16 MOTORCYCLE MOJO MAY 2019
ou know what’s pretty? My
motorcycle. I love my bike.
I also love sourcing out and
purchasing all things related
to my passion. I don’t mind
spending money on things
like leather gear, boots, a new helmet
and other shiny new things. These are
items I can actually touch, feel and look
at – you know, material things that jus-
tify why I spent what I just spent.
And then there’s that other bike
necessity that comes in the mail. The
envelope. I’m talking about my motor-
cycle insurance renewal papers (cue the
scary music). It’s due every year, and
it is a large amount of money. What
you get in return is certainly not pretty
in a touchy-feely way, though. But it’s
understood that riding and enjoying a
motorcycle comes with ongoing costs.
No one likes to think about insur-
ance. Sure, people gripe about it,
but truly talk about it? Not so much.
Talking about insurance means you
have to consider just how much money
is being spent for something intangible
- well, except for that piece of paper in
your wallet. When the envelope arrives
in the mail, as much as I’d like to, I
don’t chuck it into the trash bin. But I
don’t really do what I should, either,
and that’s read it through thoroughly.
Instead, I usually scan straight down
to the amount due, send my payment
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my bikes for more than 30 years, so I
should know better. And so this year,
I’ve decided to delve a little deeper.
I know that the particulars are
important, so I should verify them. If
faced with your insurance renewal,
it is crucial to review the document
thoroughly and make sure that all the
information is accurate. Verify your
personal details: your name, address, the
date the insurance is effective, etc. – a
minor typo here can potentially lead to
major problems down the
line. Check that the make,
model and serial number
are correct. If you insure
more than one motorcy
cle, make sure they are all
listed. Do other details,
like the policyholder
name and the name on
the registration of the
motorcycle, match? They should.
Check that there is a premium that
corresponds to the type of coverage that
you wish to have. No amount showing
means no coverage. Insurance practices
vary from province to province, but
in Ontario, you can choose different
deductibles for different types of
coverage. For insurance covering loss
or damage, there should be a noted
amount for the deductible, unless you
choose to pay a higher premium with
no deductible. (A deductible is the
amount deducted from the agreed upon
insurance payment in case of a claim; it
varies and you can sometimes choose
an amount you’re comfortable with, for
an added premium, of course.)
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a whack of information that you should
understand. Any changes to the basic
mandatory limits should be clearly
shown on your policy renewal form.
This particular section is the one that
reviews what will be paid if you are
injured. If you’re not sure, contact your
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If you decide to pay your annual
premium through monthly instal-
ments, note the dates the automatic
withdrawals will take place. You can
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Statement of Account or Billing. Some
insurance companies offer online
access to your account, where you
can get further info, or possibly make
changes. If you are paying the amount
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sure you send the payment ahead of
the renewal date to guarantee your
policy doesn’t lapse.
Even after you get that envelope, it
doesn’t hurt to call around and obtain
quotes from other insurance companies
to make sure your existing company
is competitive. Equally as important
are those details we have been talking
about. As with any other contract, if
you take the time to review it carefully
and ask questions, your motorcycle
insurance policy renewal will be easier
to understand. Don’t hesitate to ask
questions and get the clarity you may
need. You are paying for the service,
so use the resources available to you.
There really is no perfect coverage, but
you can personalize your policy to best
suit your needs. You should be totally
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erage and that it is right for you. You,
after all, are the customer.
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expense, and the type of coverage
offered varies from province to prov-
ince. But just because you can’t touch
something you paid for doesn’t mean it
isn’t a huge part of your riding “gear.”
Insurance is an important part of rid-
ing, protecting you, protecting others,
and protecting your pretty investment.
Don’t get discouraged when you get
that envelope; consider it additional
peace of mind while riding.
And don’t forget to replace your
insurance slips when the new one
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ESCAPE ROUTE
by Jenn Martin
ILLUSTRATION:DEANFOSTERY
THE ENVELOPE