Motorcycle Insurance Requirements In New York State

New York requires motorcycle operators to carry insurance. While New York’s registrations for vehicles are for two years that rule does not apply to motorcycles. Motorcycles must be registered each year by April 30. The State of New York also allows a person to provide other means of financial responsibility in place of insurance.

Minimum Insurance Requirements

The State of New York requires motorcycle operators to carry compulsory liability insurance with a minimum of $25,000 for each person, $50,000 for two or more and $10,000 for property damage. In cases where death results from an accident, the minimum requirements are $50,000 for each person and $100,000 for two or more people.

Alternate Means of Financial Responsibility 

Instead of having insurance, the State of New York also allows an operator to carry alternate means of financial responsibility. A person could be self-insured, have a financial security bond or have a financial security deposit (New York State Law, Article 6, New York Vehicle and Traffic Law; http://ypdcrime.com/vt/article6.htm). If a person elects to become self-insured, the person must have more than 25 vehicles registered in his or her name.

Motorcycle Insurance

Each motorcycle insurance company has different payments plans. Some may require full payment up front. Contact several motorcycle insurance companies to ask about their rates, their coverage limits and whether they have discounts for safe driver or for having a motorcycle endorsement.

Limited use vehicles, except for Class C limited use motorcycles (certain mopeds) also require insurance. If you are registering a moped, the motor vehicle department will advise whether you need to purchase insurance for the moped. The classes are based on how fast the moped travels, and this information could change from year to year.

Other Requirements

The State of New York has several requirements for motorcycles. A violation of any of these may affect a person’s insurance coverage. New York requires all operators and riders to wear a helmet. If you are in an accident and not wearing a helmet, depending on your insurance provider, the insurance provider may not cover the accident. Further, the State of New York only allows one speaker inside the helmet.

Each operator and rider is also required to wear eye protection and to use a headlight during the daylight hours. If an operator is carrying a passenger, the motorcycle must have a passenger seat and passenger foot pegs. As with the helmet law, if the operator and/or rider is not in compliance, an insurance company could decide to withhold coverage for that accident or drop you completely.

Each motorcycle should have at least one mirror, and New York requires motorcycles to pass safety inspections. Certain mopeds do not have to pass inspection. The state does not allow ape hangers or other types of handlebars that are higher than the operator’s shoulders.

Registering Your Bike in New York

The State of New York requires an operator to register the motorcycle, and requires the operator to have a motorcycle endorsement. If you move to New York from another state and have a motorcycle endorsement from the other state, New York will accept the endorsement.

Out of state insurance is not allowed in the State of New York. If you register your motorcycle in New York, you must use a motorcycle insurance company registered to do business in New York.

New York also has limitations on registrations for certain motorcycles. If your motorcycle is a Class B or Class C limited use motorcycle — certain mopeds — you may only operate it on the right side of a public highway or on the shoulder, if the road has a usable shoulder. The limitation does not apply when the limited use motorcycle needs to prepare for a left turn at a driveway or intersection. Limited use vehicles are also restricted to roads with a 35 mph speed limit or less, unless crossing the road with the higher speed limit.