State of Delaware Motorcycle Insurance Requirements

Delaware requires you to register and insure a motorcycle if you want to drive it on the roads. You must have a Delaware address to register a motorcycle in the state. If you are under the age of 18, a parent or guardian must sign the title work for your motorcycle. You must also obtain a motorcycle endorsement.

Minimum Motorcycle Insurance Requirements

You must be financially responsible for yourself, which means you must carry motorcycle insurance. The State of Delaware does not offer any other means to provide financial responsibility.

When looking for motorcycle insurance, call at least two or three companies, as premiums will be different from one company to another. Also, the insurance company must be licensed by the Delaware Insurance commissioner. You will need to bring proof of insurance in order to register your bike.

Delaware requires you to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance, however, depending on the type of bike you ride and your financial position, you may want to carry more than the minimum. The minimum is:

• Bodily Injury: $15,000 for the death or injury of any one person in any one accident;
• Bodily Injury: $30,000 for the death or injury of two or more people in any one accident.
• Property Damage: $10,000 for property damage;
• Personal Injury Protection: $15,000 of personal injury protection for injury of one person in any one accident and $30,000 for all people injured in an accident.

You must have the right kind of liability insurance or your motorcycle will not be inspected. You must carry insurance throughout the time your motorcycle is registered. If you drop the insurance without getting insurance from another company, you may be penalized.

Make sure your insurance stays in force. To help you avoid the hassle of paying fines, pay the full insurance premium up front if possible. If not, some insurance companies will automatically charge your debit or credit card or complete an electronic funds transfer for each payment.

Motorcycle Inspections

Delaware requires that motorcycles and all other vehicles have an inspection before the Division of Motor Vehicles will give you a registration. Make sure your motorcycle is in proper working order, as you will have to wait in line to get it inspected. All safety equipment on the motorcycle must be working properly.

Motorcycle Registration

Once you have insurance and got your motorcycle inspected, you are ready to get your registration. If you just bought the motorcycle, you will have to transfer the title before you register the bike. Be prepared to pay the titling fees plus the registration fees. The State of Delaware allows you to renew your registration any time during the three months prior to the registration due date.

Safety Requirements

All owner/operators and passengers must have a helmet in their possession and drivers aged 19 and under must wear the helmet. There are no restrictions on helmet speakers. Eye protection is required by law for all owner/operators and passengers. If you want to carry a passenger, you must have a passenger seat and passenger foot pegs. The State of Delaware does not have a minimum passenger age. Further, all motorcycles must have at least one mirror. The bike’s handlebars cannot be higher than 15 inches above the seat.

Obtaining a Motorcycle Endorsement

To ride on the public roads, you need the motorcycle endorsement. You must already have a Delaware driver’s license. If you are a teenager, you must also take the Motorcycle Rider Course. A parent or guardian must sign the application.

If you are over the age of 18, you do not need to take the Motorcycle Rider Course, but it is strongly encouraged by the Division of Motor Vehicles. Once you’ve taken the course and have passed the test, you will receive a completion card.

You can use the completion card as a temporary license to drive your motorcycle. Once you get the card, go to the Division of Motor Vehicles and take the eye exam. You do not have to take the road test or the written test, since you already to the tests during the course.

Only three offices can take motorcycle endorsement applications: Georgetown, Dover and Wilmington. You must visit the Division of Motor Vehicles to get the application — you cannot download it.