Bali’s #1 claim trap • Updated August 2026
Scooter Insurance Bali: The Honest Truth About Coverage 2026
Whether you’re covered on a Bali scooter comes down to two things: your license and your plan. Here is exactly where the line runs — with no “no license needed” promises (we will tell you where you actually stand), because no plan we can verify makes one — send us your rental details and we will read the clause for you.
By Tommy Betts — Expat insurance specialist, Southeast Asia
✓ Last updated: August 24, 2026 — figures verified against official product pages.
Disclosure: this guide contains affiliate links to insurance providers. We may earn a commission if you purchase through our links, at no extra cost to you. Full disclaimer.
Short answer: a scooter accident is the single most likely reason a tourist ends up in a Bali hospital — and the single most likely claim to be refused. The rule, from the verified policy facts: SafetyWing covers motorbike riding only if you hold a valid motorcycle license and wear a helmet — no license, no claim. Unsure where you stand? Free reading of your policy. Genki covers motor vehicle use with conditions — check the policy wording before you rely on it. Nobody in our catalogue promises coverage without a license, and any site that does is writing a check the insurer won’t cash. Riding unlicensed in Indonesia is also simply illegal.
Every product figure on this page was checked against the official product pages in August 2026. Where a condition depends on the policy wording, we say so and tell you to read it — that sentence is worth more than any reassuring table.
The heart of the matter
Which rider are you?
You hold a valid motorcycle license
You’re the rider these plans are written for. On SafetyWing, motorbike riding is covered with your valid motorcycle license and a helmet — both conditions, every ride. On Genki, motor vehicle use is covered with conditions: read the policy wording for the exact terms (engine size, helmet, license category) before your first rental. Carry your license and your International Driving Permit — the insurer’s conditions and the Indonesian police’s requirements are two separate checklists, and you need to pass both.
You hold a car license only
A car license is not a motorcycle license — and that distinction is exactly where claims die. SafetyWing’s condition is a valid motorcycle license; a car license doesn’t satisfy it, and an IDP only carries the categories your home license already has. If you plan to ride in Bali, get the motorcycle endorsement at home first, then the IDP that includes it. Until then, treat yourself as uninsured on two wheels — because that is how an insurer will treat you.
You have no license — the honest section
Here is the truth most Bali blogs soften: no product in our catalogue promises to cover an unlicensed rider, and we won’t pretend otherwise. Riding without a license in Indonesia is illegal, it gives the insurer a documented reason to refuse the claim, and Bali’s traffic is not the place to discover both at once. Your realistic options:
- Get licensed before your trip — motorcycle endorsement, then IDP;
- Don’t ride: Bali has drivers, ride-hailing and shuttles for a reason;
- If an accident already happened, our motorbike accident guide covers what to do step by step.
What travel insurance still does for a non-rider: everything else — illness, dengue, hospital care, accidents that don’t involve you driving a motor vehicle. Going uninsured entirely because you can’t ride insured is the wrong conclusion; see what care costs uninsured in our healthcare cost guide.
License & IDP: the police checklist
Indonesian police require foreign riders to carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside their home license, and traffic stops are a routine part of Bali tourist areas. The IDP is a translation document: it only validates the categories your home license already contains — a car-only license plus an IDP still doesn’t make you a legal motorcycle rider. Get the motorcycle category at home first.
Why this matters to your insurance, not just the police: after an accident, the insurer reviews the file. An unlicensed rider gives them a clean, documented reason to refuse — one that nothing else in the policy can fix. The license question is settled before you turn the key — never after the crash.
Practical order of operations: the motorcycle category goes on your home license first, then the IDP — issued by your home country’s motoring body, so sort both before you fly. On the road, carry three papers on every ride: license, IDP and the rental agreement. After an accident they are exactly the documents the insurer’s file review asks to see, in that order.
The verified facts
SafetyWing vs Genki on two wheels
These are medical plans: they cover your treatment. Damage to the rental scooter or to third parties is a different kind of insurance — check what your rental agreement actually includes before signing it.
What neither plan covers on two wheels
From the verified product data, know these limits before you rely on either plan:
- Pre-existing conditions — not covered by SafetyWing or Genki Traveler; both cover new, unforeseen problems only.
- Organized sport, competition and professional riding — never covered on SafetyWing, even with the Adventure Sports add-on.
- On Genki — dental care (except after accidents), alternative care, mental health care, maternity and rehabilitative care sit outside the cover.
- The scooter itself and the person you hit — medical plans treat you; vehicle damage and third-party liability are the rental agreement’s territory.
What cover costs for a Bali stay (ages 10–39)
Arithmetic from the verified base rates: SafetyWing $62.72 per 4-week cycle (10–39), rounded up to whole cycles; Genki floor at the €52/month starting rate — age, deductible and USA/Canada option move it up. Get your real figure from the quote tool.
Riding at 60 or older changes the arithmetic: SafetyWing’s 60–69 bracket runs ≈$218/month (the $62.72 headline is the 18–39 rate) and the Essential medical limit drops to $100,000 at ages 65–69; Genki accepts riders up to 69 with the €1,000,000 limit, price set by age. From 70 the direct travel plans are gone — our Indonesia seniors guide maps what remains.
Staying long-term or on a KITAS? At some point the comparison shifts from travel plans to long-term health insurance for Indonesia — and nomads bouncing between countries should read the digital nomad insurance guide.
The downside, in numbers
What a scooter accident really costs in Bali
Every figure below comes from our uninsured healthcare cost guide, where the ranges are verified directly with BIMC, Siloam and Singapore evacuation services — nothing here is a scare estimate.
The mechanism matters as much as the ranges: private hospitals ask for a payment guarantee or deposit before treatment, and none of it is negotiable from a hospital bed. Serious trauma beyond local capacity means evacuation to Singapore — the single line that turns a bad week into a six-figure one.
Set against the medical limits above — SafetyWing Essential $250,000, Genki Traveler €1,000,000 — the documented surgery range fits well inside either plan; the standard evacuation range still fits, which is exactly the point of carrying one. (Comparison of the verified ranges and limits, not a coverage promise: what a given claim pays is always the policy wording’s call.) Genki also advertises direct billing, which is aimed at the deposit-before-treatment problem.
If you have to claim: the paperwork, step by step
Scooter claims are won or lost on documentation — and on speed: contact your insurer as early as the hospital allows, so any payment guarantee can be coordinated between insurer and hospital instead of running through your own card. Then the order of operations:
- Medical care first — and tell the hospital early that you will need an itemized invoice in English; asking at discharge is harder than asking at admission.
- Photograph everything — the scene, the scooter, your injuries, your motorcycle license, the IDP and the rental agreement. The file review starts with exactly these documents.
- Police report — when a third party is involved, it anchors the facts; the policy wording says when one is mandatory for your claim.
- SafetyWing — claims go through the online dashboard with your documents and invoices; SafetyWing announces a typical reimbursement within 21 days or less on complete files.
- Genki — submit through the claim channel named in your policy documents, with the same file; the wording defines the required documents and deadlines.
- Keep every original — receipts for anything you paid out of pocket, prescriptions, discharge summary. Policy wordings set submission deadlines, so file promptly rather than perfectly.
What to do in the first hour after a crash — the human side rather than the paperwork — is covered in our motorbike accident guide.
After a scooter crash in Bali: the step-by-step guide
This section absorbs our former stand-alone motorbike accident guide: the first hour, how to activate the insurer, the police report, why claims are refused, what happens if you hit someone, and recovery. Hospital choice is on best hospitals in Bali; evacuation to Singapore on its own page.
⏱️ EMERGENCY PROTOCOL
The First 60 Minutes After a Motorbike Accident
What you do — and don’t do — in the first hour determines whether your insurance pays. The biggest claim denials come from mistakes made in this window: leaving the scene, not getting a police report, accepting cash payments from the other driver, or telling the hospital “I’ll just pay myself.” Here’s the protocol that protects both your health and your claim.
STEP 1 — IMMEDIATELYGet yourself and the scooter off the roadBali traffic doesn’t stop for accidents. Move yourself to the side, drag the scooter onto the verge if you can. If you can’t move (suspected back/neck injury), stay still and ask someone to call 118 (ambulance) or 119 (emergency). Don’t try to “walk it off” — adrenaline masks injury severity for 20–30 minutes. Many cases of internal bleeding or concussion only become apparent after the adrenaline wears off.STEP 2 — BEFORE MOVING ANYTHINGPhotograph everything from multiple anglesPhone out, photo mode, take pictures of: the accident scene, both vehicles, the position of the scooter, any visible damage, your helmet, road conditions (wet, gravel, oil), any skid marks, the other driver’s vehicle and license plate. Photos are timestamped and used by both police and insurers. Memory fades fast under shock; photographic evidence doesn’t. If there are witnesses, ask for their phone number — Indonesian witnesses can be invaluable for the police report later.STEP 3 — WITHIN 5 MINUTESCall your insurance 24/7 emergency hotlineThis is the step most tourists skip — and it’s the most expensive mistake. Every legitimate travel insurance policy has a 24/7 hotline number on the policy document. Call it BEFORE going to the hospital. They’ll: (1) confirm your coverage applies to this incident, (2) direct you to the nearest in-network hospital, (3) pre-authorize direct billing so you don’t pay upfront, (4) assign you a claim case number that follows you through the entire process. If you skip this step and self-direct to a hospital, you’ll likely pay everything upfront and fight for reimbursement later — which can take 2–6 weeks.STEP 4 — WITHIN 30 MINUTESGet medical attention at BIMC or SiloamTake a Grab/Gojek (or accept a ride from a local) to BIMC Hospital (Kuta or Nusa Dua) or Siloam Hospital (Denpasar). Don’t go to a small clinic for anything beyond minor scrapes — they often can’t do X-rays and you’ll just be referred to BIMC anyway, losing time. Tell the international patient desk that you’re insured and provide your case number from Step 3. They’ll need: passport, driver’s license, IDP, insurance card. The hospital will document everything in English on request — make sure they do.STEP 5 — SAME DAYFile a police report (Laporan Polisi)Required for any non-trivial accident. Go to the nearest police station — Polsek Kuta, Polsek Canggu, Polsek Ubud all have English-speaking officers familiar with the tourist procedure. The report (called Laporan Polisi) takes 30–60 minutes to file. Officially it’s free but small “administrative fees” may be requested. Bring: passport, license, IDP, your photos of the scene, hospital discharge papers if you have them. Get the original document — you’ll need it for the insurance claim. Don’t accept “we’ll mail it to you” — the report doesn’t exist until you have it in hand.STEP 6 — SAME DAYNotify the rental shop & document scooter damageBali rental shops will charge you for damage to their scooter — from cosmetic dents to serious damage, at the shop’s own valuation. Some shop valuations can be… creative. Take your own photos of the scooter damage before returning it. Don’t leave your passport behind without a written agreement on damage costs. If the shop tries to charge an unreasonable amount, the police report can support your version. Some travel insurance plans cover rental vehicle damage as an add-on — verify with your insurer whether your policy includes this.STEP 7 — WITHIN 24–48 HOURSSave everything to cloud storagePhoto or scan every document and save to Google Drive, iCloud, or Dropbox: police report, hospital invoices, discharge summary, prescriptions, your license, IDP, insurance policy document, photos of the scene, communications with your insurer, rental shop receipts. Wallets get stolen, phones break, originals get lost — but cloud-saved copies survive. The claim process can take 30–90 days from incident, and the worst time to discover you lost a key document is week 6 when the insurer requests it.
📌 The most critical step is #3 (calling your insurer first). Skip it and you’re playing the reimbursement lottery. Take it and you flip the entire process from “pay first, claim later” to “covered from minute one.” It costs nothing and takes 5 minutes — and it’s the difference between a stressful trip and a financially ruinous one.
INSURANCE ACTIVATION
How to Activate Your Insurance After a Crash
Every major travel and health insurance has a 24/7 emergency assistance line. The number is on your policy document, in your insurer’s mobile app, and on the back of your insurance card if you have one. Save it to your phone before you fly. If you’ve lost everything, the policy document is in your email confirmation — search “policy” or “insurance” in Gmail and you’ll find it.
What to say on the call
Indonesian English-speaking call centers handle these calls every day, but they need specific information to activate your case efficiently. Have these ready before you dial:
- Your policy number (in your confirmation email or app)
- Your full name and date of birth as on the policy
- What happened — date, time, location of the accident
- Your injuries — what hurts, what you can/can’t move
- Whether you have a valid motorcycle license from your home country and an International Driving Permit
- The scooter engine size (most rentals are 110cc or 125cc)
- Whether you were wearing a helmet (yes is required; no almost always voids the claim)
- Whether you’d been drinking alcohol in the past 4 hours (any alcohol typically voids the claim)
What you’ll get from the call
✅ Case numberA unique reference that follows your claim. Write it down or screenshot it — every subsequent communication needs it.✅ Pre-authorization (if eligible)For Genki Traveler, SafetyWing Complete and IMG Patriot, the call center can issue a Guarantee of Payment (GoP) directly to BIMC or Siloam. This means you walk in, present the GoP, and the hospital bills the insurer instead of you.✅ Hospital recommendationThe agent will direct you to the nearest in-network hospital. For Bali this is almost always BIMC Kuta, BIMC Nusa Dua or Siloam Denpasar — all three have direct billing arrangements with major travel insurers.✅ List of required documentsA specific checklist of what you need to gather for the claim: police report, hospital invoices, discharge summary, scene photos, license/IDP copy. Knowing this in advance saves you from making multiple trips back to the police station or hospital.
📞 Don’t have the number? Here’s how to find it fast
Open your email and search for “policy” or “insurance confirmation” — the 24/7 number is in the welcome email. For Genki, the assistance line is in your member portal at genki.world. For SafetyWing, it’s in the SafetyWing app you can download in 2 minutes from any app store. If your phone is broken, BIMC Hospital reception can help locate any major insurer’s emergency line.
POLICE REPORT
How to File a Bali Police Report (Laporan Polisi)
A Laporan Polisi is the Indonesian police accident report. Your insurance claim won’t proceed without it for any accident beyond minor scrapes. The process is straightforward but specific — and there are some quirks foreign tourists trip over every week.
Where to go
Each tourist area has a Polsek (police station) that handles foreigner accident reports. The closest one to where the accident happened is the right one — police won’t take a report for an accident outside their jurisdiction. The English-speaking foreign tourist desks are at:
- Polsek Kuta — Jl. Raya Kuta, Kuta (south Bali, busiest tourist area)
- Polsek Kuta Utara (Canggu) — Jl. Pantai Berawa, Canggu (digital nomad and surfer hub)
- Polsek Ubud — Jl. Andong, Ubud (central Bali)
- Polsek Denpasar — for accidents in or near Denpasar/Sanur
- Polsek Nusa Dua — for accidents in the south resort area
What you need to bring
📄 Passport (original)They’ll keep it during the report process; you’ll get it back at the end.🪪 Home country motorcycle license + IDPIf you have them. If not, the report will note this — and your insurance claim is likely already in trouble.📸 Photos of the accident sceneFrom your phone. Police will reference them when writing the report.🏥 Hospital discharge papers (if available)Demonstrates injury severity. Helps with the official assessment.📝 Rental shop contract (if rented)The agreement showing you legitimately had possession of the scooter.💵 200,000–500,000 IDR cashFor unofficial “administrative fees” sometimes requested. The report itself is officially free, but small fees are common.
The report process
Expect 30–60 minutes from walking in to walking out with the document in hand. The officer will: ask you to describe what happened (have your story straight — keep it factual, no embellishment); take down details about the scooter, your license, the other party (if any); review your photos; type up the report in Bahasa Indonesia; print and stamp it; have you sign it. They may ask for an English translation — pre-prepared notes help here. The report itself is in Indonesian; if your insurer requires English, you’ll need a certified translation later (BIMC has translators who can help, or any Bali notary).
⚠️ Common pitfalls
Don’t admit fault prematurely — Indonesian accident liability isn’t always assigned the way you’d expect from your home country. Stick to the facts of what happened. Don’t accept “we’ll mediate it informally” from a third party — get the official report regardless. Don’t lose the original — make 3 photocopies before leaving the station and email a scan to yourself. Don’t wait more than 24 hours — police are reluctant to file reports days after an incident, and your insurer will question the delay.
CLAIM PROTECTION
Why Bali Motorbike Insurance Claims Get Denied
Insurers don’t deny claims arbitrarily — they deny based on policy exclusions, almost all of which are documented in the fine print most tourists never read until it’s too late. Here are the five most common reasons claims are rejected at BIMC every week, and how to avoid each one.
REASON #1 — MOST COMMONNo valid motorcycle licenseBy far the leading cause. Most travel insurance policies require both a valid motorcycle license from your home country AND an International Driving Permit with motorcycle (Category A) endorsement. A car license isn’t enough. A car-only IDP isn’t enough. Genki’s motor-vehicle clause is written differently — motor-vehicle use covered with conditions — check the policy wording — which is why Bali first-timers pick it. It is not a licence waiver. Send us the clause if you want it read line by line.REASON #2No helmetIndonesian law requires helmets for both rider and passenger on every road. Most insurance policies make this requirement explicit too — if you’re injured while not wearing a helmet, the claim is denied even if the accident wasn’t your fault. Rental shops always provide helmets; wear them. The cheap rental helmet is uncomfortable but it’s the difference between a claim that pays and one that doesn’t. Even just down the street, even just for 5 minutes — wear it.REASON #3Alcohol in the bloodstreamIndonesia’s legal blood alcohol limit is 0.05%, but most travel insurance policies exclude any injury occurring while you’re above zero, period. BIMC routinely runs blood tests on accident admissions — they document everything. A single Bintang at sunset before riding home back to your villa is sometimes enough to trigger denial. The safer rule: zero alcohol if you’re riding, even just one beer. If you’ve been drinking, take a Grab.REASON #4Engine size above the policy limitMany travel insurance policies cap motorbike coverage at 50cc or 125cc. Renting a 250cc Yamaha or a Honda CBR voids the entire claim — even if you have a valid license. Genki Traveler covers up to 125cc with conditions — check the policy wording. Engine limits above 125cc are not in our verified data — check the wording. Ask us before you rent. Read the engine size limit before walking into the rental shop, and don’t let a shop “upgrade” you to a bigger bike “just for fun.”REASON #5No police report (Laporan Polisi)For any non-trivial scooter accident, insurers require an Indonesian police report. No report, no claim. The window to file is short — police are reluctant to take reports more than 24 hours after an incident, and your insurer will scrutinize any delay. Even if your injuries seem minor at first, get the report before leaving the area. Symptoms can develop hours later, and trying to file the report retroactively is much harder than doing it the same day.
THIRD-PARTY LIABILITY
What if You Hit Someone Else?
Most accidents are single-vehicle (you alone going down) but a meaningful percentage involve hitting another vehicle, pedestrian, or sometimes a stray dog. If you caused injury or property damage to someone else, you have new problems beyond your own injuries — Indonesian liability law expects the at-fault party to compensate the other.
How Indonesian liability works
Indonesia uses a hybrid system. Police mediation (called musyawarah) is the typical first resort, where the at-fault party agrees to pay compensation to the injured party. Settlements range from a few hundred dollars (minor scrape on a local rider’s scooter) to several thousand or more (serious injury to a pedestrian, damage to a car). For severe cases involving death or permanent disability, formal courts can be involved.
As a foreigner you’re generally expected to pay more than a local would in equivalent circumstances. This isn’t always written into the law but it’s the practical reality. Police mediators arrive at a negotiated amount, case by case, for moderate cases.
What insurance covers third-party liability
Third-party liability cover varies significantly by policy. Some travel insurance plans include liability cover for injury or property damage to others — the limit is in the wording. Genki Traveler includes basic liability cover. SafetyWing typically does not for scooter incidents. IMG Patriot Travel includes it. The rental shop’s insurance (the cheap “we cover the bike” deal) almost never covers third-party liability — it covers damage to their bike only. Read your policy specifically for “liability” or “third-party” sections.
📌 What to do if you’ve hit someone
Stop, stay at the scene, check on the other party — don’t leave (it’s a serious offense). Call your insurance assistance line immediately so they can advise on liability. Don’t agree to any cash payment to the other party without involving police, and definitely don’t pay anything before discussing with your insurer. The official police mediation process protects both sides; informal cash settlements often spiral. Most importantly: keep your composure and remain factual — heated discussions at the scene rarely improve outcomes.
RECOVERY
Recovery: After You Leave the Hospital
Discharge from the hospital is the start of recovery, not the end. Most scooter accident injuries — especially fractures and surgical recoveries — require 4–12 weeks of follow-up care, sometimes more. Plan for it and your insurance will cover most of it.
Continuing care in Bali
If you’re staying in Bali to recover (which is usually the right choice for moderate injuries — no need to fly home immediately), BIMC and Siloam offer follow-up consultations, physiotherapy and rehabilitation services. Most insurance policies cover follow-up care for up to 60–90 days post-discharge, though check your specific policy. Physiotherapy in Bali is available at quality facilities at a per-session price that varies, much less than equivalent care at home.
Returning home for recovery
For more serious injuries you’ll likely want to fly home for the bulk of recovery — closer to family, your usual doctors, and your home country health system. Most insurance policies cover the return flight if your treating doctor recommends it for medical reasons. Some include extra coverage for special arrangements (extra seat, business class for stretchers/casts) when medically necessary. Get the recommendation in writing from BIMC before flying home and you’ll likely be reimbursed for any upgrade costs.
When can you ride again?
Depends entirely on the injury. Scrapes and minor cuts: a few days to a week. Wrist or collarbone fracture: 6–10 weeks. Tibia fracture with surgery: 4–6 months minimum. Severe head trauma: months of cognitive recovery, possibly never the same risk tolerance afterward. Your treating doctor will give you specific guidance — follow it. Many returning expats and tourists never get back on a scooter after a serious accident, which is a perfectly rational choice. The risk doesn’t go down because you’ve been through it once.
💡 The lesson most accident survivors share
Almost everyone who’s been through a Bali scooter accident says the same thing: they wish they’d taken safety more seriously beforehand. Wear a real helmet (not the cheap rental one — buy a good one at any local market). Don’t drink and ride, ever, even one beer. Stay below 50 km/h on Bali roads regardless of speed limits. Avoid riding at night when possible. Take the additional 30 seconds to check the road conditions. None of this guarantees safety, but it stacks the odds significantly in your favor.
Original data from our inbox
What riders actually ask us
From the last 1,709 insurance requests we handled across our Southeast Asia sites, aggregated with no personal data:
77
requests mention scooters or motorbikes — and most ask after booking the rental, not before
71%
of travelers who told us their trip length stay 6 months or longer
15%
mention a pre-existing condition — which neither travel plan covers
Source: aggregated analysis of the insurance requests received through our sites in recent months. No personal data is stored in these statistics.
Frequently asked questions
Am I covered on a scooter without a motorcycle license?
Honestly: no plan in our catalogue promises that. SafetyWing explicitly requires a valid motorcycle license and a helmet; Genki covers motor vehicle use with conditions you must check in the policy wording. Unlicensed riding is also illegal in Indonesia — the fix is a license, not a policy.
Is my car license enough for a scooter in Bali?
No. Insurance conditions name a motorcycle license, and an IDP only mirrors the categories your home license contains. Car license + IDP = still not a legal or insured rider on two wheels.
Do I really need to wear a helmet for coverage?
On SafetyWing it is an explicit condition alongside the license — no helmet, no claim. It is also Indonesian law. Wear it on every ride, including the two-minute one to the warung.
What does a scooter accident cost in Bali without insurance?
Documented ranges from our healthcare cost guide (verified with BIMC, Siloam and Singapore evacuation services): the most common serious scenario — a scooter accident needing surgery — runs a bill that depends on the hospital, the room class and the length of stay and a medical evacuation to Singapore priced by aircraft, distance and medical crew — a sum few travellers can pay upfront. Full breakdown in the accident cost section above.
I’m already in Bali — can I still get insured?
Yes, both plans allow sign-up while already abroad. With Genki, if you had no prior insurance, emergencies are only covered after a 14-day waiting period — so today beats tomorrow.
Does the insurance cover the scooter itself, or the person I hit?
These are medical plans: they cover your treatment, under their conditions. Damage to the rental scooter or liability toward third parties is a different kind of insurance — check what your rental agreement includes before you sign it, and don’t assume.
What should I do right after an accident?
Medical care first, documentation second — photos, the rental contract, an itemized invoice in English from the hospital. The full step-by-step is in our motorbike accident guide.
How long does a SafetyWing claim take to pay out?
Claims are submitted online through the SafetyWing dashboard with your documents and invoices, and SafetyWing announces a typical reimbursement within 21 days or less. The clock runs on complete files — the itemized English invoice and your license photos are what prevent the back-and-forth.
Can I buy insurance after an accident to cover it?
No. Both plans cover new, unforeseen events only — an accident that has already happened is a pre-existing fact by the time you sign. Genki adds a 14-day waiting period for emergencies if you had no prior insurance. Insure before the first ride, not after the first scare.