Do you ride a motorcycle?
If so, I am sure motorcycle life insurance has been on your mind at one point or another!
I bet you’ve heard all of the horror stories. You may even know that motorcycles are called “donor” cycles by some doctors who have seen the consequences in the ER.
In 2014 it was estimated that you’re 27% more likely to die in a crash if you drive a motorcycle (per driven mile) than someone who drives in a passenger vehicle….and 5% more likely to be injured.
Wow, now those statistics are brutal!
So What Do Those Statistics Mean in Terms of Your Motorcycle Life Insurance Rates?
Absolutely nothing!
Excuse me, Chris, did you say nothing?
Yep, that’s right.
Life insurance companies do not penalize cyclists!
You may qualify for term life insurance, whole life or accidental insurance and still get the best rates possible, assuming your health is in order!
So, in a nutshell, driving a motorcycle won’t increase your premiums!
On the other hand, if you smoke or have a health condition that’s an entirely different story and you need to contact a great independent agency like Huntley Wealth to go through your options.
What About the “Hazardous Activities” Question on Life Insurance Applications?
The truth is life insurance companies simply don’t ask whether you drive a motorcycle or not.
On the application, you are required to list any hazardous activities that you take part in.
These activities include:
- Rock Climbing
- Motorized Vehicle Racing
- Paragliding
- Hang Gliding
Frankly, I’ve never seen a list of hazardous activities that include a motorcycle question. The irony is I can’t tell you how many people tell me they ride a motorcycle when I ask them about their personal hazardous activities!
If you have a “risky” hobby such as scuba diving or flying, you could be putting more at risk than bodily injury. You may be denied life insurance or pay more for it – even if you’re in perfect health! Inside Indiana Business, Ryan Jeffries
Motorcycle Life Insurance – Hazardous Activity Questions
To give you an idea of what you can expect when a life insurance agent goes through your personal circumstances, I am going to share my typical approach to hazardous activities:
“Do you participate in any hazardous activities such as piloting, scuba diving, jumping out of planes… that sort of thing?”
That’s usually when they tell me, “Uh… I ride a Harley. Is that ok?”
So apparently a lot of my clients think it’s dangerous, but for some reason, life insurance companies don’t agree.
The only exception to the rule is if you race motorbikes. In that case, carriers may increase your premiums.
Should I Tell My Insurance Company?
Of course, you should! BUT only if they ask!
If you’ve read any of my previous articles you may have noted that when it comes to your life insurance application honesty is ALWAYS the best policy.
…BUT only if the information is specifically requested. As I stated above, the questions about hazardous activities are targeted, so if they don’t mention motorcycles and you don’t do any of the activities listed you can simply answer “no”.
As a general rule, you should not volunteer information when you are applying a life insurance policy unless it’s required.
Quite honestly, even if you did tell them that you ride a motorcycle, it won’t matter. In over a decade I’ve never seen a life insurance company ding a rider for this.
Motorcycle Life Insurance: Why Don’t Life Insurance Companies Penalize You?
This is a great question and maybe they should and there is always the chance that this policy will change sometime in the future.
Honestly, it seems silly that companies ask about scuba diving on a life insurance application when the odds of dying are 1 in 200,000 dives according to Bandolier.
The fact is, if you scuba dive below 75 – 100 ft, most companies won’t allow you to qualify for their best rate!
They also specifically ask about skydiving, when the odds of dying from jumping out of a plane (with a shoot) are 1 in 101,083 jumps. Which brings me back to the inherent risks of riding a motorcycle.
Riding a Motorcycle is Dangerous
Contrast the numbers I referenced above with the information provided by Insurance Information Institute.
They estimate that 1 out of every 1076 registered motorcyclists died in 2009. That’s a staggering 4502 deaths out of 8 million registered bikes.
Statistics aside, whether you ride your chopper every day to work, or just on the weekends, you can get a life insurance quote today and feel comfortable running the numbers with “preferred plus rating” if you are in terrific health.
There is One Company That Disagrees and Why You Should Buy Motorcycle Life Insurance NOW
It’s my understanding that there is one life insurance company that does ask if you ride a motorcycle.
New York Life is the only company that includes this question in the application process and they may doc you a rating class or two depending on your riding habits.
However, I’m not contracted with them, so I’d like to ask a NY Life agent who reads my blog to help contribute to this article and confirm this in the comment section.
In conclusion, if you enjoy the occasional ride on your Hog, you may want to take care of your motorcycle life insurance needs now while you can qualify for the best rates.
Life insurance companies tend to be copycats, so get some coverage now before others follow suit.
Get Motorcycle Life Insurance Today!
We have access to virtually dozens of life insurance companies – so we can confidently say we will be able to find you the best possible rates for your particular circumstances.
Not all life insurance companies are created equally. They have different standards for underwriting and we know the ins and outs.
If you drive a motorcycle – your premiums will not be increased.
However if you race off-road or on a track, whether it’s timed racing or against other racers, your life insurance rating may be affected.
Be sure to give us a call today so we can put your case out to be bid on by multiple carriers. This will get you the best possible deal.
For an instant life insurance quote for motorcyclists, use our form on the right!
*While we make every effort to keep our site updated, please be aware that "timely" information on this page, such as quote estimates, or pertinent details about companies, may only be accurate as of its last edit day. Huntley Wealth & Insurance Services and its representatives do not give legal or tax advice. Please consult your own legal or tax adviser.
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