Do you Need insurance for a motorcycle in USA? Here we look at What is motorcycle insurance? How does motorcycle insurance work? Do you Need insurance for a motorcycle? How much motorcycle coverage do you need? Is motorcycle insurance required? What does motorcycle insurance cover? What doesn’t motorcycle insurance cover? How is the cost of motorcycle insurance determined? Save on motorcycle insurance with Progressive
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Do you need insurance for a motorcycle in USA?
All states except Florida require proof of motorcycle insurance before you can register your bike and receive a license plate. You can buy a motorcycle without insurance, but if you plan to ride it legally, you’ll need your state’s minimum coverage limits. 28% of Progressive insured motorcycles have liability-only coverages, but there are many other benefits to motorcycle insurance to protect more than just your bike — it covers you if you’re liable in an accident where you injure someone or damage their property.
What is motorcycle insurance?
Motorcycle insurance provides coverage if your bike, scooter, moped, ATV, or UTV is damaged or stolen as well as financial protection if you’re responsible for someone else’s injuries or damages while riding.
How does motorcycle insurance work?
Whether you buy motorcycle insurance on your own or from an agent, you’ll be asked some basic questions about yourself, your bike, and your desired coverages. All these factors will affect your motorcycle insurance cost.
If your bike is damaged or stolen, or you’re in a motorcycle accident and liable for another person’s injuries or damages, you can file a claim with your insurer. If your claim is covered, your insurance will pay for losses or injuries up to your coverage limits. How much your insurance provider covers depends on the limits you choose when buying your policy.
Is motorcycle insurance required?
Motorcycle insurance is mandated in nearly every state in USA. If you ride without insurance, you could get a fine, have your license revoked, be sued, or even land in jail. While most states require a minimum amount of liability coverage, comprehensive and collision coverage are optional unless you’re financing your bike, in which case your financing company may require those coverages.
Even when motorcycle insurance isn’t required, carrying a policy can be critical in protecting your bike against damages and your assets if you’re liable in an accident.
What does motorcycle insurance cover?
Motorcycle insurance covers mishaps that can happen while you’re on or off the road. Here are the most common coverages on a motorcycle policy:
- Liability: Liability coverage is mandatory in most states and can pay for damages to other vehicles or objects, injuries to other drivers and passengers, and lawsuits if you’re sued due to an accident.
- Comprehensive: Comprehensive coverage is typically required if you’re financing or leasing your bike and protects against events beyond your control, including theft, vandalism, windshield damage, fire, hitting an animal, and acts of nature.
- Collision: Collision coverage is also usually required by your lender and can pay for damages resulting from a crash with another vehicle or object or if your bike overturns, regardless of who’s at fault.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist property bodily injury and property damage: Uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverages pay for repairs or replacement of your bike up to your policy’s limits if your motorcycle is damaged by a motorist with no insurance or without enough coverage. UM and UIM coverages also cover your injuries, up to the limits of your policy, if you’re hit by an uninsured or underinsured motorist.
- Medical payments: This coverage pays for medical expenses for you and your passengers if you’re in an accident, regardless of fault.
What doesn't motorcycle insurance cover?
Motorcycle insurance policies won’t cover the following:
- Track days or competitions: If you ride your bike in races, timed events, speed tests, or on a track, you’re typically excluded from coverage.
- Commercial use: If you use your motorcycle for business purposes, you may not be covered while on the job. If you regularly use your bike for work (outside of commuting), consider a commercial vehicle insurance policy.
- Wear and tear: Depreciation of your bike is never covered by motorcycle insurance.
How is the cost of motorcycle insurance determined?
Insurers will consider a variety of factors, and pricing all comes down to risk: How likely are you to have an accident or claim, and what will it cost to repair or replace your bike? Here are some of the factors that will determine your price:
- Riding history
- Type of bike
- Age
- Location
- Coverage selection
See more motorcycle insurance cost factors and where your state is grouped for the average cost of a liability-only motorcycle insurance policy from Progressive.
How much motorcycle coverage do you need?
Each state in USA has its own minimum requirements for liability coverage; however, you should carry limits equal to your net worth — this will safeguard your assets if you’re liable in an accident. You can find your state’s minimum liability coverage limits in the chart below.
Motorcycle insurance coverages you should consider?
Comprehensive and collision coverage
If you financed your bike, your loan or lease company will likely require you to carry physical damage coverages. But even if your motorcycle is paid off, comprehensive and collision are worth considering. These coverages will protect you against a collision with another object, theft, vandalism, hitting an animal, and weather-related incidents.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
According to the Insurance Information Institute, about 13% of drivers countrywide don’t have insurance. Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage can pay for your medical bills and any lost wages due to injuries from an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver. Some states also offer uninsured motorist property damage (UM PD), which covers damage to your bike and can be especially beneficial if you don’t have collision coverage on your policy.
Medical payments coverage
If you or a passenger are injured in an accident, this coverage can pay your medical bills, regardless of fault, up to the limits of your policy.
When do you need motorcycle insurance?
Motorcycle insurance is required in 49 states in USA and is the best way to be sure you and your bike are protected. Here are a few instances when you should have motorcycle insurance in place before jumping on your bike and hitting the road.
- If you have a temporary permit: If your state requires insurance when you’re a fully licensed rider, there’s a good chance they will require it while you have a temporary permit as well.
- If you’re registering your motorcycle: Most states will require proof of insurance when registering your motorcycle. It’s illegal to ride your motorcycle on the road if it is not registered.
- If you financed your motorcycle: Most banks and lenders require insurance on their investments, so if you used a loan to buy your motorcycle, there is a good chance you will be required to have insurance.
Is motorcycle insurance required for scooters and mopeds?
This depends on where you live. Nearly all states in USA require motorcycle insurance for fast scooters (models with engines greater than 50cc or that exceed 30 mph), but only about half of states mandate it for slow scooters and mopeds.
What is seasonal motorcycle insurance?
Seasonal motorcycle insurance, also known as lay-up motorcycle insurance, allows you to drop coverages or cancel your policy during the months you’re not using your bike. However, this type of policy is handled differently based on the insurance company you choose and may not be offered in every state, so check with your insurance company to see how they handle lay-up motorcycle insurance policies. At Progressive, you can adjust or drop certain coverages when your bike isn’t being used.
Here Progressive offers even more protection:
- Carried Contents: Covers personal property that is damaged at the time of a covered loss or covers property stolen off your motorcycle.
- Enhanced Injury Protection: Get up to $250 per week for two years if you’re injured in a covered motorcycle accident and are unable to work.
- Accessories and Custom Parts/Equipment: We automatically include $3,000 in accessory coverage to protect the upgrades and customizations you’ve made to your ride.
- Total Loss Coverage: If your bike is totaled and is no older than one model year on a new policy, Progressive will pay you the full manufacturer’s suggested retail price for a brand-new bike, minus your deductible.
- Roadside Assistance: If you break down in the U.S. or Canada, we’ll tow your bike to the nearest repair shop for free.