Delaware’s Motorcycle Insurance Requirements & Laws

In 2022, there were reports of approximately one motorcycle accident every day in the state of Delaware. Even though motorcycles make up a mere fraction of the vehicles on Delaware’s public roadways, they account for a disproportionately large number of injuries and fatalities across the state. With an average death rate of 9.37 per 10,000 registrations, it’s particularly vital that motorcyclists understand the insurance requirements and laws intended to keep them safe.

Complying with state laws pertaining to motorcycle insurance doesn’t just protect you from legal troubles – it can significantly mitigate the physical, emotional, and financial toll of a serious motorcycle accident. Here’s a brief overview of Delaware’s motorcycle insurance requirements and an explanation of the role insurance can play in a motorcycle accident claim.

Is motorcycle insurance required in Delaware?

Yes, motorcycle insurance is mandatory for all riders in the state of Delaware. Riding without insurance can lead to serious legal consequences ranging from steep fines to license suspension and loss of registration. If those consequences aren’t enough of a deterrent, if you cause an accident while uninsured, you could be held personally liable for hefty medical expenses and extensive property damage.

For this reason, all motorcyclists are required to carry certain kinds and amounts of insurance coverage in order to protect themselves and others in the event of a catastrophic collision. Those coverage minimums are as follows:

• Bodily Injury Liability: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident
• Property Damage Liability: $10,000 per accident
• Personal Injury Protection (PIP): $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident

These limits are generally the same as Delaware’s minimum auto insurance requirements, which makes it easy for drivers of all kinds of vehicles to adhere to the relevant laws.

Required coverage: In layman’s terms

Insurance terminology can be a little confusing, but you should not let that deter you from following the law. Here’s a quick explanation of key insurance terms as they relate to motorcycle coverage:

1. Bodily injury liability: This insurance covers any injuries to other people in a crash that you caused.
2. Property damage liability: Pays for any damage you cause to vehicles, fences, buildings, landscaping, or other personal property.
3. Personal injury protection: PIP helps you cover expenses related to your injuries or those of a passenger, regardless of who was at fault for your accident.

These coverages reduce, but don’t eliminate, financial risk; losses above your limits remain your responsibility. PIP coverage is often a particularly valuable component of mandated insurance coverage as it helps injured motorcyclists cover injury-related expenses regardless of whether or not they were at fault for their crash.

What about optional motorcycle insurance coverage?

While meeting the state minimums is required by law, many riders find that basic liability coverage doesn’t offer them enough protection from the fallout of an accident. Optional coverages can help you recover financially after an accident or non-collision event and set you up for an easier claims process across the board.

Some additional coverage options to consider include:

• Collision coverage: Covers damage to your motorcycle or your vehicle if it is involved in a collision with another vehicle or object, or in the event of a single-vehicle accident or rollover.
• Comprehensive coverage: Covers damage caused by theft, vandalism, weather events, or fire.
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM): Helps cover your costs if you’re hit by a driver with insufficient coverage or no insurance at all. This can be particularly valuable in the event of a hit-and-run accident.

If you rely on your motorcycle daily or have invested heavily in custom parts, these options may be well worth the additional premium, as they offer added layers of protection regardless of your assessed level of fault for a crash.

Penalties for riding without insurance

If you plan to ride your motorcycle on public roadways in Delaware, you must adhere to the minimum coverage requirements we’ve outlined above. You must also be able to provide proof of active insurance to law enforcement upon request. This proof may be saved on your phone, but you must be able to easily present it when required to do so.

The penalties for riding without insurance in Delaware can be severe, and may include:

• Fines: Starting at $1,500+ for a first offense, and $3,000+ for any subsequent offenses within three years.
• Driver’s license suspension: If you are found riding without insurance, your license is subject to up to six months of suspension for each offense.
• Surrender of plates: Repeated offenses may result in a loss of driving privileges, suspended motorcycle registration, or surrender of plates.

Beyond legal consequences, uninsured riders are personally responsible for any and all accident-related expenses, including victims’ medical bills, lost wages, property damage, emotional distress, and more. All of these costs can add up to an incredibly burdensome bottom line, leaving uninsured riders in vulnerable, if not untenable, financial positions.

Tips for choosing the right motorcycle insurance policy

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to choosing the right motorcycle insurance policy. However, there are a few things riders can keep in mind when selecting the coverage that’s right for them:

1. Consider your usage. If you ride daily or year-round, you may want more coverage than someone who only rides occasionally.
2. Premiums can vary widely between insurers, so it’s important to take your time shopping around for the most budget-friendly option.
3. From safe rider discounts to multi-policy savings and just about everything in between, many riders can take advantage of insurance discounts to offset their monthly premiums.
4. If you’re concerned about potential gaps in coverage or worry that you might not have enough cash on hand to cover any out-of-pocket accident expenses, you might want to consider opting for higher coverage limits to give you peace of mind.
5. Since riders are required to provide proof of insurance to law enforcement when they’re on the go, it’s important to find an insurance provider who offers mobile/virtual insurance cards you can access on your smartphone during a traffic stop.

Comparing and contrasting multiple policies from different providers can give you a clear sense of the kinds of coverage available to you. These decisions are best made in the presence of a wealth of information, and it’s important to carefully consider multiple factors prior to settling on a particular policy or provider. In the event that you want to change your coverage down the line, your insurance provider may be willing to adjust your coverage limits or add or remove optional protections according to your needs.

Have more questions?

Working to understand and comply with Delaware’s motorcycle insurance laws is one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself against the unintended and potentially dangerous consequences of a motorcycle accident. Whether you’ve already been injured in a motorcycle accident or are hoping to protect yourself against future claims of liability, an experienced motorcycle accident attorney can help you navigate the complexities of the insurance and legal systems.

At Silverman, McDonald & Friedman, our skilled Delaware motorcycle accident attorneys have over 100 years of combined experience and serve riders in Wilmington, Newark, and Seaford. If you or a loved one has questions or concerns about the role motorcycle insurance might play in an accident claim, give us a call today or fill out the contact form on our website to schedule a free consultation with a member of our team.

We are standing by to answer any questions you might have about complying with Delaware’s motorcycle insurance requirements and maximizing your coverage in the event of a crash.