Motorcycles have a tendency to welcome thieves with their open-air seating and simple locks and engines. However, you can get wide protection against theft with comprehensive coverage and safety equipment coverage. Plus, learn simple ways to prevent your bike from being stolen.
Is theft covered by motorcycle insurance?
Yes, you can get theft protection if you have comprehensive coverage. Consider these coverage types to fully protect your ride:
Comprehensive. Covers fire, theft, falling tree branches, natural disasters, glass damage or hitting an animal. May include some coverage for equipment.
Safety equipment. Protects against safety equipment theft for items like bike helmets, riding leathers and safety glasses.
Original manufacturer parts (OEM). Allows you to repair or replace your bike with original parts.
Customized parts. Helps you repair or replace anything you’ve modified or customized to your heart’s content.
Personal effects. Offers protection for personal items like your phone. May be included in another coverage or offered separately.
What kind of theft damage is covered by motorcycle insurance?
If someone attempts to swipe your bike, it could incur damage in several ways. These types of damage may be included with comprehensive or another add-on:
Stolen bike
Damage from attempted theft
Vandalism
Safety equipment
Trailer damage
Personal property, like your phone or keys
Rental reimbursement
Food and lodging
Damage due to neglected or faulty repairs
Intentional damage
Loss of income
Motorcycle used for illegal purposes
Theft due to not parking in an enclosed area, like your garage
Theft outside the United States
Wear and tear
Our top pick: Progressive motorcycle insurance
Enjoy some of the widest coverage with the lowest price thanks to add-ons and freebies like replacement cost coverage.
Starting rates from $75 per year, below national average
Accident forgiveness for small claims or staying claim-free
Free original parts, replacement cost & accessories coverage up to $3K
Long list of discounts, like for riding groups or a motorcycle license
If your bike is stolen, you could recover your vehicle or get a full replacement. After you discover theft has happened, follow these steps:
Call the police. File a police report as soon as you can. They may locate and return your bike if it’s still close by.
Document what happened. Consider writing down any details you know about the event, including the bike’s location or how the thief gained access.
Get proof of damage. Collect any proof of the theft or damage incurred, such as pictures at the scene and evidence left behind.
File a claim. Submit information to your insurance company to start the claims process.
Get a replacement bike. Once an adjuster settles your claim, you can shop around for the best replacement or repair damages on your recovered bike.
How do I file a claim for motorcycle theft?
During this untimely situation, you can file a theft claim quickly with a few steps:
Contact your insurance company by phone or file a claim online.
Provide details, such as the location and date and time of the incident.
Provide your police report number.
Talk with an adjuster within one to two days to finalize details.
Receive your settlement check to repair or replace your motorcycle.
How much will it cost to replace my motorcycle without insurance?
Theft coverage could pay for itself if you run into a bike burglar. Buying a new bike varies based on the model, but you could pay $20,000 for a brand new Harley or $10,000 for a used model.
Even if adding coverage costs you a couple hundred extra per year, you’d save thousands after a theft situation.
How can I get an antitheft discount for my motorcycle?
Many top motorcycle insurers offer rewards for keeping your bike safe, typically up to 10%. Ways you might receive an antitheft discount:
Antitheft alarm. Get an alarm that warns you when someone gets too close to your bike.
Garage storage. Take precautions by locking up your bike when you’re not using it.
Theft recovery system. Outfit your motorcycle with a tracking device to locate it after theft has occurred.
How do I prevent motorcycle theft?
While theft can happen more easily to a motorcycle, you can prevent getting left empty handed in multiple ways. Those include:
Installing an antitheft or recovery device. Aside from a discount, these could help you know when theft is happening.
Locking the ignition. Keep the ignition locked after you turn off the engine to confuse thieves or prolong timing.
Locking up your bike. While out joyriding, you can lock up your bike to a stationary object, or other bikes if you’re riding in a group.
Storing in a garage. Keep your beloved bike in an enclosed area like a garage or shed to prevent pickups when you’re not riding.
Hiding behind objects. Motorcycles have the advantage of a smaller size than cars, making them easy to hide behind cars, bushes or other large objects. This may help when you can’t use other options.
Bottom line
You can cover motorcycle theft with comprehensive coverage as well as add-ons for safety equipment and specialized parts. You could also go the extra mile to protect your bike by using precautions like an antitheft device or garage storage.
Several motorcycle brands have the most theft incidents, including Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki and Harley-Davidson.
There were over 44,268 motorcycle thefts in the US in 2017, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. That’s out of 773,139 total vehicles stolen. While that number seems high, vehicle thefts have been dropping since 1991.
Motorcycles have a 42% chance of recovery, which means you’re more likely to claim a total loss rather if theft occurs. However, prevention and insurance can help make up for this loss.
Sarah George is a writer at Finder who unravels complicated topics about insurance, business and finance. She's been wordsmithing for nearly five years, after earning an English education degree. Her insurance know-how has been featured on CarInsurance.com. You can usually find Sarah sipping hot tea and talking through movie plots in her downtime.
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