Motorcycle Insurance: State Laws
Laws regarding motorcycle insurance are set by individual states. This can be especially frustrating when crossing state lines during a road trip, or when visiting a neighboring state. All 50 U.S. states require some form of motorcycle insurance except for Florida, Montana, and Washington.
Selecting the right motorcycle insurance plan can be a real challenge, especially if you plan to ride in several states on a regular basis. Each state has its own regulations regarding the amount of coverage and liability required by law.
Outside of complying with local state laws, motorcyclists need to consider what level of coverage they need, and what they can afford. Should you choose liability, comprehensive, or collision insurance? And how much coverage should your uninsured/underinsured clause protection provide? These questions are often an individual decision and are best discussed with an experienced and knowledgeable insurance agent whom you trust.
To help you save money, be sure to ask about decreasing your coverage during winter months, special discount for bundling your motorcycle insurance with your automobile, life, or homeowner’s insurance, and selecting only the level of coverage you require.
In order to understand your motorcycle insurance policy, you will need to know a few insurance jargon terms. According to new standards set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a motorcycle rider is defined as the operator only; a passenger is any person seated on the motorcycle but not in control of the motorcycle; and any combined reference to the motorcycle rider (operator) as well as the passenger will be referred to as motorcyclists. This can help you sort through the specific coverage options of each offered policy.
If you need help deciding on what type and amount of motorcycle insurance coverage you need, the Insurance Information Institute has prepared a guide to help you sort through the confusion. This guide includes tips like asking about insurance coverage for motorcycle accessories, lay-up policies for Northern riders, discounts for multi-bike owners, and reduced rates for those who purchase “safer” models.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, super sport motorcycles have the overall highest insurance losses under collision coverage among all classes of motorcycle models, almost four times higher than touring models and more than six times higher than cruiser models.
If you are looking for specific information regarding motorcycle insurance information by state, the Unofficial DMV Guide website provides a state-by-state guide covering motorcycle insurance laws across all U.S. states. You can also view this chart provided by Insure.com for quick reference to the differences in required motorcycle insurance between states.
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