Insurance on salvage title
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Tourer
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 497
Likes: 575
From: Maryland
Insurance on salvage title
Front end taken out in parking lot hit and run, insurance company totaled the bike in part because the frame was "bent". Found no evidence of that other than a big gouge out of the frame stop where the triple tree post banged into it and bent over, allowing the upper bracket to bash into the tank and dent it. Negotiated a decent settlement with the ins co, bought the bike back, confirmed the frame was straight, welded some steel into and reformed the frame stop and rebuilt the front end. Bike rides great, no issues, straight as an arrow, inspected and salvage title issued. Presented evidence of rebuilding but ins co won't provide coverage other than liability, won't offer physical damage despite fact that frame damage fully and demonstrably repaired to good as new, b/c of "bent frame" and salvage title. Am I SOL here? Insurers will never offer physical damage on a salvage title involving what they consider a bent frame?
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,048
Likes: 492
From: Heart of Georgia
Interesting question. I've never owned a motorcycle with a salvage title but I did own a car with one and had no trouble getting it insured. I put it on the same full coverage policy with my other car. I lived in Ohio at the time and was insured with Erie. Have you tried asking other insurance companies?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 15,705
Likes: 22,718
From: Farmington ,MS
Ride it don't worry about it...if you are in an accident...the bike is usually the least of your worries...
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 9,570
Likes: 7,943
From: Long Island, New York
Try getting it insured for "agreed value", but likely it will be too expensive to be worth it. Glad to hear you got the bike back together and it rides great, but you knew going into this she would never be worth the same amount of money. So get the basic liability to keep her legal and enjoy the bike. Anything more is just chasing your tail, good luck.
If YOU have the skills and tools to do a rebuild or repair, take the liability insurance and save the comp difference. Salvage title instanly devalued that bike (VIN), so even if they covered the bike you would be lucky to recoved 1/3 of true worth, as it's already been paid for once.
Ride it, enjoy it, and accept it.
Ride it, enjoy it, and accept it.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 9,282
Likes: 1,139
From: southeast PA
I insured an older 911 with Hagerty based on agreed value. Not sure about bikes, but you might want to give them a try and see if and what they can do.
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 932
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From: Connecticut
If I were the PO I'd take liability, fire/theft if they'll write it, and ride, ride, ride...
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 1,705
Likes: 1,017
From: Lawrenceville Ga.
If you did the repairs yourself they have no way to tell if it were repaired properly.
Not to say you did not do a good job, I'm sure you did by your description above, but I've seen a few bondo bandets in my time.
Not to say you did not do a good job, I'm sure you did by your description above, but I've seen a few bondo bandets in my time.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,448
Likes: 2,299
From: NW Ohio
Hagerty used to have an age limit. I want to say it was 25 years or older. That was 10 years ago, tho. Not sure what they do today.
They were happy to insure my old car but wouldn't touch my truck of the same age due to bed interior damage. I use it as a truck so the bed floor and inner fenders were never restored. Rest of the truck was super nice. Oh well.
They were happy to insure my old car but wouldn't touch my truck of the same age due to bed interior damage. I use it as a truck so the bed floor and inner fenders were never restored. Rest of the truck was super nice. Oh well.