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

What type of motorcycle insurance is best in New York?

Motorcycles are popular in the Empire State, even with the harsh winter weather the state experiences. There are more than 345,000 registered motorcycles in New York, according to The Motley Fool. That's more registered motorcycles than in all but six other states, and many dedicated motorcycle riders ride even in the dead of winter. Of course, there are insurance options for those who only drive seasonally. This and many other factors go into a motorcycle insurance quote.

If you are one of the hardy folks ready to ride your motorcycle in New York, there are steps you must take to ride safely and legally. You need to meet the legal requirements in New York State and protect yourself from liability. If you plan to ride across states, you'll also need to check their requirements.

Do I need motorcycle insurance in New York?

New York has mandatory insurance requirements for all drivers, including motorcyclists. But motorcycle insurance isn't just a mandatory requirement, it also offers protection from accidental damage both on and off the road.

Motorcycle riders must show proof of insurance when registering their motorcycle. Your motorcycle must have insurance coverage anytime when it's being driven on a public road or highway. All motorcycle riders in New York must have liability insurance.

Cheap motorcycle insurance has to include liability insurance with the following minimums:

• $10,000 for property damage,
• $25,000 for each injured person, $50,000 per accident,
• $50,000 for death per person, and
• $100,000 for death if there are multiple fatalities.

It’s up to you to decide if you want higher coverage limits and additional coverage like collision or comprehensive. 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 to be damaged by a fire or severe weather and you didn't have comprehensive motorcycle insurance coverage, you wouldn't be covered for the damages.

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 to be 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 New York?

How much you'll pay for motorcycle insurance in New York depends in large part on where in the state you live. Insuring a motorcycle in New York City could cost 2-3 times as much as you'd pay if you live in a more rural part of the state. Insurers have to consider daily traffic, the risk of theft and vandalism, and much more. Other factors, including the bike you have, your credit score, your driving record, and your age, also will determine how much or how little you pay for motorcycle insurance in New York.

If you're an experienced rider, you could pay around $500 per year for motorcycle insurance. If you're a new driver, you should expect to pay more for motorcycle insurance. Similarly, 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 New York, including:

• Your age
• Your driving record
• Where you live
• Where you store your bike
• Your motorcycle, the type of bike and age of your bike
• 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 kind of coverage do you get with motorcycle insurance In New York?

Many motorcycle insurance coverage options work in the same way that car insurance coverage does. You have to buy minimum coverages to cover your liability in an accident. In other words, if you cause an accident, you need to cover the injuries you've caused to property or people.

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 New York. While it's often in your best interest to carry more comprehensive insurance coverage, lenders require you to protect their investment as long as they're doing business with you.

As you add more coverages, you spend more on affordable motorcycle insurance per month. This has to be balanced against the amount you would need to spend if you were in an accident. If you can afford to replace your bike and pay all your own medical bills, you may see benefits in choosing only minimal coverage. The average rider would be saving money now only to run into serious financial issues later.

Most motorcycle insurance companies in New York offer the following coverages:

• Liability coverage in New York: Liability coverage is a required motorcycle insurance coverage in New York. Also, motorcycle insurance can be terminated without surrendering the plates when you decide to store the motorcycle during the winter months. 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. According to the DMV, under no circumstances riders are allowed to operate a motorcycle on public highways without the necessary liability coverage levels.
• Collision coverage in New York: Motorcycle insurance collision coverage in New York 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 pay your deductible.
• Comprehensive coverage in New York: Motorcycle insurance comprehensive coverage in New York 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 pay your deductible
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage in New York: 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 were to get into an accident with someone who is uninsured or underinsured, this coverage would 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 coverage in New York: 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 coverage in New York: New York may 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.

When does an optional type of coverage make sense?

In addition to the motorcycle insurance coverages listed above, there are many other types of New York motorcycle insurance coverages that are optional. Not every motorcycle driver needs additional coverages. Even if you're financing or leasing, these typically aren't motorcycle insurance requirements. For certain people, it could mean thousands in savings later on.

• Coverage for customized motorcycle parts in New York: If you drive customized or vintage bikes, you probably don't have the factory parts for everything. There are different levels. Some people just like to replace their fenders or add one or two specialty parts. Others redesign their whole bike. If this sounds like you, you should know your standard insurance probably won't cover the updates you've made. You need additional coverage on your policy for any kind of custom bike.
• Motorcycle trailer coverage in New York: 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. If you're trying to save money on a road trip with a trailer, this could make or break your trip.
• Roadside assistance in New York: 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. With roadside assistance, you could get help for various issues including if your bike ran out of gas, has a dead battery, has a flat tire and so on. This is useful even if you're never in a motorcycle accident.
• Rental reimbursement in New York: While your bike is getting fixed, you may need a rental in order to get around. Rental reimbursement coverage in New York will allow you to get money back from your insurance company for a rental.
• Replacement cost in New York: 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 in New York: Lay-up insurance could come in handy if you live in New York and only drive your motorcycle seasonally while storing it away in the snowy winter months. Lay-up motorcycle insurance allows you to keep your comprehensive coverage active while pausing your other coverages.

What do you do with your motorcycle insurance in the winter?

New York isn't exactly known for having a tropical climate, but there are parts of the Empire State that suffer through worse winters than other parts. If you've been to Buffalo, you will understand. That's why many drivers store their motorcycles for the winter and wait until spring is in full swing before riding again. There are some brave souls who drive all year round, but it's uncommon.

If you choose to do so, you may be tempted to cancel your New York motorcycle insurance during those cold winter months, but doing so may not be the best idea.

Cancelling your New York motorcycle insurance may seem like an easy way to save money, but it could end up costing you more in the long run. If something were to happen to your bike, such as a fire, theft, or vandalism, you wouldn't be covered. If there's an unexpectedly warm day and you want to ride your bike, you wouldn't be able to since you can't ride it without insurance. By cancelling your policy each winter, you're also stopping your coverage history with a given company. So you lose your loyalty discounts.

Lay-up insurance, which allows you to put a hold on certain parts of your insurance policy, could be a much better and safer option. With lay-up motorcycle insurance, you would be able to, 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 offseason.

How do you get affordable motorcycle insurance rates in New York?

When shopping for motorcycle insurance in New York, 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 New York motorcycle insurance policies are typically more flexible and customizable and may even be more affordable in some cases.

There are some obvious things you can do. For example, stay out of trouble and keep a clean driving record. If you've been driving longer without accidents or citations, you present a lower risk.

In order to find the best and cheapest motorcycle insurance in New York, sometimes it comes down to shopping around. Compare your options and see what different companies are offering. It's easy to get a quote with your auto insurance company. If you enter your zip code on our calculator, you get multiple quotes from providers in New York. This gives you a better idea of what you should actually be paying.

Use the table at the top of this page to find the highest rated motorcycle insurance companies in your zip code. In this table, you can see which motorcycle insurance companies in New York 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.

Do you qualify for discounts from a motorcycle insurance provider?

Many companies offer motorcycle insurance discounts to New York 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 in New York: 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 in New York: Some motorcycle insurance companies offer a discount if you insure more than one motorcycle with the same company.
• Biker group discount in New York: 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 in New York: 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 in New York: 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 in New York: 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 in New York: If you take a motorcycle safety course to educate yourself, your motorcycle insurance company may offer you a discount on your insurance.
• Renewal discount in New York: If you renew your motorcycle insurance policy, you may be rewarded with a discount.
• Transfer discount in New York: Some motorcycle insurance companies offer a discount to bikers who switch or transfer their motorcycle insurance to them.

What are New York motorcycle licensing laws?

New York requires all motorcyclists to have a Class M license or a learner's permit (Class MJ). To get a motorcycle license, you must first get a learner's permit. Drivers are required to take a written test to get the permit and then must pass a motorcycle road test in order to be fully licensed.

New York recommends that drivers take the state’s Motorcycle Safety Program Basic Rider Course, but does not require it. If you do not already have a New York driver’s license, you will be required to show proof that you’ve completed either a pre-licensing course or a driver education course, however.

What are New York motorcycle laws?

New York requires motorcyclists to wear a helmet and eye protection at all times in addition to requiring daytime running headlights. NY does not have an age restriction on motorcycle passengers but does require the specific bike to have a permanent passenger seat.

New York motorcycle laws prohibit lane splitting, the practice of driving between lanes of slowed or stopped automobile traffic. Motorcyclists are allowed to ride two abreast in a single lane of traffic, though.

It's also important to note that New York treats motorcycle registration different from automobile registration. Unlike cars, motorcycles in New York are registered for one year, not two, and all motorcycle registrations expire on April 30.

What's New York weather like for motorcyclists?

New York is known for cold winters and hot summers, but the weather varies across the state. New York City gets an average of 25 inches of snow per year, while Rochester, New York, known as the snowiest city in the U.S., gets an average of almost 100 inches per year. That's not exactly motorcycle-friendly weather. Still, motorcyclists can enjoy the Empire State in the spring, summer, and fall.

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

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 New York are derived entirely from customer reviews and ratings.

Use the table at the top of this page to find the highest rated motorcycle insurance companies in your zip code.