Don’t Confuse Car and Motorcycle Insurance

If you decide to buy motorcycle insurance, you might want to simply add the bike to your existing car insurance policy. After all, you already have one vehicle policy. Why not just add your bike to your existing coverage? Well, not so fast. You can’t add your bike to your car insurance. Here’s why.

Motorcycles are entirely different from regular cars. They therefore present their own set of unique risks to their riders and owners. The insurance policies for bikes, therefore, need to address the bikes specifically. Don’t hesitate to work with your agent to determine the appropriate course of action.

Why You Need Motorcycle Insurance
Motorcycles, like any other vehicles, are expensive. They therefore need insurance. The right policy can:

Help you pay for damage to your bike following wrecks
Cover your vehicle damage that results from hazards like severe weather, fire or theft
Pay for the damage of third parties who get hurt in wrecks for which you are at-fault

Rather than paying for these damages on your own, you can let your policy cover you. Therefore, you and your bike will have financial help in case of damage that you cannot predict.
motorcycles on the road

Coverage Must Be Specific
You’ll likely think that, like any type of motor vehicle, your motorcycle needs certain types of insurance. Indeed it does. However, you cannot simply add your motorcycle to an existing car insurance policy.

Car insurance covers cars. In most cases, it will not cover motorcycles. Any attempts you make to insure the bike on this bike will prove futile. Therefore, you’ll need a specific motorcycle insurance policy. Why, you ask?

Think of it in the practical sense. Your car has four wheels, and a certain steering system. It also usually has a top, seatbelts and other insulating equipment. On the other hand, your bike has only two wheels. Its control surfaces differ from those of cars. There is no top to most bikes, and riders must therefore wear various pieces of safety gear, like helmets.

Because of these notable differences, motorcycles riders face considerably different operating risks than the average driver. At times, these risks might prove higher than those faced by someone with an SUV, for example. Therefore, the insurance coverage you carry needs to address your bike’s specific risks. Therefore, most car insurance policies will explicitly exclude motorcycles. They do so for good reason.

Generally, it is not difficult to work with your agent to set up your motorcycle policy. They can help you get things like liability insurance, collision and comprehensive coverage and uninsured/underinsurance motorist coverage. They’ll ensure you have appropriate coverage for your bike at all times.

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