Compare Motorcycle Insurance: How to Find Cheap Rates

Motorcycle insurance helps protect you financially if you’re in an accident or if something damages your bike. It can also cover medical costs and custom parts on your motorcycle.

Insurance costs and coverage can vary widely between companies. Comparing motorcycle insurance quotes is the best way to find the right protection at the lowest price.

Comparing your options can help you feel confident in your choice. We’ll walk through what to look for when comparing quotes and how to find the best motorcycle insurance for you.

What to Know About Motorcycle Insurance

Motorcycle insurance offers financial protection in the event of an accident, property damage, theft, or vandalism. Most standard motorcycle insurance policies cover cruisers, touring bikes, sport bikes, trikes, and choppers. Some insurers also cover off-road motorbikes, like all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), dirt bikes, mopeds, and scooters.

Motorcycle insurance usually doesn’t cover using your bike for commercial purposes, competitions, racing, or normal wear and tear or maintenance.

In many ways, motorcycle insurance works similarly to car insurance. You need to meet minimum-coverage limits in most U.S. states, and you can add options like comprehensive and collision coverage.

But bike insurance usually costs less because you can’t ride year-round in many states. Plus, insurers may offer options that auto insurance doesn’t, like personal belongings coverage.

Types of Motorcycle Insurance

You have many coverage choices when it comes to motorcycle insurance. Some types of coverage are mandatory depending on state law, while others are optional but can provide important financial protection.^[1]

Knowing what each coverage includes can help you determine your coverage needs and make it easier to compare motorcycle insurance quotes.

Liability coverage

Liability insurance pays for injuries and damages you cause to others in an accident. Most states require you to have a certain amount of liability coverage to legally operate a motorcycle.

Collision coverage

Collision coverage helps pay to repair or replace your motorcycle if you hit something or damage your bike in a crash. It’s often part of full-coverage motorcycle insurance policies.

Comprehensive coverage

Comprehensive coverage helps pay for non-collision damage to your motorcycle. It covers things like damage from theft, vandalism, animals, and severe weather. It’s usually part of a full-coverage policy.

Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage

Uninsured motorist insurance helps cover your costs if a driver without insurance hits your motorcycle. Underinsured motorist coverage pays for crashes with drivers who don’t have enough coverage for your injuries or damages.

Medical payments (MedPay)

MedPay helps cover your medical expenses and those of your passengers after a covered accident, regardless of fault.

Personal injury protection (PIP)

PIP covers medical bills and lost wages related to a covered accident. It may even pay for essential services, like child care or home care assistance.

Custom parts and equipment coverage

Custom parts and equipment coverage protects upgrades to your motorcycle, like custom paint, exhaust systems, and accessories. Some companies offer a small amount of coverage automatically when you add comprehensive and collision insurance to your policy. But you can usually upgrade the coverage amount if needed.

How Much Does Motorcycle Insurance Cost?

Just like auto insurance, insurers consider multiple factors to determine your motorcycle insurance costs, including:

• The type of motorcycle you ride

• Your bike’s age

• ZIP code

• Driving record

• Age

• The coverage you choose

• Deductible

• Where you store your motorcycle

 The table below shows average motorcycle insurance rates, according to Compare.com data.

Coverage Type	Average Monthly Premium
Liability	$81
Full Coverage	$179
Overall average	$130

We sourced this data by analyzing real quotes from Compare.com's 100-plus partner insurance companies alongside rate filings collected and distributed by Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary. Data updated on .

The Best Motorcycle Insurance Companies

No single insurance company is best for every motorcycle rider. The right choice for you depends on your bike, budget, location, and riding style. That said, we found a few top motorcycle insurance companies worth considering, based on affordability, customization, and customer satisfaction. Check out our picks below.

Best for affordability

Details

J.D. Power

J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.

Not rated

NAIC Index

Average amount of customer complaints relative to competitors on a 0-5 scale. A lower score represents fewer complaints.

Not rated

AM Best

AM Best analyzes an insurer’s financials, operating performance, business profile, and other factors to generate an opinion-based rating of a company’s financial and credit strength. Ratings range from A++ (exceptional) to D (poor).

Not rated

Why we picked this company

If price is your top priority, check out Dairyland. It has affordable rates and a long list of coverage options to customize your policy. The company offers add-ons like roadside assistance, trip interruption, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts coverage, rental reimbursement, and replacement cost coverage.

Dairyland also offers seasonal coverage, also called layup or storage coverage, in some states.

Pros

• Cheap motorcycle premiums

• Discount for homeowners

Cons

• Higher-than-average number of customer complaints

• No diminishing deductible

Best for customization

Details

J.D. Power

J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.

Not rated

NAIC Index

Average amount of customer complaints relative to competitors on a 0-5 scale. A lower score represents fewer complaints.

Not rated

AM Best

AM Best analyzes an insurer’s financials, operating performance, business profile, and other factors to generate an opinion-based rating of a company’s financial and credit strength. Ratings range from A++ (exceptional) to D (poor).

A+

Why we picked this company

Progressive is a great choice for riders who want to customize their coverage. Every Progressive motorcycle policy includes full parts replacement with no depreciation, $3,000 in custom parts and accessories, OEM parts, and safety riding apparel coverage.

The company also offers a variety of optional add-ons, including total loss coverage, roadside assistance, trip interruption, personal belongings, and vanishing deductible.

Pros

• Many available add-on coverages

• Largest motorcycle insurer

Cons

• Discounts vary by state

• Below-average claims satisfaction

Best for customer satisfaction

Details

J.D. Power

J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.

Not rated

NAIC Index

Average amount of customer complaints relative to competitors on a 0-5 scale. A lower score represents fewer complaints.

Not rated

AM Best

AM Best analyzes an insurer’s financials, operating performance, business profile, and other factors to generate an opinion-based rating of a company’s financial and credit strength. Ratings range from A++ (exceptional) to D (poor).

A

Why we picked this company

Liberty Mutual has high claims satisfaction and customer support ratings, even though it doesn’t offer as many coverages and discounts as its competitors. But you can save money if your bike has safety features, like anti-lock brakes, daytime running lights, or a rearview camera.

Pros

• Excellent Trustpilot rating

• Above-average J.D. Power claims satisfaction rating

Cons

• Fewer optional coverages than competitors

• Fewer discounts available

How to Compare Motorcycle Insurance Quotes

Coverage options, discounts, and rates vary by insurance company. Comparing motorcycle insurance quotes from multiple insurers can help you make sure you get the coverage you need to protect you and your ride.

Take these steps to shop for and compare motorcycle insurance:

1. Determine your coverage needs. Decide which coverages you need to drive legally, your coverage limits, and any optional add-ons you want.

2. Gather multiple quotes. Get quotes from at least three different insurance companies. Using an insurance comparison website can make this process even quicker.

3. Check policy details. Compare insurance premiums, coverage limits, deductibles, and policy exclusions for each quote.

4. Look for discounts. Insurers typically offer discounts for safety courses, motorcycle memberships, and owning more than one bike.

5. Review each company’s reputation. Check each insurer’s customer service ratings, claims handling, and financial strength. A company may offer cheap rates but have less-than-ideal customer reviews.

Ways to Save on Motorcycle Insurance

Saving on motorcycle insurance doesn’t mean you have to skimp on coverage. Here are a few ways to lower your premium:

• Bundle your policies. Many insurers offer discounts if you insure more than one bike or bundle it with your auto or homeowners insurance.

• Take a motorcycle safety course. Completing a certified rider course can qualify you for discounts.

• Choose a higher deductible. Increasing your deductible lowers your insurance premium. But make sure you can afford the higher out-of-pocket cost if you file a claim.

• Maintain a clean driving record. Avoiding tickets and accidents can lower your rates over time.

• Store your bike in a safe location. Storing your motorbike in a garage or using anti-theft devices can reduce your theft risk and lower premiums.

Motorcycle Insurance FAQs