Do I Need Insurance for my Motorcycle?
Few folks may be better acquainted with Tennessee’s scenic views than motorcycle riders. From the Tail of the Dragon to the Natchez Trace Parkway, to charming country backroads, there are many beautiful drives in the Volunteer State—and few ways to experience them as up close and personal as you would on a motorcycle. Tennesseans are in agreement, as the number of Class M driver’s licenses has grown to over 400,000 in recent years.
But the same way that your regular driver’s license won’t allow you to sit behind the handlebars of a motorcycle, your standard auto insurance policy won’t automatically cover your bike. Just as you wear a helmet to protect yourself when you ride, it’s important to protect your motorcycle with the right insurance coverage from Farm Bureau Insurance of Tennessee.
What is motorcycle insurance coverage?
At Farm Bureau Insurance of Tennessee, our recreational vehicle coverage can protect a wide range of vehicles, including motorcycles. These types of vehicles are not automatically covered by your auto policy. We provide coverage for:
Motorcycles
Golf carts
Minibikes
Dirt bikes
Scooters
Electric bikes
All-terrain vehicles (ATVs)
Utility task vehicles (UTVs)
Rough terrain vehicles (RTVs)
Side-by-sides
What kind of coverage you need may depend on the vehicle in question, but it can include the following:
Bodily injury liability insurance can help cover claims and your defense costs if you are legally liable for a motorcycle accident that injures someone else.
Property damage liability insurance can help cover claims and your defense costs if you are legally liable for an auto accident that damages the property of others.
Collision coverage can help cover damages from collisions. This includes collisions with other vehicles and accidents involving objects such as trees or medians.
Comprehensive coverage can help pay for damages to your motorcycle caused by things other than a collision, like fire, flood, hail, theft, vandalism, glass breakage, or even hitting an animal.
Is motorcycle insurance required in Tennessee?
The state of Tennessee requires that you show proof of financial responsibility, which most people do by purchasing an insurance policy with the state minimum liability coverage. Depending on the specifics of any of the other vehicles listed above, they may need to be registered with your county clerk and, therefore, require liability coverage. See the Tennessee Department of Revenue’s explainer on off-highway vehicles for more information.
Why do I need motorcycle insurance?
Even if your vehicle isn’t legally required to have insurance coverage, if you leased or financed it, your lender may require that you buy comprehensive and collision coverage. But besides that, it’s also just the smart thing to do. There are over 2,000 crashes involving motorcycles every year in Tennessee, according to the TN Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Without coverage you can count on, your investment may not be protected in the way that you need it to be.
If you’re in search of motorcycle insurance coverage that can give you the confidence to hit the open road on your bike, connect with a local Farm Bureau Insurance agent to discuss a policy that fits your unique needs. Reach out today.
