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

Maybe it’s the Liberty Bell or the Gettysburg Address. Maybe it’s Hershey, home to a whole lot of chocolate, or Punxsutawney, home to the world’s most famous groundhog. Whatever it is, it’s likely not a motorcycle. But that doesn’t mean the Keystone State, with its mix of urban and rural areas, flat, open lands and mountains, is not a great place for motorcyclists. That’s likely why there are more than 404,000 motorcycles registered in Pennsylvania, more than in all but three other states.

If you decide to ride your motorcycle in Pennsylvania, there are steps you must take to do so safely and legally, including purchasing motorcycle insurance.

Do I need motorcycle insurance in Pennsylvania?

Motorcycle coverage is required in Pennsylvania and riders must show proof of insurance before registering their bike.

Similar to most states, Pennsylvania requires motorcyclists to obtain liability insurance. The state’s mandatory minimums for motorcycle insurance are:

$5,000 for property damage,
$15,000 for death or bodily injury to one person, and
$30,000 for death or bodily injury of two or more people.

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 and recommended that all bikers consider these insurance coverages. Additional liability motorcycle insurance coverage 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 would 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 Pennsylvania motorcycle insurance coverage, you wouldn’t be covered for the damages.

How much does motorcycle insurance cost in Pennsylvania?

The price of buying motorcycle insurance in Pennsylvania can vary greatly. Several factors, including where in the state you live, the type of bike you have, and your age, will determine how much or how little you pay for motorcycle insurance in Pennsylvania.

Also, when determining which insurance is the best for your situation, there are some factors to consider such as the quality of customer service and prices.

For example, if you’re an experienced Pennsylvania 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 insurance premium could be more than $1,000 per year.

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

Your age
Your driving record
Where you live in Pennsylvania
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

Note that no factors impact the insurance price as much as the amount of protection you choose to get.

What are the motorcycle insurance coverage options in Pennsylvania?

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 Pennsylvania collision and comprehensive motorcycle protection in addition to any other coverages required by the state of Pennsylvania. But unlike homeowners insurance, motorcycle insurance only covers the damage that you cause to someone else.

And while it's important to carry the minimum coverage required by the state, it's also recommended to have enough insurance to protect your assets in the event of a loss.

Most motorcycle insurance companies in Pennsylvania offer a wide range of coverage options such as the following:

Liability insurance: Liability coverage is a required motorcycle insurance coverage in Pennsylvania. 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. 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 Pennsylvania?

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

Coverage for customized motorcycle parts: Most of the time, standard coverage such as 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. It covers aftermarket parts and custom equipment that was not originally installed on your motorcycle by the manufacturer.
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 Pennsylvania: 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. 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. A roadside field representative will be sent to your location to help with these services.
Rental reimbursement in Pennsylvania: While your motorcycle 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 you wait for your bike to be fixed after a covered accident.
Replacement cost in Pennsylvania: 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 for Pennsylvania residents: Lay-up insurance could come in handy if you live in Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania motorcycle insurance in the winter?

Winters in Pennsylvania can be long, snowy affairs, which is why many drivers pack their motorcycles away during those months and wait until spring hits before riding again. If your bike is stored for the winter, you may be tempted to cancel your Pennsylvania motorcycle insurance during those cold winter months, but doing so may not be the best idea.

Cancelling your Pennsylvania motorcycle insurance in the winter may seem like an easy way to save some money, but it could end up costing you more money in the long run. If something should happen to your bike, say a fire, theft, or vandalism, you wouldn’t be covered. Or if there were an expectedly warm day and you wanted to ride your bike, you wouldn’t be able to take it on the road without an active insurance policy.

Instead of cancelling your policy, an option to consider is lay-up motorcycle insurance. Lay-up insurance allows you to put a hold on certain parts of your motorcycle insurance policy. 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 offseason.

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

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

In order to find the best and cheapest motorcycle insurance in Pennsylvania, you’ll want to shop around. You should get motorcycle insurance quotes from multiple companies so you can compare motorcycle insurance costs and coverage options. Motorcycle insurance rates in Pennsylvania vary greatly by company.

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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania?

Many companies offer motorcycle insurance discounts to Pennsylvania 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 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 on the same Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania motorcycle licensing laws?

Pennsylvania requires all motorcyclists to have a Class M license. To obtain this license, you must pass a motorcycle knowledge test and apply for a Class M learner’s permit. With a learner’s permit, you can drive between sunrise and sunset under the supervision of a licensed Class M driver.

If you are under the age of 18, you must hold a permit for at least six months and complete 65 hours of supervised riding before you take the road test. You’re also required to complete a Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Program Basic Rider Course before receiving your license.

What are Pennsylvania motorcycle laws?

Pennsylvania law requires motorcyclists to wear a helmet unless they meet certain criteria. In order to ride helmet-free, drivers must be 21 years of age or older and have had their Class M license for at least two years and have completed an approved motorcycle safety course. Even if you meet the criteria to legally ride without a helmet, helmets are very important forms of protection to wear. Anyone riding in an enclosed cab doesn't have to wear a helmet.

These laws are not only designed to protect the rider, but also everyone else on the road.

Motorcycle drivers are required to have some form of eye protection. Pennsylvania has no age restrictions on motorcycle passengers, though they are required to have a passenger seat and footrests. Passengers are exempt from the helmet law if they are 21 years of age or older.

Lane splitting, the practice of driving between lanes of slowed or stopped automobile traffic, is not legal in Pennsylvania.

What's Pennsylvania weather for motorcyclists like?

Pennsylvania connects the Northeast states of the U.S. to the Mid-Atlantic states and its climate bridges those two areas. The Keystone State is known for hot, humid summers and cold and snowy winters. Northwest Pennsylvania, near Lake Erie, is typically the snowiest part of the state, receiving more than 100 inches of snow a year, on average. All of this may not sound like the friendliest climate for motorcycle riding, but Pennsylvania’s temperate weather in autumn and late spring will appeal to motorcycle riders.

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

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 Pennsylvania 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.

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