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Motorcycle Insurance Policies

Getting motorcycle insurance is easy; determining which motorcycle insurance policies you want is the hard part. There are many different types of coverage available, and you want to make sure that your motorcycle insurance policies cover all of your wants and needs to give you the utmost protection.

Of course, you need a policy that meets the minimum requirements for your state. Insurance terminology can be confusing at best. Understanding what is available, and what the different types of coverage actually cover helps quite a bit.

Liability coverage pays for damages that are done to someone else’s vehicle, in the event of an accident that is your fault. Liability insurance typically covers the person’s property, as well as any medical expenses that they may incur as a result of the accident. It may even cover that persons lost wages. Liability insurance is required in all states in the United States.

Passenger liability coverage covers bodily injuries that a passenger on your motorcycle may incur. This insurance will cover your passenger if the accident is your fault. However, in some states, it may not cover your passenger in the event of an accident with an uninsured or under insured motorist that was not your fault, unless you specifically have uninsured or under insured motorist coverage. You need to ask your agent about this.

Medical payments coverage provides coverage for you or another insured person which results from a covered accident. Even though your passenger may be covered with your passenger liability coverage, you need this insurance to cover your own medical expenses!

Underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage is usually optional. This type of coverage protects you in case you are struck by someone who either does not have insurance, or who does not have adequate insurance. Collision coverage also helps to pay for repairs or replacement of your motorcycle in case of an accident where you are at fault. Comprehensive insurance also covers your motorcycle, but not in the case of an accident. Instead, it protects you in the event of floods, wind damage, hail, other natural disasters, theft, or vandalism.

Optional equipment coverage raises your premium a bit, but it covers losses of equipment that you have added to the bike. This is equipment that is not standard on the bike, or is not permanently installed. For instance, if you add saddle bags to your bike, and the saddle bags are damaged, if you have optional equipment coverage, they are covered.

Additional coverage you may want to look for in motorcycle insurance policies include towing coverage, rental reimbursement, and safety apparel coverage. Towing coverage will pay the towing fees you incur in case of a breakdown or an accident. Rental reimbursement will cover the cost of a rental motorcycle while yours is being repaired after a covered loss. Safety apparel coverage will pay to replace any type of clothing that is considered safety apparel – such as leather chaps or a leather jacket – that are damaged in a covered accident.