Motor motorcycle insurance typically pays for other people’s injuries and property damage when you are at fault. In addition, you can purchase insurance for your motorbike to protect it from unplanned occurrences like theft, fire, and bad weather.
Read on to learn about motorcycle insurance and how it works!
Read the Car Insurance Guide in 2024
What Is a Motorcycle Insurance?
Motorcycle insurance is a wonderful way to protect your scooter or motorcycle, whether for daily commuting or occasional weekend trips. Furthermore, comprehensive insurance can be very helpful in the unfortunate case of a mishap. Many jurisdictions require motorcyclists to purchase a minimal level of motorcycle insurance to ride on the road legally.
Like auto insurance, motorcycle insurance covers injuries, other property loss, and vehicle damage. Similar terms for coverage categories, such as collision, comprehensive, and liability, will be apparent if you have auto insurance.
Like auto insurance, motorcycle insurance also has a claims procedure. First, you must inform your insurance provider and submit a claim if your car is stolen or damaged. Then, after considering the incident, the insurance business selects a payout amount.
How Does Motorcycle Insurance Operate?
Similar to car insurance, motorcycle insurance operates by having you pay monthly or yearly premiums to maintain your coverage in effect. Your insurance provider will pay your claim if you are involved in an accident or your motorcycle is damaged.
Your liability coverage, the most crucial component of a motorbike insurance policy, will pay for other people’s medical expenses or property damage if you cause an accident.
A motorcycle insurance policy that provides complete coverage means that it covers comprehensive and collision expenses, which cover damage to your motorcycle. If your claim is accepted, your motorcycle insurance will pay for losses up to the limits specified in your contract.
You should contact your motorcycle insurance provider and begin the claims procedure after an accident (or if a fire or hurricane damages your motorcycle). To determine who was at fault, the insurance company will look into the damage and speak with any other drivers who may have been engaged.
If your claim is accepted, your motorcycle insurance will pay for losses up to the limits specified in your contract.
How To Purchase Motorcycle Insurance
The same five steps you would use to obtain motorcycle insurance also apply to obtaining motorcycle insurance, even though they are distinct types of insurance:
- Choose how much motorcycle insurance to purchase. You must purchase the same amount of coverage for a motorcycle as you would for a normal vehicle, but you may opt to purchase more coverage than your state requires, as well as endorsements to cover your gear or accessories.
- To compare quotes, you must provide your name, location, and driver’s license number. You must also confirm that you have a motorcycle endorsement (if one is necessary for your area) and that you can legally ride a motorcycle. You can compare quotes from various businesses at one time when you shop online or through a broker.
- Choose a policy: If saving money is your top concern, go with the insurance provider that gives you the cheapest estimate. But when selecting the best motorcycle insurance, you should consider things like business reviews or the available coverage options.
- Decide on a commencement date and complete your policy when you are prepared. It might be worthwhile to get an estimate before your current insurance policy (if you have one) expires because some companies give discounts for doing your research in advance.
- Cancel your current policy: You can cancel your current motorbike insurance policy once it is set up without worrying about going without coverage. A policy can be canceled anytime, though some insurers charge a small cancellation fee.
Factors Affecting the Cost Of Motorcycle Insurance
A variety of variables influence the cost of your motorcycle insurance. For example, your rates could alter as a result of the following:
- Your age and prior driving history: Younger, less experienced motorcyclists experience higher rates than more seasoned riders who have been riding motorcycles for a long time.
- How much protection you have: Your prices will increase as you purchase more insurance. A policy with full coverage will cost more than one with just the minimum required by your state’s insurance rules.
- Your bicycle style: Insurance will be more costly for larger-engined and more expensively made motorcycles than for smaller, less expensive models because their repair or replacement would be more expensive, more expensive bikes.
- Your residence: Location affects how much motorbike insurance costs. Insurance will cost more in areas with higher motorcycle theft rates and congested roadways.
- Your performance as a driver: Motorcycle insurance will typically cost more for drivers with a history of traffic violations or claims-related accidents than those with spotless records.
Types of Motorcycle Insurance
1. Guest Passenger Liability
This insurance covers your passenger’s medical costs if you cause an accident while riding a motorbike. Typically, this coverage won’t be applicable if you weren’t the cause of the mishap. However, in those circumstances, you and your companions may file a claim for your medical expenses with the at-fault driver’s liability insurance.
Guest passenger liability is optional in some states but mandatory in others. Asking your insurance agent how to get guest passenger liability is a good idea because it may be available independently or as part of your liability coverage.
2. Comprehensive Insurance
A good reason to have comprehensive insurance is that it covers many issues, including motorcycle theft, vandalism, falling objects (like tree branches), fire, floods, and hail.
In the same way that collision insurance has a premium, comprehensive insurance also does.
3. Coverage for medical expenses (MedPay)
No matter who caused the mishap, MedPay coverage helps cover your and your passenger’s medical expenses. MedPay may cover the following, depending on your jurisdiction and insurance provider:
- Emergency medical services and ambulance costs
- Medical expenses
- specialized nursing care
- Copays and premiums for health insurance
- Prescriptions
4. Personal injury protection (PIP) insurance
Personal injury protection (PIP) insurance provides more coverage than MedPay but is comparable. PIP coverage covers your medical costs and passengers, regardless of who caused the mishap. PIP can also pay for lost wages if you cannot work and alternative services for jobs you cannot perform, such as housecleaning, to cover medical costs like hospital and doctor fees. PIP is not offered in some states, is optional in others, and is required in some.
If your state offers both PIP and MedPay, PIP is usually the superior choice because it can cover more things, like lost wages.
5. Coverage For Carried Goods and Personal Effects
Your contents and personal belongings insurance cover the possessions you bring on your bike while traveling. Your mobile phone, tools, motorcycle gear, and other items you carry would all be covered under this coverage if they were lost, broken, or stolen.
For instance, a motorcycle rider would be protected if their backpack contained clothing or other lost or stolen items. It’s not necessary for contents and personal property to be lost or harmed in a collision for a claim to be valid. It would be covered if they inadvertently tumbled off a motorcycle and were regarded as lost.
6. Roadside Help and Insurance For Towing
For motorcycle insurance plans, towing insurance and roadside assistance are optional coverages that can be added in exchange for a higher premium. A motorcycle will frequently be towed to the closest shop as part of roadside help programs, either for free or at a reduced cost. Additionally, they frequently offer free water, oil, or fuel transportation and cover mechanical or electrical breakdowns, flat tires, and battery failure.
For additional security, there are a few other insurance add-ons for motorbike policies that could be a good choice. These include:
- Coverage of apparel If your helmet, boots, gloves, or jacket are damaged in a mishap, this endorsement will pay for replacement costs.
- Personal property insurance protects any items you carry in your vehicle, such as your phone and gear packs.
- Coverage for custom parts and accessories: This covers damage to any non-original pieces of your motorcycle, such as a seat you installed.
- Coverage for a trailer: This add-on can provide coverage for a trailer your motorbike tows or a larger trailer that transports your motorcycle in the back of a full-size car.
- Coverage for roadside help includes the price of services such as fuel delivery, battery repair, and towing after a breakdown.
How To Get the Best Motorcycle Insurance Rates
- Your insurance will cost less in total if you raise your deductible.
- Take safety training: Drivers who have completed a motorcycle safety course often qualify for discounts from insurance companies.
- Don’t just choose the first insurer you come across; compare rates from various providers to find the best deal.
- Keeping a clean driving record is important because insurance companies frequently offer rebates to such drivers.
- Possess a motorbike that costs less to insure: The cost of insurance varies depending on the type of cycle. Find one that costs less to cover if you can.
What Is Not Covered By Motorcycle Insurance?
The certain motorcycle uses might not be covered by your insurance, depending on your policy. In these circumstances, you can add a waiver or endorsement to your policy to increase its scope of coverage, or you may need to buy a different policy entirely.
- Competition & Track Days: While some motorcycle insurance plans do not always cover track days, others do. Ask your insurer if riding your motorbike on a racetrack or in a competitive setting is covered before you do so. Otherwise, we advise you to buy short-term insurance to keep you and your bike monetarily secure while riding on a course.
- Suppose you use your motorcycle for commercial reasons, such as if you work as a courier, your policy might not provide coverage while you are on the clock. If you frequently use your bike for business and commuting purposes, think about purchasing a commercial vehicle insurance policy.
Motorcycle Insurance Conclusion
The laws governing motorcycle insurance vary from state to state, but they are usually the same as those governing auto insurance.
You must have insurance that meets state requirements, but more is preferable if you can afford it. When creating your motorcycle insurance policy, you should ensure sufficient liability and guest passenger liability insurance. This coverage pays for third parties’ injuries and property damage if you cause an accident. As a general guideline, get liability insurance that would be adequate to replace any damages you might suffer in a lawsuit.
Even if it is unnecessary, purchasing uninsured driver coverage is advisable. This covers hospital costs if someone hits you and has insufficient or no liability insurance.
Motorcycle Insurance Frequently Asked Questions
What is covered under bike insurance?
Medical costs, property harm, and loss of use are just a few motorcycle insurance coverage options. To ensure that you know what is and isn’t covered by motorcycle insurance, it is crucial to read your motorcycle insurance policy thoroughly. For instance, most policies won’t pay for harm resulting from reckless driving or riding.
What is the cost of motorcycle insurance?
Your age, the kind of motorbike you own, and your driving record are just a few of the variables that will affect the price of your motorcycle insurance. However, the annual average expense of motorcycle insurance is about $200. You can get cheaper rates by raising your deductible and enrolling in safety training.
Is insurance for motorcycles the same as insurance for cars?
Auto insurance is comparable to motorcycle insurance. It offers liability protection if you are determined to be at fault for a loss, cause damage to someone else’s property, or hurt someone else. It may also offer protection against loss or harm to your motorcycle.
You should also add extra protections like roadside help and coverage for any accessories or customizations you make to your motorcycle.
Does my motorbike require insurance?
To register your motorcycle and acquire tags, you are required by law to purchase liability insurance. In addition, if you borrowed money to buy your motorbike, your lender might insist that you get collision and comprehensive (other than collision) insurance.
What does comprehensive bike insurance entail?
A comprehensive bike insurance policy offers extensive protection for your bike against a variety of damages, including unintentional damage, damage from fire, theft, or a total loss event, as well as damage sustained in the wake of natural disasters like earthquakes and floods as well as damage caused by man.
