The term “full coverage” is a misleading term giving riders a false sense of protection. Because motorcycle accident victims generally have higher bills and damages than the cagers, you must insist on more coverage and higher limits. The insurance companies will not tell you this. Here are 5 insider tips for motorcycle insurance all riders should know.
100/300 Liability Coverage Minimum
DO NOT get on your bike without at least 100/300 in coverage. This means that you have coverage of $100,000 per person and $300,000 total per accident. Get at least this amount for your liability limits AND your uninsured/underinsured limits. Do not depend on the other guy to have insurance or enough insurance in the event of an accident.
100/300 Uninsured/Underinsured Coverage (UI/UIM)
This coverage is designed to help you pay for bills associated with a crash caused by another person who either A) doesn’t have insurance or B) has a policy with liability limits that are too low. Most people out there have the state minimum limits of $30,000, so you must protect yourself. We recommend choosing the same amount of coverage as your liability limits, which should be at least 100/300.high
Medical Payments Coverage (MP) or Personal Injury Protection (PIP) in South Carolina
- Covers medical expenses for you or your passengers after an accident
- Recommended coverage amount – $5,000+
Collision and Accessory Coverage
- Collision covers damage to your vehicle after an accident, no matter who was at fault. Choose your coverage amount based on the value of your motorcycle
- Accessory covers your bike’s upgrades and customizations. Assign value to anything that is not considered stock and base your coverage amount on the value of those upgrades and customizations.
Separate Policies – DO NOT BUNDLE
For NC residents, put each of your vehicles on separate policies. This allows you to stack your coverage, which will double or even triple your protection. It will cost you the 10% bundling discount but will pay off tenfold in the event of an accident. For example, I recently had a client who had two motorcycles, two cars and an RV. Because he had each vehicle on a separate policy, we were able to stack his coverage. The result was 5 times the coverage.
The insurance companies will not tell you this. Protect yourself and be sure you are properly insured BEFORE you throw your leg over your bike. If you’re still unsure about your coverage, we offer all riders a free policy review. Submit any questions below and we’ll get you taken care of.
Free Policy Review
Karney|Clayton has been representing injured bikers since 1975. With a clear understanding of the obstacles motorcyclists face both on the road and in the courtroom, our attorneys fight for motorcycle accident victims. Protecting bikers throughout the Carolinas with offices in Charlotte, Greensboro and Raleigh. From accident through recovery, we’ve got your back. Contact us for your free consultation 877-376-7982.
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