Don’t make the mistake of thinking your car insurance will cover your motorcycle unless your insurance plan specifically says so. Just like you need a special license to legally drive a motorcycle, you also need to make sure you have the right insurance to cover your motorcycle and anything that might happen to you or anyone else while you’re riding your motorcycle.
Types of Motorcycle Insurance
As with buying car insurance, the type of motorcycle insurance you’ll need will likely depend on you, your driving history (on vehicles with four wheels, as well as those with two wheels), the kind of motorcycle you have, and the area around which you’ll be driving the motorcycle. Vintage motorcycles may require special insurance, but most motorcycles can be covered by the right plan from almost any company that offers motorcycle insurance.
While all those factors will influence the premium your insurance agent will charge you, there are additional things you can do to lower your premiums, including taking a class on motorcycle safety, installing an alarm on your motorcycle, and storing the motorcycle in a secure garage when you’re not riding it.
Where to Buy Insurance
If you already have insurance on another vehicle, you’ll probably want to get insurance from the same company for your new motorcycle, since most insurance companies offer a multi-vehicle discount.
If this is your first vehicle, there are a few things to consider. The good news is there are a lot of insurance companies out there and all you need is internet access and a credit card to get coverage for your new motorcycle almost immediately.
Do Your Research
But not all insurance is created equal, so be sure to do your research before handing over payment in any form. And although no one wants to pay more than they have to, you always want to make sure you have all the coverage you need. Like car insurance, you can include things like liability, medical, comprehensive and collision, uninsured and underinsured motorist, roadside assistance, and full coverage insurance.
While some of these are additional coverage you can ask your insurance agent to include, some of them are required by law. For example, liability insurance (which covers any damage done to any people or property from your motorcycle) is required in every state.
Uninsured and underinsured insurance is often mandatory, in addition to just being a good idea. If someone else without insurance (or without enough insurance to cover the damages) damages you or your bike, your insurance will pick up the extra costs. This coverage is especially important for motorcyclists since any crash is likely to cause significant injuries.
Medical coverage is separate from liability coverage, but some states require motorcycle owners to have both. Even if your state does not require you to buy medical coverage in addition to liability coverage, it’s a good idea. Because motorcycle drivers are more exposed than car drivers, they’re more likely to suffer bodily harm and to suffer more extensive bodily harm than car drivers. Medical bills can add up very quickly and you don’t want to have to worry about going bankrupt in addition to healing and trying to get back to work.
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury or some other type of accident, you need the advice of an experienced personal injury lawyer.
CONTACT the Lieser Law Firm today for your FREE case evaluation.