Quick Insurance question for our Canadian Friends...

[gotaplay]

I guess I didn't do so bad reading about some of the other rates... At the time I got my first bike an M license wasn't required and by the time I go my other bikes I didn't really bother to worry about it . Now in Ontario we have the “Graduated “license system which although some what a good idea seems more like a money grab to me.
So I now have an M1 which restricts me to driving only between sunrise and sunset , I can't drive on roads with a speed limit of greater than 80 KPH ( 50 mph) or on main highways , carry passengers , and must not have any alcohol in my system ..This will last between 60 and 90 days then I must go on to step 2 and then only after 22 months (18 if a safety course is taken) may I drive my bike with out restriction.
I am 53 years old, I got my beginners and my chauffeurs license on my 16th birthday I earn a living as a “proff driver “my
Insurance is $1062 per year and if I take the safety course (about $325 to take it) they will give me a 40% discount. My insurance company tells me that once I get my full M my rate will go down substantially (what ever that means)
I have not had an insurance claim for over 30 years or any sort of tickets or charges but still I am high risk when it comes to a bike .even though I have been driving them longer than my agent has been alive
Hopefully I can re post after I have been deemed a qualified driver and receive my substantial discount...

[Meatloaf]

I ended up paying $528/yr through Economical Mutual, my current insurer. They didn't want to do it but I'm a decent sized account so they made an exception. Dalton-Timmis was $375 but I would have had to add the cost of an appraisal and one of the twits in their office annoyed me so much I decided to pass on them.

You don't get a second chance to make a first impression.

[hamjam]

Hi Brian try Dalton Timmis http://www.daltontimmis.com/
home for chrome I am paying about a third less than with Primmum , is there an emoticom for sux? :-0

Jim

http://www.daltontimmis.com/english/html/chrome/classic.asp

[hamjam]

sorry read Brians post then firmly inserted foot in mouth and then posted
I liked the guy girl I talked to, Michelle ?at Dalton Timmis as well as did Gary ,the guy that bought my xs
Meatloaf, sorry that you had a hard time
Jim

[Meatloaf]

I dealt with Tara and then Brian. Both were simply awesome. Unfortunately they were away at a car show in Napanee when I called to bind coverage and got transferred to another office. All I did was question the timeframes for binding and the Wendy's drive-thru princess I was dealing with gave me some snotty response about being patient and then pretty much challenged me to try and go elsewhere. In hindsight it was pretty funny because I'm pretty sure I was on the phone with my mouth gaping open and shut in surprise like a fish out of water. For the savings of a few bucks a month, it didn't seem worth switching.

I don't know what it is with insurance companies/brokers lately, maybe high turnover or something, but I'm finding a lot of the brokers have staff that aren't very knowledgable/professional. I had to threaten to go after a broker a few years ago under their errors and omissions insurance, and when I had a boat hull damaged, staff at the Marina had to physically prevent the insurer's salvage company from taking not only the hull but 20K worth of engine and electronics that they weren't entitled to. Last year I went right to the mat over an unecessary car inspection, and again was proved right. Also last year a 5 figure check owed to me under a ROP policy went AWOL and I had to sort that out eventually getting it late, with no interest.

I don't trust brokers, always do lot's of fact checking and cross check with multiple companies/brokers. conversely, I've found the Cooperators to provide the best service of anyone I ever dealt with but I just can't afford their premiums. Subsequently, when someone's rates arealmost too good to be true, I approach with extreme caution and that's why I bolted on Dalton-Timmins so quickly.

[Meatloaf]

Update on getting bike insurance in Ontario. After a year with Economical mutual I did eventually move my XS insurance to Dalton Timmis for about $700/yr.

I just bought a 2004 Harley (hey I like ALL bikes - don't bust my chops and just started getting quotes. Dalton-Timmis gave me a quote that was half of everyone else, so low I'm thinking it's a mistake - hell it's half of what they quoted me last year. I'm trying to get a binder with them but they're not the fastest at returning calls. Even the dealer who sold me the bike had some words of caution for me with respect to DT. I'll give them until tomorrow to get back to me before moving on. And yes, again, the girl who answers the phone was dripping attitude. Seriously, this must be bi-polar, you never know what you're going to get. She should NOT be dealing with the public.

One of the companies I like is Believer-Plus based out of Belleville. AWESOME people to deal with, they have my sleds, my house, and my cars now. I wanted to give them the last of my business so I called them, the guy I normally deal with told me last year he wanted my bike business. I was surprised since when I had called the previous year the girls that answered the phone told me they didn't insure bikes. My regular guy said that was wrong and to call him when I was ready.

When I called today, the girl that answered the phone says "we don't insure motorcycles". I said "I'm pretty sure you do...when I moved my house insurance last week Shawn told me you'd do my bike/s as well". "Oh..." she says and passes me along to Shawn the guy I've been dealing with. He's a little irritated by the fact that I was told they didn't do bikes. I wonder how many people just give up and try somewhere else. I know that I sent a buddy to them for insurance and whoever he talked to (a female he didn't give me a name) p*ssed him off so badly he hung up on her.

The bottom line is, in Ontario, if you can find an insurance agent who has good rates, is consistently easy to deal with, is competent, and doesn't have a receptionist that thinks answering phones is beneath her, hang on to them like grim death.

Best service I ever had from an insurance company was the Co-operators but they were over twice as expensive as everyone else for toys so I had to move on. Man, I miss the service.