Motorcycle Insurance in Georgia: Is It Mandatory and What Are the Requirements?
Riders are obligated to have motorcycle insurance in Georgia to ride a motorcycle legally. Find out more with this comprehensive guide.
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Motorcycle Insurance in Georgia
Motorcycle riders are required to have a Class M license or a Class M Instructional Permit and purchase motorcycle insurance coverage to ride a motorcycle legally in the state of Georgia. This type of insurance is crucial if you are involved in a motorcycle accident and require money to cover lost wages, medical bills, and other expenses.
Therefore, motorcycle insurance is not something any motorcycle rider should avoid, especially since motorcycle accident victims often suffer life-threatening injuries and paralysis along with broken bones and severe head injuries.
Georgia Motorcycle Insurance
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motorcyclists are about 29 times more likely to die in a traffic crash than people in passenger cars, per vehicle mile traveled.
Although riders often don’t understand the financial burden of a motorcycle crash, everything changes when it happens to them. But, by then, it’s too late to change an insurance policy and have your expenses reimbursed. Even if you are not the one who caused the accident, the other driver may leave the scene, so you will have to rely only on your own motorcycle insurance.
If you were involved in a motorcycle accident, discussing everything with an Atlanta motorcycle accident lawyer can be beneficial. Although your insurance adjuster may tell you otherwise, their job is to look out for the insurance company and its best interests. Make sure you have experienced attorneys on your side who will look out for your best interest, like the attorneys at The ORLANDO Firm.
Best Motorcycle Insurance in Georgia
If you are at fault for causing a crash, you would be responsible for paying the damages because Georgia is an at-fault state. In case your motorcycle insurance policy meets minimal limits and you don’t have enough money to cover damages, then you would have to pay the remaining amount from your assets or your bank account.
Not having motorcycle insurance in Georgia carry various penalties, including a motorcycle registration suspension for up to 6 months along with a $25 fee and registration reinstatement fee of $160 and potential misdemeanor charges.
What Is the Best Insurance for Motorcycles?
When you shop for motorcycle insurance, it’s often not a good idea to find the cheapest motorcycle insurance companies and then pick one whose name sounds cool. You should get more information regarding motorcycle insurance and determine what type of insurance you need and how much money you are prepared to pay.
If you know what you are looking for, you can find more competitive rates with almost any motorcycle insurance provider.
It’s a good idea to shop around before buying. You can ask different insurance companies for a motorcycle insurance quote. Most insurance carriers even allow clients to get their quotes online. Make sure you give the same information to every insurance agent, so you can easily compare prices.
Don’t forget to ask the insurance company for potential motorcycle insurance discounts or other benefits they might offer. Also, if you have several motorcycles, find out if the insurance company offers a multiple motorcycles discount. Taking a motorcycle safety course may also result in a discount and affordable rates.
Different websites often publish studies that include the best motorcycle insurance companies throughout the U.S., which may be an excellent place to start.
Do I Need Insurance for My Motorcycle in Georgia?
Georgia riders must purchase liability insurance that meets the minimum coverage limits to ride motorcycles on the state’s highways and roads. Liability insurance is required by law, and it is used to pay damages on your behalf if anyone else is injured in the crash or if their vehicle or property is damaged and you are at fault.
The minimum limits of liability insurance required under Georgia law include $25,000 for bodily injury liability or death per person and $50,000 per motorcycle accident. Minimum liability limits of property damage liability insurance are $25,000 per accident.
Bodily injury liability coverage helps you pay for medical expenses for another person injured in a crash that you caused. Similarly, property damage liability coverage helps you pay for repairs if you have damaged someone else’s property.
However, liability coverage doesn’t extend to costs associated with your own injuries or pay to repair damage to your motorcycle after a motorcycle accident you caused. Medical payments coverage and collision coverage can help you do that.
Do You Have to Have Motorcycle Insurance in Georgia?
Yes, you must have motorcycle insurance in Georgia. Before registering your motorcycle, you are required to show proof of insurance.
Riding uninsured can result in different consequences and penalties, including license suspension and fines. Also, if you are uninsured and involved in a car accident or a motorcycle crash, you will be obligated to pay for medical costs, health insurance, and vehicle repair out of your pocket.
What Size of Motorcycle Requires Insurance in Georgia?
According to the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS), mopeds of 50cc (cubic centimeters) and under are “exempt from the provisions relating to the registration and licensing” and require no insurance. However, riders must be at least 15 years of age and have an unexpired driver’s license or appropriate permit.
When it comes to scooters with engines over 50cc, they are subject to the same registration, licensing, and insurance requirements as motorcycles.
Although motorcyclists are believed to be reckless, the truth is, in most motorcycle accidents, car drivers are at fault. But, insurance companies sometimes use the misconceptions against motorcyclists to unjustly reject or limit their claims.
If you have been hurt in the Atlanta crash, it is vital to seek medical attention right away, as well as to select the right auto accident attorney who has experience handling these types of cases, including the particular kind of vehicle accident.
Average Cost of Motorcycle Insurance in Georgia
Motorcycle insurance quotes can vary significantly from state to state because of differences in state laws and regulations. Some of the U.S. states that have cheap motorcycle insurance include Iowa, North Dakota, and Wyoming.
Georgia motorcycle insurance rates range from around $400 to almost $800 per year for a full coverage policy. But, bear in mind that the cost of motorcycle insurance depends on several factors, including riding record, motorcycle model, coverage amounts, as well as the age of the rider and years of riding experience.
What Is the Average Cost of Motorcycle Insurance Coverage?
Different insurance companies offer a variety of coverage options to motorcycle owners. The average motorcycle insurance cost in the U.S. is about $700 per year. However, bear in mind that the rates can vary depending on your location.
What Is Considered Full-Coverage Motorcycle Insurance?
As we have mentioned, Georgia motorcycle insurance requirements include liability limits. But, that doesn’t offer protection to the motorcycle rider – the insurance company compensates the victim in the motorcycle accident that the rider caused.
Since motorcycle riders can also suffer severe injuries, no matter who caused the accident, they may want to consider purchasing additional vehicle insurance coverage. That can include:
- Collision insurance
- Uninsured motorist coverage
- Underinsured motorist coverage
- Comprehensive insurance
- Medical payments coverage
Collision coverage covers losses such as repairs of your motorcycle after a crash with another vehicle.
Comprehensive coverage is sometimes called “other than collision insurance.” It covers damages that resulted by means other than crashes such as vandalism, theft, and fire-related losses.
Many riders don’t have insurance or carry only the state minimum insurance coverage, which is barely enough to cover accident damages. Adding underinsured and uninsured motorist protection will protect you in these cases.
Uninsured motorist coverage pays for your damages if the at-fault party doesn’t have insurance. It can also kick in if the at-fault driver leaves the accident scene. On the other hand, underinsured motorist coverage pays the rider in case the driver that caused the accident doesn’t possess enough insurance coverage to cover the claim.
In addition to medical payments coverage that offers coverage of medical expenses, some states offer personal injury protection that can help reimburse lost wages and other expenses you may face if you are hurt in a crash.
A motorcycle insurance policy may also include other optional coverages such as roadside assistance and replacement cost coverage.
What Does Full Coverage Motorcycle Insurance Cover?
In addition to bodily injury and property damage, depending on the policy you choose, full coverage insurance also offers personal injury protection or enhanced injury protection, repair of your motorcycle, damage from fire or flooding (comprehensive coverage), and even rental reimbursement to the motorcycle owner. Although it can be even ten times more expensive than liability insurance, it also offers more protection.
If your loved one has suffered catastrophic bodily injury in a motorcycle accident, you need experienced Atlanta catastrophic injury attorneys such as those at The ORLANDO Firm, P.C. We have the required experience to obtain the compensation our clients deserve.
Reach out to us at 404-373-1800 or toll-free at 866-373-1800 and book a free consultation.
Although we can’t guarantee the outcome of your case, we will provide you with legal representation aimed at helping you through a challenging and painful time in your life.
The Orlando Firm are your personal injury attorneys with the experience to win.