These days it is as easy to buy a motorcycle insurance policy on-line in just a few minutes as it is to buy auto insurance. Fifteen minutes or less is the famous ad slogan and it is indeed possible to buy motorcycle insurance and have the right proof in your hand in as about much time as it takes to drink a large cup of coffee. All very convenient but often that convenience can mean you are missing out on a better deal.

What do Motorcycle Insurance Brokers Do For You?
It is important that you understand the difference between a motorcycle insurance agent and a motorcycle insurance broker. An agent works for as an independent. He or she makes a living from the commission they earn on selling a policy, no matter which company it happens to come from. For the most part in terms of dollar amounts the commissions paid by different insurance companies are very similar so there is usually little reason for a good motorcycle insurance broker to show a particular bias to one company and concentrates instead on developing a good client base by providing a great service, especially since much of a successful motorcycle insurance broker’s business comes from referrals.
Specialist Product Knowledge
One of the biggest advantages to working with a motorcycle insurance broker is that they haver specialized product knowledge. They know the ins and outs of all the policy offerings and know which policies are best suited to certain common situations. You could try to that yourself but it would mean hours and hours on-line shopping around. And in fact sometimes a motorcycle insurance broker knows of a company – often a smaller, local company – that offers something the well known national names, the ones that you are likely to research, better. If you are a bit of a ‘problem” motorcyclist – you have a point or two on your license, or have never owned a motorcycle before – a motorcycle insurance broker can help you get a deal that you may have been turned down for or not offered on line because those systems are so generalized.
In addition insurance companies actually change their policy offerings quite often but do not necessarily over publicize that fact. If you have a motorcycle insurance broker in your corner they will usually make you are aware of any savings opportunities that come up along the way whereas if you buy motorcycle insurance on-line its is usually very much ‘pay for it every month and forget about it” thing. If you work with a motorcycle insurance broker they will initiate regular coverage reviews to make sure that the insurance coverage you have is still the best option for you.
Extra Help at Claim Time
Possibly where a motorcycle insurance broker can be most helpful to a motorcyclist is if and when you actually have to make a claim. For all that you see in adverts about concierge claims service and great telephone customer service there is nothing quite like having a specific person – and a specific person you know – who is there to handle your claim. Motorcycle insurance claims – like any kind of insurance claim – can get rather complicated and occasionally even a little contentious – and having a broker their to mediate on your behalf can make everything flow a lot quicker and far more smoothly. The broker is essentially working for you but they usually have good solid relationships with staff at the insurance claims centers so they can help mediate a quicker claims resolution.
How do You Choose the Right Motorcycle Insurance Broker?
The first step in choosing the best motorcycle insurance broker is to ask all of your friends, family, colleagues who they use and if they’ve had a good experience with that broker’s services. A lot of people, once they have found a great insurance broker work with them for years and it is not too unusual for an experienced motorcycle insurance broker to work with several generations of the same family, simply because they provide such great service all the time, even if they never have to actually handle a claim.
If your friends and family cannot help you (not everyone rides after all) then you can try checking with your local Better Business Bureau, as a positive report there is usually a good sign.
With the huge popularity of Internet social media sites you can also check there. If a certain motorcycle insurance broker has a number of good reviews on Google Places, or positive comments on their Facebook accounts they can serve as good recommendations too.
You should also ‘interview” the motorcycle insurance broker you are considering, at least over the telephone. Ask about their office hours (important if you have a claim) how long they have been in business and how long they have worked in your community. Motorcycle insurance rates can be affected by the neighborhood you live in so an experienced local agent often has a better idea of which insurance companies weigh this factor more heavily than others. And then of course there is the likability factor – its hard to work in any capacity with someone whose personality does not match your own and the best client/broker relationships are long term ones.

You want to protect yourself just in-case something like this happens!