Does Motorcycle Insurance Cover Other Riders?

The question of whether or not other riders are covered by your motorcycle insurance while on your bike is a tricky one and depends a great deal on the specifics of your policy. Since all insurance companies are different and each motorcycle policy may have some unique provisions, the bottom line advice is to consult with your insurance agent before you take on the responsibility of having someone at your back as a passenger on your bike or before you allow someone else to ride your motorcycle on the road.

Lending Out Your Bike

Letting someone borrow your bike, even just for a quick trip around the block, may pose some risks of which you should be aware. Like car insurance, which typically follows the car for which the policy was written, motorcycle insurance may very well follow the bike, but not necessarily.

First of all, make sure that the person to whom you've lent your bike is licensed to operate a motorcycle here in North Carolina. If someone borrows your bike and has an accident where they damage someone's property or cause someone injury and they're driving illegally, there's a very good chance your insurance company won't allow a claim.

If they are properly licensed to operate a motorcycle and are found to have caused the accident, your motorcycle liability coverage may help pay for damages and/or injuries for all parties involved. Again, specifics depend on your policy and you should learn what's covered ahead of time, before you lend out your bike.

Coverage For Passengers

If you plan on having passengers on your motorcycle it might be a good idea to look into what's called passenger liability coverage. Many insurance companies offer this type of motorcycle insurance. Other companies may automatically cover injuries caused to your passenger under the liability provisions of your motorcycle insurance policy.

If you're involved in an accident that's deemed to be the fault of someone else, injuries to you and your passenger plus damage to your vehicle should be covered by the at-fault driver's liability coverage. If that person is either uninsured or under-insured, however, you'll could be totally out of luck. To cover for this potential scenario, you should consider obtaining uninsured/under-insured motorist's coverage. Consult with your insurance agent to explore all that's available to make sure you, your passengers and your motorcycle are protected to the degree with which you're comfortable.

Some insurance company discounts are automatic, while many you won't know about unless you ask. Raising your deductible or buying a car with anti-theft technology will likely get you an automatic discount, but how about a student getting good grades?