Tag: Motorcycle safety

Tips for Insuring Your First Motorcycle: A New Rider’s Guide

Ready to buy your first motorcycle? Learn essential insurance needs and safety considerations for new riders.

There’s nothing quite like the freedom of the open road on two wheels. Whether you’re commuting, cruising scenic highways, or exploring Oklahoma backroads, protecting yourself, your bike, and your passengers is critical from day one.

At OKFB Insurance, we understand that every rider’s journey is different. Here are key tips to help you navigate your first motorcycle insurance policy confidently.

  1. Understand What’s Legally Required in Oklahoma

In Oklahoma, liability coverage is mandatory for motorcycles. This covers bodily injury or property damage you might cause to others in an accident. However, basic liability doesn’t protect your own bike from damage.

That’s why comprehensive and collision coverage are highly recommended, especially for new riders. These cover repairs or replacement if your motorcycle is damaged in an accident, stolen, or impacted by severe weather for Oklahoma’s unpredictable seasons.

  1. Consider Additional Coverages for Better Protection

As a first-time rider, it’s easy to overlook the coverage options that go beyond the basics but make a real difference if you ever need them. Two important considerations:

  • Guest Passenger Liability: Covers medical expenses for a passenger if they’re injured while riding with you. Many new riders don’t realize this isn’t automatically included with basic coverage.
  • Equipment Coverage: Available to protect additional equipment added to your motorcycle, like a windshield or saddlebags, which aren’t covered under standard policies. Be sure to let your OKFB agent know about any custom equipment when requesting a quote.

Your OKFB agent can walk you through each option to build the policy that fits your exact needs.

  1. Know What Impacts Your Insurance Cost

Motorcycle insurance premiums vary widely depending on your bike type and engine size. Generally, sport bikes or models with larger engines will cost more to insure due to increased risk factors. When shopping for your first motorcycle, consider how your choice will affect your insurance rates long-term.

  1. Avoid Common New Rider Mistakes

First-time motorcycle owners often miss critical details that can cost them financially later, such as:

  • Forgetting to cover additional equipment like windshields or upgraded seats.
  • Skipping guest passenger liability coverage, leaving them exposed to out-of-pocket costs if a passenger is injured.
  • Not asking about all available coverage options.

Taking time to review your policy with your agent can help prevent these costly oversights.

  1. Own an Off-Road Vehicle? 

A recent trend, owners of side-by-sides (SxS) and Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTVs) are now able to insure them under motorcycle policies. Once the vehicle meets the state of Oklahoma’s requirements and is registered, owners may qualify it for motorcycle insurance coverage. This change offers new flexibility for owners looking to get their vehicles road-ready while ensuring they’re properly protected.

  1. One Final Piece of Advice

When insuring your first motorcycle, don’t just ask for “the minimum.” Instead, ask your OKFB agent to explain all available coverage options so you can ride confidently, knowing you and your passengers are fully protected.

Why Choose OKFB for Your Motorcycle Insurance?

At OKFB Insurance, we’re not just here to sell policies – we’re your neighbors, dedicated to keeping Oklahomans safe on and off the road. We take time to understand your goals, your bike, and your riding lifestyle to build a personalized policy that provides true peace of mind.

Ready to hit the road with the right protection? Contact your local OKFB agent today to discuss motorcycle insurance options tailored just for you.

We’re Here to Help

Whether you’re a longtime policyholder or just starting to look for insurance options, we’re here to help. If you have questions or concerns that you want to discuss, connect with your local OKFB agent today. If you have any insurance-specific questions, we would love to help you find the coverage that best meets your home, auto, commercial and life insurance needs.

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Why Do I Need Recreation Insurance?

Summer is right around the corner! This means, taking the boat out for a spin or hopping on an ATV is a high chance. While you are having fun, ensure your recreational vehicles have the right amount of coverage. Check out why a boat, motorhome, motorcycle, and off-road vehicles may need Recreation Insurance instead of Auto or Home Insurance.

1. Liability

Liability coverage under Auto or Home Insurance may not cover accidents that happen on a boat, motorhome, motorcycle or off-road vehicle. This is why having liability coverage on these vehicles could be critical in the event of a liability claim or lawsuit. Additionally, this coverage can help provide peace of mind while you’re out enjoying what Oklahoma has to offer. 

2.Medical Payments

Just like Auto Insurance, Recreation Insurance offers medical payment coverage. Now, you can enjoy spring and summer activities knowing you and your passengers are covered during the unexpected.

3. Damage

Accidents can happen at any time. For this reason, having collision or physical damage coverage on a recreational vehicle is critical. It provides coverage in the event of damage regardless of fault. Let us focus on securing your recreational vehicles, and you can focus on having fun. 

Insuring recreational vehicles with Recreation Insurance can provide the protection you need. With it in mind, you can rest easy and live in the moment this spring and summer. As can be seen, there are a lot of coverage options under our Recreation Insurance. If you have questions or would like to discuss coverage options, consult your local OKFB Insurance Agent today.

Safety Tips for Recreational Vehicles

Some of life’s greatest joys happen while sitting around a campfire, making a wake on the lake or cruising down a backroad. Whether you own a boat, motorcycle, off-road vehicle or motorhome, recreation insurance can help protect you and your vehicle from the unexpected. In addition to this insurance safety measure, you need to practice extra caution when operating any of these vehicles. Here are some of the safety tips to keep in mind for each recreational vehicle: 

Boat safety

Time spent on the water can leave you with lasting memories. Relax without worry, knowing you have taken these steps to ensure a safe boat ride or activity. 

  • Equipment: Everyone on board must have a life jacket of appropriate size available to them. Other equipment, including oars, a bailing bucket, a whistle, visual distress signals, navigation lights, a fire extinguisher and an anchor are also required by the U.S. Coast Guard to have on board while you boat. 
  • Operating tips: Make sure the person steering the boat is aware of the rules for safe boating. A few of the major rules to follow include: Check the weather beforehand, don’t exceed the boat weight or passenger limit, don’t drink and steer the boat, follow wake zone speed limits and always be aware of nearby swimmers. 

Motorcycle safety

Whether you’re taking your motorcycle for a long road trip or a short joy ride, it’s important to take steps to ensure a safe journey.  

  • Equipment: Always wear a helmet and limit the number of passengers to the number allowed on your specific bike. You should also consider wearing gear that protects you from debris, potential accidents and the weather. Leather jackets, sturdy boots and protective eyewear are all great items to help shield you from possible dangers. 
  • Operating tips: When driving a motorcycle, it’s always recommended to drive defensively. This means never assuming other drivers on the road can see you, since motorcycles are much less visible vehicles. To make yourself a little more visible, avoid driving in blind spots or driving too closely to other vehicles. Also, as with any other vehicle, check for weather that could cause hazardous driving conditions.

Off-Road Vehicle safety

Your weekend getaway may include straying off the main path and getting some mud on the tires. For your next off-road adventure, follow these safety tips: 

  • Equipment: Just like motorcycles, helmets are always a must on an off-road vehicle. Driving an open vehicle through rough terrain at accelerated speeds means there’s a great risk for head injury. Wearing gear like goggles, long pants and boots is also recommended to help protect you from flying debris or tall grass, limbs or rocks that could injure you. 
  • Operating tips: Never drive your off-road vehicle on highways, streets or paved roads. Regularly check your vehicle’s functions like steering, brakes and tires. Also, make sure you’re operating an off-road vehicle that’s right for your age and never allow passengers on a single-rider vehicle. 

About Recreation Insurance

Following these safety tips can help reduce your chances of an accident, but a small chance will always remain. Whether you have a boat, motorhome, motorcycle or off-road vehicle, recreation insurance can help cover your vehicle and passengers if something unexpected does happen. To learn more about the features offered in our recreational policies or to get a quote, contact an OKFB agent near you.