On this page
The coverage gap most riders discover after a crash
A standard motorcycle policy values your bike at its factory specification. The custom exhaust, the upgraded suspension, the saddlebags, and the $800 helmet in the top case are not in that number. After a crash, riders learn that thousands of dollars in upgrades and gear were never insured, because nobody scheduled them.
Accessory and custom parts coverage closes this gap. It is usually an endorsement or an automatic inclusion on a motorcycle policy, and it pays to repair or replace aftermarket parts and riding gear damaged in a covered incident.
What the big carriers actually include
Progressive, the largest motorcycle insurer in the US, automatically includes $3,000 of accessory and custom parts coverage with comprehensive and collision. Riders can purchase up to $30,000 in additional coverage. The payout is at full replacement cost without depreciation, and it covers custom paint, wheels, luggage, windshields, handlebars, grips, chrome trim, and electronics.
Riding gear gets its own treatment. Progressive’s safety riding apparel coverage protects jackets, boots, gloves, and helmets damaged in a covered incident. Not every carrier bundles this the same way, so check whether your policy treats a $700 helmet as covered apparel or as uninsured personal property.
Policy language from the specialty market shows how granular this gets. Hagerty’s motorcycle policy documents cap safety apparel at $500 per helmet per accident, with a combined $1,000 limit for all safety apparel in one accident. Those limits are fine for one helmet and a jacket, but a rider in full premium gear can exceed them.
What counts as an accessory
Carriers generally split add-ons into two buckets. Custom parts and equipment covers anything permanently attached to the bike: exhaust systems, seats, handlebars, windshields, luggage racks, lighting, chrome, and performance parts. Safety apparel covers what you wear: helmets, jackets, pants, boots, and gloves.
Carried contents is a third, separate bucket at some carriers. Electronics, cameras, and tools in the saddlebags may need carried-contents coverage rather than accessory coverage. Ask where your GoPro and your tank bag fall before assuming.
How much accessory coverage to buy
Add up the replacement cost of everything bolted to the bike that did not come from the factory, plus the replacement cost of your gear. Many riders are surprised when the total passes $3,000, which is the common automatic inclusion. A full touring setup with luggage, upgraded seat, windscreen, and electronics routinely exceeds it. A helmet, jacket, boots, and gloves in mid-range brands total $1,000 to $1,500 on their own.
Document the upgrades. Photos, receipts, and a parts list make the claim straightforward and establish value without argument. Update the list when you add parts, and raise the accessory limit at renewal if the total has grown past it.
What it costs
The $3,000 automatic inclusion at carriers like Progressive costs nothing extra beyond the comprehensive and collision premium. Additional accessory coverage up to $30,000 is inexpensive relative to the protection, because the claim frequency is low. The exact price varies by carrier and state, but it is consistently one of the cheapest endorsements on a motorcycle policy.
The expensive mistake is the opposite: skipping it and discovering the gap after a crash. A $2,500 custom paint job and a $600 exhaust are a total loss without scheduled coverage, even with full coverage on the bike itself. What motorcycle insurance covers lays out the base policy this endorsement attaches to, homeowners personal property coverage rarely fills the gap for gear used on the bike, and an insurance rider is the general mechanism for scheduling anything valuable a base policy undervalues.
