Although motorcycles are vastly different from some vehicles, a lot of the insurance needs are the same or similar. Both policy types are designed to cover the driver, passengers, the vehicle and everyone else on the road in case of an accident.

Coverages They Share 

Coverages shared between motorcycle and car insurance policies include:

Differences in Coverages 

There are some slight differences in the coverage offered by motorcycle insurance versus car insurance. Motorcycles are often customized in ways cars can’t be, such as adding sidecars and wearing safety equipment like helmets. Motorcyclists can buy additional coverage to cover these upgrades and gear from loss or damage due to fire, wind, rain, theft, vandalism, etc. 

Another difference is guest passenger liability. Guest passenger liability is available for recreational vehicles such as motorcycles. This coverage pays for your passenger’s medical expenses if they are hurt by a motorcycle accident that you cause. This is not the same as medical payments coverage or personal injury protection. Whereas those coverages provide compensation for injuries no matter who caused the accident, guest passenger liability specifically covers passenger medical expenses if the driver is at fault for the accident. 

Is Motorcycle Insurance More Expensive than Car Insurance? 

Despite motorcycles’ reputation for being dangerous, motorcycle insurance generally costs less on average than cars or vans. This is mostly due to the size, but can depend on other factors.