Modern Vespa

A friend of mine's wife just bought a new Primavera, and they are having a bit of trouble getting insurance for it. I gave them my State Farm agent's contact, but State Farm apparently won't insure anything under 155cc.

This seems... weird.

Anyone have any insight? Who are people in California generally using for insurance for their LX, Primavera, etc?

The only one I could find was/is Hagerty. Pretty reasonable and less than $100 per year and did it on a Sunday.

The PV/Sprint 150 has exactly 155cc…

Oh, I did not know that!

Technical data

Geico insures my LX150 in CA

They've struck out with Geico and State Farm, for some reason. I'm not sure why. I'll forward that on to them, though.

We also use Geico in california for our GTS 300 and our Liberty 150. We insured the 300 first, and then added the 150 to the same policy. Not sure if that made a difference? Also they are both from '22 so they are relatively new bikes.

I have a Primavera in California, insured by AAA. Never had a problem that I've noticed.

State Farm insures my Yamaha Zuma 125 in Florida, along with my five other scooters.

Bill

I don't remember the reasoning (this was 2013), but we have all of our car insurance, home insurance and some life insurance with State Farm. I've been a customer with them since 1991. They would not insure my 150cc scooter. Right now I go through Safeco, but I'd like to shop around for better rates.

I'm with State Farm as well and have been all of my 53 riding/driving years. I have never had a problem with them insuring anything I have owned. I do know each state is a little different on what rules they have for insurance, so maybe Cali is just a tough place to make money on the sub-155cc machines.

This sounds strange. Both of our Genuine Buddy 125s are insured through State Farm.

Okay, I've had both a Primavera and Liberty through State Farm in CA, selling the last one last summer, with no issue.

To put it to the test, I just called my agent in Oakland and they quoted me adding a Honda Ruckus to my policy, no problem at all.

It seems that either the agent in question is the issue, or a "new" policy is the issue. Hm.

I just bought a Liberty 150 which I insured through State Farm but before that I got a quote for a Zuma 125 with no issue. BTW almost the exact same price to insure either.

If only MV had a resident State Farm agent who could provide their take.

I could have sworn I've see one, maybe two photos of this individual.

It sounds like you are describing Bob Copeland. You've probably seen more than 2 photos
in that case . I do not believe he is an agent for State Farm, however.

I'm in Texas and a veteran. I've been with USAA for 40 years.

About 10 years ago, they shifted all new motorcycle policies in Texas to Progressive for reasons that were never satisfactorily explained.

I've been happy with Progressive, but they know I'm a USAA member so maybe the service is better/cheaper than somebody off the street would get? I don't comparison shop in this case, so I don't know.

Good luck.

The issue is likely the sheer number of Chinese 150cc scooters out there that aren't in the NADA or any other guide, which makes it very hard to process claims.

My ZNEN was always listed as "Other".

I've had good luck with Progressive. They even insured a Vespa s50 for me.

I am a huge fan of Markel insurance. I had them for insurance in California years ago and have them in Nevada now.

I am not a fan of State Farm at all, just the business model. I much prefer the insurance companies that allow independent brokers as opposed to State Farm where they are locked in to State Farm agents.

I also think State Farm will be more expensive for the same coverage for the same reasons.

If they said no take their word for it… don't try to convince them they made a mistake denying coverage. They did you a favor.

I'm sure the claims adjusters really looked forward to dealing with "other."
Nobody knows what it is, nobody knows where to get parts, nobody knows what it's worth, nobody knows what it will cost to fix it, nobody wants to fix it...

There are so many made up brands where someone put their name on a container of scooters, and set them free into the universe.

And I think that was part of it. ZNEN made scooters for eleventy different brands that were all under the Zhongneng Industry Group umbrella, and NOBODY knew what to do with them. And in Michigan you are required to carry insurance on a $1400 motorcycle. It's like Best Buy asking if you want the extended warranty on the $6.00 USB cable you just bought.

I still plan on calling State Farm and asking about the two insurable bikes we have now. They're Both Genuine Scooters. If they'll insure them, I'm sure I'll get some sort of discount.

To true my Znen 151cc has a name on the chassis number plate proclaiming it's a Fosti and the badges on it proclaim it's a Lambretta Pato much to annoyance of the Lambretta owner's. Too me it's a Znen which I can cross-reference to other Chinese models for parts if there are none in the UK.
From memory they are sold as a Lance Milan Stateside amongst a host of other names and most likely more to come.

Progressive Insurance is the number 2 company in the USA next to State Farm as number 1.

Remember, insurance varies State to State (State Law not Federal). Progressive is routinely 30% cheaper for the same coverage as anyone else.

Just go online for local Independent Agent (Represents Many Companies) and have hem price your scoot/M/C with Progressive.

Bob Copeland
Independent Insurance Agent Minnesota

I just got a call back from my State Farm Agent. It should be said I've stuck with SF forever because I get to talk to people. When I call, they pick up the phone, know who I am and have my policies open before I can ask questions. So, shameless plug.

Anywho, I had asked for a quote online for my Stella. I read off the numbers to my agent, and even with my history and multiple policies, they were more expensive than Safeco. BUT, they will insure it.

That tells me it was more about the fact I owned a 2013 Othr Taizhou Zhongne (according to my Safeco policy).

What you describe about them knowing you and having your policies open when you talk to them...that exactly describes my favorite Independent Insurance broker. This guy helped find a lawyer when I needed one and he did that for all of his clients, he was a go between for many of them to all of their benefit and just a good guy.

I just have to comment that I have noticed there are some things that have negative connotations to cheaping out. For example I know some people frown on Walmart because of the societal repercussions of putting small town mom and pop out of business.

On the other hand trying to save money on insurance for anything by going with the local Independent helps keep the behemoth corporation prices in check as well as keeping more of what you spend for required insurance in your community supporting the local broker.

Probably not relevant, but years ago, at least twenty, my wife Trixie owned a pristine 1987 Yamaha YSR50, which was parked in our living room as an interesting piece of home decor, seldom ridden.

We did keep road insurance on it though, and all of our vehicles, home, etc were insured with Farmers at the time.

When it came time for renewal, we were told that they would not insure the diminutive little Yamaha because, as I was told, "We don't insure 'crotch rockets'", and it was on the same uninsurable 'blacklist' as an RI or even the Hayabusa by these clowns.

The YSR50 is a street-legal (US), 50cc minibike with something like 6.5 hp, but no matter how we explained that to the agent, they refused to cover it.

We dropped a ALL of our policies with Farmers at that point, and haven't been with them since.

This is a Yamaha YSR50....dangerous looking thing, isn't it?

JBlacklund,

I does seem a stretch not to insure a 50cc that looks like a sports bike. I detect the VIN number triggered them to the classification of a sports bike.

My companies will insured any sport bike. Problem, the demographic of young riders on these crotch rockets, with their statistically high loss ratio, makes the insurance very expensive. I swear, they buy these macines and immediately look for the nearest brick wall to dirve into. Regrettably, if you ride one, you get thrown into a tough pricing structure. If you are older - not so much.

How bad is the pricing, a 19 year old with a full coverage sportbike could pay as much $450 per month (even with a clean driving record). Here is how they counter the high pricing. They buy the bike new and have their parents pay for it in full. Then, not needing full coverage with a bank loan, they purchase only liability. Then it is $250 per month.

Bob Copeland
Minnesota

One of the only financial advantages of being 'older', is the breaks one can get on vehicle insurance rates.

I also have the advantage of living in a relatively 'backwater' area of the country, and of course, a clean driving record doesn't hurt either.

Not to boast, but I don't think I'm paying even $200 ANNUALLY for a full-coverage policy on my 2022 Triumph Rocket 3R from GEICO.

My 2020 Vespa is almost ridiculously cheap to insure, something like $6 per month.

I've got State Farm coverage on my '55 VL1, have had for years. It's under $60 per year, but that's just our state required coverage -- liability, property damage. If the thing gets wrecked I'm screwed on the value. Now that I'll be riding it again I should probably get better coverage.

Saw this in the news. Another round of not renewing policies for State Farm.

Like a good neighbor they are bailing on the ones that might lose them money...Somebody has to pay for the commercials. I mean they got Patrick Mahomes, Chris Paul, Aaron Rodgers and quite a few other high dollar actors in their spots so can't lose on high risk policies...

I have hated commercials for a long time. I do not think it healthy for anyone to be subjected to media that actively tries to influence you to buy stuff you don't need. I bet in the future we look back on commercials like we do now on the pictures of mountains of buffalo skulls. What were they thinking when they did that?

Anyway I try to do business with companies that don't have sports stars on TV commercials not just for my own personal savings but as a vote with my dollars. Markel's commercials are the same as the kind of meat priests eat on Friday's, None!

Has anyone else noticed that it seems much more difficult to find information online anymore? All the searches return are links trying to sell you stuff not give you information about what you already have. Sad.

This might be why the Scooter insurance was denied.

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/state-farm-announces-major-insurance-150000813.html

Yeah, it just came out that State Farm is not renewing home insurance policies for 30K homes and 42K apartments over the next year since in California. This is mainly due to California specific regulations that put them at too much risk in parts of the state due to disasters without being able to raise their costs enough to cover their risks. They are the largest insurer in California but won't offer polices that they can't make money on.

Something similar has to be is going on for small scooters in the state or in certain parts of the state anyway. There must be too much risk for them to be able to make money from offering the insurance to younger riders.

I have no problem getting insurance on my BV350 from SF, but it's a BV and I'm almost 60. Cost is very reasonable too. I have three other cars insured at the same time though. SF is great to work with if you ever get in an accident.
Their roadside assistance totally sucks as does anyone else's except for AAA, from my experience in Southern California.

I always wanted one of those. But I bet they do attract hooligans(of all ages) and smidsys.