Motorcycle Insurance

Motorcycle Insurance

How can the right insurance help keep you and your bike on the road?

There are countless reasons why someone might choose a motorcycle over a car.

For one, the moments of reflection and peacefulness that you can have on a bike are not likely to happen when you’re riding around in the family SUV. Plus, a motorcycle can definitely be a quicker, less expensive, and less stressful way to commute. And, last but certainly not least, anyone riding a motorcycle automatically looks (and probably is) cooler than anyone driving a car.

At HUB International, we know that, in addition to enjoying your motorcycle for all of these reasons and more, you’re also always on high alert when you are on your prized machine. You are constantly monitoring your speed, body posture, road conditions, lane position, possible hazards, and more. However, no matter how aware you are of your surroundings, avoiding an accident is not 100% in your control. As a motorcyclist, you are much more vulnerable to an injury, or fatality, from an accident than other drivers and their passengers.

Thus, the state of Massachusetts requires you to carry a minimum amount of motorcycle insurance which demonstrates that you will have the financial wherewithal to pay for the related costs of any accident you are involved in, including potential expenses like:

• Emergency services
• Medical costs, including rehabilitation
• Property damage
• Lost wages
• Legal costs, including claims and the cost of defense attorneys

Even more important to you, though, is that, should you ever be involved in an accident, having proper motorcycle insurance in place can help you get you and your bike back into riding shape more quickly, and with as little to no cost to you as possible.

What are the required and optional motorcycle insurance coverages in Massachusetts?

First, we want to be clear what types of motor vehicles the state of Massachusetts, and your insurance company, mean when they say “motorcycle” so that you can be certain that all of the insurance requirements apply to your bike. By law, a motorcycle is a vehicle with:

• No more than three wheels in contact with the ground
• A seat or saddle for the use of the rider
• More than a 150cc engine size

This means that motorized recreational vehicles that do not qualify as motorcycles, and therefore require different insurance solutions, include mopeds, scooters and dirt bikes.

Now that we’ve determined that you do have a motorcycle, which means that you do need motorcycle insurance, we want to make sure you fully understand the minimum amount of insurance that you must maintain in Massachusetts. The coverage requirements are:

• Bodily injury to others ― Minimum $20,000 per person, $40,000 per accident
• Damage to someone else’s property ― Minimum $5,000

Both of these coverage areas provide financial help in case you cause bodily injury or property damage to other people involved in an accident, but they do not cover injuries to you or any passenger, or damage to your own motorcycle.

Thus, beyond these mandatory coverages, there are several other insurance options that you should discuss with your insurance professional to identify which, if any, might fit your needs, including:

• Guest Passenger Liability, which provides protection in the event that a passenger is injured on your motorcycle
• Collision, which covers damage to your motorcycle, minus your deductible, if you are involved in a collision with another vehicle
• Comprehensive, which pays for damages to your motorcycle, minus your deductible, that were caused by an event other than a collision, such as a fire, theft, vandalism, or other insured event
• Custom parts and equipment (CPE), which pays for repair or replacement of any optional accessories you may have added to your bike that did not come standard with your motorcycle, including chrome parts, a custom paint, plating, and exhaust systems, trailer or sidecar, trike conversion kit, and antennas, audio devices and various other electronic equipment, as well as safety apparel, such as your helmet or leather gear
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM), which pays for damages to you and/or your property caused by another driver who either doesn’t have insurance or doesn’t have adequate insurance
• Roadside assistance, which provides coverage for roadside service and repairs needed to get your bike back on the road after a minor malfunction, like a battery jump-start, a flat tire fix, delivery of additional fluids like gas or oil (although you’re responsible for the cost of the fluid, itself), and towing up to a distance specified by your insurer
• Trip interruption, which pays for some of the costs you incur on a motorcycle trip if your bike becomes unusable, including money for meals and hotels, and as long as you are the required number of miles from your residence at the time your motorcycle breaks down or becomes unrideable

Because coverage options, details and limits vary widely between insurance companies, it’s critical to work with a knowledgeable and experienced insurance professional, like HUB International, to secure exactly what you want and need to protect your special bike. Whether your ride of choice is a custom touring bike, a high-performance sport bike, a laidback 3-wheeler or a classic collectable, you can trust our team of local, independent insurance professionals to help you find the right protection at competitive rates.

If you want to partner with an insurance agent that understands the passion you have for your bike as well as your special insurance requirements, then call us today for a complimentary motorcycle insurance quote at 833-GoCallHUB.