Do You Need Motorcycle Insurance (State Specific Analysis 2024)

Right before purchasing a motorcycle, it’s important to know what you’ll need to keep it running legally in your area of residence. Yes, buying a motorbike is not the end of the task. You’ll need to regularly service it and ensure that it’s safe for use, whether it’s for private or commercial use.

Another requirement is getting motorcycle insurance for your bike. Yes, in most states you’ll be required to insure your bike. Insurance gives you protection when involved in an accident. Accidents are quite random, hence you won’t know when it’ll occur. With that, you may not always have money to fix your motorcycle or someone else’s vehicle if you cause the accident. Therefore, being insured means that situations can be sorted faster, including medical payments that may sometimes be costly.

Why You Need Motorcycle Insurance

The law in 47 different American states makes it mandatory to have motorcycle insurance. However, in Montana, Florida, and Washington, motorcycle insurance is not mandatory. Yet, it’s still advisable to have insurance which covers the financial and medical liabilities that come with riding.

Having to cater for medical expenses, replace your bike, and repair someone else’s bike can be overwhelming, especially when nursing injuries in the process.

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What Happens If You Don’t Have Motorcycle Insurance?

In states where motorcycle insurance is mandatory, riding without insurance is illegal. If caught, you’ll not only pay substantial fines, but might also serve time in jail. In case you cause an accident without proper insurance, you’ll have to pay for the damage to your motorcycle out of pocket.

If you’re at fault, you’ll be sued by other riders or drivers for the damage you’ve caused. Even if you comply with the minimum insurance requirements, you need to protect yourself by acquiring additional coverage for medical expenses and the cost to replace your bike if the accident is severe.

If you’re still wondering “do you need insurance”, the answer is yes.

Motorcycle Insurance Requirements in Various States

While buying insurance, it’s essential to verify your state’s laws to avoid frustration if a catastrophe happens. Since these laws vary from one state to another, its best to engage a local insurance company to guide you through the process. Every state has specific motorcycle insurance requirements.

Alabama

Like car drivers, Alabama law requires all motorcyclists to be insured. As a rider, you ought to have at least $50,000 for bodily injury liability protection, $25,000 for personal injury protection, and $100,000 for property damage. In addition to the mandatory requirements, riders need to protect themselves with medical payments that their health insurance companies do not cover.

It’s also essential to acquire coverage to protect yourself if hit by an uninsured or underinsured motorist. Instead of getting a bodily injury policy for one person, acquire the policy for several people to be on the safe side.

Having proper motorcycle insurance can protect you from the financial burden of an accident, claim against you, or theft. It could mean the difference between acquiring the funds to replace your motorcycle or walking away with a huge bill and without a bike. It’s best to have more than the minimum liability coverage since a claim against you can easily reach hundreds of dollars.

Your local insurance agent can help you to customize your motorcycle insurance policy and cover a wide range of problems. Assign a significant figure on property damage to ensure you can replace the damaged bike. Once you get a custom insurance policy, it’s possible to meet the likely costs easily.

Connecticut

Acquiring motorcycle insurance in Connecticut is important since many motorcycle accidents happen every year. Connecticut laws require motorcyclists to have bodily injury, property damage, and uninsured/underinsured coverage. Failure to have the mandatory insurance can be quite costly if you cause an accident that injures another person or damages property.

It’s essential to be prepared to cover legal fees in case you’re taken to court. Liability coverage comes in handy if you're convicted for the damages you caused. Ask your insurance company to guide you through the application process.

Florida

Motorcyclists in Florida don’t have to show proof of insurance while registering their bikes. Also, purchasing motorcycle third party insurance is not mandatory. However, it’s important for riders to acquire the bodily injury and property damage coverage.

Idaho

The basic motorcycle insurance in Idaho will only cover the liability if involved in an accident while operating your bike. Motorcyclists must have $25000 in bodily injury protection, $15,000 property damage cover, and $50,000 collision cover. An insurance agent can help you to get a more comprehensive policy that covers several costs to repair the damage to your bike.

It’s possible to customize the policy to cover full replacement coverage if the bike is written off. The comprehensive coverage pays for loss due to vandalism, theft, or damage by the weather. The medical payments coverage pays for treatments, doctor’s consultations, MRI scans, and any other medical costs.

Illinois

If you ride your bike in Illinois without motorcycle insurance, you can face hefty state penalties and fines. In case you get in an accident and you’re uninsured, there’s a possibility of facing a huge financial burden. Illinois laws require all motorcyclists to have $25,000 bodily injury insurance, $50,000 collision cover, and $20,000 property damage cover.

With property damage cover, you’ll easily pay to repair the damage you cause to another person’s vehicle, bike, or property if you’re at fault. Without such coverage, it’s almost impossible to cover the expense to repair someone else’s bike after the accident. Since it doesn’t cover the cost of repairing your bike, you’ll have to get the comprehensive coverage as well.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma is a fault state, meaning that in case of a motorcycle accident, the guilty party pays for the damages and losses of the non-guilty party. Before you ride a motorcycle, you must have proof of financial responsibility.

If you own a motorcycle in Oklahoma, it’s critical to ensure you have the motorcycle insurance policies that suit your specific needs. The laws stipulate that you have $25,000 bodily injury cover, $25,000 property damage cover, and $50,000 personal injury cover.

Acquiring the necessary insurance covers from a licensed insurance company is one the easiest ways to prove your financial responsibility. Even if most insurance companies consider you as a high risk, you’ll still get the right liability coverage from the state.

Oregon

Oregon motorcycle insurance laws require that you get $25,000 bodily injury cover, $50,000 personal injury cover, and $20,000 property damage cover. The bodily injury cover is meant to provide injured riders the coverage they need to meet medical costs while waiting for the court to determine fault. Bodily injury cover pays the damages if the accident is caused by an uninsured motorist.

If you’re found at fault, the policy will pay for the other person’s injuries. The property damage liability coverage pays to repair the other motorcycle and provides medical coverage for the injured pedestrians and bystanders.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is a no-fault state, meaning that every party will get compensation from the respective insurance company. If injured in an accident that another party causes, you can pursue a claim with the other rider’s liability coverage. The mandatory motorcycle insurance coverage is 15/30/5, and riding without insurance is illegal.

Rather than opting for the minimum coverage, you can choose higher coverage levels that protect you fully if you cause an accident that results in costly damages.

If you’ve never submitted a claim, you might be wondering ‘do you need insurance?’ Insurance companies give you the peace of mind since you understand that they’ll cater for the necessary costs in case anything happens.

Wyoming

With the average cost of a new bike ranging about $14,000, it’s an investment you’d rather safeguard with proper insurance in the event of a collision. Without coverage, the bike will be impounded and parked indefinitely as you raise the funds to undertake the necessary repairs. In the worst-case scenario, you might have to raise $14,000 if your bike is written off.

It’s important to have 25/50/20 coverage in Wyoming. If you want additional motorcycle insurance coverage to protect yourself from the legal liability when sued after the collision, your insurance agent can guide you in every step of the way. Talk to the agent about your riding habits and specific needs so you get the coverage that gives you optimal financial protection and peace of mind.

Getting the insurance required in your state is just the beginning. You need to anticipate the costs that you might incur if involved in an accident and protect yourself with the right insurance policies beforehand.

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How to Find Proper Insurance for Your Motorcycle

The process of finding the right motorcycle insurance starts with acquainting yourself with the legal requirements in your state. But even with the minimum coverage, you’re still underinsured as you’ll have to meet various costs out of pocket in case you’re involved in an accident. To get the right insurance coverage, consult a reputable insurance agent in your state.