Unfortunately, we aren’t perfect and mistakes happen. That’s why it’s important to have accident forgiveness included in your motorcycle insurance policy.
Accident forgiveness protection in your motorcycle insurance policy is often called the Good Driver Guarantee (there are different names for this coverage depending on your insurance carrier). Having this coverage included in you insurance policy can save you a lot of headaches in the event of an accident. Don’t let one mistake raise your premiums; be sure you have accident forgiveness. We’ve shared and clarified everything to do with this coverage below.
A Guide to Understanding Accident Forgiveness
What is it?
Accident forgiveness a.k.a. the Good Driver Guarantee allows riders with a clean driving record to have their first at-fault accident forgiven (depending on the circumstances). This means your motorcycle insurance premium will not be affected.
Eligibility
Not everyone qualifies for the accident forgiveness/Good Driver Guarantee coverage. Typically, it goes hand and hand with your driving record and is something that needs to be discussed with your Insurance Broker. Here are some other eligibility requirements:
- A driving record with a 5 star rating – this means you have had a class M licence for 5 years and a clean record with no accidents
- No at-fault accidents in the past 6 years
- No more than 1 minor conviction in the past 3 years
- No major, serious or criminal code convictions in the past 3 years
How Accident Forgiveness Protects Your Insurance Costs
The benefits of motorcycle accident forgiveness are fairly obvious, but here is a quick outline:
- Your first at-fault accident is forgiven
- Rates will not increase from an at-fault accident
- Offers a reason to drive safe during the claims-free period
- Often a standard declaration with some companies
What it doesn’t cover
If you have accident forgiveness/Good Driver Guarantee, your first at-fault motorcycle accident will not impact your insurance costs at renewal time. However, after your first at-fault accident this coverage will no longer apply and all subsequent accidents will (possibly) have an affect on the cost of your insurance. Once the Good Driver Guarantee has been removed due to an at-fault accident or convictions, you must meet all the qualifications for the Good Driver Guarantee before you become eligible for reinstatement of this coverage.
You are ineligible for this coverage upon renewal if the following occurs:
- 2 or more minor convictions in the past 3 years
- 1 or more major, serious or criminal convictions in the past 3 years
- First at-fault accident
We hope we’ve shed some light on motorcycle accident forgiveness/Good Driver Guarantee coverage. If you have any questions be sure to contact your StreetRider broker today!
Source: www.thinkinsure.ca