Motorcycle Insurance

W hile motorcycle and motor vehicle insurance laws are comparable in many states, this is not the case in Florida. Drivers of vehicles with four or more wheels, such as cars, trucks, SUVs, etc. are required to carry personal injury protection plans (PIP) however, motorcycle owners are not required to obtain insurance to register their motorcycle. In the event of a motorcycle collision, if the driver is not insured through a motorcycle insurance policy, he/she will be held financially responsible for the damages that occurred. It is only in certain situations that motorcycle insurance would be required. Florida’s helmet law states that if a driver chooses to not wear a helmet, they must obtain bike insurance. In Florida, bikers must carry $10,000 bodily injury liability coverage per person, $20,000 bodily injury liability coverage for two or more people and $10,000 property damage liability per crash. As motorcycle crashes are likely to be more severe, the average biker will benefit from Florida motorcycle insurance, despite it not being a requirement.

The most common way of gaining coverage is to purchase liability insurance from a licensed Florida insurance carrier. Liability insurance will cover the damage to property or persons involved in an accident.
Another option is to obtain a self-insurance certificate from the Bureau of Financial Responsibility. The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) can provide motorcycle owners with additional information regarding self-insurance certificates and can be reached at (850) 617-2000. If you have questions about a motorcycle collision you have been involved in, consider contacting an attorney to answer any further questions.

While motorcycle insurance is not required in Florida, there are still penalties for non-insured motorcycle owners and drivers. As a consequence of being charged with an accident, you are responsible for damages to property as well as bodily injuries. If you are not a policyholder of a Florida motorcycle insurance, there is a possibility that you can be faced with the following consequences:

• Being suspended of your driving privileges
• Being obligated to secure bodily injury/property damage coverage for up to three years
• Being required to pay for damages per civil cases against you
• Having your registration and tag suspended

Now that you understand a bit more about the benefits of withholding a Florida motorcycle insurance policy, you are ready to get your plan started. Once you have your plan in place, be sure to keep a hard copy of your certificate from the insurance carrier handy, just in case.

The content on this website is for informational purposes only and may not be applicable to all situations. Coverage subject to terms, conditions, and availability. Policy issuance is subject to qualifications. Please refer to your insurance policy for full details about your coverages.