A motorcyclists' group has hailed new support from the auto-insurers industry as a major step toward ensuring motorcycle owners get fair access to coverage options, reported the Boston Herald in their October 22 Business News section.

The Massachusetts Motorcycle Association claims that insurance policies in the state have for years unfairly treated motorcyclists differently than car drivers, and sent advocates to participate in the insurance industry’s annual rate hearings to voice their concerns.

On August 22, 2002, Betsy Lister and Paul Cote appeared and testified at the rate hearings, and distributed written submissions prepared by the MMA requesting that the Insurance Commissioner investigate "unfair, discriminatory, excessive pricing, and violations of public policy involving motorcycle coverages and rates."

Consequently, the auto insurers agreed recently with several key proposals that the motorcyclists' group sought, though the final decision still rests with state Division of Insurance Commissioner Julie Bowler.

Paul Cote, a spokesman for the bikers' group, said the insurers' support bodes well for a favorable decision from Bowler. "It's a major breakthrough," he said. "We're grateful that they see the inequities and are taking steps to address those inequities."

In an October 17 letter to Bowler, a lawyer for the Automobile Insurers Bureau of Massachusetts wrote that the group supports the following reforms:

Giving discounts to motorcyclists who install certain kinds of anti-theft devices, namely vehicle-tracking equipment. Currently, they don't receive any discount.

Allowing motorcycle riders to buy vehicle insurance with up to $25,000 in optional medical coverage. Currently, such policies can cover up to $5,000 in medical costs for bikers, while auto owners can buy coverage with a limit of $100,000.

Allowing motorcyclists to have their premiums based on appraised values of their bikes instead of book values. Car owners already have that option.

The motorcyclists also want to extend multi-vehicle discounts to bikes, similar to car owners, but the insurers didn't offer support for that change.

Chris Goetcheus, a Division of Insurance spokesman, said Bowler was receptive to the motorcyclists' concerns, and will likely issue a decision within the next few weeks.