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Compare motorcycle passenger coverage
Protect your passengers with added liability or PIP in some states.
Passengers appreciate this add-on, because it pays for expensive medical bills when you’re at fault in an accident. But, check your policy for passengers protection under bodily injury liability or personal injury protection coverage first.
How does motorcycle passenger coverage work?
Passenger coverage isn’t a specific type of coverage. Your passengers could be covered through:
- Your bodily injury liability, if you’re the one who caused the accident.
- The other driver’s bodily injury liability, if you weren’t at fault in the accident.
- Personal injury protection, if your state allows riders to buy PIP and the coverage extends to passengers.
But in some cases, your insurer may require passengers to filter expenses through their health insurance first, acting as secondary insurance. Review what’s protected under your policy before buying additional protection.
What’s included with motorcycle passenger coverage?
When you invest in added coverage for your riding guests, you’re protecting them and your wallet against:
- Medical expenses. Help your passengers by footing medical bills after an accident.
- Court fees. Safeguard yourself if a passenger takes you to court after an at-fault accident.
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Is motorcycle passenger coverage worth it?
Motorcycle passenger coverage protects guest riders from the cost of injuries that occur in an at-fault accident. It’s ideal for those who cruise with a passenger regularly. You might consider it if your passengers have limited or no medical insurance, or if you want to add a layer of liability.
Another reason to add passenger coverage is because of the added risk of riding a motorcycle. Motorcycle riders are 27 times more likely to get in a fatal accident than riding in a car, according to a 2017 NHTSA motorcycle statistics report. And accidents on a bike tend to be more severe.
What’s not covered by motorcycle passenger coverage?
Passenger coverage is typically part of your bodily injury liability, covering only the medical and court expenses related to an accident. Keep in mind that this option typically doesn’t cover:
- Driver’s medical bills. If the rider of the bike wants protection, that rider will have to rely on medical payments coverage or health insurance. Make sure you know who’s covered before deciding who will drive.
- Lost wages. This benefit is sometimes covered under personal injury protection (PIP), if a state allows motorcyclists to buy it.
- Childcare. Passengers can only get this benefit with PIP coverage that includes passenger coverage.
- Health insurance copays and deductibles. If you do filter expenses through your healthcare first, you’ll be responsible for your own copays and deductible, unless you have PIP.
Motorcycle passenger coverage in action
While Dave was giving Kim a lift to work one day, he rear-ended a car at a stoplight. Dave experienced a back injury, and Kim injured her leg, incurring $500 each in medical expenses.Dave’s collision insurance covered his bike damage after his deductible, while medical payments and passenger coverage paid for all medical bills. Without passenger coverage, Dave would have paid $500 out of pocket.
Bottom line
Passenger coverage works much like bodily injury liability, but for your passengers. However, keep in mind what this coverage protects before you decide which passenger insurance options are right for you.
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