5 Best Motorcycle Insurance Companies of 2024

Best Motorcycle Insurance Main Takeaways

• Motorcycle insurance covers damages to others, your bike, and personal injuries, among other things, depending on the policy.

• Most states require motorcycle insurance coverage. And annual premiums can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.

• Prioritizing coverage for liability, uninsured motorist protection, and medical expenses is crucial.

• If you're financing your vehicle, your lender will likely mandate comprehensive and collision coverage.

Expand

ADVERTISEMENT

Our Top Picks for the Best Motorcycle Insurance Companies

• Progressive – Best for Accident Forgiveness
• Harley-Davidson – Best for New Riders
• Foremost – Best for Track Riders
• Nationwide – Best for Motorcycle Collectors
• Safeco – Best for Homemade and Kit Bikes

Best Motorcycle Insurance Company Reviews

Why we chose it: Progressive includes accident forgiveness benefits on your motorcycle insurance policy, so your rates won’t increase after a small or large claim.

• Small accident forgiveness: No rate increases after accidents that cost $500 or less.

• Large accident forgiveness: No rate increases even after accidents over $500 if you remain accident- and violation-free for up to five years (available in most states).

• Additional accident forgiveness: If you purchase these benefits, you can have one eligible accident forgiven per policy period.

Why we chose it: Harley-Davidson is our best motorcycle insurance company for new riders because it offers a one-stop shopping experience, whether you're looking for insurance, bike loans or extended service plans. It also offers one of the longest lists of discounts out of the companies we reviewed.

Read our full Harley-Davidson motorcycle insurance review

Why we chose it: Foremost, a Farmers Insurance subsidiary, is our pick for the best motorcycle insurance company for track riders because it’s the only insurer on this list that will cover motorcycle repairs/replacement in case of an accident on the racetrack. It also offers enhanced online services and better insurance terms than its parent company, such as $10,000 in transport trailer coverage compared to Farmers' $7,500 limit.

Read our full Foremost motorcycle insurance review

Why we chose it: Nationwide is our top pick for motorcycle collectors because it's the only insurer on our list that allows customers to add as many as 12 motorcycles under one policy for a maximum coverage amount $50,000 per bike ($30,000 for custom parts), plus trailer coverage. It also includes a vanishing deductible feature with its collision and comprehensive policies, so your deductible can decrease by $100 every year you go without filing a claim — up to a maximum of $500.

Read our full Nationwide motorcycle insurance review

Why we chose it: Safeco , a Liberty Mutual company, is our best motorcycle insurance company for homemade and kit motorcycles because it’s the only insurer we found that provides coverage for these bikes. It also includes roadside assistance with all its plans along with guaranteed manufacturer parts repair if you have comprehensive and collision coverage.

Read our full Safeco motorcycle insurance review

Other companies we considered

USAA

USAA is recognized for its excellent customer service ratings and affordable rates. It regularly ranks high by the J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Survey, however, it can’t officially rank because it only serves those with a military affiliation.

Why USAA didn’t make the cut: USAA is only available to military service members and their families. This means that while many people can enjoy the perks of USAA, a larger majority of the population doesn’t qualify.

Read our full USAA motorcycle insurance review

GEICO

Geico only extends motorcycle insurance coverage to cruisers, sports and touring bikes, custom motorcycles and mopeds. It offers all the standard protection plus roadside assistance and accessories coverage, just like the other companies on this list.

Why Geico didn’t make the cut: While GEICO offers solid insurance coverage, it doesn’t stand out in any particular area.

Farmers

Farmers offers three pre-packaged yet customizable plans — the Saver, the Plus and the Elite. Each plan comes with a different level of coverage, and options are available for custom, vintage and low-speed vehicles such as golf carts.

Why Farmers didn’t make the cut: When it comes to motorcycle insurance, we prefer Farmer’s subsidiary, Foremost. You can purchase any of Farmer’s plans through Foremost, which does a better job presenting coverage details on its site.

Allstate

Allstate offers insurance for bikes, trikes and scooters but doesn’t state whether it covers other motorcycle types. Besides all the discounts and coverage options you can expect from a motorcycle insurer, it offers loan/lease gap coverage, coverage for damaged motorcycles and off-road transport trailers, extended protection for new motorcycles and first accident forgiveness.

Why Allstate didn’t make the cut: Allstate offers coverage benefits that are comparable to our top picks but it excludes antique bikes.

Dairyland

Dairyland’s Physical Damage Plus coverage pays to repair your damaged bike with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) replacement parts. Besides standard coverage and its Physical Damage plus add-on, it sells bike replacement cost coverage and provides a Harley Owners Group member discount.

Why Dairyland didn’t make the cut: Dairyland’s coverage benefits, while comprehensive, don’t stand out enough compared to other insurers. The insurer’s discount offers are limited.

Voom

Voom’s pay-per-mile model is an affordable motorcycle insurance option for motorists who hit the road occasionally. Instead of paying upfront for a year’s worth of coverage, policyholders pay a base monthly rate plus a few cents for each mile they ride. You must upload a picture of your odometer each month and Voom will calculate the premium based on the most recent reading. Note that Voom will charge you a default amount if you forget to upload your image.

Why Voom didn’t make the cut: Voom insurance is also only available in 20 states: Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Motorcycle Insurance Guide

Motorcycle insurance covers damage to your vehicle, your passengers and other property in the event of an accident. Most states — except Florida, Montana and Washington — require riders to hold some type of liability coverage.

Even if motorcycle insurance isn’t legally required in your state, having coverage can ensure you're financially protected if you're found personally liable for damages in an at-fault accident.

How does motorcycle insurance work?

Motorcycle insurance functions much like auto insurance, providing financial protection in case of accidents or other covered events.

Liability insurance specifically covers costs related to bodily injury and property damage experienced by another person in an accident where you're at fault. On the other hand, comprehensive and collision coverage help cover your bodily injury and property damage expenses — after you meet a deductible.

Types of motorcycle insurance

To find the best motorcycle insurance policy for your budget and your bike, it pays to understand the different motorcycle insurance options available.

Motorcycle insurance typically includes the following types of coverage.

• Bodily injury liability and property damage liability: Protects you against bodily injury and property damage liability lawsuits if you’re in an accident involving another person.

• Collision coverage: Pays to repair or replace your bike if you're in an accident with another vehicle but doesn't cover damages you cause to other vehicles or medical payments (whether yours or another driver’s).

• Comprehensive coverage: Also known as "other than collision" coverage, this policy covers your vehicle against damages that don’t involve another vehicle (theft, vandalism, fire and natural disasters).

• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Covers lost wages, medical bills and, in some cases, property damage if you’re in a collision with someone who doesn't have insurance or has insufficient coverage. It may be legally required in some states.

• Medical payments: Pays for your medical bills and those of your passengers after an accident, regardless of who is at fault.

Most common add-ons

Motorcycle insurance add-ons vary by company, yet most include the following.

• Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts: Generally included with the purchase of comprehensive and collision coverage, this option helps ensure your bike is repaired with new parts from the original manufacturer.

• Coverage for custom parts and equipment: Covers custom motorcycle parts, including permanent additions like sidecars, chrome parts and custom paint jobs.

• Coverage for accessories: Covers damage to accessories like saddlebags, trunk boxes, CB radios, other optional equipment added to the motorcycle, and safety apparel like helmets and goggles.

• Total loss coverage: Helps you pay off the loan on your bike or buy a new one after a total loss.

• Roadside assistance: Generally covers towing, flat tire changes, fuel delivery and more.

Motorcycle insurance requirements by state

Florida, Montana and Washington don’t have minimum liability motorcycle insurance requirements. In all other states, you are legally required to carry property damage and bodily injury liability policies.

In states where motorcycle insurance is not required by law, you can opt out of insurance. However, keep in mind that you could still be financially liable for any accident you’re involved in.

Moreover, your state’s minimum insurance requirements may not cover all damages in the event of an at-fault accident. To reduce potential out-of-pocket expenses, opt for the greatest amount of coverage you can afford.

No-fault states vs. at-fault states

States with “at-fault” or tort laws typically identify who’s responsible for an accident and make that party (and their insurance company) responsible for covering the medical costs of the other driver and their passengers.

In “no-fault” states, there’s no need to identify the responsible party. The drivers involved in the accident must file a claim for personal injuries with their own insurance provider. That said, a driver can still sue the person responsible for the accident later on. If the lawsuit is successful, the responsible party's insurance company must cover the damages.

You’ll need personal injury protection (PIP) coverage — also known as “no-fault coverage”— if you live in a “no-fault” state. This coverage option helps cover your medical bills, funeral expenses or lost wages regardless of who is at fault.

States with “no-fault” or “choice no-fault” (the drivers can choose whether “no-fault” or tort laws apply) include:

• Florida
• Hawaii
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• New Jersey
• New York
• North Dakota
• Pennsylvania
• Utah

Motorcycle riders are more likely to suffer severe or fatal injuries in a crash involving another car, and getting adequate compensation might be an uphill battle — especially if you live in a “no-fault” state. A motorcycle accident lawyer can help you get fair compensation for yourself or a loved one.

What states require dirt bike insurance?

As a general rule, standalone dirt bike insurance isn’t required if you’re only riding it on private property or a racetrack. If you’re using your dirtbike to ride on public roads, you may be required to insure your bike if the state you live in requires insurance for all road vehicles (such as Arizona.)

You should also keep in mind that not all states allow dirt bikes to ride on public roads. You can check your state’s DMV or DoT website to check if dirt bikes are considered street legal and what is required to make your model compliant if it currently isn’t.

What to consider before buying a motorcycle insurance policy

The following information can aid you in choosing the right policy and amount of coverage. It also sheds light on state laws regarding helmet use.

• Decide how much motorcycle coverage to get: Most states require bodily injury and property damage liability coverage. If you're financing your bike, your lender may also require you to buy comprehensive and collision. Optional coverage includes personal injury protection, MedPay and uninsured/underinsured motorists.

• Know what affects your premiums: Your motorcycle insurance rates will depend on factors such as your age, driving history, zip code, the make and year of your motorcycle and the number of miles you drive annually.

• Look for ways to lower your premiums: Most motorcycle insurers offer plenty of discounts for driving safely, installing anti-lock brakes and anti-theft devices, being part of a rider organization and many more. Increasing your deductible will typically lower your premium as well.

• Consider lay-up policies: If you live in a state where it’s harder to ride during winter, a lay-up policy allows you to pause liability and collision coverage during the winter months while keeping your comprehensive coverage active.

• Shop around for quotes: Compare motorcycle insurance quotes from different providers to find the best deal. Also keep in mind that not all insurers cover every type of bike. Most will cover cruisers, touring bikes, dirt bikes, trikes, sports bikes and mopeds/scooters, but some won't insure race bikes or vintage bikes over 25 years old.

How We Found the Best Motorcycle Insurance Companies

We considered the following factors when selecting the best motorcycle insurance companies.

Coverage and discounts

As part of our research, we cataloged motorcycle insurance products from 11 top insurance companies to identify the features that set them apart. We also compared each company's coverage area, covered motorcycle types and range of discounts. Our top picks offer unique coverage options that go beyond standard motorcycle insurance, a great selection of discounts or both.

Customer satisfaction

We generally rely on J.D. Power studies to understand customer sentiment toward insurers. While the agency doesn't publish a specific study on motorcycle insurance, we used the latest U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study as a proxy. This study provides insight into how customers feel about doing business with well-known insurers, particularly how they handle claims and communicate with customers.

Financial stability

While it may not be top of mind for consumers, financial stability is important when comparing insurance companies. Financial strength ratings provide a clear picture of the financial health of insurers and their ability to pay out claims when needed. All of our top picks and runners up have A (Excellent) to A++ (Superior) financial strength ratings from AM Best or their equivalent in Fitch ratings.

Summary of Money’s Best Motorcycle Insurance Companies of 2024

• Progressive – Best for Accident Forgiveness
• Harley-Davidson – Best for New Riders
• Foremost – Best for Track Riders
• Nationwide – Best for Motorcycle Collectors
• Safeco – Best for Homemade and Kit Bikes