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Whether your ride is a lightweight scooter or custom chopper, motorcycle insurance helps protect you financially in case of a wreck or other mishap.
Before buying a policy, understand the types of motorcycle insurance available, decide how much and which kinds of coverage you need, and then compare motorcycle insurance quotes from multiple companies to get the best deal.
In this article:
Do you need insurance for a motorcycle?
Most states require you to buy liability insurance for a motorcycle. Liability insurance covers damage and injuries you cause others in an accident.
In addition, a lender or leasing company usually requires collision coverage and comprehensive insurance if you finance or lease a bike.
But even when coverage is not required, it’s smart to buy motorcycle insurance. Otherwise, you could be on the hook to pay for another driver’s losses in the event of an accident, and you'd pay the full cost of repairing or replacing your own bike if you crash it or it’s stolen.
Types of motorcycles that can be covered
You can buy insurance for almost any kind of motorcycle. Some of the most common motorcycle types that insurance will cover are:
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Autocycles. These three-wheeled vehicles, such as the Polaris Slingshot and Tango Trike, are a cross between a car and a motorcycle. The way to cover one is with a motorcycle insurance policy, not a car insurance policy.
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Classic or collectible bikes. You can cover your vintage or antique bike with a basic motorcycle insurance policy and add extra coverage for custom and accessory parts.
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Cruisers. Built for comfort, cruisers feature a relaxed riding style and are among the most popular bikes on the road. Make sure to add coverage for custom parts you’ve added.
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Custom bikes. You can typically get full coverage for bikes that are built by motorcycle manufacturers and then customized by a shop or by you. You may be limited to only liability coverage when you’ve built a bike at home from a kit or replaced the original frame.
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Dirt bikes and motocross. Although these off-road bikes are usually not ridden on the street, many states still require liability insurance for them.
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Sport bikes. These bikes are built for speed and include popular models such as the Kawasaki Ninja, Yamaha YZF, Honda CBR, and others. If you’ve modified the bike, let the insurer know so you get the coverage you need.
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Scooters and mopeds. Most states require liability insurance for scooters but not for mopeds. Engine size is the distinguishing factor. Scooters, which generally have 50cc or higher engines, are the more powerful of the two.
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Touring bikes. Designed for long distances, touring motorcycles feature powerful engines and storage space, and many allow for two riders. Make sure to add any additional riders to the policy to fill coverage gaps, and consider extra coverage, such as roadside assistance and trip interruption insurance.
What does motorcycle insurance cover?
Motorcycle insurance features similar coverage as car insurance and includes some extra options designed especially for riders and their bikes.
Collision coverage
Collision insurance pays for your bike’s repairs, minus your deductible, if it’s damaged in a collision with another vehicle or object. If the repairs will cost more than a certain percentage of the bike’s worth, collision insurance reimburses you for the actual cash value of the bike, minus the deductible.
Comprehensive coverage
Comprehensive insurance pays for your bike’s repairs, minus the deductible, if it’s damaged by a storm, vandalism, collision with an animal, or other problem. It also reimburses you for the value of the bike, minus the deductible, if it’s stolen or totaled.
Liability insurance
Liability insurance covers damage and injuries you cause others in an accident. There are two main types: bodily injury and property damage liability. Most states require a minimum amount of both. In some states, you can also buy guest passenger liability insurance to cover a passenger on your motorcycle who is injured in an accident, according to the Insurance Information Institute.
Personal injury protection (PIP) and medical payments
Personal injury protection and MedPay are separate but similar types of insurance. Both cover the medical expenses of you and your passenger if you’re injured in an accident, no matter who was at fault. PIP may also cover funeral expenses, lost wages, and the cost of replacement services such as childcare. PIP is not available in every state.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
Uninsured motorist coverage pays your medical bills if an uninsured or underinsured motorist causes an accident. It also may pay for lost wages if you’re unable to work. In some states, you can also buy uninsured motorist coverage for damage to your vehicle.
Additional insurance for motorcycles
Extra options vary by insurance company, but below are some common options.
Custom parts and equipment
Collision and comprehensive insurance typically include a dollar limit on how much the policy will pay to replace added equipment and custom parts. You can buy additional coverage to increase the dollar limit, an option worth considering if you’ve upgraded your bike with lots of extras.
Lay-up or storage coverage
Geared for seasonal riders, this lets you pause some coverage, such as liability and collision insurance, during the months that you don’t ride the bike.
Loan or lease gap coverage
Collision and comprehensive insurance pay the actual cash value of your motorcycle if it’s totaled, an amount that may be less than what you owe on a loan or lease of a new bike. Gap insurance coverage pays the difference.
Personal belongings
This pays to replace items you’re carrying on your bike if they’re destroyed in an event covered by your collision or comprehensive insurance.
Rental reimbursement
If your bike is stolen or in the shop getting repairs for damage covered by your policy, rental reimbursement insurance helps pay for a rental car or alternate transportation.
Learn more: What is rental car reimbursement, and what does it cover?
Roadside assistance
Roadside assistance coverage pays for towing your bike to the nearest repair shop if you break down.
Trip interruption
Trip interruption insurance pays for food, lodging, or transportation if you’re a certain distance from home and are in an accident, up to the coverage limit.
Total loss coverage
This option is available only for newer motorcycles. It pays out the full retail price of a new bike, minus your deductible, if your motorcycle is totaled and you have collision and comprehensive insurance.
How much is motorcycle insurance?
Progressive says its basic liability-only motorcycle insurance policy starts at $75 a year. Although motorcycle owners should consider more than just the cost of a liability-only policy.
The starting price will be higher in some states, for some riders, and for some motorcycles, since insurance premium costs vary by several factors.
Is motorcycle insurance cheaper than car insurance?
Motorcycle insurance can be cheaper than car insurance because motorcycles usually cause less damage in accidents than cars, are less expensive to repair or replace, and sometimes are used only seasonally.
But motorcycle insurance may cost more than car insurance in some instances, such as a teen rider with a new high-performance bike compared to a 40-something motorist with a clean driving history and a safe car.
Learn more: What is an auto insurance premium, and how is it calculated?
Factors that affect motorcycle insurance cost
A variety of factors affect the cost of motorcycle insurance, such as:
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Coverage types. You’ll pay more for a policy as you increase the amount and types of coverage.
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Credit. In many states, a good credit history will help keep your rates low.
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Riding history. Experienced riders will tend to pay less than beginners. But speeding tickets and other traffic infractions raise the cost.
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Type of motorcycle. Higher-performance bikes are generally more expensive to insure because they have a higher risk of accidents, and they’re more expensive to repair and replace than standard bikes.
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Where you live. The average cost of motorcycle insurance varies widely by state.
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Your age. Young riders typically pay more than mature riders.
Who sells motorcycle insurance?
Most major car insurance companies also sell motorcycle insurance. Here’s a sampling of several companies. All of them cover a wide range of bikes, sell a full menu of basic and optional coverage, and offer an assortment of discounts.
Allstate motorcycle insurance
Optional insurance from Allstate includes loan or lease gap coverage, and there are many ways to save, including discounts for belonging to a motorcycle organization and taking a safety course.
Dairyland motorcycle insurance
Optional coverage from Dairyland includes replacement cost insurance, which pays for a new bike if yours is three years old or newer and totaled after an accident. There are discounts for homeowners, Harley Owners Group members, riders who complete an approved safety course, and more.
GEICO motorcycle insurance
GEICO’s collision and comprehensive insurance includes up to $2,000 for accessories or bike modifications at no additional cost, and collision insurance covers your helmet. Discounts include up to 20% off for Motorcycle Safety Foundation instructors and up to 10% off for mature riders.
Nationwide motorcycle insurance
Comprehensive insurance from Nationwide includes $3,000 of coverage for custom equipment, and you can buy up to $30,000 of additional coverage. Other options include coverage for original equipment manufacturer parts and roadside assistance.
Progressive motorcycle insurance
The robust list of discounts from Progressive includes savings if you have no accidents or motor vehicle violations for three years. Perks include accident forgiveness, meaning no rate increase if you have a claim of $500 or less, and a 25% reduction of your deductible for every claim-free period.
How to get cheap motorcycle insurance
If keeping motorcycle insurance rates low is a goal, consider these strategies.
Raise the deductible
The deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket to repair or replace your bike before collision or comprehensive insurance kicks in. Raising the deductible will lower the insurance price. Choose the highest deductible that you can afford to pay, and then keep that amount in savings so it’s available if you have to make a claim.
Bundling car and motorcycle insurance
Most insurers offer a discount if you buy more than one type of insurance policy from them, known as “bundling.” If you have a car and a motorcycle, for instance, you could save money by insuring both of them with the same company. Get quotes to compare the total cost of buying the policies from a single company vs. separately from different insurers.
Learn more: How an auto and renters insurance bundle can save you big
Common motorcycle insurance discounts
Motorcycle insurance discounts vary by insurer and by state. These are some of the most common ones.
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Anti-theft discounts are for motorcycles with anti-theft equipment.
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Autopay discounts lower your rate if you set up automatic payments.
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Mature rider discounts provide savings to experienced riders of a certain age.
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Motorcycle organization discounts are for members of approved motorcycle clubs or organizations.
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Multicycle discounts apply if you insure more than one motorcycle with the same insurance company.
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Safety course discounts are for riders who complete an approved motorcycle safety course.
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Safe rider discounts are for maintaining a record with no at-fault accidents or traffic violations for a certain period.
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Transfer discounts are for switching coverage to a particular insurance company.
Learn more: Auto insurance discounts: 17 ways to save
Frequently asked questions about motorcycle insurance
Do you need motorcycle insurance in Florida?
Florida state law does not technically require motorcycle insurance to register a bike, but you have to show proof that you’re financially responsible in the event of an accident.
An easy way to show financial responsibility is simply to buy motorcycle liability insurance — a minimum of $10,000 to cover injuries of a single person, $20,000 to cover injuries of multiple people per accident, and $10,000 to cover property damage.
Another way is to get a financial responsibility certificate through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. To get the certificate, you must show that you have a net worth of at least $40,000.
Can you get motorcycle insurance without a license?
It’s likely not possible to get motorcycle insurance if you don’t have a driver’s license.
Does motorcycle insurance cover theft?
Comprehensive insurance covers theft. It will pay out the actual cash value of the bike, minus your deductible. If you don’t have comprehensive insurance, you won’t have theft coverage.
This article was edited by Amy Danise and Tim Manni.
