Motorcycle Insurance Basics

What you should know before purchasing motorcycle insurance

This overview will help you make an informed decision when you're ready to buy motorcycle insurance. Motorcycle Insurance policies all have the common coverage of Bodily Injury and Property Damage liability.  If you have a motorcycle insurance policy, you will always have these two coverages. For street driven motorcycles, your state will require you to have motorcycle insurance.  Each state has minimum limits and minimum coverage required.  The minimum limits and minimum coverage are normally the same as for your car.  Review the minimum insurance limits required by your state.

In addition to Bodily Injury and Property Damage liability, individual states may require these additional coverages:

• Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury
• Uninsured Motorist Property Damage
• Under Insured Motorist Bodily Injury
• Under Insured Motorist Property Damage
• Medical Payments

Not all of these coverages are required by each state, but are available in most states if not required.

Some states will allow you to reject certain coverage considered required. These rejections must be in writing on the correct form provided by us. You may elect to reject certain coverage to fit you personal needs and budgets.

The states of Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, New York, and Texas have additional coverage for Personal Injury Protection.

No state requires you carry comprehensive or collision on your bike.  If you have a loan on the bike, the company providing the loan will require you to carry comprehensive and collision. The company will be named as a loss payee if the bike is damage or destroyed.  When named as loss payee, this protects their interest in the loan.  There are deductibles on both comprehensive and collision – vary in amount from $250 to $1000.  The higher the deductible, the lower the premium for these coverage’s.  If you have a $500 collision deductible, you would be responsible for the first $500 in damages to the bike.

For most motorcycles, if you purchase comprehensive and collision coverage, you will have the option to purchase additional coverage for Accessories, Travel Loss and Safety Apparel.  Some insurance providers have Replacement Cost coverage.  This is normally restricted to new bikes (1 to 5 years old) and has some additional conditions for this coverage.

These are some of the basic coverages you should look for when purchasing motorcycle insurance. As an industry leader, United Marine Underwriters offers broad coverage at great rates for many types of motorcycles. Get an instant quote now!

This overview provides general information on motorcycle insurance coverage and is not intended to offer advice on your particular insurance needs or coverage. For specific policy and coverage information contact United Marine Underwriters.