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

Minnesota motorcycle insurance

Minnesota is known for being cold – very cold – and snowy. The state where snow falls in abundance and where the temperature may not climb above the freezing mark for months at a time may not seem like the place where you’d want to ride a motorcycle. But the Land of 10,000 Lakes offers scenic roads and by-ways and plenty of space to enjoy them.

If you’re ready to ride your motorcycle in Minnesota, here’s what you need to know to do so safely and legally, including information about Minnesota motorcycle insurance.

Do I need motorcycle insurance in Minnesota?

If you drive a motorcycle in Minnesota, you're legally required to have insurance in order to protect yourself, and other motorcycle riders on the road. If you choose full coverage you will also protect your bike. You must show proof of insurance before registering your motorcycle.

Similar to most states, Minnesota requires motorcyclists to carry liability insurance with certain coverage limits, though many motorcyclists choose to purchase higher limits and additional coverage The state’s current minimums are:

• $10,000 for property damage,
• $30,000 for bodily injury per person, and
• $60,000 for bodily injury per accident.

But motorcycle insurance is not only necessary, but it's also affordable because most insurance companies offer affordable insurance options and bike discounts to help riders save on insurance.

Minnesota is a no-fault state, so consumers there are required to purchase personal injury protection (PIP) coverage for their automobiles. Minnesota’s official website notes that PIP coverage is not included in basic motorcycle policies in the state and that any PIP coverage you have on your automobile policy will not cover you if you are involved in an accident on your motorcycle.

It’s also important to keep in mind that having the minimum amount of coverage may not be enough in the event of a serious accident. It’s up to you to decide if you want higher coverage limits and additional coverage like collision or comprehensive, but all bikers are encouraged to consider these insurance coverages. Additional liability motorcycle insurance coverage above the minimum limits would offer you more protection to you and your assets.

If you were to get into an accident with your motorcycle and you didn’t have collision coverage, you’d be on your own to pay for the damages to your bike. Likewise, if your bike were damaged by a fire or severe weather and you didn’t have comprehensive motorcycle insurance coverage, you wouldn’t be covered for the damages and would have to pay for the repairs or replacement out of your own pocket.

How much does motorcycle insurance cost in Minnesota?

Several factors will help determine just how much you’ll pay for motorcycle insurance in Minnesota. Your annual premiums will depend on where in the state you live, your age, the kind of bike you have, and more.

For example, if you’re an experienced rider, you may pay around $500 per year for motorcycle insurance, but if you’re a new driver, you should expect to pay more for motorcycle insurance. Likewise, if you have a luxury motorcycle of high value, your premium could be more than $1,000 per year.

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

• Your age
• Your driving record
• Where you live in Minnesota
• Where you store your bike
• Your motorcycle - type of bike and age
• If your motorcycle has any modifications
• How much you drive each year (seasonal or full time)
• Your deductible
• The motorcycle insurance company you choose - get 3+ quotes to find the best price for your needs

What are the motorcycle insurance coverage options in Minnesota?

Many motorcycle insurance coverage options work in the same way that car insurance coverage does. 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 the state of Minnesota.

Most motorcycle insurance companies in Minnesota offer the following coverages:

• Liability insurance: Liability coverage is required in Minnesota. There are two forms of liability coverage: bodily injury liability and property damage liability.
  • Bodily injury liability covers injury or death to other people in an accident that you caused while on your motorcycle.
  • Property damage liability covers damage that you caused to another person’s property, such as their car.
  • Motorcycle insurance liability also covers legal expenses in case you are sued. Liability doesn’t cover injury to you or damage to your motorcycle. This coverage doesn’t have a deductible.
• Collision insurance: Motorcycle insurance collision coverage protects your bike if it were damaged in a collision with another vehicle. In the event that you’re in an at-fault accident in which your motorcycle is damaged, your motorcycle insurance company would cover the cost of damages, up to your policy’s limit, after you paid your deductible.
• Comprehensive insurance: 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. Similar to collision coverage, comprehensive motorcycle insurance would cover the cost of damage, up to your policy’s limit, after you paid 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. It would cover medical payments for injuries to you and your passengers regardless of who is at fault for the accident.

It's a good idea to consider adding more coverage, especially medical payments coverage if your health insurance is not enough to cover after an accident.

What are the optional motorcycle insurance coverages in Minnesota?

In addition to the coverages that are in the list above, there are many other types of Minnesota motorcycle insurance coverages. You may be able to add the following coverages to your Minnesota motorcycle insurance policy.

• 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 in the event that you experience a bike mechanical or electrical malfunction. It may even include towing in some cases. Roadside assistance could offer help for issues like a dead battery, a flat tire, and an unexpectedly empty gas tank, for example.
• Rental reimbursement: While your bike is getting fixed, you may need a rental in order to get around. Rental reimbursement coverage may allow you to get money back from your insurance company for a rental while your motorcycle is being fixed after a covered accident.
• 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 (ACV): ACV would give you a payout of the value of your bike at the time of its loss. Actual cash value would take into consideration the depreciation of your motorcycle.
  • Replacement cost coverage: 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: Lay-up insurance could come in handy if you live in a colder state (like Minnesota) and only drive your motorcycle seasonally while storing it away in the winter months. Lay-up motorcycle insurance would allow you to keep your comprehensive coverage active while pausing your other coverages.

What to do with your Minnesota motorcycle insurance in the winter?

If you think of a state with long, cold, snow-filled winters, Minnesota might be the first one that comes to mind. Minnesota’s winters are known to be brutal: that’s why Thrillist ranked the state’s winters as the worst of all 50 states. If you live in Minnesota, you may want to pack your motorcycle away for the winter months and wait until spring hits before riding again. If you do so, you may be tempted to cancel your Minnesota motorcycle insurance during the winter months, but doing so may not be the best idea.

Canceling your Minnesota motorcycle insurance may seem like an easy way for you to save money while you aren’t using your motorcycle, but it could end up costing you in the long run. If something should happen to your bike, say a fire, motorcycle theft, or vandalism, you wouldn’t be covered. Or if there’s an expectedly warm day and you want to ride your bike, you wouldn’t be able to use it because motorcycle insurance is required in Minnesota.

Lay-up insurance, which allows you to put a hold on certain parts of your insurance policy, may be a much better and safer option. You can, for example, put a hold on your liability coverage while leaving your comprehensive coverage intact. If your insurance company does not offer this option, you may be able to save money by increasing your deductible during the motorcycle off season.

How to find the best and cheapest motorcycle insurance in Minnesota?

When shopping for motorcycle insurance in Minnesota, you may have a few options for the type of policy you purchase. 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 Minnesota motorcycle insurance policies are typically more flexible and customizable and may even be more affordable in some cases. Make sure to evaluate all your options to find the best one for you.

In order to find the best and cheapest motorcycle insurance in Minnesota, 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 in Minnesota vary greatly by company.

Use the table at the top of this page to find the top-rated motorcycle insurance companies in your zip code according to consumers. In this table, you can see which motorcycle insurance companies in Minnesota customers say are the best.

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.

What are the available motorcycle insurance discounts in Minnesota?

Many companies offer motorcycle insurance discounts to Minnesota residents 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 commonly offered:

• Multi-policy discount: If you insure your motorcycle with a company with which you already have a policy for another line of insurance, you may qualify for a bundling 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 on the same Minnesota policy.
• 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.

What are Minnesota motorcycle licensing laws?

To legally operate a motorcycle in the state of Minnesota, you must have either a motorcycle license endorsement or an instruction permit. Both a valid Minnesota driver’s license and a motorcycle instruction permit are required before you can get your endorsement.

If you are under the age of 18, your first step to be able to legally drive a motorcycle is to take the Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Center (MMSC) Basic Rider Course (BRC). One you have successfully completed the course (with 100 percent attendance), you’ll receive two certificates. One of these will allow you to take the state knowledge test for your motorcycle permit; the other allows you to take the state riding skills test for your endorsement.

If you are older than 18, you can take the permit knowledge test and riding skills test at a Driver and Vehicle Services exam station, or you can take Basic Rider Course. If you successfully complete the BRC, the skills test will be waived.

What are Minnesota motorcycle laws?

Motorcyclists and passengers under the age of 18 are required to wear helmets in Minnesota, as is anyone operating a motorcycle on a permit. Minnesota also requires motorcyclists to wear protective eyewear, such as glasses, goggles, or a face shield, even if the bike is equipped with a windshield.

State laws also require that passengers have a dedicated seat and that they’re able to reach the motorcycle’s footrests. Lane splitting, the practice of driving between lanes of slowed or stopped automobile traffic, is not legal in Minnesota.

What's Minnesota weather like for motorcyclists?

Winters in Minnesota are very cold and snowy. In January, the average temperature in Minneapolis - St. Paul ranges from a low of 7.5 degrees to a high of 23.7 degrees. In fact, the average high temperatures are not above freezing from December through February, and March is not much warmer.

There is good news, though. Summers in the state are warm and pleasant, and early fall typically boasts very comfortable weather. The riding season in Minnesota may be short, but when the weather is good, it’s very good.

How does Clearsurance rate and rank the best motorcycle insurance companies in Minnesota?

Consistent with its mission towards greater transparency, Clearsurance does not keep its rating and ranking formulas in a black box. Our algorithm analyzes a wide range of inputs from our independent community of insurance customers, including:

• Price
• Customer Service
• Claim service
• Likelihood to renew

The algorithm also takes into account the percentage of what customers say the company does well vs. the percentage of what customers say the company could do better.

The Clearsurance customer ratings and rankings of the best motorcycle insurance in Minnesota are derived entirely from customer reviews and ratings.