To Protect Against Rising Motorcycle Theft, Check Your Insurance

November 1, 2022

By Kali Kotoski

The AMA’s Government Relations Department has been receiving reports from members that insurance companies are not paying out motorcycle theft claims due to a lack of paperwork and unannounced policy changes.

In 2021, motorcycle thefts were up 26 percent compared to 2020, and in 2020 they were up 30 percent compared to the previous year, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau data.

The AMA reminds members to double-check their coverage to ensure they have the paperwork needed to file a claim in the event of a theft.

By ensuring you have all the requirement documents, you could spare yourself from falling victim to some of the recent reports, including a theft claim being denied when the owner of a dirt bike failed to produce a title. Unfortunately, that same policy, in 2021, did not legally stipulate in writing that a title was needed to file a claim. Other potential problems can arise from certain states not requiring registration when insurance companies do.

Call your agent today, ask what documents are needed to file a motorcycle theft claim, and get it in writing. If the agent won’t tell you or you find out they will require some documentation you cannot provide, find a different insurance company.

The AMA’s Government Relations Department is in contact with the Attorney General’s office in every state. We are urging them to ensure insurance companies are not selling coverage that cannot be honored, that coverage requirements are transparent, and that any changes are made clear.

This article appeared in the October issue of American Motorcyclist.