Why You Need Motorcycle Insurance in CT
What’s required of all motorcycle riders in Connecticut?
The Connecticut Insurance Department has established the following requirements:
- Passengers: Motorcycle permit holders cannot operate a motorcycle with a passenger. For operators with full motorcycle endorsements, the following timelines apply:
- Riders aged 16 and 17 years can transport passengers six months after receiving their endorsement.
- Riders 18 years or older can transport passengers three months after receiving their endorsement.
- Helmets: Required for riders and passengers aged 18 and under, as well as anyone operating a motorcycle with a learner’s permit, regardless of age.
- Eye protection: Required for riders and passengers of all ages.
- Mirrors: Your motorcycle must have at least one mirror.
- Turn signals: Motorcycles aren’t required to have installed turn signals, but riders must use hand signals if their bikes lack them.
- Passenger seats: Bikes must have permanent passenger seats in order to carry passengers.
- Headlights: Headlights are required for all motorcycles.
- Muffler: Mufflers are required on all motorcycles.
If you have a motorcycle in Connecticut then state law requires you to carry liability insurance with the following minimum coverages:
- Bodily injury: $20,000 per person, $40,000 per accident
- Property damage: $10,000 per accident
If you unintentionally cause an accident while riding, your liability insurance will cover the cost of injuries to others and property damage, up to the limits you’ve selected.
Motorcycle Insurance Coverage:
Insurance provides a full range of protection. In addition to the liability insurance required by law, we offer: collision, to repair damage to your bike in an accident; comprehensive, to cover theft, and damage from vandalism, weather, falling objects, and other non-collision events; insurance for equipment you’ve added; plus, coverage for uninsured and underinsured motorists and medical payments for your own injuries.
Basic Motorcycle Coverage
- Bodily injury liability
- Property damage liability
- Comprehensive
- Collision
- Uninsured or underinsured motorists
Additional Motorcycle Coverage
- Personal Injury Protection (medical costs)
- Original parts (OEM) endorsement
- Custom equipment and accessories
- Roadside assistance
Optional Motorcycle Insurance Coverages Available in Connecticut
Insurance providers in Connecticut give you the ability to customize your motorcycle insurance policy. To help protect you and your bike against losses above and beyond the required coverages, consider adding the following to your policy:
Collision coverage
If you tip your bike or accidentally hit a wall, a car, or the road, your liability coverage may not cover the costs. Collision coverage offers extra protection in cases like these.
Comprehensive coverage
When something beyond your control occurs—like hitting an animal, or even someone vandalizing your bike—you can help save yourself extra costs with comprehensive coverage.
Medical payments coverage
Medical payments coverage helps cover the costs of medical bills for both you and your passengers if you’re involved in an accident.
Roadside assistance
Needing to have your motorcycle towed is, at best, inconvenient. But it doesn’t need to be expensive. Roadside assistance coverage can help cover the costs associated with towing your bike to a body shop.
To learn more about getting the right coverage for your needs, give the Nickerson Insurance Agency a call today!