Motorcycle Insurance

Many riders buy a motorcycle policy the way they buy the registration: quickly, at the minimum, so they can leave the dealership. That is adequate for the first weekend. It is not adequate on the day a left-turning driver on Highway 370 fails to see a motorcycle, because the coverage that pays the rider's hospital bill in that situation is one most minimum policies do not carry.

What does motorcycle insurance cover?

Liability. Pays for the other party's injuries and property damage when the rider is at fault. Nebraska's minimum is 25/50/25 ($25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident, $25,000 property damage). Iowa's is 20/40/15. Those are the limits that keep a rider legal. They are not the limits that protect a rider's assets, and the step up to 100/300/100 on a motorcycle is usually inexpensive.

Uninsured and underinsured motorist. This is the coverage that matters most. When a driver with state-minimum coverage, or none, turns in front of a motorcycle, the rider's own UM/UIM coverage pays for injuries beyond what the driver carries. Motorcycle injuries are expensive, and the other driver's $25,000 is exhausted in the emergency room. We write UM/UIM limits equal to the liability limits on every motorcycle unless the rider declines.

Medical payments. Pays the rider's and passenger's medical bills regardless of fault, without waiting for a liability dispute to resolve. Particularly useful for riders on a high-deductible health plan.

Guest passenger liability. Covers injuries to a passenger. Not every policy includes it by default; a rider who ever carries a passenger should confirm it is there.

Collision and comprehensive. Collision pays to repair the motorcycle after a crash; comprehensive pays for theft, an animal strike, hail or a tip-over in the garage. Both carry deductibles. Comprehensive on a motorcycle parked outside in Sarpy County in June earns its premium in hail alone.

Custom parts and equipment. Standard policies typically include about $3,000 for aftermarket parts and accessories, with higher limits available up to roughly $30,000, according to NerdWallet's motorcycle insurance guide. Exhaust, bags, a seat, audio and paint on a touring bike exceed $3,000 quickly. Tell us what is on the motorcycle.

Trip interruption and roadside assistance. Lodging, meals and transportation when the motorcycle is disabled more than roughly 100 miles from home. For a rider who makes the trip to Sturgis each August, this is the add-on that gets used.

Lay-up. A reduced premium through the winter that keeps comprehensive coverage (theft, fire, a falling garage shelf) and suspends the road coverages. A motorcycle ridden in February during a lay-up period is uninsured for a collision, so the dates should be accurate.

What motorcycles do we insure?

• Cruisers, touring bikes and baggers, including Harley-Davidson and Indian
• Sport bikes and sport-touring
• Trikes and trike conversions, including Can-Am Spyders and Rykers
• Adventure and dual-sport motorcycles
• Scooters and mopeds
• Dirt bikes and off-road, usually on a powersports policy
• Vintage and collector motorcycles, on an agreed value policy

A sport bike ridden by someone under 25 is the account carriers price most aggressively. A market can usually be found, and a safety course certificate and a clean record help.

Does Nebraska or Iowa require a helmet?

Iowa has no helmet law for riders of any age. Nebraska changed its rule in 2024: under LB 1004, riders 21 and over who have completed an approved motorcycle safety course may ride without a helmet, and eye protection is still required, as KMTV reported when the governor signed the bill. Riders who do not meet the exemption still need a helmet, and the fine is $250.

From an insurance standpoint, the helmet decision does not void coverage in either state. It does change what a crash costs. Medical payments and UM/UIM limits are where that difference appears, and a rider who chooses not to wear a helmet should carry more of both.

How much does motorcycle insurance cost in Nebraska and Iowa?

A cruiser ridden by someone over 30 with a clean record, carrying liability, UM/UIM and medical payments but no collision, is often a few hundred dollars a year in the Omaha-Council Bluffs metro. Full coverage on a $25,000 touring bike costs more. A 22-year-old on a 600cc sport bike with full coverage will pay several times that. The factors that move the number are age, motorcycle type and value, driving record, safety course completion, storage and carrier. The spread between carriers for the same rider and motorcycle is wide, which is the reason to have an independent agency quote it rather than accept the dealership's figure.

Who handles motorcycle insurance at Smith Davis?

Our personal lines team at all three offices. Tony Rockwell, Personal Account Manager in Papillion, has been in the industry since 2017 and writes a large share of our motorcycles. The Council Bluffs and Logan offices quote them as well, alongside auto and home so the multi-policy discount applies. Smith Davis has been an independent agency since 1931 and represents multiple carriers that write motorcycles, including Progressive, so a rider receives a comparison rather than a single number.

Frequently asked questions about motorcycle insurance

Can I add my motorcycle to my car policy?
Some carriers allow it as an additional vehicle on the auto policy; others write it as a separate policy. The question that matters is whether UM/UIM and guest passenger coverage are included and at what limits. We will check.

I only ride four months a year. Do I have to pay for twelve?
No. Lay-up coverage reduces the premium for the months the motorcycle is declared off the road while keeping theft and comprehensive coverage. The motorcycle should not be ridden during the lay-up period.

Does my policy cover riding gear?
Often, as part of custom parts and equipment or a separate safety apparel coverage, subject to a limit. A quality helmet and jacket can cost $1,500; confirm the limit covers what you wear.

I am riding to Sturgis. Is there anything I need?
Trip interruption, roadside assistance with motorcycle towing, and a review of the medical payments limit. South Dakota's minimum limits are low and the motorcycle traffic that week is not.

What if I lend my motorcycle to a friend?
The policy generally follows the motorcycle, so a permissive rider is covered for liability, but an accident goes on the owner's record and rates. Some policies restrict coverage to listed riders; check yours.

How do I file a claim?
Call the carrier's claims line on your ID card, gather photographs and the other driver's information at the scene if you are able, and call us at (712) 322-1600 or (402) 331-7526 so we can follow it.

About the Author

Jeff Brehmer, CIC, CPIA, is President and Owner of Smith Davis Insurance, an independent insurance agency serving Southwest Iowa and Eastern Nebraska since 1931 from offices in Council Bluffs, Papillion and Logan. He can be reached at (712) 322-1600 or service@smithdavisins.com.

Last Updated: October 2026

Sources

• Motorcycle coverage types and custom equipment limits: NerdWallet
• Nebraska helmet law change (LB 1004): KMTV 3 News Now