Motorcycle Property Damage Insurance Defined

This type of liability coverage protects you against the cost to repair or replace another person's property that's damaged as a result of your riding. It's often paired with bodily injury insurance, which covers medical expenses caused to others in an accident.

Keep in mind that property liability insurance doesn't pay for damages you cause to your own property in an accident; that's protected by collision insurance.

Types of Expenses Covered

When you think "property" in terms of an accident, your mind probably only considers cars or motorcycles.

But, motorcycle property liability insurance covers many more kinds of property than that, including:

• Fences

• Utility poles

• Flag poles

• Mail boxes

• Houses

• Garages

• Pets

And, liability insurance can absorb many of your legal costs if you're sued because of an accident.

Why You Should Have Motorcycle Property Damage Coverage

For starters, you probably don't have a choice.

Most states require cyclists to carry at least a minimal amount of property damage insurance. Some states allow their residents to get around this by posting a bond or cash with a state agency, but the simplest way for most to comply with this financial responsibility law is through an insurance policy with property damage coverage.

Beyond that, property liability insurance can save you from a financial disaster if you cause a serious accident with considerable damage to cars, motorcycles, or other expensive pieces of property.

How Much Property Liability Insurance You Need

Your life would be a bit simpler if there was a single answer to this issue, but the truth is that property liability insurance coverage is an individual matter.

That being said, most insurance experts recommend carrying much more coverage than may be dictated by your state. Why? Because most states only require a minor amount of coverage, both for property damage and bodily injury insurance. You could easily exhaust those limits in an accident, and have to pay the rest of the costs out of your pocket.

Keep in mind, though, that insurance becomes relatively less expensive with higher amounts of coverage. So, you may be able to reasonably purchase more liability protection than you envision. And, that's especially so if you do your homework and comparison shop for property damage insurance among many providers. (Try doing this online; it's faster and more convenient.)

Where to Buy Motorcycle Insurance

Most carriers that offer car insurance also have motorbike insurance, including property damage, bodily injury, comprehensive, collision, and uninsured/underinsured driver.

So, use this to your advantage and determine which insurers provide the broadest, most complete protection and best rates, and then select the one that's ideal for your situation.