Motorcycle insurance is not something that’s optional for today’s riders. With so many options on the market it’s difficult to know exactly what kind of coverage you need. That’s why it’s so important to consult with an independent insurance agent, to determine the type and amount of coverage you need in order to have adequate protection on the road.
Here are a few essential types of motorcycle insurance coverage that are fairly universal among bikers.
Liability Insurance
This covers not only bodily injury coverage, but also property damage. This means that in the event of an accident you have coverage to help pay for the injury to other people or repair to other people’s property.
Comprehensive and Collision Coverage
Liability insurance does nothing to protect your bike from damage. You need comprehensive and collision coverage for this important protection. This will help cover accidents where you are not at fault as well as vandalism and damage to your bike that are caused by weather, acts of nature, and other random (covered) events.
Customized Parts and Equipment Coverage
If you are like most bikers and make customizations to the bike after the purchases, these are not covered unless you get a special policy to cover them. Sometimes referred to as accessory coverage, the optional equipment coverage is usually an “agreed upon” amount of protection (minus depreciation) that covers replacing these add on products.
Personal Injury Protection
When riding a motorcycle, there is very little between you and the road. In fact, you bring those things with you in the form of helmets, leather, and other safety clothing. This means the risks are greater to motorcycle riders for deeper injuries and lengthier recovery times. Personal injury protection helps by reimbursing medical expenses, lost income, and other related items if you are injured in a motorcycle accident.
Medical Payments
Because the medical risks are greater for motorcycle riders, it’s wise to invest in medical payments coverage to help cover medical expenses that arise for you and your passengers after an accident.
Underinsured/Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Most people do not anticipate accidents with motorcyclists or the higher costs often involved in motorcycle accident. This means that liability coverage for vehicles at fault may not fully cover the extent of damage, injury, or repairs. Coverage for uninsured or underinsured motorists ensures that you have coverage to help fill in the gaps in the coverage of the driver who is at fault. On today’s road, this coverage is almost critical since so many motorist have minimal insurance coverage.
The key to any comprehensive motorcycle insurance plan is that you work with an independent agent in order to understand how much coverage you need and the specific types of coverage that will be most beneficial to you according to the types of rides you participate in, the location where you bike, and the amount of time you spend on your bike in an average week. These types of coverage, though, will get you off to a great start.
