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Expect to pay around $63 a month or $750 a year for motorcycle insurance. Your rates depend on factors like your bike, mileage, coverage, location and age.
For example, a new bike valued at $15,000 may start at $16 a month for liability-only coverage, or go up to $42 monthly for full coverage insurance. A bike with twice this market value can see double this insurance premium.
Motorcycle insurance is required in most states, though each state has different motorcycle insurance laws based on factors like engine size.
If your bike has an engine smaller than 50cc or top speeds below 30 mph, it’s likely classified as a moped or scooter with different insurance requirements.
To build your policy, start with your state’s minimum liability coverage, such as $25,000 bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 bodily injury per accident and $25,000 property damage liability. Consider raising your limits to protect your assets in case you’re sued because of an accident.
Liability insurance is typically the only type of coverage legally required for motorcycles. Many states don’t require insurers to offer personal injury protection for bikes, unlike car insurance.
Want wider coverage on a new, classic or expensive bike? Look for a motorcycle policy that includes full coverage, which is liability, collision and comprehensive coverage.
Covers the medical costs of the other drivers if you’re in an at-fault accident, including emergency medical costs, surgery costs, legal help and funerals.
Covers damage you cause to someone else’s property or vehicle in an accident. This coverage won’t cover damage to your own bike.
Covers damage to your motorcycle from non-collision damage, including weather, vandalism, falling objects, vandalism and theft.
Covers repairs to your motorcycle if you’re involved in an accident involving another vehicle or solid object, like a tree or telephone pole.
Covers damage to windshields, luggage racks, storage and other personal items.
Depending on the types of coverage you choose, motorcycle insurance can cover situations like:
You should replace your helmet after almost any blow to the head, according to the standard-setting Snell Foundation. The good news is comprehensive bike insurance covers the cost of a new helmet after a crash.
New bike helmets can cost anywhere from $100 to $1,000 although you can find solid options for $150 or $200, according to the NADAguides.
Consider the extras available in a policy. For example, accessory coverage or custom parts and equipment coverage also protects helmets, sidecars, antennas, trailers, custom paint or trike conversion kits.
Some extras include:
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Like with car insurance, you might qualify for discounts to help you save on your premiums, such as:
If you only ride your bike in the summer, a seasonal, temporary or laid-up policy will cover only when you ride regularly. You still may have comprehensive coverage during winter or when you don’t ride, but liability and collision will drop off and lower your premiums overall.
You may pay more on your premiums if you’re a young or inexperienced driver or if you have accidents on your driving record. However, you can help to reduce your premiums in a few ways:
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Brad Larson
Licensed insurance agent for Carinsurance.org
If you’ve put money into an upgraded engine or exhaust, or if you’ve invested in chrome accessories or any other specialty parts, the best policy for you is one that will cover replacement costs of those upgrades.
If you have an expensive brand of motorcycle, there are some insurance companies that base their rates on engine size rather than the brand of motorcycle. A quote comparison will help you identify those companies because the price difference will be obvious.
Liability-only coverage is the cheapest option and a good one when your motorcycle isn’t worth much money.
Is a seasonal policy worth it?
Depending on your lifestyle, a seasonal policy can be a good option. If you’re okay with putting down the keys and not riding over the winter — even when it’s an unseasonably warm and sunny day — then a seasonal policy can help you save a little money.
It may not help you save as much as you expect though, because continuous coverage tends to be less expensive per month than seasonal coverage.
If you have full coverage and want to make it seasonal coverage, you should make sure your motorcycle can be garaged. If left on the street or driveway, there’s too much risk of damage — which outweighs your savings.
How is motorcycle different from car insurance?
While nearly every state requires liability insurance for cars, there are a few states that don’t require any type of coverage for motorcycles. That lack of requirement doesn’t equate to a lack of need, though. A motorcycle can cause a lot of damage, and without liability insurance, you’ll be responsible for that damage out of pocket.
Often with full coverage (i.e. comprehensive and collision coverage), a motorcyclist chooses a policy that covers upgrades and accessories. While it is possible to get similar coverage for a car, it’s much more common to purchase that specialty coverage for a motorcycle.
Besides that requirement difference, motorcycle insurance is essentially the same as car insurance. You have the option of purchasing comprehensive and collision coverages unless you have a loan, in which case the lender will almost always require full coverage.
You’ll need to prove ownership and insurance before getting your license plate handed to you.
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Salvage your bike’s roadworthy reputation with a safety-focused rebuild and rebuilt title, then get insurance.
You might need specialty insurance for bike racing, unless your insurer gives the green light on noncompetitive events.
You won’t need a license if your bike falls under the state’s moped category. But you’ll need liability insurance to safely and legally drive in NC.
Get the coverage you need for your three-wheeler.
How to get coverage after a DUI.
What to expect with coverage and rates. Plus, how to save even without a license.
Compare reviews from the top motorcycle insurance companies.
