Insurance during winter

[iandunn]

For those of you who don't ride in the winter, how do you deal with insurance? Do you cancel your policy when it gets too cold and then start it up again when it gets warmer, or just pay year round? I've heard that some states have a law where insurance companies only charge you for X number of months (because they assume you wont be riding the rest), but you still have coverage the other months just incase you do ride. Does anyone know if that's true for Ohio, and do you have to ask for it or is it automatic? Thanks

[stefman722]

I pay 5$ for the winter.

[Triton]

With State Farm I pay $3 per month on my 04F during the winter.

[rizp]

I buy insurance for the year (~$160) and cancel it when I put the bike in the garage for the winter.  I then receive a check in the mail which is "prorated" for the months I didn't use. I got a $90 reimbursement check a few weeks later. I just start a new policy in the spring

Regards,
Riz

[pdg108]

From my experiance its worth it to keep it year around.  Insurance companies look at your "years of continous coverage" when they calculate your rate.  Ohio should be a reduced rate state for winter, so I bet the money you save every year from canceling would be less than what you can save with a lower rate from keeping continous coverage.

[vtlion]

I agree with pdg.  best to keep it.  particularly if you have full coverage. you never know when thieves will come for your bike, or when a nice, sunny day may come along (at least here in PA we get a rideable day hear and there in Jan/Feb).

I pay my full yearly premium with State Farm.  They account for the winter inactivity when they calculate the yearly premium, or so says my agent anyway  :dunno:

[jare16]

I know some states (MD) require you to have a vehicle insured as long as it's registered. Most insurance comanies will give you a break on insurance during the colder months.

[Triton]

From my experiance its worth it to keep it year around.  Insurance companies look at your "years of continous coverage" when they calculate your rate.  Ohio should be a reduced rate state for winter, so I bet the money you save every year from canceling would be less than what you can save with a lower rate from keeping continous coverage.

This is not necessarily true...  I insure my car, bike, and house through State Farm.  With canceling full coverage on the bike in the winter, State Farm actually pays ME due to the multi-line discount that they offer.

[animal mother]

I only pay $78.00/year for insurance on the GS, so it is worth it to me to keep it insured all year so I can ride it on the nice winter days.

[pdg108]

This is not necessarily true... I insure my car, bike, and house through State Farm. With canceling full coverage on the bike in the winter, State Farm actually pays ME due to the multi-line discount that they offer.

True, when I was doing it I only had bike insurance, so canceling it stopped all my coverage of any kind.  But that sounds like a good deal with State Farm, I'll have to keep that in mind after I buy my house.  Could make insurace on a 600 much more affordable.

Animal...
Last time I let my insurance lapse on my motorcycle in PA was almost 10 years ago.  A few days after it ran out, the State sent a letter demanding my plates back.  So in the spring I had to get new plates.  Of course I had a friend that did the same thing and they never said a word to him.  :dunno:  Maybe the rule has changed since then?  For me its not worth the hassle to save what $10 or $20? This way you know for sure that the first warm day you can go have fun and be legal.