Motorcycle insurance
Motorcycle insurance is vehicle insurance written for a motorcycle. It pays covered claims for injuries or property damage you cause to others and, if you add the coverage, damage to the bike, theft, medical bills or injuries caused by uninsured drivers. State law sets the minimums; your declarations page sets the actual coverage.
Also called: motorbike insurance, bike insurance, mc insurance
A motorcycle policy has parts that protect other people and parts that protect you. Liability coverage pays covered claims by others, up to the limits you choose. Repairing or replacing your own bike after a crash or theft takes collision or comprehensive coverage, and medical benefits for you and a passenger depend on your state and the options you buy.
How a motorcycle liability claim gets paid
Connecticut's minimum liability limits are $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 per accident for property damage, according to the Connecticut Insurance Department (opens in a new tab). Suppose a rider carrying those minimums causes $30,000 of bodily injury to one person and $12,000 of property damage. The dollar amounts of the crash are illustrative.
Hover or tap a row to highlight it.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury to one person | $30,000 |
| Insurer pays, capped at the $25,000 per-person limit | $25,000 |
| Bodily injury left unpaid ($30,000 minus $25,000) | $5,000 |
| Property damage, under the $25,000 limit | $12,000 |
| Total insurer payment ($25,000 + $12,000) | $37,000 |
| Amount the rider may owe personally | $5,000 |
That $5,000 remains subject to the claim, the liability decision and applicable law. None of the $37,000 goes toward the rider's own motorcycle, because liability coverage pays claims against you, not damage to your bike.
Coverage options and what each one changes
Each part of a motorcycle policy answers a different loss:
- Bodily injury liability pays covered claims for injuries or deaths you cause to other people.
- Property damage liability pays covered damage to someone else's property.
- Uninsured motorist coverage and underinsured motorist coverage help when an at-fault driver has no insurance or too little.
- Medical payments (MedPay) can pay medical treatment for you or a passenger without proof that another driver was at fault, and it is the coverage for medical costs in a crash involving only the rider, according to the Nevada Division of Insurance (opens in a new tab).
- Collision coverage pays covered damage from hitting another vehicle or object, after a deductible.
- Comprehensive coverage pays covered non-collision losses such as theft, fire, vandalism or weather, after a deductible.
- Accessories and custom parts may need scheduled limits or an endorsement for luggage, custom paint, communication equipment or safety gear.
A higher liability limit can raise the premium but covers more before your personal assets are exposed. A higher deductible generally shifts more of a physical-damage loss to you. Seasonal or lay-up coverage may suspend selected coverages while the bike is stored, but riding during a lay-up period is prohibited in Connecticut, according to Connecticut Insurance Department Bulletin PC-87 (opens in a new tab).
Where you will see motorcycle insurance
The term shows up on a stand-alone motorcycle policy, on a personal auto or motorcycle quote, and on a commercial auto policy when the bike is used for business. The declarations page lists the motorcycle, limits, deductibles, premium and any lienholder; the insuring agreement, exclusions, conditions and endorsements set what is paid, according to the NAIC's auto insurance guide (opens in a new tab). You will also meet it on a binder, renewal notice, insurance ID card, claim letter or a lender's coverage requirement.
A car policy may not cover a motorcycle unless the bike is specifically listed and the policy form accepts it. Homeowners and renters policies generally exclude road-licensed motor vehicles from personal-property coverage, according to the NAIC (opens in a new tab), although an endorsement may address accessories or equipment.
Connecticut and New York motorcycle insurance rules
Connecticut requires the owner of a registered motorcycle to insure it for the amounts in Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-112 (opens in a new tab) before operating it or letting anyone else ride it, under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-289f (opens in a new tab). A violation is an infraction. The same section lets a motorcycle policy exclude personal-injury coverage for passengers, except on autocycles. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage must be at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. Completing a qualifying approved motorcycle rider education course earns a 10 percent liability-insurance discount, according to the Connecticut DMV (opens in a new tab). More on buying in the state is in the Connecticut motorcycle insurance guide.
New York requires liability insurance whenever a motorcycle is operated on a public road or highway, according to the New York DMV (opens in a new tab). Minimum limits are generally $25,000 for bodily injury to one person, $50,000 for two or more people and $10,000 for property damage, according to the New York Department of Financial Services (opens in a new tab). No-fault works differently for riders: New York Insurance Law § 5103 (opens in a new tab) requires first-party benefits for certain people injured through motorcycle operation but excludes occupants of the motorcycle from that provision. Motorcycle plates do not have to be surrendered when the insurance lapses, but riding without liability insurance is illegal.
Questions to ask your agent or insurer
- What bodily injury and property damage limits are on my policy, and how do they compare with the state minimum? The insurer pays only up to those limits, and Connecticut and New York set different minimums.
- Does the policy cover damage to my motorcycle from a crash, theft, fire or weather, and what deductible applies? Liability coverage does not pay for your own bike.
- Are passengers, accessories, custom parts, luggage and safety gear covered, and under what limits or exclusions? The policy or state law can limit or exclude them.
- What happens to coverage if I store the bike, use a lay-up option or ride in another state? Suspended coverage may prohibit riding, and another state may require different limits.
- If an uninsured driver injures me, what uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist, MedPay or no-fault coverage applies to me and my passenger? Riders may receive different benefits from car occupants, particularly in New York.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to common motorcycle insurance questions.
Does my car insurance cover my motorcycle?
Not automatically. The motorcycle generally has to be specifically covered under a policy whose form applies to motorcycles. Ask the insurer to confirm the coverage in writing.
Do I need motorcycle insurance in a state that does not require it?
Requirements vary. New Hampshire requires financial responsibility rather than mandatory liability insurance, according to a Connecticut General Assembly report on state minimums (opens in a new tab), while other states require liability coverage and may add uninsured motorist, personal injury protection or medical payments coverage.
Will health insurance pay if I am hurt on my motorcycle?
Health insurance may pay for covered medical treatment. It does not replace motorcycle liability, physical-damage or uninsured motorist coverage.