For the last 16 years, I’ve concluded every motorcycle safety class with a bit about the insurance companies that offer discounts for taking the classes. A couple of weekends ago, I took the MMSC’s MN Expert Rider Course and the lead instructor told us that GEICO, Progressive, and a few other companies offer a discount for every training course a rider takes. This morning, I called GEICO to update their records on me and ask for the additional discount.
What I learned was something completely different from what I’ve been saying for the last 16 years. Not only did I not recieve an additional discount for the Expert Rider Course, but I haven’t even been receiving a discount for being an instructor because I haven’t notified GEICO that my instructor certification had been re-upped in the last couple of years. It turns out that the ONLY people who get a discount credit for “training” are instructors. At least, that’s true with GEICO.
Now, I’m wondering if any insurance companies still give discounts for taking the class? As instructors, we don’t get much feedback on some of the things we’ve been taught to say during the classes. I’ve heard hints from students, especially Intermediate Rider Course students (used to be the “Experienced Rider Course”) that their insurance company didn’t give any sort of discount for the BRC. I’ve checked up on this over the years on the Web, but that information has been inconclusive and contradictory. So, now I’m even more confused than usual.
I did learn that a couple of companies have discontinued motorcycle insurance in various states that do not have helmet laws.
3 comments:
I believe that in Oregon, it is a law that insurance companies are required to offer a discount for completing either basic or intermediate training only. I don't think advance training qualifies, nor are instructors offered a discount, unless we complete the same said classes.
I can't find any evidence of that, but I did discover that motorcycle insurance in Oregon is insanely expensive: https://www.valuepenguin.com/best-cheap-motorcycle-insurance-oregon. I suppose if insurers were obliged to give discounts for ineffective training, one result might be to jack up rates overall to compensate.
I snagged this list of possible discounts off of the GEICO website:
.Up to 10% discount when you transfer your motorcycle insurance to GEICO® Motorcycle.
.Up to 10% discount if you insure more than one motorcycle.
.Up to 10% discount for mature riders.
.Up to 10% discount when you renew your motorcycle insurance with GEICO® Motorcycle.
.Up to 10% discount for completing a Motorcycle Safety Foundation or Military Safety Course.
.Up to 20% discount if you are a current Motorcycle Safety Foundation instructor.
.Up to 5% discount on your motorcycle policy if you also insure your car with GEICO.
You have to love the "up to" disclaimer. Comcast used to tell me that when I paid for 15Mb service, I was paying for "up to 15mb," which meant getting 2Mb upload and 500kb download was in spec.
I know the discount wasn't much, I remember the cost of the class was more than the discount. State Farm offered me 5% off one motorcycle policy.
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