Motorcycle Insurance Minimum Requirements in Louisiana

Two-Wheeled Vehicles Defined

Please call the Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) at (877) 368-5463 if you need help determining whether your two-wheeled vehicle requires registration and insurance.

• Motorcycle―Your two-wheeled, motor-driven cycle is a motorcycle if it has:

• A motor with more than 1.5 brake horsepower

• An engine capacity of more than 50 cc

• The ability to travel faster than 25 mph

• Moped―Also called motorized bicycles, your two-wheeled vehicle is a moped and requires registration and insurance if it has:

• A motor with no more than 1.5 brake horsepower

• An engine capacity of no more than 50 cc

• The ability to travel no faster than 25 mph

• Scooter―Scooters, which don’t meet the criteria of mopeds, also don’t meet the safety-equipment requirements for registration and therefore don’t require insurance. Keep in mind the state doesn’t allow you to operate a scooter on any public roadway or roadway shoulder.

Louisiana Insurance Requirements for Motorcycles

You must show proof of liability coverage when you register your motorcycle or moped. The state requires a minimum of:

• $15,000 per person for bodily injury or death

• $30,000 per accident for bodily injury or death

• $25,000 for property damage

To make sure you’re as protected as possible, don’t forget to talk with your insurance agent about the various other kinds of coverage available with your policy.

How Coverage Affects Helmet Requirements

Whether you purchase the minimum amounts of liability coverage or go all out with the fullest protection available, you must wear a helmet if you’re operating or catching a ride on a motorcycle or moped.

Electronic Reporting

Your insurance carrier will provide the OMV with information about your liability coverage including―but not limited to―new policies, changes to existing policies, and policy cancellations.

Proof of Insurance and Financial Responsibility

Even though the OMV will have a record of your liability coverage, you’ll still need to have proof of insurance readily available should an OMV employee or law enforcement officer request it.

Acceptable proof of insurance includes any of the following items your insurance carrier issues you:

• Insurance ID card

• Insurance binder

• A copy of the actual policy or its declaration page

• A written statement on your insurance company’s letterhead that includes your vehicle information and agent’s signature

Penalties for Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility

The penalties for having no proof of insurance for your motorcycle or moped depend on the circumstances.

Law Enforcement

A law enforcement officer will issue you a violation, confiscate your license plates, and impound your motorcycle or moped if you’re unable to show proof of insurance.

If this happens, you must bring proof of insurance to the OMV office listed on the violation within three days; if three days pass and you’re unable to provide proof, you’ll have to register your motorcycle or moped all over again. This includes getting new license plates.

Cancelled Insurance

You can cancel your motorcycle’s or moped’s insurance without facing any penalties as long as you submit your license plates to your OMV office 10 days before canceling the coverage and submit a Statement of Non-Use to:

• Office of Motor Vehicles

• P.O. Box 64886

• Baton Rouge, LA 70896

Of course, your insurance carrier can cancel your insurance, too. If this happens, the OMV can place a “flag” on your driver’s license and suspend your registration and you’ll need to show proof of coverage effective within 10 days of the cancellation or show proof you sold, traded, junked, or moved the vehicle out of state before you can remove the flag and reinstate your license.

If you can’t show proof of insurance within those 10 days, the following reinstatement fees will apply:

• 11-30 days: $50

• 31-90 days: $125

• 91 or more days: $225

Penalties and fees associated with failure to maintain liability coverage might vary depending your situation. For more specific information, contact your nearest OMV office equipped to handle reinstatements.