Call a dirt bike a "motorcycle" in front of a motorcyclist, and they're likely to laugh at you. But, according to your insurer, they are nearly the same thing. If you're looking to get an insurance policy on your dirt bike — or your scooter or your moped, for that matter — you're going to be talking to your insurance provider about motorcycle insurance.
Motorized Cycles
What is considered as a vehicle that is covered under motorcycle insurance? It essentially comes down to the technical definition: You have two wheels, and one of them is motorized. Whether a Harley-owner likes to admit it or not, this definition makes your dirt bike a motorcycle (at least from the perspective of insurance).
While the cost of buying, maintaining, repairing and replacing a dirt bike may be considerably lower than that of maintaining a full-size Harley Davidson motorcycle, the real concern is going to be liability. A dirt bike can easily do the same amount of damage in an accident as a full-size motorcycle. For this reason, the policies on both are going to be similar. Comprehensive and collision may be easier for your provider to cover, but liability will look about the same, only adjusted by weight and size of the bike.
Before you start riding your dirt bike, you should take some time to brief yourself on your state's dirt bike laws. There are a few basic things to consider here:
- Some states do not allow dirt bikes on public streets at all. Florida is one of these states.
- Some states require insurance on a dirt bike, even if you only intend to ride it off-road. Florida is not one of these states.
- Some states do not require any sort of insurance on dirt bikes at all. Florida is one of these states.
It is generally a good idea to stay covered, regardless of your state's laws. If you only drive your dirt bike out on the dirt, it is unlikely that you will harm someone or damage their property. But it's still good to know that you won't have to pay for a totaled bike out of pocket.
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