuna]

All are not the same.  Nationwide in particular is one of the companies that screwed so many after Katrina.  If for no other reason, I would find someone else-don't reward bad behavior.

I have Dairyland Insurance and for any of you that may have a sport bike, you might try them.  A lot of the differences in the companies is how they categorize a bike.

I had Foremost and was satisfied with the premium until I bought my Buell and Interceptor.  They wanted about $1200 full for a year for those sport bikes whereas Dairyland has picked them up full coverage for about $250.

I've had Nationwide since I was 16. Have them for my business, life, both homes, all the cars except for my antiques, etc., etc.. Have been fantastic with claims when my sons had accidents. Also after the 2004 Huricanes in Florida, they settled fairly and quickly. I could go on and on, but I like them. 
I Have Dairyland Patriot General) for all my bikes.

I guess not everyones experiences are the same!

[Titan]

Question... I've always used State Farm for coverage on all my stuff. Because of this thread I got an online quote from Progressive for the Valk and it's lower than State Farm based on same coverage. In looking at my policy coverage it seems that I don't have "Medical Coverage". Adding any amount to the Progressive coverage obviously ups the cost... considerably if you go on up to $25,000.

The question is what do you carry for Medical coverage?

Also, their initial quote includes $3,000 for accessories. I have a '98 Standard and 3 grand would probably cover all my chrome, etc.... Your thoughts?

They only offer "Actual Cash Value" so does that mean it leaves it wide open for them to screw over you for the used bike price?

I hate dealing with insurance stuff!

[vanagon40]

. . . .  The question is what do you carry for Medical coverage? . . .

I think that would depend a lot upon whether a person has other medical insurance and how good that insurance is.  I dropped my coverage this year to save $80 per year for $5,000 med pay coverage.  But I have good health insurance and my only passenger is my wife who has the same health insurance.

If the accident is someone else's fault, the medical bills should be covered by the other person's liability insurance or the rider's UIM coverage.  Yes, I know that actually proving that the accident was someone else's fault may be a problem.

[MP]

. . . .  The question is what do you carry for Medical coverage? . . .

I think that would depend a lot upon whether a person has other medical insurance and how good that insurance is.  I dropped my coverage this year to save $80 per year for $5,000 med pay coverage.  But I have good health insurance and my only passenger is my wife who has the same health insurance.

If the accident is someone else's fault, the medical bills should be covered by the other person's liability insurance or the rider's UIM coverage.  Yes, I know that actually proving that the accident was someone else's fault may be a problem.

Right there is the most overlooked part of insurance.  IF it is the other guys fault, he pays.  So, if he is worth 20,000, and has NO or minimum 20,000 in liability, you are screwed.

Say you are hurt BAD, in the hospital for months, a year or two of recovery, massive bills, no income because you cannot work.  Sue him, and you get 40,000.  Peanuts.

Get the max, usually 250-500,00 under/uninsured insurance.  The most valuable available, but seldom taken.  It becomes the other drivers liability insurance.

Everyone worries about getting the value out of their bike.  Nice, but in the big pic, big deal.  6-10,000 dollars max you would be out.

Now, take the above scenario, and you have bills of 100-750,000 dollars, with no income to pay it.  You lose your house, your car, EVERYTHING!
Which is more important, 7,000 for the bike, or EVERYTHING your family has worked for all your life?

MP