Over the past few years, motorcycles have become more popular than ever in the United States. In fact, according to research, there are over 8.3 million registered motorcycles in the US alone. Unfortunately, due to the huge number of motorcycles on the road, accidents are a common occurrence. That’s why insurance is a must, no matter how good of a rider a person thinks they are.
Like all insurance, motorcycle insurance is based on calculated risk, from both the insurer’s and the policyholder’s perspectives. As such, how much protection is worth it for a motorcycle owner depends on the likelihood and severity of accidents relative to the cost of coverage. In other words, some people want to minimize the cost of insurance as much as possible by reducing its coverage. However, in other situations, it may be worthwhile to invest in more coverage, regardless of the added cost.
What Is Full Coverage Motorcycle Insurance?
More often than not, insurance companies will advertise their special full-coverage motorcycle insurance. As the name suggests, this type of insurance should include everything from roadside assistance coverage to motorcycle medical payments coverage and bodily injury liability.
Yet, how much this insurance covers depends on the company itself. For example, while most companies account for medical payments, some will only pay the rider’s medical expenses and not those of any passenger. So, before getting full coverage insurance, a rider should always ask for details on its coverage. Additionally, full coverage insurance is usually more expensive than one that includes only the state-required liability coverage.
What’s Included in Full Coverage Insurance?
As previously mentioned, there are different types of motorcycle insurance. And while full coverage should include them all, it doesn’t necessarily do that. To get a better understanding of this type of insurance, here are some of the most common types of motorcycle policies that are usually included in full coverage:
● Bodily injury liability should protect the rider against the cost of damage to other vehicles and injuries to other drivers. It also helps avoid lawsuits if the rider is at-fault in a motorcycle accident.
● Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage protects the rider and their property if they are involved in an accident with someone whose insurance doesn’t cover the damage. This policy also applies in the event that the other party doesn’t have any insurance at all and guarantees that the rider will still receive fair compensation.
● Personal injury protection pays for the rider’s medical expenses and lost wages for an injury that occurs in an accident. The main benefit of personal injury protection is that it applies to any party, no matter who was at fault. In fact, since PIP is no-fault insurance, it pays for the rider’s medical expenses quicker than liability insurance would.
● Collision and comprehensive coverage can pay riders to fix or replace their motorcycle in the event of damage caused by vandalism, theft, fire, or collision with an animal. This policy is also ideal for those that store their bike for long periods of time, as it accounts for time-related damages like rust.
How Much Does It Usually Cost?
The rates of full coverage insurance depend on a variety of factors. Therefore, it is hard to estimate how much it costs without taking the rider’s particular situation into consideration. However, generally speaking, buying full coverage insurance that includes every required policy and a couple of additional ones is ten times more expensive than buying basic coverage. So, a rider should expect to pay up to $1,500 per year for full-coverage motorcycle insurance.
What Affects the Price of Motorcycle Insurance?
When purchasing full-coverage insurance, the vehicle owner must be completely honest about their bike and how they ride it. As a matter of fact, the insurer will want to know everything from the rider’s typical routes and how often they ride to the bike’s worth and where they park it. Then, the insurer will calculate the rate based on the rider’s personal needs and insurance preferences. Eventually, one will have to declare an accident on motorcycle insurance as well.
Although each insurance company has a different way of calculating the rate, there are a couple of factors that come into play:
● Age and riding experience
● Location
● Frequency of motorcycle usage
● Type of bike
● The rider’s credit rating
● Amount of deductible
● Coverage selection
● Accident and claim history
● Speeding and traffic tickets
Is Full Coverage Worth It?
At the end of the day, whether full coverage insurance is worth it depends on the rider’s specific situation. And, as previously noted, this type of insurance doesn’t always cover every policy. Therefore, it might be counterproductive to go for it instead of picking specific policies that the rider might use. Nevertheless, it’s important to talk with multiple insurers and request additional information about their full coverage before going for it.
Keep in mind that, in the case of a motorcycle accident, the insurance is going to be the difference between a lawsuit and a peaceful settlement. So if you have any questions or need comprehensive legal advice, Tom Fowler Law is always here with the best motorcycle accident attorney in Des Moines, ready to help. Nevertheless, it is important to avoid motorcycle accidents at all which can be done by paying attention to traffic rules, just like knowing when one should pass a motorcycle on the road.