Texas Motorcycle Insurance Requirements & Laws

Motorcycles can be dangerous. Not only do they lack a hood, trunk, roof, or doors to protect riders, but many drivers in cars and trucks don’t respect the right of motorcyclists to be on the road. Other drivers may not see motorcycles or don’t know how to respond when a motorcycle is near.

When motorcycle accidents do happen, riders can suffer traumatic brain injuries, paralysis, broken bones, road rash, and other serious injuries. Many motorcycle accidents are fatal.

Motorcycle owners and operators need to understand what insurance coverage they must have and what additional coverage they should have. They also need to understand the Texas laws that govern their motorcycle equipment, the right to operate a motorcycle, and the applicable rules of the road.

What insurance coverage must motorcycle owners have in Texas?

According to the Texas Department of Insurance, motorcycle owners/drivers must have liability insurance to pay for a victim’s medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and property damage in the following minimum amounts:

• For one injured person in one accident: $30,000.
• For two or more injured persons in one accident: $60,000.
• For property damage (vehicles and other damage): $25,000.

This combination of coverage is known by the shorthand – 30/60/25 coverage.

Motorcycle owners/drivers should buy as much insurance coverage as they can reasonably afford because just one night in a hospital can cost tens of thousands of dollars.

Mopeds and motor-driven cycles need to have the same insurance as motorcycles, even though they generally operate at lower speeds with smaller engines. However, there is no liability insurance requirement for ATVs, mini-bikes, dirt bikes, and golf carts.

What other insurance coverage should motorcycle owners have in Texas?

According to Federal Motorcycle Transport, motorcycle owners and operators should consider buying the following types of insurance policies (which pay benefits up to the insurance policy limits):

• Personal injury protection (PIP): This coverage pays for the medical bills and lost wages for the owner/driver and their passengers.
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM): This coverage protects motorcycle accident victims if the responsible parties do not have insurance, do not have enough insurance to pay the value of your claim, or if the responsible party is a hit-and-run driver.
• Collision coverage: This policy pays for damage to your motorcycle if you are the person responsible for the accident.
• Comprehensive coverage: This policy covers damage to your motorcycle due to theft, vandalism, fire, or hail.

Motorcycle operators can earn a 10-15 percent discount on their liability coverage if they complete an approved Texas motorcycle safety course.

What laws govern motorcycle riding in Texas?

Federal Motorcycle Transport also states that Texas has the following legal requirements for owning and operating a motorcycle in Texas.

• Equipment requirements: Motorcycles must have a license plate lamp, tail lamp, stop lamp, headlamp, mirror, steering system, horn, brakes, tires, exhaust system, wheel assembly, rear red reflector, muffler, and vehicle identification number (VIN). There are additional requirements for passengers.
• License requirements: Riders need aTexas motorcycle license (a Class M license), which requires completion of a safety course, passing a vision test, passing a motorcycle knowledge test, and passing a motorcycle driver test. Some conditions/exceptions may apply. Anyone 15 or older can apply for a class M license, although minors 15 to 17 must have an “I” restriction on their license, which restricts when and where the person can ride.
• Inspection requirements: Motorcycles must pass a motorcycle inspection before an owner can register their motorcycle or renew their registration. The inspection will include reviewing if you have proof of insurance and that your motorcycle has the proper equipment.
• Emission laws: “Emissions testing is required only in emission counties for gas-powered vehicles that are 2 to 24 model years old. Annual Texas emissions testing is required only in these counties in the Dallas-Fort Worth, El Paso, Houston-Galveston, and Austin metro areas.”
• Registration: Registration requirements include proof of ownership, a completed vehicle inspection report, proof of minimum liability insurance, photo identification, and payment of the fees.
• Helmet laws: Texas requires that all riders under 21 wear a helmet. Motorcycle riders 21 and over must also wear a helmet unless one of the following exceptions applies:
  • The rider completes an approved Texas motorcycle safety course or
  • The rider has medical coverage to pay for their injuries in the event of a motorcycle accident.

The motorcycle helmet law is a secondary enforcement law. This means a rider cannot be stopped for riding without a helmet unless they are committing another traffic infraction, such as speeding.

• Passenger requirements: In Texas, passengers can only ride on a motorcycle if the motorcycle has a fixed seat, handholds, and footrests for the passenger.

Many of these requirements were implemented in 2015 under Malorie’s Law, which was passed after a fatal motorcycle crash involving Malorie Bullock. A student at Texas A&M University-Commerce, she was a passenger on the back of a motorcycle and wearing a helmet when the driver tried to avoid hitting a vehicle that pulled in front of the motorcycle. She was thrown from the bike and fatally injured.

Motorcycle passengers must be 8 years of age or older – or 4’9” or taller.

Passenger law violations are primary offenses, which means a police officer can stop and cite you for violating the passenger laws – without having to show another type of violation.

• Lane splitting. While Texas does not specifically prohibit lane splitting, Texas Transportation Code § 545.060 provides that “motorists must drive ‘as near as practical entirely within a single lane.’ Moving out of the lane should only be done when it can be done “safely.”

Motorcycle operators and drivers need to obey the laws that govern riding in Texas. Failure to comply with these laws can result in civil lawsuits (which require insurance to pay for the damages) and criminal charges. To discuss your duties before a motorcycle accident happens and your rights after a motorcycle accident in Texas, call Pat Maloney: Accident & Injury Attorney, or complete our online contact form to schedule a free consultation. We handle Texas motorcycle accident claims on a contingency fee basis.