One of the first things you need to do before riding your bike is to get motorcycle insurance. Riding a motorcycle legally requires one to have motorcycle insurance. It’s the law, but it’s also a smart move since it can prevent major financial disasters. Motorcycles are more vulnerable than other vehicles, and insurance can help protect you from financial or physical damages.
Motorcycle insurance coverage options
Motorcycle insurance policies are similar to those you’ll find for auto insurance. In addition to liability and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, most insurers offer these options:
- Liability – covers damage to someone else or their property when the vehicle operator is at fault. It is regulated by each state and is required by law.
- Collision – pays for damage to your motorcycle in case of an accident.
- Comprehensive – covers your bike in case it is stolen or damaged by something other than a collision with another vehicle. Animal collisions are covered.
- Personal injury protection – pays out for medical bills for injuries you, your passenger or pedestrians suffer in an accident regardless of who’s at fault.
- Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist – this isn’t required by law but it’s inexpensive and smart to have. If you have an accident and the other involved party does not have insurance, uninsured motorist will pay for any damage to the policyholder’s vehicle. Underinsured is very similar and is for when the other party does not have enough insurance to cover the damages caused by the crash.