Car Insurance for Bikers

Auto insurance coverage is just as important for bikers as it is for all other motorists. If you own and ride a bike, it is important to protect your investment and more importantly yourself and other drivers on the road by purchasing an auto insurance policy for your bike.

While you may not be thrilled to take on the extra expense that comes with an auto insurance policy, you can potentially decrease the price tag on your policy if you use a price comparison tool online.

Legal Requirements

If for no other reason, you should obtain insurance on your motorcycle because it is illegal not to.

In almost every state, motorists of every kind are legally mandated to have at least some auto insurance coverage.

Choosing not to comply with the auto insurance laws in your state can lead to series and long-lasting consequences such as:

• Fines
• Impoundment of your motorcycle
• Suspension or revocation of your driver’s license
• Suspension or revocation of your registration
• Jail time
• Community service
• Required SR22 insurance

In addition to these legal consequences, if you cause damage to property or bodily injury to someone else, you could be left holding the bill on your own.

Other parties could sue you in civil court and come after your wages or assets in order to pay for their bills related to the accident if it was your fault.

Types of Auto Insurance Coverage for Bikers

Auto insurance policies can range from only the state required types and amounts to full coverage for every situation you could possibly encounter or somewhere in between. There is no one size fits all insurance policy.

Bikers should weigh all of their options as well as their financial situation and goals when it comes to selecting the right motorcycle insurance policy. To do so, you must understand the basics of your coverage options.

Liability

Liability coverage is the minimum amount of auto insurance required by bikers and all motorists in every state. Property damage liability covers damages to another party’s property such as their vehicle, home, or fence.

Bodily injury liability pays for medical bills for other parties that you may have injured.

Medical Payments/Personal Injury Protection

In some states, this coverage, also known as Med Pay or PIP is also legally required. With med pay, each party can file their own claim for their injuries with their own insurance carrier.

This coverage allows you to get the medical treatment that you need without waiting to hear who is at fault for the accident. It may also cover lost wages or reimbursement for assistance with tasks around the home such as cooking, cleaning, and grocery shopping.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist

Also required in some states is uninsured motorist coverage. In the event that you are in an accident caused by someone who does not have insurance coverage, you can rely on this portion of your auto insurance policy to help cover the damages.

Underinsured motorist coverage can help pay for your expenses once the limits of the at-fault party’s insurance coverage have been exhausted.

Collision

While liability coverage is extremely important and allows you to legally drive, it does not cover damages to your own property.

If you were in an accident that was your fault and your bike needed to be repaired or replaced, you would need to have collision coverage on your own policy.

Collision generally covers damages incurred when you collide with another vehicle or object.

Comprehensive

Comprehensive covers other types of situations that can cause damage to your bike such as a fire, flood, vandalism, theft, or hitting wildlife.

Just like collision, it is not a legal requirement but it is a good idea to have if you could not afford to pay for repairs out of your own pocket or to purchase a new bike. With both collision and comprehensive, you select your deductible and your coverage amount.

Decreasing Your Motorcycle Auto Insurance Costs

If you own a motorcycle, you likely take pride in it and have invested your hard-earned money to buy it and make it better. The last thing you want to do now is spend a bundle on your auto insurance premium.

The good news is that there are several strategies you can use to get the motorcycle insurance you need at a price you can afford.

Ask about Discounts

Some auto insurance carriers will not readily offer discounts unless you specifically ask about them. However, most do have a variety of discounts you may qualify for. These discounts can save you as much as 25 percent and generally include:

• Safe driver
• Claims free
• Good student
• Defensive driving course
• Military/veterans
• Occupational such as a police officer, firefighter or a nurse
• Alumni
• Low-mileage
• Multi-vehicle
• Multi-policy
• Loyalty

Shop Around

Before the internet, comparison shopping for auto insurance used to be quite a hassle. You would have to call multiple agents and take good notes.

Now you can use an online price comparison calculator to quickly and easily compare several insurance policies and quotes all on one platform.

Doing so can help you get the best price on a motorcycle insurance policy that is right for you.

Raise Your Deductibles

If you can afford to pay a little more in the event that you need to file a collision or comprehensive claim, you can save money each month by raising your deductibles. You should carefully weigh your options and be sure you can pay the deductible you select when and if you need to.

While driving a motorcycle can be quite a bit different than driving other types of vehicles, having the right insurance coverage at the right price is still important if you are a biker.

Being educated about the types of coverages and ways to save money can make you a smart consumer and a better biker.

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