Oklahoma Motorcycle Insurance

The State of Oklahoma requires a motorcycle owner/operator to carry some form of insurance or proof of financial liability. For those who find it difficult to get insurance, Oklahoma offers insurance under the Oklahoma Assigned Risk Auto Plan. This plan is for those who — whether commercial or private — who cannot get insurance through the voluntary market. A person may not be able to get insurance because of previous accidents, credit issues or have other high-risk situations.

What is a Motorcycle?

The State of Oklahoma defines any vehicle that has a seat and three wheels or less a motorcycle, except for tractors. Also, the two- or three-wheeled vehicle must have a combustion engine with a rotor or piston displacement of more than 150 cc. Mopeds and scooters also require registration and insurance, and must be titled. If you are not sure whether your vehicle must be titled, registered and insured according to the Department of Motor Vehicle’s rules, contact your local branch.

Insurance or Financial Responsibility?

The State of Oklahoma gives you five different options to cover your financial responsibility, including carrying liability insurance. If you would rather not pay motorcycle insurance premiums, but pay for costs of an accident for which you are at fault instead, you can cover your financial responsibility via four other options:

• The Oklahoma Assigned Risk Auto Plan.
• A self-insurance policy. You must have at least 26 vehicles registered in your name to qualify for a self-insurance policy.
• Making a deposit of $75,000 to the Department of Public Safety or to an Oklahoma financial institution.

Liability Insurance Minimums

If you elect to carry insurance in the State of Oklahoma, you must carry a minimum of $25,000 for the injury or death of one person in an accident and $50,000 for the injury or death of more than two people in any one accident. Additionally, you must have $25,000 for property damage. These are minimum amounts — you may want to purchase more insurance, either increased amounts or additional coverage, to ensure that you are properly covered, especially if you frequently carry a passenger on your motorcycle.

Additional Requirements

The State of Oklahoma has several safety requirements, but they do not, by law, affect your insurance. If you have been in an accident and it is found that you were the cause because of a violation of these safety requirements, your insurance company could drop your or not even pay the claim.

• Oklahoma requires a helmet for those under 18 years of age.
• Operators and passengers must wear eye protection, unless the motorcycle has a windscreen.
• If you are going to be riding with a passenger, your bike must have a passenger seat and passenger foot pegs.
• There are no helmet speaker restrictions.
• Motorcycles registered in the State of Oklahoma must have two mirrors.
• Handlebars must be no higher that eye level of the owner/operator.
• A state-funded rider education course is not available, but there are several private rider courses available.

Oklahoma insurance companies do not offer a discount for wearing a helmet. Insurance companies do, however, offer a three-year discount if an owner/operator takes the Oklahoma Rider Education Program. The one exception to the discount is that if you’ve been ordered by a court to take the program, you are not eligible for the motorcycle insurance discount.

Off Road Motorcycle Requirements

If you are only driving a motorcycle off-road in the State of Oklahoma, you are required to wear a helmet if you are under 18 years of age. Eye protection is not required. You do not need an operator license, headlight, taillight, muffler or spark arrestor if you are driving off road. Registration is voluntary and the bike must be titled.

As to insurance coverage, many insurance companies will not cover sport riding. Check various insurance companies for coverage for dirt bike racing, jumping and other bike sporting events.