If an uninsured driver damages your motorcycle in Nevada, standard uninsured motorist coverage may not pay for the bike. The Nevada Division of Insurance says uninsured motorist coverage does not pay for damage to your vehicle. Payment may come instead from separate uninsured motorist property damage coverage, your collision coverage, or the driver directly.
Which option is available depends on your policy. This guide explains the coverages involved and what riders can look for on their declarations page.
Key Takeaways
- NRS 690B.020 addresses uninsured motorist coverage for bodily injury, sickness, disease, or death.
- Uninsured motorist property damage is a separate, optional coverage.
- Collision coverage pays for damage to your vehicle regardless of fault, under your policy’s terms.
- You may be able to sue the driver directly, and Nevada generally allows 3 years for damage to personal property.
- Your policy’s terms control, and motorcycle policies can differ from auto policies.
Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Pay for a Motorcycle in Nevada?
Usually not by itself. NRS 690B.020 describes coverage for people legally entitled to recover damages from owners or operators of uninsured or hit-and-run vehicles for bodily injury, sickness, disease, or death. The Nevada Division of Insurance’s consumer guide says this coverage does not pay for damage to your motor vehicle.
The same guide says many insurers offer separate uninsured motorist property damage coverage, and it lists that coverage as optional.
Which Coverage Can Pay for Your Motorcycle?
| Source | What it may do | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Uninsured motorist property damage | A separate coverage for your vehicle; the Division’s guide says it generally pays up to a certain level and may cover your deductible | Whether it is on your policy, and its limit |
| Collision | Covers damage to your vehicle from a collision, regardless of fault | Your deductible and how the bike is valued |
| Comprehensive | Covers theft and other damage from causes other than collision | Whether it applies to the event |
| The at-fault driver | A claim or lawsuit against the driver directly | Whether the driver can pay |
These descriptions come from the Division’s general auto insurance materials. A motorcycle policy may have its own terms, such as limits on custom parts or gear.
What Counts as an Uninsured Vehicle?
Under NRS 690B.020, an uninsured motor vehicle can include one without the required liability coverage, one whose insurer denies coverage or is insolvent, and certain hit-and-run vehicles. For a hit-and-run vehicle whose owner or operator cannot be found, the statute refers to physical contact and a report to police within the required time. Those definitions apply to the bodily injury coverage, and a property damage coverage may have its own terms.
What If You Are Also Hurt?
Injury claims follow different rules from bike damage. NRS 687B.145 requires insurers writing policies on passenger cars or motorcycles to offer uninsured and underinsured coverage in an amount equal to the bodily injury limits. It also requires an offer of medical payments coverage of at least $1,000. The Division’s guide says you can decline uninsured coverage by signing a waiver. See uninsured motorist coverage in Nevada.
Can You Sue the Uninsured Driver?
You may be able to. Nevada requires owners to carry liability insurance, with a $20,000 minimum for property under NRS 485.185, but a judgment against an uninsured driver can be hard to collect. Under NRS 11.190(3)(c), Nevada generally allows 3 years for injury to personal property. Exceptions can apply. See how a Nevada motorcycle accident claim works.
What Steps Can Help After the Crash?
- A police report, with the other driver’s information
- Photos of the bike, gear, and scene
- Repair estimates and records of custom parts
- Prompt notice to your insurer, as your policy requires
- A review of your declarations page for each coverage
Does Fault Affect Payment?
It can. Collision coverage applies regardless of fault under the Division’s description, but a claim against the driver depends on proving that driver’s negligence. Under NRS 41.141, comparative negligence can apply to actions for injury to property as well. See comparative negligence.
Talk With a Nevada Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Vaksman Khalfin, PC handles Nevada motorcycle accident claims and has an office in Las Vegas. A lawyer can review your situation and explain the options that may be available. Contact us or visit our Nevada motorcycle accident page to learn more.
General information, not legal advice. This page is provided for general informational purposes only and is not medical advice. No attorney-client relationship is formed by reading this page or contacting the firm. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Reviewed by Robert B. Vaksman, Partner, Vaksman Khalfin, PC (admitted in Nevada). Last reviewed: 11/09/2026
Frequently Asked Questions
The Nevada Division of Insurance's guide lists it as a separate, optional coverage. Your declarations page shows whether you have it.
Standard uninsured motorist coverage generally does not. The Division of Insurance says it does not pay for damage to your vehicle. Separate property damage or collision coverage may apply.
The Nevada Division of Insurance's auto insurance page says liability coverage does not cover your property. You may need to pursue the at-fault driver directly. A lawyer can explain your options.
Coverage depends on your policy. For bodily injury coverage, NRS 690B.020 refers to physical contact and a timely police report for an unidentified hit-and-run vehicle. Collision coverage may apply to bike damage.
