Does motorcycle insurance cover other riders?

A rider enjoys nothing more than sharing a beautiful ride with someone special, putting them on the back of your bike, and heading out on the open road.   As a single person, you meet someone special, ask them out for a ride the next day, grab an extra helmet, and OFF YOU GO!   

Being prepared to carry passengers on the back is vital for everyone’s safety.  Safety gear is important, understanding if that person has ever ridden on the back, and YES, making sure that you have the right insurance to cover that passenger in the event of an accident.

So the question of the day is….IS THE RIDER COVERED ON MY BIKE in the event of an accident?

Sometimes. It depends on the accident’s circumstances and your policy’s details. However, if you are going to ride passengers on the back of your bike, it is vital that you carry the proper insurance in the event of an accident.

If the other driver is at fault, their insurance should pay for your passenger’s injuries. (if they have it, as 60% of drivers have 25k or less, and 30% have no insurance)

However, if you cause the accident, you’ll need to check your policy to see if you have coverage for your passenger’s injuries. Some states require passenger liability insurance as part of your own liability insurance, while others offer it as a policy add-on.

Other coverages like medical payments or personal injury protection may also cover medical expenses for you and your passenger, regardless of fault.

Which motorcycle insurance coverages protect passengers?

Several kinds of coverage can protect your passenger: medical payments, personal injury protection (PIP), uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM), and guest passenger liability coverage.

Medical payments coverage

Medical payments coverage pays for injuries sustained by either you or your passenger, no matter who was at fault for the accident. Learn more about medical payments coverage.

Personal injury protection

Personal injury protection can cover medical bills and other injury-related costs like lost wages, childcare expenses, and more, depending on your state, no matter who was at fault. Personal injury protection protects both you and your passenger.

Uninsured/underinsured motorist

Uninsured/underinsured motorist helps protect you when another driver causes an accident but doesn’t have enough insurance to pay for the damages. Uninsured motorist coverage for your motorcycle can cover property damage (repairs to your bike) and bodily injury (medical expenses for both you and your passenger). However, it kicks in only when the other driver is deemed at fault and can’t pay for the damages.

Guest passenger liability

Guest passenger liability is a form of liability coverage that protects your passenger when you cause an accident, and you are legally responsible for your passenger’s medical expenses. It may be included as part of, or in addition to, the required bodily injury coverage, and like other kinds of liability insurance, it can’t pay for injuries you sustain, and it only applies if you’re the one at fault for the accident.

How do I know if I have passenger liability insurance?

Some states require this coverage as part of a standard liability policy, and some don’t. Ask your agent or insurer if it’s required where you live. In states where passenger liability coverage is mandatory, it’ll be included on any policy, whether or not it’s listed separately. If it’s not required in your state, you can usually add it to your policy, and it should be listed in your policy as a separate coverage. Learn more about motorcycle insurance requirements by state.

How do I know which coverage I should get for my passengers?

Start by speaking to a REAL INSURANCE AGENT, not an 800-insurance remote employee.  An insurance agent or broker will look at all of your vehicles, assets and how they can find you the BEST coverage for the BEST price.

Second, get an insurance review from a REAL MOTORCYCLE ATTORNEY.  Sounds strange, but if I get in an accident, I don’t want to find out that my coverages aren’t what I thought they were after an accident or after I put a passenger on my bike.

Third, figure out what your state requires. Mandatory coverages, including guest passenger liability, will be included in any policy sold in your state. If your policy automatically includes guest passenger liability insurance, for example, you don’t need to decide whether to buy it; rather, you need to decide on limits. Once you know your state’s requirements, ask yourself if you want optional coverages like medical payments or UM/UIM (if optional in your state).

Since motorcycle injuries are often more severe than injuries from car crashes, you’ll need to think about what you could afford to pay if you or your passengers are injured in an accident.