Do I need motorcycle insurance?

Legally and practically, if you own motorcycle you need to have motorcycle insurance. In order to be properly protected in the case of an accident or in the case of theft, you need to carry motorcycle insurance that covers both accidents and theft.

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In many states, if you do not carry motorcycle insurance, you can be arrested, fined, or lose your license. The following article provides additional information about motorcycle insurance and the three main reasons why it is needed.

Motorcycle Insurance is Needed to Protect Against Theft

A motorcycle is ten times more likely to be stolen than a car. One report states that 25% of stolen motorcycles are never recovered. Motorcycles are easier to grab, hide, and dismantle to sell for parts.

It is impossible to know why and how criminals target certain types of motorcycles. Because of this, you need motorcycle insurance that covers theft. Having safety devices and anti-theft protections on your motorcycle are important parts of theft prevention, but having insurance coverage is the only real protection.

For theft to be covered, comprehensive insurance must be part of the motorcycle insurance policy. In addition to theft, comprehensive coverage covers damage caused by:

• Hail
• Fire
• Collisions with animals
• Natural disasters

Without comprehensive insurance, only injuries caused to others will be covered and you will not have any money available towards the replacement of your motorcycle.

If you have a loan on your motorcycle, the lien holder may require you to carry comprehensive coverage.

When you do collect on a comprehensive policy for the theft of your motorcycle, the insurance company will give you fair market value towards the replacement of your motorcycle. This means that they will not give you what it costs to replace your vehicle but instead will give you the amount that your vehicle could have sold for on the day it was stolen.

This amount has to do with the age of the motorcycle, the condition of the motorcycle, and any upgrades that have been made to the vehicle.

Motorcycle Insurance is Needed to Protect Against Injury

The most basic type of insurance for both cars and motorcycles is liability insurance. Liability coverage covers the amount it costs to treat the injuries of others who are hurt on your motorcycle or who you hurt while driving your motorcycle.

This includes damage done to property, such as another motorcycle, a car, a mailbox, or a fence. Each state requires motorcycle drivers to carry a certain amount of liability for personal injury and for property damage. Following the law is the only way to avoid a ticket, fine, or possible jail time.

Without this type of coverage, you leave yourself open to lawsuits that could ruin you financially. If someone is injured while on your motorcycle or as a result of you driving your motorcycle, they can sue you, depending on what state you live in. Lawsuits of this type can be expensive and time consuming. You can be sued for medical expenses as well as other costs or emotional distress. If the victim wins the lawsuit you could end up losing all of your assets.

Liability insurance covers all or part of the expenses involved in a lawsuit of this nature.

Motorcycle Insurance is Needed to Provide Other Types of Protection

Motorcycle insurance can also be supplemented to cover other things associated with owning a vehicle.

• Personal items coverage extends to your helmet, leather gear, safety equipment, and other motorcycle attachments and accessories
• Medical coverage covers medical expenses due to your personal injury. Some health insurance policies will cover this too, so be sure to check to avoid paying for double coverage
• Roadside assistance or towing coverage is provided by some insurance companies provide this for free while others charge a monthly fee

Finding the right motorcycle policy is important. The best way to find a great deal is to compare what many companies have to offer. Comparing rates and quotes lets you know what is available and allows you to choose a policy that fits into your budget. To compare rates and quotes from top companies, try the online comparison tool. This free tool will help you make the right choice for your motorcycle insurance coverage.

Try the online comparison tool by typing your ZIP code into the box and comparing motorcycle insurance quotes today!