Ever been asked for a photo of a serial plate for insurance purposes?

Out of the blue my agent is requesting a photo of the serial tags of one of my motorcycles. Inquired...something somthing blah blah underwriters for renewal.

It strikes me as odd because I have had another motorcycle insured with them for 15 years and have never had such a request for it.

Full discolsure: Originally was told a photo of the Title or of the plate would suffice. Submitted photo of Title next to a quoatation from them showing the same serial number. Not good enough.

I am letting them decide their own fate on the policy. Accept the Title photo or the policy will not be renewed with them.

Anyone ever have to do this? I don't feel like they are being honest with me about reasons for needing it.

Further...if the photo is 'proof of ownership', what's to stop someone from hacking their system and using my photo to claim my property?

I pay these people more than I should thinking it will help to avoid headaches.

 

I believe it's a pretty standard practice for insurance companies to ask for serial numbers which often includes pictures for documentation.

 

I've never been asked for anything like that...the only time my agent needed to see my vehicle was when I asked to insure for a increased value, which was way more than what would be normal for that year/model...he took a couple pics (none of the serial #) and we were good.

 

I've never been asked for pictures of tags.

 

You should call your agent and find out if this request is legit. It could be a scam.

 

I've never been asked for photos for insurance renewal purposes. I believe I had to when insuring a dirt bike I modified to register on the road, but that's a special case. Insurance companies are in the business of weaseling out of paying claims by any means necessary, so if you screwed up and gave them the wrong VIN or something that'll work in their favor. I do know that it doesn't pay to be loyal to any insurance company for a lot of years. You'll get much better rates if you switch more often. It's a headache but the money it saves you is significant.

 

Maybe someone else insured one that was turned in with "the same serial #" because someone typo'd something and they are trying to figure out which one is correct? Or maybe the number decodes weird or something...I dunno, just an idea...?

 

That advice about switching services guess for so many things. Cell phones, TV and Internet service, insurance, etc

It's just a pain, and sometimes you'rye options are limited

 

Never had to do that with any of the bikes my ex and I had (or any vehicle).

We did have to get an appraisal done at a bike shop for one of his bikes that was titled as a "reman" bought from an individual, but no pictures. we just gave them a copy of the report.

Did you buy the bike from an individual or thru a dealer? That may make a difference. IIRMC, we didn't have insurance on his first two bikes that were bought from individuals back in the early 90's.

 

Thanks all. The bike will be insured now at the same place my buggy is. I had tried to go through my regular agent for the Mule when I bought it, but they were literally twice as much as two other quotes I got.

I had a claim with them about 2 years ago. Took a while to get into body shop. Their corporate calls and tells me my claim is going to expire? lol They said it needs to be looked at within 30 days of claim. Body shop was booked solid for 6 weeks. Second body shop booked solid 5 weeks. I explain this to the person on the other end of the phone. "Well, you can take picture of it and send to us." OK, so now I'm the adjuster????? Nope. You work for me, not the other way around. Send out an adjuster. "We got rid of them during covid" LOL That's not MY problem. You never lowered my rates to make up for not having an adjuster, did you?

I absolutely, postively will not suffer bureaucracy anymore. Especially when I'm paying for it.

 

I've never been asked for anything like that either.

 

Never even heard of something like that.

 

Sent them a pic of Title. Good enough for the State, gooder enough for an insurance co. But it's not. lol And that's how they lose policies and clients.

 

I didn’t say it was right, just that it’s not uncommon. Insurance companies change and alter policies all the time. The list of what they don’t cover grows every year. I think insurance in general is a huge scam. Pay every year….then finally use once and they drop you or jack your rate up.

 

An old friend of mine had a great saying in regards to insurers and lawyers..." We wouldn't need them if we didn't have them."

 

Nothing surprises me regarding insurance these days. So many companies have left California that those left are raising rates double digits every year and adding all kinds of stipulations and even inspections. For our house insurance we have had inspections the last three years and every time they find something we have to fix and document or the policy will not be renewed. That's a big threat because finding insurance is not easy. I'm sure this is giving the insurance companies ideas for the rest of the States.

 

It's part of the pre-insurance inspection here. Although the "pre-insurance inspection" happens within 7 to 10 days after insuring the vehicle.
They're not requiring it yearly yet - just for a new policy but yearly is on the horizon.

 

Huh, you have inspections for vehicle insurance over the boarder? Never even been asked for a picture, or had anyone inspect a vehicle (outside mandatory state inspections) until I had a claim. Maybe it is because the vehicles that I have full insurance on are bought thru a dealer and the dealer talks to them asking for a rider. Insurance just wants to know how much the sticker price was (they don't care how much I actually paid for it). Between the price and the VIN, where they can find out all the car has (like safety features - BU cameras, proximity alarms etc), they have a really good idea as to the shape it is in.

For houses, the insurance company comes out once to look at the outside - never had them inside. I changed house insurance last fall and a couple days later there was someone out taking a look. I was out at the time and when I got home she was sitting in her vehicle across the road writing a bunch of stuff. I figured for sure they would want to see the pellet stove installs from the inside since they are on the policy, but nope. Actually, I'm assuming that was the new insurance looking, because of the timing. For all I know it was someone casing the area for possible house buys or nefarious purposes .

Actually the "hardest" insurance inspection I've had was when I first bought this place and I had Prince. When the guy came by to look at the exterior, he also wanted to meet the dog. Easy peasy.

 

We just acquired a used car. The only inspection needed, was the safety/emissions inspection the RMV requires.