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Motorcycle Insurance Laws by State
No one ever plans on being in an accident, but when you're on a motorcycle, the risk of injury or even death is greatly increased. That's why it's important to have the proper insurance coverage in place before you hit the open road.
Riders involved in accidents can often face serious financial hardship, even if they were not at fault. However, with the right motorcycle policy, you can be protected from these costs and ensure that your finances are not ruined by the crash.
Were you involved in a motorcycle accident caused by someone else's negligence? If so, the personal injury attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC are legal advocates for those harmed by another's mistakes.
Call our motorcycle accident attorneys at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone number) or use the contact form today for immediate legal advice and schedule a free consultation. All confidential or sensitive information you share with our legal team remains private through an attorney-client relationship.
Motorcycle Insurance Coverage and Benefits
Every state, with the exception of Florida, requires motorcycle riders to carry specialized insurance.
Although a rider's primary focus should be on the road and their motorbike, they must think about riding safely. To protect yourself from harm, you must always have adequate coverage for your vehicle.
Motorcycle insurance is a crucial component to protect yourself on the road. The insurance covers repairs, replacement costs, medical bills for anyone injured in an accident, and even the expense to repair or replace any property damaged in an accident.
Comprehensive coverage offers a wide range of protection against various risks, including third-party liability, bodily injury, and damage to the motorbike. Additionally, it covers legal expenses if involved in an accident.
Liability the Coverage Comprehensive and Collision Coverage
If the police or accident investigators determine that you caused the accident, harming another person or their property, your property damage liability insurance will cover repairs, ongoing expenses, and other bills.
Typically, insurance companies will offer an array of motorcycle liability insurance coverage levels with limits ranging from minimal state motorcycle insurance requirements to more expensive policies with additional benefits.
Carrying higher coverage is especially beneficial to motorcycles who commute in urban areas that tend to have a higher accident rate.
Guest Passenger Liability Coverage
Any passenger riding on the back of your motorcycle is placing themselves at risk of severe harm or death. Without proper insurance liability coverage options, they can also be financially at risk in the event of a crash.
Many motorcycle owners carry guest passenger insurance that will pay benefits for all medical costs and care for the injured passenger's injuries. This coverage helps the passenger avoid financial problems up to the liability limits if an accident occurs.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Coverage and Medical Payments
Adding Personal Injury Protection coverage to an existing motorcycle insurance policy provides additional benefits to help the injured party remain financially stable in the event of severe personal injuries.
PIP is optional coverage for motorcycle riders that provides financial compensation to assist in paying for child care, recouping lost wages, and other expenses while the victim heals.
Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist Coverage
An Insurance Information Institute report indicates that approximately 13% of all motorists throughout the United States fail to maintain car insurance coverage. This uninsured coverage data shows that one out of every five motorists on the road is placing the remaining 80% at risk of nonpayment in the event of an accident.
For ultimate protection, every driver should carry uninsured motorist coverage and underinsured motorist coverage to be compensated for any medical bills, lost wages, or other damages when involved in a crash with an underinsured or uninsured driver.
The best motorcycle insurance companies offer UMPD (uninsured motorist/property damage coverages) in a few states that compensate others involved in a crash who do not carry collision insurance coverage in their motorcycle insurance policy.
Comprehensive and Collision Coverage
Maintaining property damage coverage in a motorcycle insurance policy can help recoup the cost of repair or replacement of damaged property belonging to others involved in the collision. However, the coverage does not financially compensate you or any of your damaged property.
Instead, collision insurance coverage pays for the cost of repairing or replacing your damaged motorcycle involved in an accident.
Comprehensive insurance provides financial compensation if damage to your bike occurred and in the event that was not an accident. These events could include having the bike stolen, or damaged during a storm, flood, or fire.
Towing and Roadside Insurance
Finding yourself stranded after your bike breaks down can create a dangerous scenario, especially if you are alongside a busy interstate or dark rural area. You may find that you are many miles away from the closest repair shop and must have your motorcycle towed for repairs.
Roadside assistance coverage options are a financially responsible add-on on an insurance policy that pays for itself in one incident of being stranded on an old or new motorcycle. Payment for such coverage is added to the motorcycle insurance premium.
Minimum Insurance Limits: State by State
While nearly every state requires every motorcycle rider to carry insurance, the minimum policy liability limits vary between each state. Every motorcycle insurance company will offer a minimum requirement for bodily injury coverage and property damage liability based on state minimum liability laws.
What Is the Motorcycle Insurance Required?
Most states do not allow self-insurance to meet motorcycle insurance requirements. Every motorcyclist is required to carry at least the minimum bodily injury and property damage motorcycle insurance.
Nearly every state requires a minimum of $25,000 of bodily injury liability protection per person harmed in the accident up to $50,000 per accident.
In addition, most states require a minimal amount of $10,000 in property damage liability coverage. In this particular scenario, we display the minimums of bodily injury and property motorcycle insurance requirements as $25,000/$50,000/$10,000 below.
| Alaska | $50,000/$100,000/$25,000 |
| Alabama | $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 |
| Arkansas | $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 |
| Arizona | $15,000/$30,000/$10,000 |
| California | $15,000/$30,000/$5,000 |
| Colorado | $25,000/$50,000/$15,000 |
| Connecticut | $20,000/$40,000/$10,000 |
| Delaware | $15,000/$30,000/$10,000 |
| Florida | (Insurance not required) |
| Georgia | $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 |
| Hawaii | $20,000/$40,000/$10,000 |
| Idaho | $25,000/$50,000/$15,000 |
| Illinois | $25,000/$50,000/$20,000 |
| Indiana | $25,000/$50,000/$10,000 |
| Iowa | $20,000/$40,000/$15,000 |
| Kansas | $25,000/$50,000/$10,000 |
| Kentucky | $25,000/$50,000/$10,000 |
| Louisiana | $15,000/$30,000/$25,000 |
| Maine | $50,000/$100,000/$25,000 |
| Maryland | $30,000/$60,000/$15,000 |
| Massachusetts | $20,000/$40,000/$5,000 |
| Michigan | $20,000/$40,000/$10,000 |
| Minnesota | $30,000/$60,000/$10,000 |
| Mississippi | $20,000/$50,000/$25,000 |
| Missouri | $25,000/$50,000/$10,000 |
| Montana | $25,000/$50,000/$20,000 |
| Nebraska | $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 |
| New Hampshire | $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 |
| New Jersey | $15,000/$30,000/$5,000 |
| New Mexico | $25,000/$50,000/$10,000 |
| New York | $25,000/$50,000/$10,000 |
| Nevada | $15,000/$30,000/$10,000 |
| North Carolina | $30,000/$60,000/$25,000 |
| North Dakota | $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 |
| Ohio | $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 |
| Oklahoma | $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 |
| Oregon | $25,000/$50,000/$20,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $15,000/$30,000/$5,000 |
| Rhode Island | $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 |
| South Carolina | $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 |
| South Dakota | $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 |
| Tennessee | $25,000/$50,000/$15,000 |
| Texas | $30,000/$60,000/$25,000 |
| Utah | $25,000/$65,000/$15,000 |
| Vermont | $20,000/$50,000/$10,000 |
| Virginia | $25,000/$50,000/$20,000 |
| Washington | $25,000/$50,000/$10,000 |
| Washington D.C. | $25,000/$50,000/$10,000 |
| West Virginia | $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 |
| Wisconsin | $25,000/$50,000/$10,000 |
| Wyoming | $25,000/$50,000/$20,000 |
Leading Companies Selling Motorcycle Insurance Policies in the United States
Bikers can purchase motorcycle insurance from many of the nation's top insurance companies online or through local agencies. These motorcycle insurance companies offer a variety of policies with different deductibles, coverage levels, and prices to meet the unique needs of every rider.
Some of the most popular motorcycle insurance companies in the United States are:
- Allstate
- Geico
- Liberty Mutual
- Nationwide
- Progressive
- State Farm
- USAA
What Is Not Covered Under a Motorcycle Insurance Policy?
Most standard motorcycle insurance policies will not cover certain types of damage. The most common type of excluded damage is that which occurs during a racing event or competition.
Additionally, many policies exclude any intentional damage that was done on purpose by the policyholder. If the rider is found to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the accident, the insurer may also choose to deny coverage.
Finally, many policies have a limited amount of money that is paid out for custom equipment or modifications made to the bike. It is important to check with your insurance company about how much money is set aside for these types of damages before making any changes to your motorcycle.
An insurance liability policy is a contract between the policyholder and the insurance company. It is important to understand what is included in the agreement before signing on the dotted line.
Motorcycle Insurance FAQs
Our accident injury law firm understands that many families have unanswered questions about motorcycle insurance and property damage coverage or how to file a claim after a collision. A motorcycle accident attorney has answered some of those questions below.
Call our law office at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone number) or use the contact form for additional information.
Hire a Motorcycle Accident Attorney to Resolve a Compensation Claim
Are you the victim of a motorcycle crash that was not your fault? Our accident attorneys are legal advocates for all motorcycle riders who have been injured due to negligent or reckless actions of others.
Contact us today at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone number) or use the contact form to schedule a free case evaluation. We accept all cases on contingency, meaning that no upfront fees are paid until we resolve your claim.