Michigan Mva Law: Do Motorcycles Have Special Exemptions?

Michigan's motorcycle laws require motorcyclists to be licensed, which means they must obtain a motorcyclist endorsement on their driver's license before riding. There is no set rule for how old a motorcyclist must be, but they must pass a safety course if they are under 18. Insurance is required, and motorcyclists aged 20 and younger must wear crash helmets.

Michigan law defines a motorcycle as a motor vehicle that has a saddle or seat for the use of the rider and is designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground. Despite this wording, a motorcycle is not considered a motor vehicle under Michigan No-Fault Law. This means that standard motorcycle insurance policies do not include the same Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits provided under No-Fault automobile policies.

Motorcycle owners must register their bikes with the Michigan Secretary of State and are required to carry liability coverage. As of 2020, the mandatory minimum limits for motorcyclists' liability coverage increased to $50,000/$100,000.

Michigan motorcycle insurance requirements

Michigan motorcycle insurance laws require motorcyclists to be licensed, which means they must obtain a motorcyclist endorsement on their driver’s license before riding. There is no set rule for how old a motorcyclist must be, but insurance is required, and those aged 20 and younger must wear crash helmets.

Motorcycle insurance is required in Michigan, and motorcyclists are mandated to have liability coverage to cover them in case they cause an accident that results in death, bodily injury, or property damage. The minimum limits for liability coverage are $250,000 and $500,000 to cover bodily injury to or death of one or more persons in a single accident. Motorcyclists must also have a minimum of $10,000 to cover "injury to or destruction of property." However, they can opt for "lower limits" of $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for bodily injury liability coverage.

Motorcyclists in Michigan are not mandated to purchase auto No-Fault insurance or carry personal injury protection. The No-Fault law's mandatory auto coverage requirement only applies to vehicles that qualify as "motor vehicles," and the law specifically excludes motorcycles from its definition of a "motor vehicle."

Medical coverage is generally not required for motorcyclists in Michigan, except for those over 21 who wish to ride without a helmet. In such cases, they must have first-party medical benefits coverage of at least $20,000 if riding without a passenger, and at least $20,000 "per person per occurrence" when a passenger is involved.

Motorcycle owners in Michigan are also encouraged to consider additional insurance coverages, including uncoordinated medical and wage loss coverage, residual liability insurance, uninsured motorist benefits coverage, and underinsured motorist benefits coverage, each with minimum limits of $500,000.

While comprehensive motorcycle coverage and collision motorcycle coverage are optional, some owners may want to safeguard their bikes against physical damage. Comprehensive coverage can protect against motorcycle theft, vandalism, fire, and weather-related issues, while collision coverage can cover the motorcycle in the event of a collision with another object or vehicle, regardless of fault.

Michigan motorcycle helmet laws

Michigan motorcycle laws allow certain individuals to choose whether to wear a helmet. If you are 21 or older, you can opt out of wearing a helmet if you meet the following criteria:

• You must have at least $20,000 in first-party medical benefits.
• You must have had your motorcycle endorsement for a minimum of two years or have passed an approved motorcycle safety course.

As a passenger, you can choose not to wear a helmet if you are at least 21 years old and have $20,000 in first-party medical benefits in addition to the insurance of the motorcycle operator.

Michigan law requires anyone under 21 to wear a U.S. Department of Transportation-approved motorcycle helmet. The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has provided a guide for choosing the right one.

Although mandatory helmet laws do not apply to everyone in Michigan, helmets can prevent catastrophic and fatal injuries in motorcycle accidents. Crash helmets prevent nearly 2,000 deaths per year.

Michigan motorcycle lane laws

Michigan motorcycle laws require motorcyclists to be licensed, which means they must obtain a motorcyclist endorsement on their driver's license before riding. There is no set minimum age for a motorcyclist in Michigan, but those under 18 must pass a safety course before they can get an endorsement on their operator's or driver's license.

Motorcyclists in Michigan have the legal right to "full use of a lane", and cars and trucks are prohibited from driving in a way that deprives them of this. However, motorcycles cannot ride "more than 2 abreast" on public roads. Lane splitting, or white lining, is illegal in Michigan.

Michigan law now allows motorcyclists to decide for themselves whether or not to wear a helmet, provided certain conditions are met. To legally ride without a helmet, a motorcycle operator must:

• Be at least 21 years old
• Have at least $20,000 in first-party medical benefits
• Have held a motorcycle endorsement for at least two years, or have passed an approved motorcycle safety course

Passengers on motorcycles are also allowed to forego a helmet if they meet the same criteria. However, anyone under 21 years old must wear a helmet approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation when operating or riding on a motorcycle.

Michigan motorcycle equipment requirements

Michigan motorcycle safety equipment requirements include:

• An outside rearview mirror on the driver's side, with the option to attach a rearview mirror to the biker's helmet or visor.
• Headlamps: at least one, but no more than two.
• Rear stop lights: one.
• Spot lamps: at least one, which may be white or amber.
• Fog lamps: no more than two.
• Clearance/marker lamps and reflectors in amber at the front or side near the front of the vehicle, in red at the rear or side near the rear, and in white to illuminate the license plate.
• Amber or red stop lights and other signals.
• A working horn that can be heard from at least 200 feet away when the motorcycle is operating on a highway.
• At least two brakes that can be operated by hand or foot, with one on the front wheel and one on the rear wheel.
• Seats and securely attached footrests or pegs for each designated seating position.
• Handlebars that are no higher than 30 inches from the lowest point of the undepressed saddle to the highest point of the handle grip of the operator.
• A working muffler and exhaust system to prevent excessive noise and smoke, without any removed baffles or devices such as a muffler bypass.
• Tires in good condition with no excessive wear and tread levels above 1/32 inch.

In addition, motorcycles must be properly registered and equipped with a license plate.

Michigan motorcycle accident claims

Insurance Requirements

According to Michigan law, all motorcycle drivers must have motorcycle insurance. This insurance must include, at a minimum, bodily injury liability of $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident, as well as property damage liability of $10,000 per accident.

Helmet Requirements

In Michigan, operators and riders who are 20 years of age or younger must wear crash helmets. Motorcyclists who are 21 or older can ride without a crash helmet if certain licensing, training, and insurance requirements are met. These include having at least $20,000 in first-party medical benefits and having had a motorcycle endorsement for a minimum of two years or having passed an approved motorcycle safety course.

Filing Deadlines

There are filing deadlines for motorcycle accident claims in Michigan. For pain and suffering compensation and other economic damages, the deadline is three years from the date of the accident. To sue for No-Fault benefits, an application must be filed within one year of the crash.

Recoverable Damages

After a motorcycle accident, the biker or passenger may be entitled to compensation for pain and suffering, death, scarring, and/or excess wage loss. The other driver must have done something negligent or unreasonable, and the result to the biker must be of a certain degree. To qualify for compensation, the biker must suffer a permanent serious disfigurement, a head injury, a serious impairment of body function, or death. Most people fall under the category of "serious impairment of body function," which is defined as:

• The injury is medically identifiable or has a physical basis.
• The injury must affect an "important body function."
• The injury must affect the person's general ability to live their normal life.

Statute of Limitations

According to Michigan Compiled Laws Section 600.5805, there is a three-year time limit from the date of an accident by which an injured person can file a claim for compensation.

Frequently asked questions