The Basics of Motorcycle Insurance Quotes
Getting insurance is important–the death rate for motorcycle accidents is almost 32 times higher than for cars

If you’re looking at motorcycle insurance quotes, you should be aware that there are different coverage options:

  • Bodily injury and property damage liability – covers your legal responsibility for an accident where there is injury to another party or damage to someone’s property, up to the limit of liability you choose.
  • Comprehensive and collision – in spite of who is in the wrong, this option covers the cost to mend or replace your motorcycle if it is stolen or damaged in an accident.
  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist – this option will cover damage you sustain that the at-fault party is lawfully responsible for, such as medical treatment and lost wages, if that party does not have insurance.


  • Medical payments – this type of coverage pays the cost of necessary medical care you receive as a result of a motorcycle accident and can be used regardless of who is at fault.
  • Custom parts and equipment – CPE covers equipment, devices, accessories, improvements, and alterations, other than those that the maker initially puts in, that change the look or operation of the motorcycle.
  • Roadside assistance – this coverage provides towing to the nearest authorized repair service and required labor at the place of disablement when your motorcycle is put out of action due to any of the following:
    • Mechanical or electrical breakdown
    • Dead battery
    • Flat tire
    • Lockout
    • Insufficient supply of fuel, oil, water or other fluids
    • Stuck in snow, mud, water or sand within 100 feet of the roadway


Getting insurance is important – the death rate on motorcycles is almost 32 times higher than for cars. Traffic STATS, a comprehensive and searchable risk analysis of road fatality figures by Carnegie Mellon for the American Automobile Association found that one of the riskiest combinations in their database are men between ages 21 and 24 who drive motorcycles between midnight and 4 a.m. Their fatality risk is 45,000 times higher than normal!

Motorcycle fatalities have been gradually rising since 1998, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Operating a motorcycle takes different skills from driving a car, and a combination of constant education, regard for traffic laws and basic common sense can go a long way in reducing these statistics. Making sure that your motorcycle is fit for the road is just as important as practicing safe riding.

It is also necessary to insure your motorcycle against theft. There are lots of ways to secure a motorcycle to prevent it from being stolen. The best deterrent is to use more than one safety measure; the more a thief has to beat, the less potential for success.



  • Always keep the ignition locked.
  • Fasten your motorcycle to a fixed, or anchored object, or another motorcycle.
  • Park in a protected and well-lit area.
  • Keep your motorbike covered if it is not garaged; non-name brand covers are preferable to avoid advertising the type of bike that hides underneath.
  • Limit the amount of time your bike is left unattended, or unsupervised.
  • Vary your routes and habits to prevent someone from following you.
  • Use a high quality lock and chain.
  • Think about adding a motorcycle anti-theft device, or a security system.

You need insurance on that shiny new bike. But the best insurance is not letting anyone grab it while you’re not around.