Mandatory coverages for motorcycle insurance

Motorcycle insurance, like car insurance, includes both mandatory and optional coverages.

Accident benefits
This coverage provides for you, your passengers or pedestrians who are injured or killed in a motorcycle accident. Accident benefits coverage is compulsory in all provinces except Newfoundland. In Quebec, it's provided by the government.

Coverage details vary between provinces, but in general include*:

• medical expenses not covered by a medical, surgical, dental or hospital plan
• funeral expenses of those killed in a crash
• disability income to the insured
• payment following the death of an insured person

Direct compensation- property damage coverage (Ontario only)
This provides coverage for damage to your bike and any property stored in or on the motorcycle if you are in an accident where you are partially at-fault or not at-fault.

Third party liability (or in Quebec, civil liability)
If you are legally responsible for an accident that results in someone's injury or death, or if your motorcycle damages a person's property, the liability component of your insurance will cover a claim should one be made against you.

Each province requires a minimum level of coverage. But keep in mind the minimum may not be enough. If a claim exceeds your coverage amount, you can be held personally responsible for the balance. As a result, most drivers purchase more than the minimum coverage required by their province's laws. It is normally recommended to carry at least $1,000,000 in liability coverage.

Uninsured motorist
Uninsured motorist coverage compensates you and your passengers for bodily injury if you're involved in an accident with an at-fault uninsured driver. In some provinces though, it is not included in the insurance policy itself. For example, Quebec has a special fund managed by the SAAQ, which compensates victims for bodily injury caused by an uninsured motorist or a hit and run.