Motorcycle riders tend to be very passionate about their bike. They take pride in their motorcycle and cherish their rides on it. When something is this special, it’s best to get insurance for it. Motorcycle insurance helps to cover costs of damages and injuries should you end up in a collision while on your bike. It is incredibly important coverage to have while on the road, especially in a city as unpredictable as Chicago. Insurance is necessary for everyone driving in Illinois. You should take purchasing a motorcycle insurance policy seriously and consider all your coverage options. How insurance for your motorcycle can help, and the extent of what it covers is outlined below.
What is Motorcycle Insurance?
Motorcycle insurance protects you and your assets from injuries and damages caused by a collision. A standard motorcycle insurance policy usually includes just liability coverage, but there are several motorcycle policy add-ons you can utilize to expand coverage. Motorcycle insurance, like auto insurance, is required for all motorcycle riders in Chicago. Besides being legally required in Illinois, motorcycle insurance provides you and your bike with seriously valuable coverage in the event of an accident.
How to Get Your Motorcycle License in Chicago
In Illinois, you will want a Class M motorcycle license to be able to drive your motorcycle on public roads. There is a couple of other motorcycle licenses, but this one is the standard version. Getting a motorcycle license is not too different from obtaining a driver’s license. To get your motorcycle license, you will need to show identification, pass a written test, a skills test, and a vision exam. You should keep in mind that if you are under 18 years of age and trying to get a motorcycle license, you will most likely need to take both an approved education class and a skills test. Consult the Illinois Department of Motor Vehicles to make sure you fully understand what is expected of you when obtaining your motorcycle license.
Chicago Motorcycle Insurance Requirements
In Chicago, motorcycle riders are required to carry liability insurance. They must at least meet the state-mandated amount of liability coverage. Failure to do so can result in serious penalties like fines and imprisonment. The minimum liability insurance required for motorcyclists in Illinois is:
- $25,000 for bodily injury liability to one person
- $50,000 for bodily injury liability per accident
- $20,000 for property damage per accident
Additional Insurance For Your Motorcycle
While liability insurance is an important piece of coverage to carry, you should consider expanding your motorcycle insurance by utilizing policy add-ons. Liability insurance only pays for injuries you cause to another driver or motorcycle rider, meaning that your damage to your bike and injuries you sustain will have to be paid for out of pocket. However, you can prevent this by extending your coverage. Some helpful policy add-ons for motorcycle insurance include:
- Medical payment (MedPay) – Medical payment covers medical expenses should you be injured in a collision. It pays out no matter who was at fault for the accident.
- Comprehensive and collision coverage – Including comprehensive and collision coverage will get you what is known as full coverage motorcycle insurance. Adding these types of coverages to your policy will help cover damage to your bike. It pays out no matter who was at fault.
- Roadside assistance – If your motorcycle is having mechanical problems, roadside assistance can be there any day, anytime to get you back on the road.
- Guest passenger – Guest passenger extends coverage to someone riding with you. Unlike car insurance, motorcycle insurance may not automatically cover passengers. Guest passenger coverage can help pay for your passenger’s medical expenses should they be injured in an accident.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage – Despite insurance being required for pretty much every driver, many people operate vehicles and bikes without it. If you end up in an accident with such a driver or rider, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage will help pay for damages when the other party cannot.
How Much Does Motorcycle Insurance Cost in Chicago?
Much like auto insurance, motorcycle insurance can be a bit pricey, especially if you live in Chicago. Due to urban areas like Chicago being heavily populated, there are more chances for accidents and other disasters. Chicago insurance providers will likely charge you higher premiums. On average, Chicago motorcycle riders pay around $1,200 per year for coverage. That’s pretty high compared to the state average, which is $740 per year for motorcycle insurance. However, motorcycle insurance premiums are personalized, meaning that a variety of factors go into determining your rates. Besides where you live, insurance companies will take things like what kind of motorcycle you have, how much coverage you want, and what your driving record looks like into consideration. Based on these personal factors and several others, your motorcycle insurance premiums can easily be higher or lower than the city average. To get a better idea of what you will pay for coverage, we recommend shopping around and getting quotes from a wide variety of insurance companies in Chicago. This will allow you to analyze policies and estimate prices.
Finding Cheap Motorcycle Insurance
Depending on your living situation and driving record, motorcycle insurance in Chicago can get a little expensive. Thankfully, insurance providers offer a few ways for you to save money on your policy. Listed below are a few common policy discounts insurance companies in Chicago offer eligible motorcyclists.
- Multibike discount – Having more than one motorcycle in need of coverage can get you a small discount on your insurance premiums by putting all your motorcycles under a policy with the same insurance provider.
- Bundling discount – If you already have auto insurance with one provider, see if they offer motorcycle insurance as well. Bundling your insurance policies can help give you a break on your insurance rates.
- Good rider discount – Insurance companies tend to favor providing coverage for smart and safe motorcycle riders. Keeping a driving record free of accidents and violations can get you a policy discount and keep your insurance rates affordable.