Locks help prevent motorcycle theft. Good coverage and good records are what help you recover if a thief gets your bike anyway.
Motorcycle · Originally published March 25, 2021 · Updated November 2026
Most theft advice stops at locks and alarms. Those matter: use more than one lock, park somewhere secure and consider a tracker. But the other half of preventing a financial loss is making sure your insurance and paperwork are ready before anything happens. Here's how theft claims generally work and what to do now.
Liability-only motorcycle insurance covers injuries and damage you cause to others. It does not pay if your bike is stolen. Theft is typically covered under comprehensive (sometimes called "other than collision"), which also covers things like fire, vandalism, hail and hitting a deer.
If you've dropped comprehensive to save money on an older bike, ask yourself whether you could replace it out of pocket. If not, it may be worth adding back. Comprehensive usually has its own deductible, so check what yours is.
Many riders put real money into their bikes: exhaust, seats, saddlebags, lighting, chrome, paint and audio. Standard policies often include only a limited amount of coverage for aftermarket parts and accessories, and anything over that limit may not be paid after a theft.
Our article on motorcycle custom parts and gear coverage goes into more detail.
Helmets, jackets and other gear are often stolen along with the bike, or out of saddlebags. Some policies include coverage for riding apparel, sometimes with a set limit, and others don't. Check yours. Personal items that aren't motorcycle gear may fall under a homeowners or renters policy instead.
The best time to prepare a claim is before you need one. Keep these somewhere other than the bike, such as your phone, email or a cloud folder:
If you finance the bike, keep your lender's contact information too. In a total loss, the insurance payment typically goes to pay off the loan first. If you owe more than the bike is worth, gap insurance may help with the difference.
Insurers often wait a period of time before settling a theft claim in case the bike turns up. Ask your claims representative what to expect.
We can review whether your motorcycle insurance includes comprehensive, enough custom equipment coverage and protection for your gear. While we're at it, we can also check your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Call 417.865.4800 or request a quote below.
No. Theft is generally covered under comprehensive, so a liability-only policy won't pay to replace a stolen bike.
Often up to a limit for custom parts and accessories. If you've added a lot, ask your agent about raising that limit.
Report the recovery to your insurer right away. Comprehensive coverage may pay for theft-related damage, minus your deductible.
Or send your details and an agent will call you back with options from the companies we work with.