There's nothing quite like the first warm Saturday of the year, when the bike comes out of the garage and you've got nowhere you have to be. Whether you ride to work all summer or just take the long way home on the weekends, your motorcycle is more than a way to get around.
The right coverage helps protect that — and you. Troy Lentz helps riders across the Kansas City area, and throughout Missouri and Kansas, figure out what their bike needs, what the state requires, and what's worth adding, all explained in plain English.
Working With Shield Squad
Troy Lentz
Licensed Insurance Advisor · A Farmers Insurance Agency
Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
A motorcycle policy is built from many of the same pieces as an auto policy, with a few extras riders care about. What's available depends on the policy and the company.
Helps pay for injuries and property damage you cause to others in an accident you're legally responsible for, up to your policy limits.
Both states require liability coverage on motorcycles just like on cars. The minimums are a floor, so it's worth thinking about whether higher limits make sense for what you have to protect.
Helps protect you when the driver who hits you has no insurance, or not enough insurance to cover your injuries.
On a motorcycle, there's a lot less between you and the other vehicle, so injuries can be serious. Missouri and Kansas both require uninsured motorist coverage, and it's worth asking how much underinsured coverage fits you.
Helps pay to repair or replace your bike after it collides with another vehicle or an object — or if you lay it down — after your deductible.
If you're financing your motorcycle, your lender may require collision coverage. If it's paid off, it comes down to what the bike is worth and what you could comfortably replace on your own.
Helps cover damage to your bike from causes other than a collision, like theft, vandalism, fire, hail, or hitting a deer.
Motorcycles are easier to steal than cars, and Kansas City-area hail doesn't care whether the bike is covered up. Comprehensive is also the coverage many riders keep in place while the bike is stored for the winter.
Depending on the policy, helps pay medical expenses for you — and possibly your passenger — after an accident, regardless of who caused it, up to the limit you choose.
Health insurance may not cover everything after a crash. In Kansas, personal injury protection (PIP) plays a similar role, and the rules work a little differently for motorcycles — more on that below.
Helps cover parts and equipment you've added to your bike — like custom paint, chrome, exhaust, seats, or saddlebags — depending on the policy.
Standard coverage may only include a limited amount for add-ons, or none. If you've put real money into customizing your bike, tell us what you've done so we can look at how it's covered.
Depending on the policy and the company, may help with towing and roadside help if you break down or get a flat while you're out riding.
Getting a bike home is a different job than getting a car home. If you ride long distances or on back roads, ask whether roadside help is available on your policy and what it includes.
These are the conversations that come up most with riders around here. A few minutes now can save a lot of hassle later.
In both states, motorcycles have to carry insurance just like cars. Missouri requires owners of registered motor vehicles to keep liability coverage in place, along with uninsured motorist coverage.
Kansas requires liability, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, and personal injury protection (PIP). There's one motorcycle-specific twist: in Kansas, the bike's owner, as the named insured, can reject PIP in writing for injuries that happen while they're riding the motorcycle. It's a real decision with trade-offs, so it's worth talking through before you sign anything.
| Missouri — liability | $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident bodily injury; $25,000 property damage |
|---|---|
| Missouri — uninsured motorist | $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident |
| Kansas — liability | $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident bodily injury; $25,000 property damage |
| Kansas — personal injury protection (PIP) | Required, though the motorcycle's owner may reject it in writing for injuries while riding the bike |
| Kansas — uninsured / underinsured motorist | Required, at least $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident |
Source:RSMo 303.025RSMo 379.203Missouri DORK.S.A. 40-3107K.S.A. 40-284
Shield Squad Agency works with riders in both Missouri and Kansas — and around Kansas City, a good ride doesn't pay much attention to State Line Road.
Motorcycle policies typically include coverage when you ride in another state, but details vary by policy. The bigger question is usually where your bike is registered and kept, since that determines which state's requirements your policy needs to meet. That's also why Kansas's PIP option for motorcycles applies to bikes insured under Kansas rules.
Moving across the state line, or keeping a bike at a place on the other side? Give us a call before the move so your coverage is set up the right way.
| Where your bike is registered | That state's requirements apply to your policy |
|---|---|
| Moving to the other state | Let us know before you re-register the bike |
| Kansas PIP decision | Talk it through before accepting or rejecting it |
| Proof of insurance | Keep it with you every time you ride |
Not sure what your policy should include? Let's walk through it together.
Motorcycle is already selected below. Add anything else you'd like us to look at — like auto — and a Shield Squad Agency representative will reach out to talk about your bike and your options.
Yes, in both Missouri and Kansas. Missouri requires liability coverage of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage, plus uninsured motorist coverage. Kansas requires the same liability minimums, plus uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage and personal injury protection — although a motorcycle owner can reject PIP in writing for injuries while riding the bike.
Theft is generally handled under comprehensive coverage, subject to your deductible and policy terms. If you carry only liability coverage, theft of your own bike generally isn't covered.
Don't just cancel your policy when the bike goes in the garage. A parked motorcycle can still be stolen, damaged, or caught in a fire, which is where comprehensive coverage comes in. In Missouri, the requirement to keep financial responsibility applies as long as the bike is registered. Some companies may let you adjust coverage while the bike is stored, so talk to us before making changes.
It depends on the policy. Standard coverage may include only a limited amount for custom parts and equipment, or none at all, and additional coverage may be available. If you've customized your bike, tell us what you've added and keep receipts and photos.
It depends on the policy and the coverages you choose. Liability coverage may help if a passenger is hurt and you're found at fault, and medical payments or PIP may help with medical bills depending on the policy and the state. Passenger coverage can work differently from policy to policy, so ask how yours treats the person riding with you.
Usually not. Motorcycles typically need their own policy, even if you already have auto insurance. We're happy to look at your auto and motorcycle coverage together so nothing falls through the cracks.
Auto insurance basicsMotorcycle policies typically include coverage when you ride in other states, but details vary by policy. What matters most is where your bike is registered and kept, since your policy has to meet that state's requirements. If that's changing, give us a call.
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