Motorcycle Travel Insurance Coverage

Key Takeaways

Standard travel insurance excludes motorcycle riding. Sport-specific plans like IMG Sport, BHTP AdrenalineCare, and Tin Leg provide coverage in base pricing.

Coverage includes emergency medical treatment, evacuation, trip protection, and equipment coverage, but excludes racing, unlicensed riding, and extreme off-road activities.

Sport-specific plans offer higher equipment, rescue, and medical limits than standard travel insurance with adventure sports upgrades.

What Is Motorcycle Travel Insurance Coverage?

Standard travel insurance coverage excludes motorcycle riding as a hazardous activity. Motorcycle travel insurance coverage provides financial protection for medical emergencies, equipment loss, evacuation costs, and trip disruptions while riding or renting motorcycles abroad.

Riders access this coverage through sport-specific plans that include it in base pricing or adventure sports upgrades added to standard travel insurance. Sport-specific plans like IMG Sport, BHTP AdrenalineCare, and Tin Leg work similarly to scuba diving travel insurance, offering higher equipment, rescue, and medical limits than standard insurance with upgrades.

What Motorcycle Travel Insurance Covers and Excludes

Motorcycle travel insurance provides emergency medical coverage, evacuation services, trip protection, equipment coverage, and emergency assistance.

Medical and Evacuation Coverage


Emergency Medical	Hospital stays, emergency rooms, urgent care, emergency dental	$50,000-$250,000 medical $750-$1,000 dental
Medical Evacuation	Helicopter evacuation, international medical flights, transport to adequate facilities	$100,000-$1,000,000

Medical evacuation pays for transport when local care proves insufficient. Crashing your rental motorcycle on a remote Andes mountain pass 200 miles from the nearest trauma center triggers evacuation coverage for helicopter transport. Higher limits ($500,000+) matter for remote destinations where medical flights cost much more.

Trip Protection Coverage


Trip Cancellation	Reimbursement for illness, injury, family emergencies	100% of trip costs
Trip Interruption	Coverage for unused portions and return expenses	125-150% of trip costs
Travel Delay	Additional accommodation and meal expenses	$100-$500 per day (after 5-6 hours)

Breaking your leg two weeks before your Vietnam motorcycle tour triggers trip cancellation to reimburse non-refundable tour deposits, rental fees, and prepaid accommodations.

Equipment and Gear Coverage


Baggage Protection	Helmets, jackets, boots, protective equipment	$500-$3,000 total $250-$500 per item
Equipment Rental	Reimbursement if gear doesn't arrive	$1,000-$5,000
Equipment Delay	Replacement gear rental while waiting	After 6-12 hour delays

When your checked bag with your $800 helmet and $600 riding jacket doesn't arrive in Barcelona, equipment rental coverage reimburses costs to rent replacement gear. Per-item limits of $250-$500 cover expensive helmets and jackets.

Emergency Services Coverage


Search & Rescue	Emergency extraction, helicopter rescue	$5,000-$50,000
24-Hour Assistance	Emergency coordination, medical referrals, cash transfers	Included
Political Evacuation	Help leaving areas with civil unrest or natural disasters	$5,000-$150,000

Crashing on a remote Patagonia dirt road and needing helicopter rescue triggers search and rescue benefits to cover extraction costs. Higher limits ($50,000) protect riders in mountainous regions where helicopter operations cost more than standard ambulances.

Standard Exclusions


Racing & Competitions	Motorcycle racing, timed competitions, speed trials, professional activities	Entering a timed hill climb in Italy voids coverage for accidents during the event
Unlicensed Riding	Accidents without valid motorcycle license, missing endorsements	Riding a 1000cc sport bike in Thailand with only a car license eliminates coverage
Extreme Off-Road	Motocross, motorcycle jumping, stunt riding	Attempting jumps at an off-road park in Mexico won't be covered, though recreational trail riding may be covered
Riding Under Influence	Accidents while intoxicated, blood alcohol above legal limits	Crashing after drinking at a roadside cafe eliminates all coverage
Pre-Existing Injuries	Prior injuries without waiver purchased within 14-21 days	Aggravating your shoulder injury from a crash six months ago won't be covered without the waiver
Mechanical Failures	Motorcycle breakdowns, mechanical failures	Breaking down due to engine failure isn't covered under trip interruption unless you purchase separate breakdown coverage

Recreational trail riding on established routes is covered under most policies. Riders should verify specific off-road activities with insurers, as policies often lack clear definitions distinguishing recreational from extreme riding.

Sport-Specific Plans With Motorcycle Coverage

These plans include motorcycle coverage in base pricing without requiring separate adventure sports upgrades.

IMG Sport Plan

IMG

IMG Sport provides $5,000 hazardous sports coverage and $50,000 search and rescue benefits, the highest among reviewed plans for remote locations. Coverage includes $250,000 medical coverage, $100,000 evacuation, $3,000 baggage protection with $250 per-item limits, and $5,000 sports equipment rental coverage.

Coverage Highlights:

Medical Coverage: $250,000
Medical Evacuation: $100,000
Hazardous Sports: $5,000
Search & Rescue: $50,000
Sports Equipment Rental: $5,000

BHTP AdrenalineCare Plan

BHTP

BHTP AdrenalineCare offers $750,000 evacuation coverage, the highest among sport-specific plans, with $50,000 medical expenses and no deductible. Additional benefits include $500 sporting equipment delay coverage, $35,000 car rental collision coverage, and a pre-existing condition waiver when purchased within 15 days of trip deposit.

Coverage Highlights:

Medical Coverage: $50,000 (no deductible)
Medical Evacuation: $750,000
Sporting Equipment Delay: $500
Pre-Existing Condition Waiver: Included (15-day window)

Tin Leg Adventure Plan

Tin Leg

Tin Leg Adventure Plan provides $100,000 medical coverage, $250,000 evacuation, and $5,000 search and rescue at competitive pricing.

Coverage Highlights:

Medical Coverage: $100,000
Medical Evacuation: $250,000
Search & Rescue: $5,000
Sports Activities: Covered (limitations apply)
Baggage Protection: $500
Money-Back Guarantee: 15 days

Standard travel insurance plans from World Trips, Travelex, Allianz, World Nomads, and AXA also offer motorcycle coverage through optional adventure sports upgrades. Frequent riders benefit from annual multi-trip plans covering multiple trips within one year.

How to Get Motorcycle Travel Insurance Coverage

1
Mind Your Purchase Timing
You must purchase pre-existing condition waivers within 14-21 days of trip deposit for coverage of prior motorcycle injuries. Buy coverage before paying rental deposits, as rental companies require proof of insurance covering motorcycle operation.
2
Choose a Sport-Specific Plan
Purchase directly from adventure travel insurance providers like IMG, BHTP, or Tin Leg. Review covered activities lists to confirm motorcycle riding appears explicitly. Verify off-road riding coverage and check equipment rental limits. Provide trip details and license verification if requested.
3
Verify Required Documentation
Valid motorcycle licenses and endorsements for destination countries, international driving permits if required, pre-existing condition disclosure if purchasing waiver, and appropriate endorsements for motorcycle class and engine size.

Motorcycle Travel Insurance Coverage Costs

Motorcycle travel insurance costs more than standard travel insurance due to higher injury risk. Sport-specific plans with built-in motorcycle coverage range from $78 to $288 for a 5-day international trip with $2,500 trip cost for a 35-year-old traveler. Adventure sports upgrades add 20-50% to base travel insurance premiums, which start around $50-$150 for the same trip parameters.

Cost Ranges by Plan Type


Sport-Specific Plans	$78-$288	IMG Sport, BHTP AdrenalineCare, Tin Leg Adventure	$50,000-$250,000 medical, $100,000-$750,000 evacuation
Standard Plans with Upgrades	$65-$225	World Trips, Travelex, Allianz (with adventure sports upgrade)	$50,000-$250,000 medical, $100,000-$1,000,000 evacuation

Sport-specific plans cost more upfront but include higher hazardous sports sub-limits, equipment rental coverage, and search and rescue benefits. Standard plans with upgrades offer lower total cost but include reduced equipment and rescue limits compared to sport-specific options.

Cost Factors:

Trip Duration: Longer trips cost more due to extended risk exposure (10-day trips cost 50-80% more than 5-day trips)
Destination: High medical costs, remote regions, or poor infrastructure increase premiums by 20-40%
Rider Age: Riders over 65 pay 50-100% higher premiums; riders under 30 receive better rates
Coverage Limits: Higher medical and evacuation limits increase costs 15-30% per tier
Season: Peak travel seasons see 10-15% premium increases

Motorcycle Travel Insurance: FAQ

Can I add motorcycle coverage after buying travel insurance?

Some insurers allow adding adventure sports upgrades after policy purchase, but you must purchase pre-existing condition waivers within 14-21 days of trip deposit. Contact your insurer to confirm whether retroactive upgrades are possible and which benefits remain available.

Does motorcycle travel insurance cover rental motorcycles?

Most policies cover both owned and rental motorcycles, but verify with your insurer. Some rental companies require separate rental insurance that can overlap with your travel insurance coverage. BHTP AdrenalineCare includes car rental collision coverage up to $35,000, so confirm whether this extends to motorcycles before relying on it.

What's the difference between hazardous sports coverage and adventure sports upgrades?

Hazardous sports coverage provides dedicated sub-limits for high-risk activities with separate claim limits beyond standard medical coverage. IMG Sport offers $5,000 in hazardous sports coverage. Adventure sports upgrades waive policy exclusions for specific activities without separate sub-limits, meaning claims fall under standard policy limits.

How We Evaluated Motorcycle Travel Insurance

MoneyGeek's motorcycle travel insurance coverage analysis examined how adventure sports coverage applies to motorcycle riding activities. We reviewed policy documents from major travel insurance providers to identify coverage requirements, exclusions, and common policy structures.

Our analysis covered sport-specific plans from IMG, BHTP, and Tin Leg, plus standard plans requiring upgrades from World Trips, Travelex, Allianz, Travel Guard, World Nomads, and AXA. We evaluated coverage limits for medical treatment, evacuation, equipment protection, and emergency services. We examined common exclusions including racing activities, unlicensed riding, extreme off-road activities, and pre-existing condition requirements. We based this analysis on publicly available policy documents and provider websites.

About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research for insurance shoppers. His insights have been featured in CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!

He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.

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