For those who love motorcycles, there’s nothing quite like the sights and sounds of the open road as the miles glide by beneath your bike. However, before taking to the road, it’s extremely important to have motorcycle insurance, just as you have Illinois auto insurance, for your four-wheeled vehicles. In Illinois, as in every other state except Florida, motorcycle insurance is required, and beyond the legal requirements, it only makes good sense to have adequate insurance coverage.
Unless you’re prepared to be financially responsible for claims for injuries and property damage in an accident that was your fault, you should have motorcycle insurance, even if the state of Illinois did not require it. A lawsuit for personal injuries could lead to a substantial judgment putting your income and assets at risk of being seized in order to satisfy it. And that’s a risk you just don’t want to take.
Take the time to consider these sobering statistics. There are 8.4 million motorcycles registered in the U.S., and while these make up only 3 percent of the total number of registered motor vehicles, motorcycle riders are 29 times more likely to be involved in a fatal collision than the occupants of other types of vehicles. Basic common sense indicates the necessity for adequate insurance coverage to protect you and other motorists.
Insurance basics
States like Illinois with mandatory motorcycle insurance laws require liability insurance, the term used for a combination of bodily injury and property damage coverages. Liability insurance protects you against claims filed by other parties involved in an accident in which you’re at fault. If a pedestrian or the occupants of another vehicle suffer a physical injury that is your fault, the financial burden of compensating them is met by your insurance company under bodily injury coverage. The damage you have caused to another vehicle or other types of property is paid through property damage coverage.
Illinois motorcycle insurance requirements
In Illinois, all vehicles that are required to have license plates and are being driven, including motorcycles, must have the minimum 25/50/20 liability insurance coverage. This requirement includes:
- $25,000 coverage for the injury or death of one person in an accident.
- $50,000 coverage for the injury or death of more than one person in an accident.
- $20,000 coverage for damage to the property of another person.
Further, you must always carry your insurance card in your vehicle and show it on request by any law enforcement officer.
Enforcement
These requirements are not merely empty gestures, and enforcement is accomplished through a combination of a random questionnaire sampling process and the issuance of traffic tickets.
- If the state-operated computer randomly selects your vehicle, you will receive a questionnaire asking for the name of your insurance company and your policy number. Your answers will be verified with your company. If you do not have insurance or fail to return the questionnaire with the requested information, your license plates will be suspended.
- If you’re stopped for a traffic violation or involved in an accident, a law enforcement officer may issue a traffic citation if you’re unable to provide evidence of insurance. If convicted, your license plates will be suspended, and you’ll be fined a minimum of $500 for driving uninsured.
Suspension and reinstatement
Unfortunately, if you run afoul of the state’s insurance laws, reinstatement is neither easy nor inexpensive.
The license plates of first-time offenders are suspended until a $100 reinstatement fee is paid and current evidence of insurance coverage is provided. Repeat offenders are required to serve a four-month suspension period, pay the $100 reinstatement fee and provide current evidence of insurance coverage before being eligible for reinstatement.
While the license plates are suspended, no one may operate that vehicle. However, you may operate other vehicles that are insured.
Beyond liability coverage
In addition to the state-required liability insurance, you may want to consider additional forms of coverage.
- Underinsured/Uninsured motorist – Compensates you if you’re injured in an accident caused by an underinsured or uninsured motorist.
- Comprehensive coverage – Pays the cost of replacement or repair if your motorcycle is stolen or damaged in a non-collision accident.
- Collision coverage – Pays for repair or replacement of your motorcycle if it’s damaged in an accident, regardless of who was at fault.
- Medical – Pays your medical expenses for injuries incurred in an accident, no matter who was at fault.
Coverage through Accurate Insurance
The great news in all this is that you don’t have to shop around from agency to agency to get the motorcycle or Illinois auto insurance you need. At Accurate Insurance we have longstanding partnerships with the top-rated insurance carriers, and we can generate an instant quote from our long list of providers. Stay safe on the roads and call us today at 1-800-999-1034 and let us get you on the road with the coverage that’s best for you.
