What is Motorcycle Insurance?
Motorcycle Insurance provides financial protection for many of the risks that come with owning and riding a motorcycle. Similar to auto insurance, it can provide liability protection if you injure someone or damage their property, along with optional coverage that protects your own bike.
Coverage can be customized based on your motorcycle, how you ride, and the amount of protection you want.
Why do you need Motorcycle Insurance?
Accidents happen, and motorcycle accidents can lead to costly repairs, injuries, medical expenses, and liability claims.
The right Motorcycle Insurance can help protect you financially if you cause an accident while also protecting the value of your bike against covered damage, theft, and other losses.
Insurance requirements vary by state, so riders should also make sure their coverage meets the requirements where the motorcycle is registered and operated.
What does Motorcycle Insurance cover?
Depending on the policy and coverage you choose, Motorcycle Insurance may include:
- Bodily Injury Liability: Helps cover qualifying expenses if you are legally responsible for injuring another person.
- Property Damage Liability: Helps cover damage you cause to someone else’s property.
- Collision Coverage: Helps pay for covered damage to your motorcycle after a collision, subject to your deductible.
- Comprehensive Coverage: Helps protect against certain non-collision losses such as theft, vandalism, fire, or weather-related damage.
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: May help protect you when an at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough insurance, subject to state law and policy terms.
- Medical or Injury-Related Coverage: Certain forms of medical coverage may be available depending on your insurer and state.
- Accessories and Custom Equipment Coverage: Additional protection may be available for qualifying upgrades, accessories, or custom parts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Motorcycle Insurance basically the same as auto insurance?
A: There are plenty of similarities. Both can include liability, collision, comprehensive, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. However, motorcycles have their own risks, coverage options, eligibility requirements, and pricing.
Q: Does Motorcycle Insurance cover theft?
A: It can. Comprehensive coverage generally helps protect against covered non-collision losses such as theft, vandalism, fire, and certain weather-related damage. A deductible and other policy terms may apply.
Q: Are custom motorcycle parts and accessories covered?
A: It depends on your policy. Some insurers include a limited amount of coverage for custom equipment and accessories, while larger upgrades may require additional protection. Make sure your insurance professional knows about significant modifications to your bike.
What to Know Before You Get Motorcycle Insurance
The cheapest policy isn’t always the best fit. Pay attention to your liability limits, deductibles, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, and whether your custom equipment and accessories are adequately protected.
Your motorcycle, riding experience, location, storage, how often you ride, claims history, and selected coverage can all affect your insurance options and premium.