Motorcycle Insurance: 5 Things You (Maybe) Didn’t Know It Covered

Motorcycle insurance can do more for you than you might expect (even if you don’t own a bike). Read on for some surprising facts about motorcycle coverage.

If you ride a motorcycle, there are many good reasons to get motorcycle insurance. The biggie: most (though not all) states require at least bodily injury and property damage liability coverage. And, of course, it’s always smart to have protection in case of an accident or theft.

But, like the bike itself, motorcycle insurance can be a versatile beast. And like a stunt rider, it can sometimes leave you saying, “I didn’t know it could do that!” Hop in the sidecar while we take you through some surprising facts about motorcycle coverage.

1. You can insure almost any type of motorcycle

Think you can’t insure your bike because it’s been customized from end to end or it’s a classic from the ‘50s? Not so. Through Esurance, you can get coverage for 99 percent of the bikes on the road — cruisers, sport bikes, modified bikes, antiques, and even bikes built from a kit.

2. You can get coverage for your snowmobile, scooter, ATV — even your Segway or golf cart

“But wait, those aren’t motorcycles!” Well spotted, my friend. Nonetheless, many insurers (including Esurance) cover leisure vehicles under their motorcycle policies in certain states. Good thing, too, since many states require liability coverage for ATVs, snowmobiles, mopeds, and such — and most car insurance or homeowners policies offer little or no protection for leisure vehicles.

Even vehicles you might not think about insuring, like golf carts and Segways, are often covered by motorcycle insurance.

Why would you want insurance for a golf cart? What’s next, slice insurance? According to a recent study, golf cart injuries jumped 132 percent between 1990 and 2006. Golf carts aren’t just being used on the links — they’re also being driven more and more frequently on streets and trails, and they don’t have seat belts, stability controls, or doors. So liability insurance and comprehensive coverage (not to mention medical payments coverage) is a good idea. (Taking it slow is an even better idea.)

Segways can also be surprisingly dangerous. In fact, a fall from a Segway is more likely to warrant a hospital admission than being struck by a car while on foot. So here again, medical payments coverage is worth considering.

Find out the proper way to turn a Segway >

3. Bike insurance can help keep your holiday from going kaput

Most insurers offer the same type of protections for motorcycles as they do for cars: property damage and bodily injury liability, comprehensive coverage, collision coverage, and medical payments coverage.

But there are a range of other coverage’s that can be especially useful on road trips. Towing and labor coverage helps pay the costs if your motorcycle or snowmobile breaks down. Trip interruption coverage will help pay for lodging, food, and transportation if you get stranded. And if you rent a bike or recreation vehicle during your vacation, your collision and comprehensive coverage will likely protect you for that too.

4. Motorcycle insurance can cover your protective gear 

Along with your vehicle itself, you can get coverage for the stuff you need to ride it safely. Items like helmets, riding leathers, and snowmobile gloves don’t come cheap, but if something happens to your gear, your motorcycle insurance can help replace it.

5. You can get a discount just for being a homeowner

Depending on where you live, Esurance offers a multitude of ways to get discounts on motorcycle insurance: owning a home, taking a safety course, being a careful rider, and insuring another vehicle along with your bike (just to name a few).

Like the best roads for riding, life is full of twists and turns. But, with the right motorcycle coverage, you’ll be ready for almost anything that comes your way.

[Source: http://blog.esurance.com/motorcycle-insurance-5-things-you-maybe-didnt-know-it-covered/#.Vo9iRbZ97IU]