Best and Cheapest Motorcycle Insurance in North Carolina for 2024

North Carolina has a lot to offer for motorcyclists: temperate weather most of the year, twisting and turning mountain roads, and stunning scenery ranging from the ocean to the plains and mountains. That’s likely why there are more than 223,000 motorcycles registered in North Carolina, according to The Motley Fool, more than in all but in 11 other states.

If you’re ready to hit the road and ride your motorcycle in North Carolina, there are steps you must take to do so safely and legally, including purchasing North Carolina motorcycle insurance.

Do I need motorcycle insurance in North Carolina?

Riders in North Carolina are legally required to have motorcycle insurance. In fact, they must show proof of insurance before registering their motorcycle. If driving uninsured, riders may face certain penalties and consequences (fines or license suspension).

Similar to most states, North Carolina requires motorcycle drivers to purchase liability insurance at the very least. This coverage protects the policyholder from the damage they may cause to other motorists in case of an accident.

The state’s mandatory minimums for coverage are:

$25,000 for property damage,
$30,000 for bodily injury coverage for one person, and
$60,000 for bodily injury coverage per accident (two or more people).

It’s important to keep in mind that the state minimums are the bare minimum amounts of coverage you need to have in order to legally drive your motorcycle in North Carolina. This amount may not provide enough coverage 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 it’s often encouraged by insurance agents that all bikers consider these insurance coverages. Additional liability motorcycle insurance coverage above the state minimum requirement would offer more protection to you and your assets if you’re found at fault for an accident.

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.

How much does motorcycle insurance cost in North Carolina?

Several factors will help determine just how much you’ll pay for motorcycle insurance in North Carolina. 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 North Carolina, including:

Your age
Your driving record
Where you live in North Carolina
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 North Carolina?

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 North Carolina collision and comprehensive protection in addition to any other coverages required by the state of North Carolina.

Most motorcycle insurance companies offer the following coverages:

Liability insurance: Liability coverage is a required motorcycle insurance coverage in North Carolina. 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 any 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, your motorcycle insurance company 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, but it is an option in North Carolina. 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 would cover any medical payments for injuries to you and your passengers regardless of who is at fault for the accident.

What are the optional motorcycle insurance coverages in North Carolina?

In addition to the coverages listed above, there are also many other optional motorcycle insurance coverages available that you may be able to add to your North Carolina 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 in North Carolina: Roadside assistance provides you with service in the event that you experience a motorcycle mechanical or electrical malfunction. It may even include towing in some cases. Roadside assistance may also offer help for various issues, including if you run out of gas, have a dead battery or flat tire, or something similar.
Rental reimbursement in North Carolina: 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 if your bike was damaged by 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 (AVC): 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 is likely not necessary in North Carolina, as it’s designed for people who drive their 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.

How to find the best and cheapest motorcycle insurance in North Carolina?

When shopping for motorcycle insurance in North Carolina, you may 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina, 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 North Carolina vary greatly by company.

Use the table at the top of this page to find the best motorcycle insurance companies in your zip code according to consumers. In this table, you can see which motorcycle insurance companies in North Carolina customers say are the best. You can sort through companies and find the ones from which you want to get quotes.

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 motorcycle insurance discounts are available in North Carolina?

Many companies offer motorcycle insurance discounts to North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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 the North Carolina motorcycle licensing laws?

North Carolina does not offer standalone motorcycle licenses. Instead, the state offers motorcycle learner’s permits and a motorcycle endorsement on a driver’s license. To apply for a permit, you must be at least 16 years old with a full provisional, regular, or commercial driver’s license, and you have to pass three tests: motorcycle knowledge, road sign identification, and vision.

To apply for the motorcycle endorsement, you must have a full provisional, regular, or commercial driver’s license and pass both a motorcycle knowledge test and an off-street motorcycle skills test. If you pass a North Carolina-approved motorcycle rider course, you are not required to take the skills test. However, both types of certification require you to have a regular license.

If you don't comply with the local regulations regarding insurance and licensing, you may face fines or other penalties.

What are the North Carolina motorcycle laws?

North Carolina is one of the states with a universal helmet law, which means that all riders, no matter their age, must wear a helmet while on a motorcycle. Lane splitting, the practice of driving between lanes of slowed or stopped automobile traffic, is not allowed in North Carolina. Motorcyclists are allowed to share lanes, however, as long as they ride no more than two motorcycles abreast.

What's North Carolina weather like for motorcyclists?

Motorcyclists will appreciate North Carolina’s climate. With short, mild winters and hot summers, the state is a great place for riding year-round. It does snow regularly in the Appalachian Mountains in western North Carolina during the winter, but the rest of the state sees minimal snowfall.

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

Consistent with its mission towards greater transparency, Clearsurance does not keep its rating and ranking formulas in a black box. Our algorithm analyzes a 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 North Carolina are derived entirely from customer reviews and ratings.

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