Insurance: who should I call to get it for a bike I want to rent this summer in Cal?
 

Hi
I'm looking for a US insurance company who will provide me with cover for a bike I want to rent this summer for 1 month in California.
The rental outfit I'm talking to is new and so doesn't yet have a customer insurance policy on offer.
Anyone got any suggestions please?
Also, anyone know how the US insurance system compares with the UK and who would you recommend for roadside repair/recovery service?
Thanks
Cheers
John

We used http://motorcycleservices.com/ (linked to motorcycle express) for our bikes 2 years ago, worth a try (contact was Gail).

US insurance is expensive, and more complicated IMO. Many more options. Best to go for the max as if you are sued for more than covered they will still come for you (apparently).

And if you do have an accident, your contact is not a call centre but some one working from home :-)

Maybe you should get the firm to talk to motorcycle services and negotiate a deal for yourself ?

Have exchanged emails with Gail. No go. The thorn is, It's a rented bike.
Thanks for the other observations. I may well need to put the ball back in the rental companies court.

Or, change the company you are hiring from.

One other possibility is to buy a bike and sell it later if you know anyone local who could do it in advance that would be better.

Again insurance can be a problem due to address (lack of), but from stories I have heard the show rooms help out.

We met one lad from Newcastle while in the states who got off the plane in Chicago, walked into the Harley Dealer and bought a bike.

you might check out pacific speciality Insurance. I used tu run a motorcycle rental business in Santa Cruz, CA until 2002 and had good experiences with them. They were pretty much the only ones to provide commercial motorcycle insurance anyways.
Good luck and enjoy your trip

Mike

In most states the registered owner of the bike is the one who must have the insurance.
The insurance required is liability for damage you may do to others.

What are you looking for ?

Thanks every one for your input. I've decided to look for another rental Co which has an insurance policy in place.
The original guy I was talking to is new and was offering me a good deal, but he doesn't have his commercial rental insurance in place yet and I can't get cover for a bike I don't own-as several people have said!

Doesn't sound like a good business for what you need it for. I think that US (probably Canadian as well) citizens could rent from the guy only if they had their own insurance in place as most insurance companies in the US (again, not sure about Canada)allow the policy to follow the driver, so if you are driving a friend's vehicle, have an accident, and the friend is not insured, at least you are, if the accident is your fault. However, comprehensive and collision insurance is above and beyond the minimum required (liability) and comp and collision is what protects the vehicle you are driving. So even if a US citizen were to rent from this business, had their own liability coverage (I think it's called 3rd party in the UK?) and were to lay the bike down, let's say, to avoid a deer crossing the road, they would still be personally responsible for the damages to the rental bike.

I don't think the owner has thought the business through, unless he plans to carry low-cost bikes and do rental/purchases, which would allow the purchaser to gain title, and hence be able to insure the bike. In the US, insurance is pretty much a given for any business, especially a transportation related one.