This is INSANE !!!!!!!

[bigredhead]

Holy C$!@@%.......(insert infinate swear words here ) :mad: :mad: :mad:

I just called " State Farm " ( just like a good neighbor, state farm is theeere ) yeah right...

They won't insure a trike unless you have your car insurance with them. and even then it has to go thru aproval..

Called " Champlain Insurance " an insurance broker, who insures my house btw. and after holding the line for 20 minutes while he looked it up came back with a quote of 122 $.. :) .. i'm like " Yeah !!! .. i'll be there in 20 minutes ! with money in hand !!! "..

Then he's like.. uhhh... 250SX....... honda.. wait now, is this a motorcycle or a 4 wheeler ?.. i'm like " IT'S A TRIKE MAN ! " :D .

Then he puts me on hold again.. and comes back with a quote of ..

get this...


453 $ ...... ! PL/PD. :rolleyes:

You gotta be kidding !!

[Pistonhead]

I would have just told him it was a KTM 250sx. Insurance companies wanna charge me more because my truck is 4x4. Its really bull what they get away with in Canada.

EDITED for language

[Billy Golightly]

I have a question, maybe someone can answer it for me.

If he would have posed the question "Is it a motorcycle or a fourwheeler?" and you answered "It is an ATV" What would have happened?

[bigredhead]

I have a question, maybe someone can answer it for me.

If he would have posed the question "Is it a motorcycle or a fourwheeler?" and you answered "It is an ATV" What would have happened?

I asked him that....

He told me it would have been useless as i would not have been covered.

I told him i did not care the least bit as long as i can tell the nice officer " Yes sir.. i'm insured.. here are my papers !!! :D ".

But they get in serious trouble if an incident ever happens . even if it's not my fault, paperwork would be checked, a report would be filed. and someone gets in trouble !

[Billy Golightly]

But a three-wheeler IS an ATV is kind of what I was getting at.

[bigredhead]

He told me they fall into the " Motorcycle " clause, because of ..

get this one.. " last time he got anyone inquiring about a 3 wheeler is at least 8 years ago, and since NO ONE makes parts for them anymore no one rides them " and they took a radical price hike since all the claims for stolen trikes made insurance companies loose money to the point of going bankrupt !.. idiot.

I informed him that many companies very much DO supply parts, and i know of many who ride them.. having 3 of them myself.

I almost freak out a few times during our 30 minute phone session... but i gave up after realizing i'm talking to a wall.

[bigredhead]

oh. another good one !

Quote insurance guy " You know the dangers of those 3 wheelers.. people just can't spin in circles and do do-nuts on the 4 wheelers like they could on trikes.. "

My answer .. quote " You've never ridden an ATV in your life .. have you ? "

[Billy Golightly]

Wow...what ignorance. I guess he was only doing his job, but man.

So you guys are required to have insurance up there then? I dont know, If I were you I would start writing some letters to some governement agents. How are you suppose to have insurance when its not even available to purchase? :rolleyes:

[bigredhead]

I know.. try explaining that to a cop.

last year.. getting caught with no insurance and no registration = 600 $ fine.

This year... double !! = 1200. ( my brother in law is a cop ! )

[Big_Red_Ryder]

Why would you need insurance on your trike????? I have been riding for 7 years and never needed it on mine..... Trikes are not street legal and if it is paid for there is no need for insurance, right?

[Billy Golightly]

I think I would definetly (Maybe with the help of other canadian trikers here from the forum) Get together and write some letters to your governors and represenetives (Sorry, I'm kind of ignorant on the Canadian political process) and explain in great detail your problem. You just might get something figured out.

[bigredhead]

I think I would definetly (Maybe with the help of other canadian trikers here from the forum) Get together and write some letters to your governors and represenetives (Sorry, I'm kind of ignorant on the Canadian political process) and explain in great detail your problem. You just might get something figured out.

Yes.. i agree. and right now. i'm on my way to the govermnent website for people to contact.... however these things take ALOT of time ...

To be legit.. i'm going to have to dish out ( and the sad part is that i'm actually going to do this ) :

Registration = 40 $
Insurance = 453 $
Trail Pass = 100 $ to ride the groomed trails.. and still get heat from the ski-doo'ers for being on their trails !! only some are covered by the ATV clubs not all.

[foster]

Try Jones Insurance on Pacific Avenue. I got coverage through them for $375. But I've had my car with them for, like, 20 years.
HOWEVER!
The only insurance I could ge was through the Facility Association, which is where they stick drunk drivers and people who crash their cars on a regular basis. The FA is known as "the insurer of last resort," because its the law to have insurance here therefore you can't be refused, however they can and do rip you off royally by forcing you into the FA.
By pure luck, I happened to run into David Simpson one day, who is the president el supremo of the facility association. I asked him to his face why the . . . . I have to go through him to get insurance.
"Well, as we know, three-wheelers are more dangerous than two wheelers."
"Oh," I said very politely, "I didn't know that. Can you show me your evidence?"
Well, Mr. Simpson spit and stammered and hummed and hawed and started to realize he wasn't dealing with an idiot.
"Well, I'm sure we just didn't make it up," he said.
"Of course not," I agreed, using my "nice guy being patient" voice. "I wouldn't believe that for a second. And I certainly don't expect you to be carrying your evidence around in your briefcase. Perhaps I can call you when you return to your office tomorrow?"
To my shock, he agreed and gave me his number.
Naturally, when I called I couldn't get through to him. So I left a message on his voice mail saying, very politely, how disappointed that I was that it appears he has no evidence whatsoever and was ducking me. I also left him my phone number and asked him to please call at his earliest convenience and let me know why he said what he had said, when it's obvious a crock of . . . .
Naturally, I never heard from him again.
I also mentioned to him that by his logic, it's a darn good thing the law doesn't make me insure my mountain bike, because that only has two wheels, so goodness knows that if three wheels are so much more dangerous than four, I could only guess how much he'd charge me for two wheels. I also asked him to call me back and let me know how much, using his logic, it will cost me to insure my UNICYCLE!
Jerks.

[Yamahauler]

it only costs me $52 a year to insure mine but i only get $200,000 TPL and no fire, theft, or crash insurance. If you want the other three you have to pay more. But I think that house insurance would cover it if was in my garage but im not to sure about that

[bigredhead]

i asked about the house insurance thing.

my snowblower is insured by my house policy, but my trikes are not.

and for the 200,000 vs 500,000 amount, it only cut 14 $ of the price of 453.

i'm looking into " Insurance Bureau of Canada " right now.

[Big_Red_Ryder]

Everyone, please, by all means...ignore my post and don't even attempt to answer my questions.....

Thanks a bunch.

[foster]

Why would you need insurance on your trike????? I have been riding for 7 years and never needed it on mine..... Trikes are not street legal and if it is paid for there is no need for insurance, right?
You need liability insurance in some places, to cover the consequences if you hurt or kill someone.

[bigredhead]

If you ride only on your personal land, i beleive you are exempt from this ,but as soon as you leave your driveway or land limits... BAM.. needs insurance !

[OldSchoolin86]

I have a question, maybe someone can answer it for me.

If he would have posed the question "Is it a motorcycle or a fourwheeler?" and you answered "It is an ATV" What would have happened?
I did that with our American Family agent for my Tri-Z. They issure the machine buy VIN and model number. It's there fault if they don't know what it is. When I switched it to the 400ex I told them how cool it was that they insured a 3 wheeler. They said WHAT? As we talked about it they expained how it was thier responsibility because they wrote up the policy.

[bigredhead]

cleaning up.... see below.

[bigredhead]

There.. this still needs alot of work before i send it out to anyone.. but it's a rough draft...

if anyone has any suggestions .. by all means.. please. :cool:


-----------

To whom it may concern.

I’m writing this e-mail to express my discontent with the current state of affairs regarding the price of insurance for 3 wheeled ATV’s. After spending much time and effort calling various insurance firms and brokers, I am led to believe that my Honda ATC is considered a motorcycle, and thus is subject to it’s pricing structure.

The popularity of 3 wheelers began the late 70’s and grew dramatically well into the late 80’s, final year of production being 1987. With the enormous amount of these machines being produced, came the need for insurance, and of course came law suits of various kinds, and an increase in insurance premiums to match.

Now 20 years later, my 1985 Honda ATC 250 SX, will cost me a minimum of 453 $ according to “ Champlain Insurance “ in Moncton NB. When an equivalent 4 wheeled ATV of the same year and displacement would cost only 122 $. The value of the machine in it’s current condition is about 800 $ and this is on the higher end of the scope of the average 3 wheeler in this area. An insurance amount of 453 $ per year is simply unbelievable.

The newer 4 wheelers in some cases having much more displacement and horsepower, also have a higher top speed, are just as dangerous and provide the equivalent risk factor. Rider safety applies to all off road vehicles, regardless of size, color, brand, or number of tires. However, the price for insurance does not reflect this for my vehicle of choice.

In closing, I ask for your help by reviewing these policies and provide people like myself a legal means of riding and enjoying a part of history by providing a more affordable source of insurance that properly reflects a change in time and rider awareness and responsibility .

Thank you.

[Billy Golightly]

It might help to put it into perspective for them buy comparing full size car insurance rates, which probably aren't off much from the trike. When they see those comparisons, maybe they'll look at them and go "Man, something is wrong here".

[Pistonhead]

I'm in on supporting the fight for lower insurance prices. In Canada, to ride any ATV on public land you need insurance (that means quad, trike, bike, argo, etc.). I think if we write some clean well written letters, something may get done, I know about 10 other guys who will help us in this effort.

[Pistonhead]

There are other Canadian trikers on here who will help us out I know it, I'm off school right now (2 weeks of exams for grade 10, 11, and 12) but when my buddies get back I'll let them know, they are sick of shelling out a whole lot of cash for their dirtbikes. If everyone gets their friends in on this and friends get other friends in and so on, we can get some changes made.

[mwill15]

Just thought I would help out a little with your letter. If you EVER write a formal letter to a person, business, or extension of the government, you should NEVER address it to 'to whom it may concern.' Those get thrown into the nearest trashcan. The secretary at the office which you mail it to is not going to read your letter in order to decide who to give it to. Do some research and find one specific person to go through. It will work much better. I know that there are government run web sites that I can go to to see the name, physical address, e-mail address, phone number and position of nearly every government officail in the U.S. But, you guys are in Canada so you will have to find your own web sites.

By the way, insurance for my 400ex is $210 for full coverage. I think that the reason trikes are so much more is because of the common beliefe that they are so dangerous.

[mwill15]

Keep in mind that you are probably writting someone with a law-based or political-based education. Everything you say is going to be evaluated for truth, bias and many other things. I am no underwritter, but you should really change some of the things you say. Don't get me wrong, you make some great points, but if you don't take offense, I would like to help you out. I would love to see you guys catch a break here.

[MTS]

i can help out i suppose, but with all the rednecked politions there are in canada i dont think much is gona change, just phone them and register the model and VIN number and dont say anything about 3 wheels and your good to go, i havent ever insure any of my bikes becuse i have had no need too.......but i might have to once i get the R built....i will phone around and see what it costs hear for insurance,

[bigredhead]

mwill15.

By all means man.. any help you can provide or are willing to give.. i'm all for it ! no offence taken at all !

I put the " whom it may concern" for now since i have not yet decided who it's being sent to, and yes a person's name needs to go there . I was considering the local news paper to start off with.. that should get some good spread and maybe gather a few more willing who are not yet forum members !!

That goes to everyone else out there too.. any suggestions, letters , ideas, you name it.. the more the merier !

[yater]

In Texas, we don't need any off-road vehicles insured. My dualsport bikes cost about $100/year for liability but they're street legal. If I had the natural resources and riding area that Canada has, I probably wouldn't mind jumping through a few hoops. Take it on the chin and go ride.

[1985 200s]

In NY state you must have liability insurance even if only driven on your own property and must be registered to ride anywhere off your property. My insurance on a three wheeler , and they know it's a three wheeler, is $50 a year for liability through State Farm. :beer

[YTZ250#1]

I have a local guy that can give full coverage including theft,fire or roll it down a cliff,for less then $100 a year.The name is Robert E. Gray insurance,and the policy is from progressive.I will try to get more info on it and post it here.

[mwill15]

I'm willing to do what I can, but the spring semester starts tommorrow and I'm pretty busy when class is going on. I will help all that I can as far as suggestions, reading anything you write, and I will always give my 2 cents (good or bad). But unfortunately, I am not able to do much research on your position, your government, your laws, and so on; school consumes 80% of my time, work takes 20%, and my fiance consumes 200% (yeah, I realize that adds up to more than 100%, but you get my point).

The newspaper may be a good idea. It is always an advantage to have the community there to back you up, just don't let it backfire; remember that many people don't like trikes and will do what they can to keep them as far and few between as they can. I have a feeling that you would get just as many against you, as you would find to agree with you. Hopefully, I am wrong.

Keep me informed. Try pm'ing me if you need something.