Georgia Motorcycle Insurance

There’s nothing quite like feeling the air rush past you on a motorcycle ride. Protect yourself and your motorcycle with the right motorcycle insurance policy. This guide to motorcycle insurance in Georgia can help you get started.

Georgia Motorcycle Insurance

Georgia has a minimum requirement for liability insurance amounts on every motorcycle and automobile. If you do not carry an active motorcycle liability insurance policy with the minimum requirements, you may be subject to misdemeanor criminal charges. 

Liability insurance covers bodily injury and property damage that may be caused by an accident. It’s important to note that liability insurance doesn’t cover your injuries or damage to your motorcycle. Instead it is designed to protect you if you cause bodily injury to someone else or damage their property due to an accident involving your motorcycle.

• State minimum insurance requirements in Georgia:
  • $25,000 liability insurance for 1 person in a single accident
  • $50,000 liability insurance for multiple people in a single accident
  • $25,000 liability insurance for property damage in a single accident
• Average annual rate with a clean driving record: $750

Although they are not required by Georgia law, there are other motorcycle insurance coverages that you may want to consider:

• Motorcycle collision insurance is the type of coverage that will cover damage to your motorcycle if you get into an accident with another vehicle. If you have this type of coverage, your insurance company will pay for the damages to your motorcycle. Damages are typically paid out based on the book value of your motorcycle before the accident occurred.
• Comprehensive coverage expands coverage for damages to your bike. If your motorcycle is damaged by an event that is not a collision, your insurance company will pay for the damages. This includes if your bike is damaged by theft, vandalism or fire.
• Coverage for customized motorcycle parts does essentially what it sounds like it does. Most collision and comprehensive policies only cover the factory standard parts on your motorcycle. If you’ve added on parts or customized your bike in another way, you may want to consider this optional coverage option. Some of the items this coverage may include are chrome parts, custom paint jobs, trailers or sidecars. This type of coverage may also be referred to as accessories coverage. You can check with your insurance company to see exactly what it covers.
• Medical payments, no-fault or personal injury protection coverage is a great option if you want coverage that will protect yourself and your passengers. It will provide medical coverage for yourself or your passengers if you and your motorcycle are involved in an accident.
• Towing and labor coverage can help you out if your motorcycle needs a jump start, a tow or other services on the road.
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage can pay for your bodily injury or property damages that are caused by another driver if they don’t have adequate insurance or any insurance at all. These policies usually cover your medical treatment, property damage and even your lost wages while you recover.

Georgia Motorcycle Laws

Just as you have to do with your car, SUV or truck, you must have your motorcycle registered with the state of Georgia in order to drive it on public roads. Each state has its own requirements when it comes to insurance coverage for these vehicles, and Georgia is no exception. 

Here are some elements of Georgia’s motorcycle insurance laws that you should be aware of:

• “Motorcycle” refers to any vehicle with 3 wheels or less on the ground that has a seat or a saddle for the rider to sit on or in. The exclusions to this definition are a tractor and a moped. 
• Even if you’re the owner of the motorcycle, you can’t use the motorcycle or allow anyone else to use the motorcycle unless you have motorcycle liability insurance that meets the minimum requirements. 
• You must keep evidence or proof of your motorcycle insurance policy that meets the minimum requirements with you at all times when you are operating the motorcycle. 
• If you are pulled over by a law enforcement officer while operating a motorcycle, you must be able and willing to show your evidence or proof of the motorcycle insurance policy. You must also be able to show proof if a law enforcement officer requests to see your driver’s license.

Whether you already have your motorcycle license or you’re studying for it, it’s important to be familiar with the motorcycle traffic laws. Some of the laws you need to know are:

Georgia Motorcycle Traffic Laws

• When riding a motorcycle, you can only ride on the permanent attached seat. You can’t have anyone else ride the motorcycle with you unless the motorcycle seat is designed to carry more than 1 person. You can also securely attach a second seat behind or next to your seat to carry a passenger. 
• When riding the motorcycle, you can only sit facing forward with one leg on either side of the bike. You must wear some type of secure footwear whether you’re operating or riding on a motorcycle as a passenger.
• Motorcycles are entitled to the full use of a lane, and no motor vehicles are allowed to deprive motorcycles of the full use of a lane. The only exception to this is that 2 motorcycles can be operated next to one another in a single lane. 
• If you pass another motor vehicle, you need to pass using the lane next to the vehicle you are passing. You can’t pass in the same lane as the vehicle that you are trying to get ahead of.
• When carrying a passenger on your motorcycle, your motorcycle must have footrests for the passenger. An exception to this would be if your passenger is in an enclosed cab such as a sidecar.
• If you’re operating or riding a motorcycle, you must wear protective headgear. You must also wear an eye-protective device unless the motorcycle has a windshield.
• The protective headgear and eye-protective devices that you wear must be approved by the commissioner of public safety.

Average Cost of Motorcycle Insurance in Georgia

When comparing motorcycle insurance quotes, keep in mind that your quote will depend on a number of factors. 

Insurance companies also take the risk factor of different bikes into consideration when generating your quote. Generally speaking, a high-performance bike has a greater risk for an accident than a touring model. 

Wondering what the difference is between popular types of bikes? Here’s a short overview:

• Cruisers. Light-weight and medium-weight cruisers often make good beginner bikes because of their ease of handling. These comfortable bikes also make good touring bikes. Harley-Davidsons are the more popular cruisers, but most every major bike maker has a few cruiser models.
• High-performance motorcycles. These bikes are optimized for acceleration, speed and braking. While most high-performance motorcycles were initially created for racing, some manufacturers have modified them for road use. High-performance bikes are typically much lighter than cruisers and other types of bikes. It also has a higher horsepower rate. Some examples of high-performance motorcycles are the Ducati Panigale, Honda CBR models and the Kawasaki ZX series.

Other factors that can affect the cost of your motorcycle insurance policy include:

• Your age
• Where you live
• Your driving record
• Where your motorcycle is stored
• The number of miles per year you ride your motorcycle

When reviewing your motorcycle insurance quote, you should also pay close attention to the terms within the policy. Understanding these terms can help you select the best policy options for your needs. Take a look at the 2 most common insurance terms:

Premium. Your premium is the amount of money you pay for your insurance policy. When you look at quotes, the amount you see listed as the cost of your policy will be your premium. If you have insurance for more than 1 motorcycle, each bike will have its own premium.

Deductible. The deductible is the amount of money you need to pay out-of-pocket before your insurance company will pay for any covered accidents. Sometimes you’ll need to pay a deductible each time you are involved in an accident. 

Best Motorcycle Insurance Providers in Georgia

Here are some of the best motorcycle insurance companies in Georgia:

Get Coverage Today

Now that you’re more familiar with motorcycle insurance and laws in Georgia, you should move forward with getting quotes from insurance providers. Whether you’re looking for full coverage insurance or minimally required liability insurance, these quotes can help you make the best decision based on your needs. 

Start with our guide to find the best motorcycle insurance today.