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I.I.I. Offers Tips on How to Purchase and Save Money on Motorcycle ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡

INSURANCE INFORMATION INSTITUTE
Contact: Press Offices
New York: 212-346-5500; media@iii.org
Washington, D.C.: 202-833-1580

NEW YORK, May 12, 2008 - Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, which is being celebrated throughout May, encourages riders to always wear helmets and other protective gear, never drink alcohol and ride, be properly licensed, get training and purchase the right insurance coverage, according to the (I.I.I.).

"Motorcycle insurance is widely available. As motorcycles have become more popular, more insurers have entered the market. Now, many of the top 10 auto insurers offer motorcycle insurance, either as an endorsement to a personal automobile policy or as a separate policy in most of the states in which they operate," said Michael Barry, vice president, Media Relations at the I.I.I.

If you are in the market for motorcycle insurance, most states require you to carry a minimum amount of liability coverage. Liability insurance covers bodily injury and property damage that you may cause to other people involved in an accident. It does not cover you or your motorcycle.

An additional option within your liability insurance is first-party medical coverage, in the event you want to be reimbursed for bodily injury expenses you incurred while on your motorcycle. You may also be able to purchase coverage for medical bills received from an injured party, ranging from $2,000 to $25,000. And check whether your liability coverage also includes Guest Passenger Liability, which provides financial protection in the event that your passenger is injured while on your motorcycle.

Other, often optional, coverages available to motorcycle owners are: collision (covering damage to your motorcycle); comprehensive (covering damage caused by events other than a collision, such as fire, theft or vandalism); and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (covering damages to you and your property caused by another driver who either does not have insurance or whose insurance is inadequate). Always ask your insurance agent or company representative which insurance coverages are required in your state.

Be sure to also ask your insurance agent about motorcycle accessories coverage for items such as add-ons, customizations, aftermarket parts and anything else you may have added to your bike since purchasing it.

Many factors can affect how much you will pay in motorcycle insurance premiums, including:

• Driver's age and driving record
• Where the driver lives
• Model, style (sports bike vs. cruiser) and age of the motorcycle
• Number of miles the motorcycle is driven each year
• Where the motorcycle is stored

There are also ways of saving money on motorcycle premiums, with discounts ranging anywhere from 10 percent to 20 percent, depending on the company and the state. Some common discounts include:

• Multi-bike discounts for those insuring more than one bike
• Motorcycle association discounts and mature rider discounts for experienced riders
• Installation of antitheft devices
• Discounts for graduates of training courses, such as the (MSF) Rider Course. (Riders under the age of 25, usually considered at higher risk, and motorcyclists who have already had accidents stand to save the most if they complete this type of course)
• In many northern states, seasonal motorcyclists can consider buying a "lay-up" policy, in which all coverage except comprehensive is suspended during winter months

Rising fuel prices have caused more Americans to consider purchasing a motorcycle, according to the (MIC). With many motorcycles capable of getting 50 to 70 miles per gallon, dealerships and manufacturers are fielding more inquiries about their fuel economy.

But, more important, be sure to ride safely.

"U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters says that reducing motorcycle fatalities represents our nation's greatest highway traffic safety challenge," noted Barry. "The proportion of motorcycle-related deaths as a percentage of all U.S. motor vehicle traffic fatalities increased from 5 percent to 11 percent between 1997 and 2006, according to the federal government."

"To put these figures in context, there were about 134 million private passenger and commercial automobiles registered in the U.S. as of 2006, and about 6.6 million registered motorcycles," added Barry.

State governments are also taking the lead on motorcycle safety issues. New Jersey, for instance, has used a federal grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), to launch this month's "Be Alert: Watch for Motorcycles" campaign aimed at increasing public awareness of how to avoid accidents with motorcyclists. The most common motorcycle-avoidance tips for the operators of private passenger vehicles: never try to share a traffic lane with a motorcycle; always make a visual check for motorcycles by scanning rear and side-view mirrors as well as blind spots before entering or leaving a traffic lane or intersection; and always signal before changing lanes or merging with traffic.

The federal and state governments also tout the benefits of rider safety training programs and promote the use of federal Department of Transportation certified helmets, although state laws requiring motorcyclists to wear helmets vary. A complete list of state motorcycle helmet use laws can be found in Issues Updates: Motorcycle Crashes.

For more information about motorcycle insurance, go to the .

The I.I.I. is a nonprofit, communications organization supported by the insurance industry.