Best Motorcycle Insurance: Coverage, Costs and Insurers Compared

Is motorcycle insurance required?

Almost always. Progressive notes that almost all states require riders to carry insurance, and each state sets its own minimum bodily injury and property damage limits. Some states let you file a certificate of financial responsibility instead, showing assets at least equal to the required limits. GEICO says Florida and New Hampshire have unique rules and may not require traditional insurance, but proof of financial responsibility is usually still required. Connecticut, New York and Wisconsin require uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

Riding uninsured where coverage is required can bring tickets, fines, impoundment and loss of your license, which may lead to an SR-22 filing requirement. If you cause a crash, you are personally responsible for the damage. Check your state DMV or insurance department for current rules. Lenders usually require liability, collision and comprehensive for the full term of a bike loan.

Why rider coverage matters more than car coverage

NHTSA counted 6,228 motorcyclist deaths in 2024, or 16% of all traffic fatalities. Per mile traveled, motorcyclists were almost 27 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a crash and almost 5 times more likely to be injured. In 2023 data, the motorcyclist death rate was 31.39 per 100 million vehicle miles, compared with 1.13 for car occupants.

That has two practical consequences. First, the coverages that protect you (medical payments, PIP where offered, and uninsured/underinsured motorist) are worth more on a bike. Second, liability limits matter because a crash you cause can seriously injure another rider or pedestrian.

Coverage types explained

Source: Insurify motorcycle insurance guide; Dairyland motorcycle coverages page; GEICO state requirements page.

How much motorcycle insurance costs

Published averages differ a lot because each study prices a different rider and bike. Here are two, side by side:

Source: MoneyGeek average cost of motorcycle insurance (updated Oct. 8, 2026); Insurify motorcycle insurance quotes (updated Feb. 4, 2026).

The gap tells you something useful. A middle-aged rider with a clean record on a small cruiser can pay very little, while a mix of younger riders and bigger bikes pulls the average far higher. Treat any average as a rough guide and get your own quotes.

What drives your rate

• Age and experience. In MoneyGeek's data, a 16-year-old paid $1,446 a year for full coverage, about 2.5 times the $571 for a 40-year-old. Full-coverage rates were lowest around age 55 ($470).
• Bike type. Sport bikes cost more to insure because of higher theft and repair costs. Standard bikes under 500cc usually cost the least. Touring bikes with expensive accessories cost more to cover.
• Location. In MoneyGeek's state averages, Rhode Island and New Jersey were among the most expensive for full coverage, and Montana and Alaska among the cheapest.
• License and record. MoneyGeek found Progressive charged riders without a motorcycle endorsement 12% more for full coverage. Tickets and at-fault claims raise rates.
• Coverage choices. Higher limits, lower deductibles and add-ons raise the premium.

The same rating factors apply to cars. Our guide to auto insurance rates covers them in more detail.

Motorcycle insurers compared

These are options, not a ranking. Insurify's own editors named Progressive best overall, GEICO best for budget-conscious riders and Dairyland best for high-risk riders. Here is what each insurer publishes about its coverage.

Progressive

• $3,000 of accessory and custom-parts coverage included with comprehensive and collision; up to $30,000 available.
• Total loss coverage on new bikes pays full MSRP, minus your deductible, if the bike is no more than one model year old on a new policy (two at renewal).
• OEM parts for repairs, Carried Contents coverage for gear, and optional trip interruption of up to $500.
• Disappearing deductible: 25% lower for each claim-free policy period, down to $0 (not in all states).
• AM Best Financial Strength Rating: A+ (Superior), affirmed in April 2025.

GEICO

• Discounts of up to 10% each for completing a Motorcycle Safety Foundation or military safety course, insuring more than one bike, mature riders, renewal, switching from another insurer, and insuring a car or RV with GEICO.
• Up to 20% off for current MSF instructors. Anti-theft and defensive driver discounts are also listed. Not all discounts can be combined, and GEICO's discount page carries an older date, so confirm in a quote.

Dairyland

• A wide menu of coverages: guest passenger liability, PIP, uninsured and underinsured motorist for both injuries and bike damage, and rental reimbursement.
• Replacement cost for bikes two model years old or newer that are totaled, and Physical Damage Plus for genuine manufacturer parts.
• Seasonal insurance in some areas, plus agreed-value coverage for vintage bikes 25 years or older.

Harley-Davidson Insurance

• Bike Replacement Cost for a new motorcycle declared a total loss, and replacement-cost coverage for optional equipment.
• Genuine Harley-Davidson parts are replaced with genuine parts when available.
• Policies are underwritten by a member of the Sentry Insurance Group.

Discounts worth asking about

• Completing an approved safety course (MSF or military)
• Bundling with auto, home or renters insurance
• Insuring more than one motorcycle with the same company
• Choosing $500 or $1,000 deductibles instead of $250
• Mature-rider, anti-theft device and claim-free renewal discounts

Seasonal and lay-up coverage

If your bike sits in a garage for the winter, you may be tempted to cancel. Dairyland lists the risks:

• Loans and leases usually require liability, comprehensive and collision for the full term.
• Canceling early can trigger a fee, and restarting in spring may cost more for the same coverage.
• Insurers may decline to cover riders who cancel and restart repeatedly.
• A stored bike can still be stolen or damaged by fire, flood or storms.

A better option, where offered, is a lay-up arrangement. It reduces or pauses liability and collision but keeps comprehensive, so the stored bike stays protected against theft and damage. Some insurers also offer a one-time "sunny day" clause that gives one day of liability coverage during the off-season. Harley-Davidson Insurance says pausing coverage is not recommended. Ask each insurer what it offers and how it prices the riding months.

How to shop

1. Decide on liability limits above your state minimum. A serious injury claim can exceed low limits.
2. Add uninsured/underinsured motorist and medical payments coverage, then weigh them against your health plan's deductible.
3. List your accessories and their cost, and check whether the included amount covers them.
4. For a new bike, compare total-loss terms (MSRP or replacement cost, and the model-year cutoff).
5. Get at least three quotes with identical limits and deductibles, and ask about safety course and bundling discounts.

For broader context on coverage types and how insurers price risk, see our insurance hub.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• MoneyGeek – Average cost of motorcycle insurance (Oct. 8, 2026)
• Insurify – Motorcycle insurance quotes (Feb. 4, 2026)
• Progressive – Motorcycle insurance requirements by state
• Progressive – Motorcycle insurance coverages
• Business Wire – AM Best affirms credit ratings of The Progressive Corporation (Apr. 2025)
• GEICO – Motorcycle insurance requirements by state
• GEICO – Motorcycle insurance discounts
• Dairyland – Motorcycle insurance coverages
• Dairyland – Seasonal motorcycle insurance
• Harley-Davidson Insurance – What does motorcycle insurance cover?
• NHTSA – Motorcycle safety
• NHTSA via TRID – Traffic Safety Facts 2023 Data: Motorcycles

Rates, fees and terms change often. Figures were checked in October 2026; confirm current details with the provider before you apply.