Best and Cheapest Motorcycle Insurance: Companies, Coverage Options and Cost in 2024

Motorcycle insurance requirements

Whether you drive your motorcycle for pleasure or it’s your primary means of transportation, motorcycle insurance is critical to protecting you and your precious ride. Motorcycle insurance is required in most states across the United States. It can protect you and your passengers from the medical expenses of an injury while riding your bike as well as the cost of damage to your motorcycle.

Do I need motorcycle insurance?

If you live in one of the many states that require motorcycle insurance, you need to have motorcycle insurance in order to legally drive your bike. The only states that don’t require you to have motorcycle insurance are Michigan, Montana, New Hampshire and Washington. Motorcycle insurance is still offered in these states and it’s important to consider purchasing it if you own a qualifying vehicle. If you live in one of the four states above, even though it's one of those optional coverages, it is definitely worth purchasing.

Typically, states that require bikers to have insurance require them to have liability coverage and some require uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. You’ll need to have at least the minimum amount of insurance coverage required in your state. Motorcycle insurance limits vary by state, with some states having more of a wide range of coverage offered than others.

It’s up to you to decide if you want higher coverage limits and additional coverage like collision or comprehensive, but it’s encouraged that all bikers consider these insurance coverages. Additional liability motorcycle insurance coverage would offer you more protection to you and your assets if you’re found at fault for an accident.

If you get into an accident with your motorcycle and you don’t have collision coverage, you’d be on your own to pay for the damages to your bike. Likewise, if your bike is damaged by a fire or severe weather and you don’t have comprehensive motorcycle insurance coverage, you wouldn’t be covered for the damages. There is no payment plan or second insurance option if you lack motorcycle coverage in one of these instances; it is all out of pocket. There is a wide array of coverage for you to browse through to ensure you are the appropriate level of protected.

How much is motorcycle insurance?

The cost of motorcycle insurance varies greatly based on the kind bike you have, your age, and a handful of other factors. If you’re an experienced rider, you may pay an average cost of around $500 per year for motorcycle insurance, but the price can vary based on where you live. If you’re a young driver, you should expect to pay a high price for motorcycle insurance. Likewise, if you have a luxury motorcycle of high value, your premium could be more than $1,000 per year. Motorcycle riders looking for the most affordable insurance should use an online quote tool to compare multiple rates to see the cheapest insurance options.

There are many factors that affect the cost of motorcycle insurance including:

• Your age
• Whether or not you have a clean driving record
• Where you live
• Where you store your bike
• Your motorcycle - type of bike and age
• If your motorcycle has any modifications such as safety gear
• How much you drive each year (seasonal or full time)
• Your deductible
• The company you choose

What are some types of motorcycle insurance coverage options?

Many motorcycle insurance coverage options work in the same way that car insurance coverages do. If you’re leasing or financing your bike, you’ll likely be required by your lender to purchase collision and comprehensive protection in addition to any other coverages required by your state. A variety of options are available that stem from standard coverages, to comprehensive and more.

Most motorcycle insurance companies offer the following coverages:

• Liability: Liability coverage is a required motorcycle insurance coverage in most states. There are two forms of liability insurance: bodily injury liability and property damage liability. Bodily injury liability covers injury or death to other people in an accident that you caused in your motorcycle accident. Property damage liability covers damage you caused to another person’s property, such as their car. Motorcycle insurance liability also covers legal expenses if you are sued. Liability doesn’t cover injury to you or damage to your motorcycle. This coverage doesn’t have a deductible.
• Collision: Motorcycle insurance collision coverage protects your bike if it’s damaged in a collision with another vehicle. If you’re in an at-fault accident in which your motorcycle is damaged, your motorcycle insurance provider would cover the cost of damages, up to your policy’s limit, after you pay your deductible.
• Comprehensive: Motorcycle insurance comprehensive coverage protects your motorcycle from damages not caused by a collision. Comprehensive covers damages from fire, theft, vandalism and anything else not caused by a car accident, such as severe weather like a flood or hail. Like collision coverage, your motorcycle insurance company will cover the cost of damage, up to your policy’s limit, after you pay your deductible.
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM): Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage protects you from drivers on the road who either don’t have insurance or don’t have enough insurance coverage. If you get into an accident with someone who is uninsured or underinsured, this coverage may help pay for medical treatment, lost wages and damage to your bike. Exactly what this coverage would pay for may vary based on your policy.
• Medical payments: Medical payments coverage pays for medical payments from injuries to you or any of your passengers in an accident while you were on your motorcycle. Medical payments motorcycle insurance coverage is not available in all states. If you have health insurance, you may not need this coverage. If you don’t have health insurance or you don’t have enough health insurance coverage, medical payments coverage would be useful.
• Personal injury protection: Some states require drivers to have personal injury protection (PIP) or no-fault insurance. This coverage is used instead of medical payments coverage in some states. It covers medical payments for injuries to you and your passengers regardless of who is at fault for the accident.

Optional motorcycle insurance coverages

• Coverage for customized motorcycle parts: Most of the time, standard collision and comprehensive coverages don’t cover motorcycle parts that aren’t factory parts. For example, if you replaced your factory fenders with custom fenders, they may not be covered under a standard collision and comprehensive policy. If you’ve modified your bike with customized motorcycle parts and accessories, you may be able to add coverage for the customized parts to your policy, depending on your motorcycle insurance company. Coverage for customized motorcycle parts would protect your after-market purchases.
• Motorcycle trailer coverage: If you have a trailer for your motorcycle, make sure to ask your motorcycle insurance company about coverage for your transport trailer. Many companies offer coverage for your trailer for up to $7,500.
• Roadside assistance: Roadside assistance provides you with service if you’re ever caught with a bike mechanical or electrical malfunction. It may even include towing in some cases. With roadside assistance, you can get help for various issues including if your bike ran out of gas, has a dead battery, has a flat tire and so on.
• Rental reimbursement: While your bike is getting fixed, you may need a rental in order to get around. Rental reimbursement coverage will allow you to get money back from your insurance company for a rental.
• Replacement cost: You have the option to choose replacement cost coverage or actual cash value coverage for your bike if it’s a total loss. Actual cash value will give you a payout of the value of your bike at the time of its loss. Actual cash value takes into consideration the depreciation of your motorcycle. If you want more coverage, you can choose to have replacement cost coverage which may pay out enough for you to get a new bike. Talk with your motorcycle insurance company when you purchase a policy to find out which option is best for your bike.
• Lay-up motorcycle insurance: If you live in the northern part of the United States and only drive your motorcycle seasonally while storing it away in the winter months, lay-up motorcycle insurance may be an option for you. Lay-up motorcycle insurance allows you to keep your comprehensive coverage active while pausing your other coverages.

How can I find the best motorcycle insurance?

When shopping for motorcycle insurance, you have a few options. Some car insurance companies allow policyholders to add motorcycle insurance to their car insurance policy as an endorsement or rider. You can choose to do this or purchase a separate motorcycle insurance policy.

Be aware that if you add your motorcycle to your car insurance policy as an endorsement or rider, you may be restricted in the coverage options you have. Standalone motorcycle insurance policies are typically more flexible and customizable and may even be more affordable in some cases.

In order to find the best motorcycle insurance for the most affordable price, you’ll want to shop around. You should get motorcycle insurance quotes from multiple companies so you can compare motorcycle insurance cost and coverage options. Motorcycle insurance rates vary greatly by company.

Use the table at the top of this page to find motorcycle insurance companies. If you want to see which motorcycle insurance companies customers say are the best, sort the table by highest rated. You can sort through companies and find the ones you want to a get motorcycle insurance quote from. To get quotes, click on the orange “click for quote” button next to the company or call the number if available.

If you want to read customer reviews of the company, click the company name in the table and you will be directed to the company’s profile page containing information about the company and reviews. Whether you want to go with one of the major insurance companies or you want a smaller company with outstanding customer service, browsing makes it more likely that you will find what you are looking for.

Are there any motorcycle insurance discounts?

Many companies offer a variety of discounts to help you save money on coverage for your bike. You can receive discounts based on you and your motorcycle. Discounts vary by company and eligibility. The following motorcycle insurance discounts are the most common types offered.

• Multi-policy discount: If you insure your motorcycle with a company that you already have a policy with for another line of insurance, you could earn this discount. This discount may apply if you insure your motorcycle along with your car, home, apartment, condo, boat or RV with the same company.
• Multiple motorcycles discount: Some motorcycle insurance companies offer a discount if you insure more than one motorcycle with the same company.
• Biker group discount: Many motorcycle insurance companies offer biker group discounts or riding association discounts if you’re a member of certain motorcycle organizations. Some examples of motorcycle organizations include the American Motorcycle Association and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.
• Mature riders discount: If you’ve had your motorcycle insurance for a certain number of years, your motorcycle insurance company may offer you this discount.
• Safe driver discount: You may qualify for a safe driver motorcycle insurance discount if you’ve been motorcycle insurance claim free for a number of years.
• Safety and security discounts: If your motorcycle has certain safety and security features, such as anti-lock brakes or an anti-theft device, you may be eligible for a discount.
• Motorcycle safety course discount: If you take a motorcycle safety course to educate yourself, your motorcycle insurance company may offer you a discount on your insurance.
• Renewal discount: If you renew your motorcycle insurance policy, you may be rewarded with a discount.
• Transfer discount: Some motorcycle insurance companies offer a discount to bikers who switch or transfer their motorcycle insurance to them.

Use the filters on this page to see companies that offer these discounts. Note: Not all motorcycle insurance companies offer all discounts in all area.

Do you have any tips to save on motorcycle insurance?

There are a few ways you can save money on your motorcycle insurance.

1. Take a motorcycle safety course

A motorcycle safety course can educate you on how to enjoy your motorcycle safely. Motorcycles have inherent risks because of their design, but a motorcycle safety course can help make you a safer motorcycle driver. You may earn a discount on your motorcycle insurance because being a safe driver makes you less likely to have an insurance claim and less of a risk to your insurance company. This discount is typically about 10 or 15 percent off your motorcycle insurance if you take an approved course.

2. Keep your driving record clean

Your driving record is one of the most important factors in determining your motorcycle insurance rates. Just like car insurance, if you have a clean record, you’re rewarded with lower motorcycle insurance rates.

3. Store your bike in a safe spot

Where you store your bike affects your motorcycle insurance rates. Parking your bike in a secured area, such as a locked garage, can lower your car insurance rates because it puts it out of danger from thieves, vandals and severe weather like hail.

4. Add safety and security features to your bike

Safety and security features on your motorcycle not only protect you and your bike, but they can also earn you discounts. Anti-theft devices are a great way to protect your bike from thieves and will also help lower your motorcycle insurance premium if your company offers a security device discount. An example of an anti-theft device you can add is a disc lock, which attaches to your bike’s brake rotor to prevent the wheel from turning. There are other options available but disc locks don’t have chains that can be broken like some other devices do. Some devices even have a built-in alarm that sounds if the lock is trying to be broken.

5. Get the right motorcycle insurance coverage

If you live in an area that has harsh winter months that make riding a bike impossible for part of the year, make sure you consider a lay-up motorcycle insurance policy that offers you seasonal coverage. This type of motorcycle insurance policy can save you money if you only drive your bike for a few months out of the year when the weather allows.

6. Look for motorcycle insurance discounts

Discounts are a great way to save on motorcycle insurance. Some of the common motorcycle insurance discounts are outlined in the section above this one. Be sure to check with your motorcycle insurance company to find out all the discounts available to you.

What is seasonal motorcycle insurance?

Are you a biker who lives in the northern part of the United States? If you keep your bike stored away in the winter, you may be wondering what you can do with your motorcycle insurance in the winter. You have a few options to help you save money on your motorcycle insurance while you aren’t able to drive it, or if you feel you don't need year-round coverage.

It’s not suggested that you cancel your motorcycle insurance policy during the winter months. This could result in penalties and fines since motorcycle insurance policies are usually active for a one-year term and your insurer may choose not to offer you coverage when you try to reactivate a policy if it caught on to what you were doing. Additionally, it’s not smart to leave your bike unprotected even when it’s sitting in storage. Damage could still happen, such as a fire. It is recommended that you keep year-round coverage anyway.

Many motorcycle insurance companies offer lay-up insurance in the northern states of the United States where winter can be harsh. This insurance is essentially a form of temporary motorcycle insurance. It allows you to pause most of your motorcycle insurance coverages while keeping your comprehensive coverage active.

Lay-up motorcycle insurance is a great option to save money for those bikers who like to enjoy their ride in the warm summer months but need to store their bikes away for the winter without sacrificing comprehensive coverage. Lay-up policies may also be customizable. For example, you may be able to reduce your liability and collision coverage for the winter rather than completely pausing it. Check with your insurance company to see if it offers lay-up insurance.