What is Motorcycle Insurance?

Motorcycle insurance is similar to auto insurance, except it's designed for motorcycles and riders rather than automobiles and drivers. Like most auto policies, motorcycle policies usually provide protection against a number of potential risks.

What Types of Coverage Does Motorcycle Insurance Offer?

Many of the coverages that are available through motorcycle insurance policies are also found on auto policies. Some of these include:

• Medical Payments Coverages, which may help pay for medical expenses associated with the treatment of a rider or their passenger’s injuries
• Personal Injury Protection, which might help with medical payments, childcare costs, and funeral expenses if a rider is injured
• Bodily Injury Liability Coverage, which may cover medical expenses associated with other people’s injuries
• Comprehensive and Collision Coverage, which might cover damage that a motorcycle sustains
• Property Damage Liability Coverage, which may cover damage caused to other people’s vehicles and property
• Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury Coverage, which might provide coverage if another driver causes damage or injury, but isn’t properly insured

Two other coverages that some riders may want are Lease or Loan Gap Coverage, and Optional or Added Equipment Coverage. If a bike is stolen and not recovered, lease or loan gap coverage might help pay the difference between a bike’s depreciated value and the balance on a lease or loan. Optional or added equipment coverage is frequently used to insure aftermarket parts and mods that are added onto a bike.

Who in Massachusetts Needs Motorcycle Coverage?

Everyone who takes a motorcycle on public roads is required to carry an insurance policy that at least meets the state’s minimum requirements. Without such coverage, riders may face legal consequences, and they can be held personally liable for any damage or injuries they’re found responsible for.

(Many people choose to carry more than the state’s minimum required insurance, because they want more protection than these low levels provide).

What Factors Affect a Rider’s Motorcycle Coverage Rates?

As is the case with auto insurance, insurers consider many factors when calculating motorcycle coverage rates. Some of the factors they take into account that affect how much drivers pay for insurance include the following:

• A rider’s age and gender
• A rider’s driving record (including both in automobiles and on motorcycles)
• Where a rider lives
• Where and how often a rider rides
• The make and model of the insured motorcycle
• Whether the motorcycle has any aftermarket additions

(This isn’t a comprehensive list of all the factors that insurers consider).

In some states, insurers also take into account a rider’s credit score. Massachusetts, however, doesn’t allow this practice.

How Can Bikers in Massachusetts Find Motorcycle Coverage?

With the help of an independent insurance agent, shopping for motorcycle insurance is easy and fast. Agents know what questions to ask, so they can quickly assess a rider’s risk exposure and insurance needs. Once they know what coverages to look for in a policy, independent agents can pull up quotes from multiple insurers in just a few minutes that contain those coverages. Bikers can then compare these quotes side-by-side and choose the one that’s best for their needs.