Choosing the right motorcycle insurance policy is very a very delicate process. It is just like selecting your very own motorcycle. Many motorcycle owners in their pursuit of cheap motorcycle insurance always end up buying the wrong motorcycle insurance.
Motorcycle insurance should not just be cheap motorbike insurance. Ideally, it should meet your requirements and fit into your lifestyle, as well as be affordable.
Basics of what to know about motorcycle insurance
Below is a quick guide to motorcycle insurance coverage, as well as some pointers on how to keep your premiums as low as possible. It's critical to know all of your alternatives before choosing insurance coverage.
Other types of insurance coverage are usually voluntary, even if your state requires you to have a certain amount of liability insurance. You should find out what regulations apply in your state and what coverage options you have to make an informed decision.
Liability insurance protects you from financial loss if you injure or damage someone else's property due to an accident. This policy does not cover damage to your motorcycle or bodily injury to you. Depending on your state's rules and the business issuing your policy, you may also be eligible for Guest Passenger Liability, which protects you if a passenger is hurt on your motorcycle.
If you are in an accident with another vehicle while riding your motorcycle, your collision insurance will pay for the damages. It's your insurance company's responsibility to pay for damages (typically the bike's book value before the loss occurred), less your deductible.
When something other than an accident causes damage, comprehensive coverage kicks in to cover the costs. Damages are paid for less your deductible, and only the motorcycle's book value is covered with comprehensive coverage, similar to collision coverage.
Customized motorcycle parts are covered under this policy. Many comprehensive and collision insurance policies will only cover your motorcycle if it has the original equipment manufacturer's parts. Additions like chrome pieces, a custom paint job, trailers, or sidecars may have coverage limits, so speak with your insurer before making any decisions.
In the event of an accident involving an uninsured or underinsured driver, UM/UIM insurance covers your injury and property damage (underinsured). Uninsured/underinsured motorist plans often cover medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage.
Average Cost of Motorcycle Insurance
Minimum Coverage Cost
| Insurance Provider | Standard Bike Annual Premium | Sports Bike Annual Premium | Touring Bike Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Progressive | $84.97 | $117.24 | $195.33 |
| Dairyland | $85.30 | $117.71 | $229.12 |
| Allstate | $102.00 | $143.00 | $227.00 |
Full Coverage Cost
| Insurance Provider | Standard Bike Annual Premium | Sports Bike Annual Premium | Touring Bike Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Progressive | $408.07 | $2,183.55 | $1,201.18 |
| Dairyland | $434.81 | $1,463.97 | $962.90 |
| Allstate | $679.00 | $3,271.00 | $1,481.00 |
Average Cost of Motorcycle Insurance by State
| State | Cost per month | Cost per year | Diff. vs. U.S avg. |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $161 | $1826 | 162% |
| Louisiana | $105 | $1242 | 62% |
| Missouri | $95 | $1026 | 41% |
| Michigan | $89 | $963 | 36% |
| Florida | $89 | $952 | 34% |
| North Carolina | $78 | $946 | 32% |
| Rhode Island | $76 | $925 | 29% |
| Kentucky | $74 | $899 | 25% |
| Tennessee | $72 | $877 | 26% |
| Massechusets | $82 | $876 | 22% |
| Utah | $79 | $842 | 17% |
| Texas | $79 | $832 | 16% |
| Mississippi | $79 | $823 | 15% |
| Montana | $78 | $823 | 15% |
| Oregon | $77 | $819 | 13% |
| Delaware | $76 | $807 | 12% |
| Arkansas | $75 | $788 | 10% |
| Georgia | $76 | $786 | 10% |
| Oklahoma | $74 | $777 | 8% |
| Arizona | $74 | $775 | 8% |
| Illinois | $72 | $749 | 5% |
| South Carolina | $71 | $747 | 4% |
| Washington | $71 | $743 | 4% |
| Nevada | $70 | $731 | 1% |
| Alabama | $70 | $726 | 1% |
| Maryland | $69 | $721 | 1% |
| New York | $69 | $715 | -1% |
| Virginia | $67 | $694 | -3% |
| Pennsylvania | $66 | $682 | -5% |
| Connecticut | $65 | $668 | -7% |
| New Jersey | $64 | $663 | -7% |
| New Mexico | $64 | $660 | -8% |
| Idaho | $64 | $659 | -8% |
| New Hampshire | $63 | $646 | -10% |
| Ohio | $62 | $630 | -12% |
| Colorado | $62 | $629 | -12% |
| West Virginia | $59 | $593 | -17% |
| Indiana | $58 | $587 | -18% |
| Hawaii | $56 | $560 | -22% |
| Kansas | $54 | $543 | -24% |
| Minnesota | $54 | $540 | -24% |
| Maine | $51 | $496 | -31% |
| Vermont | $50 | $493 | -35% |
| Wisconsin | $50 | $489 | -32% |
| Alaska | $50 | $487 | -32% |
| Nebraska | $48 | $468 | -34% |
| South Dakota | $48 | $466 | -35% |
| Wyoming | $47 | $459 | -36% |
| Iowa | $44 | $421 | -45% |
| North Dakota | #38 | $340 | -52% |
States with Most Affordable Motorcycle Insurance
| State | Average Annual Cost |
|---|---|
| North Dakota | $335 |
| Iowa | $422 |
| Wyoming | $459 |
| South Dakota | $466 |
| Nebraska | $468 |
| Overall | $731 |
States with Most Expensive Auto Insurance
| State | Average Annual Cost |
|---|---|
| California | $1826 |
| Louisiana | $1242 |
| Missouri | $1116 |
| Michigan | $963 |
| Florida | $952 |
| Overall | $731 |
How do Motorcycle Insurance rates changes with age?
| Age | Yamaha V Star 250 | Kawasaki Ninja 400 | BMW R 1250 RT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cruiser | Sport | Touring | |
| 16 | $2,586 | $4,012 | $5665 |
| 18 | $2,054 | $2,784 | $3,962 |
| 21 | $1,921 | $2,112 | $2,989 |
| 35 | $1,399 | $2,120 | $2,729 |
| 50 | $1,399 | $2,120 | $3,404 |
What affects your motorcycle insurance quotes?
Various factors affect your motorcycle insurance quotes. Some of the best motorcycle insurance companies take these factors to put a price on your scooter insurance. These are:
- your age
- your driving record
- place of residence
- type of bike you ride (sports bike, customized bike, etc.)
- miles your ride annually
- place you store your bike
If you are looking for the cheapest motorcycle insurance, it will pay if you shop around. Comparing various motorcycle insurance quotes will help you get the cheapest motorbike insurance.
Did you know that your motorcycle insurance would cost less than $300 per year in a low-traffic state with maximum coverage and an accomplished rider with a clean driving record? However, the insurance premium for your motorcycle can easily be many times as much if you are in a more populated area (and maybe your driving record is less-than-perfect).
Here are some of the other variables that can impact the cost of your insurance:
- Insured value: Insured value applies to the limits of coverage you want and to your bike's value. If you choose higher limits for medical benefits or higher limits for liability, the insurer's potential claim payout is higher. Expect prices to climb with higher caps on coverage. The bike itself is still a possible liability, so insurance is more costly on a more expensive bike.
- Condition of your motorcycle: In general, occasional sunny-day riders should expect to pay less for their commute than those who use their bikes regularly.
- Claims and driving records: Careful driving, in turn, can lower insurance premiums, will pay dividends. Your insurance premiums will also be influenced by previous claims (including auto claims).
- Insurance score or credit score: When setting a policy premium, insurers can use your credit score as a rating factor. This practice is prevalent. An 'insurance score' is used in some instances, assessing the history of both credit and claims.
- Deductibles: The deduction is the portion of the claim you pay. Choosing a higher deductible ensures that you face most of the risk and that the insurer pays out less in a lawsuit. When you choose a higher deductible, premiums appear to be lower. It is worth wondering how much of a difference the premium makes to the deductible. Choosing a higher deductible for comprehensive coverage, for example, sometimes doesn't make any difference to your rate. It may minimize the sum of your coverage effectively.
- Safety courses for riders: You can reduce the expense by bundling auto and motorcycle insurance or full driver safety courses. For bike club members as well, discounts are also open. Make sure you ask your representative what deals you can get.
Best motorcycle insurance companies
In the event of an accident, motorcycle insurance covers you as well as your vehicle and any property or bystanders. Most states mandate motorcycle insurance coverage, and the cost can range from a few hundred dollars to as much as $2,000 depending on the rider, bike, and area.
Find out more about the top-rated businesses that offer motorcycle insurance, including savings and advantages, if you don't have coverage or want to switch providers.
Below are our top-rated motorcycle insurance companies:
- Progressive: Best for Accident Forgiveness
- Harley-Davidson: Best for New Riders
- Farmers: Best for Track Riders
- Allstate: Best for Bundling
- Markel: Best for Discounts
Tips to get cheap motorcycle insurance
Maintaining a clean driving record will help you save money on your premiums, much like auto insurance. Driver discounts and other ways to save money on your motorcycle insurance are also available from various motorcycle insurance companies. While state and insurer options may differ, the following is an example of what you might find:
Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) rider course graduates are eligible for reduced training costs at other motorcycle safety organizations. If you're a young rider under the age of 25, this is especially helpful. It's also a smart move for motorcyclists who've been in collisions in the past.
Riders who insure more than one motorcycle may be able to save money by taking advantage of multi-bike discounts. You may be eligible for a multi-policy discount if you purchase your insurance from your vehicle or home insurer.
If you're a member of a motorcycle club or another organization, you may be eligible for member discounts. Experienced motorcyclists might save money by taking advantage of mature rider discounts.
Policy savings that are built up over time. When the bike is not in use during the winter, all coverage except comprehensive is suspended with lay-up insurance. This saves the driver money.
Motorcycle insurance is directly proportional to helmets
Some motorcyclists tend not to wear a helmet. Individuals with like minds had effectively lobbied to mandate little to no helmet use in 31 states. And many also prefer to ride without helmets. Not wearing a helmet is risky and can be expensive – for both not wearing a helmet and wearing a helmet.
Higher medical expenses cause higher insurance rates
Riding a bicycle without a helmet places people at a greater risk of injury. Bad accidents may result in expensive and time-consuming hospital care, which would raise insurance premiums.
In addition to these higher prices, motorcycle insurers need to make up for the losses somewhere. Another alternative is to raise cable prices. In that case, motorcycle learners might be given lower premiums using a motorcycle safety course or having previous riding experience. It helps to live where insurance providers are less responsible for a high rate of claims.
Exposed and uninsured
Motorcycles aren't the only way bikers lead to the increased risk of other bikers. There are higher costs for insured bikers due to the number of uninsured bikers; likewise, there are higher costs for insured drivers because of the number of uninsured drivers.Motorcyclists may choose to purchase extra insurance to cover liability issues but may result in higher insurance rates.
Motorcyclists who get injured need to undergo hospitalization, regardless of whether they're covered. When uninsured, these people end up having treatments that are often covered by public health services.
Risks will raise insurance premiums. Although studies have shown not wearing a helmet is counterproductive. This risk is expressed in helmetless riders' insurance rates, higher than those of other riders and city residents. Helmet regulations can decrease vehicle accident rates, but they do not save anyone money.
Auto Insurance Data Methodology
The auto insurance rates published in this guide are based on the results of research completed by Way.com’s data team. Using a mix of public and internal data, we analyzed millions of rate averages across U.S. ZIP codes.
Quotes are typically based on a full coverage policy average unless otherwise noted within the content.
These rates were publicly sourced from insurer filings and should be used for comparative purposes only — your own quotes will differ. Given this, it’s important to go through our insurance steps form to find how much you can save with way.com
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