Utah motorcyclists must carry liability insurance that satisfies state minimum requirements, but buying the minimum policy does not necessarily provide the coverage a rider might expect after a serious crash.
Motorcycles receive different treatment from passenger vehicles under Utah's no-fault insurance laws. In particular, motorcycle policies are not required to include personal injury protection (PIP). Riders should understand that distinction along with their liability limits, medical coverage, and uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage before an accident happens.
Utah also increased its minimum liability limits beginning in 2025, so riders may encounter outdated insurance information online. You’ll find the most recent information here, or reach out to our team for answers to your specific questions.
Key Takeaways About Utah Motorcycle Insurance
- Utah's current minimum liability limits are 30/65/25 for applicable policies issued or renewed beginning January 1, 2025.
- Motorcycles are treated differently under Utah's PIP requirements. Motorcycle policies are not required to provide PIP coverage like Utah passenger vehicles.
- Minimum liability coverage primarily protects against claims from other people. It does not necessarily pay for your own injuries after a crash.
- UM/UIM coverage can be particularly important for motorcyclists. Serious injuries can exceed the insurance available from an uninsured or minimally insured driver.
- The policy itself matters. Coverage selections, limits, exclusions, and applicable policies should be reviewed after a serious motorcycle accident.
Quick Answer: What Insurance Coverage Does Utah Require for Motorcycles?
For policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025, Utah generally requires motorcycle liability coverage of at least $30,000 for bodily injury to one person, $65,000 for bodily injury to two or more people in one accident, and $25,000 for property damage. Motorcycle policies are not required to provide Utah's no-fault PIP coverage, making it especially important for riders to understand what medical, uninsured motorist, and underinsured motorist coverage they have.
What Are Utah's Minimum Motorcycle Insurance Requirements?
Under Utah Code § 31A-22-304, motor vehicle liability policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025, generally must provide at least:
| Coverage | Utah Minimum |
| Bodily injury or death — one person | $30,000 |
| Bodily injury or death — two or more people | $65,000 |
| Property damage — one accident | $25,000 |
Utah law also allows a policy to satisfy these requirements through a $90,000 combined single limit for bodily injury, death, and property damage in one accident.
These are minimum liability requirements, not recommendations about how much insurance an individual rider needs. A policy can provide limits above the statutory minimum.
Why Do Some Sources List Utah's Insurance Limits as 25/65/15?
Utah increased its minimum liability limits effective January 1, 2025. For policies issued or renewed before that change took effect, Utah's minimum limits included $25,000 for bodily injury or death to one person and $15,000 for property damage. The minimum for injuries or deaths involving two or more people was $65,000.
Beginning with policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025, the individual bodily injury minimum increased to $30,000, and the property damage minimum increased to $25,000.
That effective date explains why riders may still find websites or older insurance materials showing 25/65/15. When checking Utah motorcycle insurance requirements, look at both the source's date and the effective date of the applicable policy.
Does Utah Require PIP Insurance for Motorcycles?
No. Utah treats motorcycles differently from most passenger vehicles for purposes of personal injury protection.
Utah's insurance statutes generally require qualifying motor vehicle policies to provide PIP benefits, but Utah Code § 31A-22-302 creates an exception for motorcycles. A motorcycle insurance policy purchased to satisfy Utah's security requirements need not include PIP benefits.
The law also provides that a motorcycle owner or operator is not covered by PIP for injuries incurred while operating the motorcycle. This difference matters after a crash. A motorcyclist should not assume that the PIP benefits associated with an ordinary Utah auto accident will automatically pay the rider's initial medical expenses.
Can Utah Motorcyclists Buy Medical Coverage?
Although PIP is not required for motorcycles, riders may have access to other first-party medical coverage through their motorcycle insurance. The availability, limits, and terms depend on the policy. A rider should review the declarations page and policy rather than assuming medical bills will—or will not—be covered after an accident.
This can become especially important when an injured rider requires emergency transportation, hospitalization, surgery, or extensive follow-up treatment before a liability claim against another driver is resolved.
Does Utah Require Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage for Motorcycles?
Utah law contains requirements governing uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage, including the circumstances under which coverage is offered and how it can be rejected or selected at different limits. Riders should therefore review their actual coverage selections rather than assuming every Utah motorcycle policy provides the same UM/UIM protection.
In general:
- Uninsured motorist coverage can provide protection when an at-fault motorist lacks applicable liability insurance, subject to the policy and Utah law.
- Underinsured motorist coverage can become important when the at-fault driver's available liability coverage is insufficient to compensate the injured person for qualifying losses.
These coverages can be especially significant for motorcyclists because the financial consequences of a serious crash can far exceed the minimum insurance limits of other drivers.
Why Does UM/UIM Coverage Matter for Utah Motorcyclists?
Utah currently permits a driver to satisfy the individual bodily injury liability requirement with $30,000 in coverage for one injured person. A serious motorcycle accident can produce medical expenses and other losses that exceed that amount.
Motorcyclists have little physical protection from the forces involved in a collision. A crash can result in fractures, traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, internal injuries, surgery, rehabilitation, lost earnings, and lasting disability.
If the at-fault driver's liability insurance cannot adequately address those losses, the injured rider's own applicable UIM coverage can become an important part of the insurance investigation. UM coverage can similarly matter when the responsible driver is uninsured or in some hit-and-run circumstances.
A skilled Utah motorcycle accident lawyer will examine all potentially applicable policies instead of stopping the investigation after identifying the other driver's liability limit.
What Does Liability Insurance Pay After a Motorcycle Accident?
One of the most important insurance distinctions is between liability coverage and first-party coverage. The liability insurance you are required to carry primarily protects you against qualifying claims made by other people when you are legally responsible for causing an accident. It should not be confused with insurance intended to pay your own losses.
For example, if a motorcyclist negligently causes a collision that injures another person, the rider's bodily injury liability coverage can respond to that person's qualifying injury claim up to applicable policy limits. Property damage liability can cover qualifying damage the rider causes to another person's vehicle or other property.
If another driver causes the motorcycle crash, the insurance analysis generally starts with the coverage applicable to that responsible driver and also considers the coverage available to the injured rider.
We help everyday people stand up for What's Right.
What Other Motorcycle Insurance Coverage Is Available?
Meeting Utah's minimum insurance requirements does not mean every potential motorcycle loss is insured. Depending on the policy and selections made, additional coverage can include:
- Collision coverage for qualifying damage to the insured motorcycle caused by a collision.
- Comprehensive coverage for certain noncollision losses, such as theft or other covered events.
- Medical coverage that can help with qualifying medical expenses under the policy.
- UM/UIM coverage for qualifying accidents involving uninsured or insufficiently insured motorists.
- Higher liability limits that provide greater protection than Utah's statutory minimum.
Coverage names and terms can vary. Riders should use their policy documents—not assumptions based on ordinary auto insurance—to determine what protection they purchased.
What Happens if the Driver Who Hit You Has Only Minimum Insurance?
Finding the at-fault driver's insurance is an important step after a motorcycle crash, but it may not be the end of the coverage investigation. If a driver has only Utah's minimum $30,000 individual bodily injury limit, that policy may be inadequate for someone who suffered severe motorcycle injuries.
Attorneys investigating the crash can determine whether additional sources of recovery exist. Depending on the circumstances, that can include the motorcyclist's UIM coverage, other applicable insurance policies, or claims against additional parties whose conduct contributed to the accident.
Coverage investigations can also uncover disputes involving exclusions, policy limits, insured status, or the applicable policy. Identifying all available insurance can therefore be just as important as proving which driver caused the crash.
What Should You Check on Your Motorcycle Insurance Policy?
A rider does not need to wait for an accident to understand what the policy provides. Reviewing your declarations page and policy can help identify potential gaps before they become important.
Check your:
- Bodily injury and property damage liability limits.
- UM and UIM coverage selections and limits.
- Available medical coverage.
- Collision and comprehensive coverage.
- Deductibles.
- Listed motorcycles and insured riders.
- Exclusions or limitations that could affect coverage.
If you do not understand a coverage selection, ask your insurance professional to explain what it does and what happens if you reject or reduce it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Utah Motorcycle Insurance
Does my regular auto insurance automatically cover my motorcycle?
No, you should not assume your regular auto insurance covers your motorcycle. Motorcycle coverage and ordinary auto coverage can involve separate policies, insured vehicles, terms, and exclusions. Review both policies to determine whether any coverage applies across them, rather than assuming coverage transfers because both vehicles belong to the same person.
Will motorcycle insurance cover a passenger injured in a crash?
Motorcycle insurance may cover an injured passenger, depending on who caused the crash and the applicable policy. A passenger may have a claim against the motorcycle operator, another negligent driver, or another responsible party. The available liability coverage, policy limits, and circumstances of the collision determine which sources of compensation can be pursued.
What insurance applies after a hit-and-run motorcycle accident?
Uninsured motorist coverage may apply after a hit-and-run motorcycle accident when the responsible driver cannot be identified. Coverage depends on Utah law, the terms of the applicable policy, and the circumstances of the collision. Riders should report a hit-and-run promptly and preserve photographs, witness information, video, and other evidence that can help establish what happened.
How much motorcycle insurance should I actually carry in Utah?
Utah's minimum liability limits are only the amount of coverage required by law, not necessarily the amount that will adequately protect you after a serious accident. Riders can consider higher liability limits, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, and optional first-party medical coverage. An insurance professional can help you compare available coverage with your financial circumstances and risk.
What happens if I ride a motorcycle without insurance in Utah?
Riding a motorcycle without the required insurance can result in legal and financial consequences. Utah requires owners or operators of qualifying motor vehicles, including motorcycles, to maintain required security, and operating without it can lead to penalties and licensing or registration consequences. An uninsured rider can also face substantial personal financial exposure if they cause a crash.
Does my motorcycle insurance cover a passenger's medical bills?
A passenger's medical expenses may be covered through applicable liability or other motorcycle insurance, but Utah does not require motorcycles to carry the same PIP coverage generally required for passenger vehicles. Which coverage pays depends on the policy and who caused the crash. A passenger may also have claims against another negligent driver or other responsible party.
Talk With a Utah Motorcycle Accident Lawyer at Parker & McConkie Injury Lawyers About Insurance Coverage
Having motorcycle insurance does not necessarily mean there will be enough coverage after a serious accident. Riders may face questions involving the other driver's liability limits, the absence of motorcycle PIP, UM/UIM coverage, medical expenses, and multiple potentially applicable insurance policies.
If you were injured in a Utah motorcycle crash, the attorneys at Parker & McConkie Injury Lawyers can investigate who caused the collision, identify available insurance coverage, challenge coverage disputes, and pursue compensation from responsible parties and applicable policies.
Call (801) 845-0440 for a free consultation with our Utah motorcycle accident team today. Let our team stand up for your rights and help you rebuild your future.