Reviews Report
- Progressive is Reviews.com’s top motorcycle insurance company, scoring a 4.6/5 in our system.
- The top motorcycle insurance companies have online claim filing, plenty of discounts, and additional coverage options
- Specialty motorcycle insurance coverage is offered by Hagerty, but it doesn’t offer mobile claim filing or as many discounts.
The best motorcycle insurance companies should strike that perfect balance between strong financial ratings, diverse coverage options, and plenty of discounts. Of course, your premium ultimately depends on you, your motorcycle, and your riding habits. That’s why you’ll need to compare quotes from multiple motorcycle insurance companies to find your best price. We’ve compared just over 30 national insurance providers to find the best ones; you can find our top picks below, or use our quote tool to get started.
The 7 Best Motorcycle Insurance Companies
- Markel American: Best Coverage Variety
- Progressive: Best for Specialty Bikes
- Nationwide: Best for High Coverage Limits
- Safeco: Best for Discounts
- Geico: Best for Daily Riders
- USAA: Best for Military Members
- Hagerty: Best for Vintage and Collector’s Bikes
| Markel American | Progressive | Nationwide | Safeco | Geico | USAA | Hagerty | |
| Our review | Our review | ||||||
| Coverage variety | Specialty bikes | High coverage limits | Impressive discounts | Daily riders | Military Members | Vintage and collection bikes | |
| A | A+ | A+ | A | A++ | A++ | A | |
| ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | X | |
| ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Compare rates | Compare rates | Compare rates | Compare rates | Compare rates | Compare rates | Compare rates |
Best for Coverage Variety: Markel American
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Greatest variety of coverage options
- Mechanical breakdown coverage
- 9 advertised discounts available
Cons
- Limited customer tools
- No mobile app
Coverage Options
- Roadside assistance and trip interruption
- Medical payments
- Trailer and accessories coverage
- Passenger liability
Discounts Available
- Safe rider
- Safety course
- Accident forgiveness
- Renewal
- Multi-unit
Best for Specialty Bikes: Progressive
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Plenty of discounts available
- Online customer tools
Cons
- No breakdown coverage available
- Recommended coverage amounts are more expensive
Coverage Options
- Actual agreed value
- OEM
- Accessories and custom parts
- Total loss
- Roadside assistance
Discounts Available
- Motorcycle endorsement
- Safe rider
- Multi-policy
- Safety course
- Association member
Best for High Coverage Limits: Nationwide
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Tolerant of “high-risk” drivers
- Built-in accessory coverage
Cons
- No agreed value coverage
Coverage Options
- Custom equipment
- OEM
- Roadside assistance
Discounts Available
- Multi-policy/vehicle
- Homeowner
- Safety course
- Rider association
Best for Experienced Riders: Safeco
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Comprehensive coverage
- Harley Davidson replacement
Cons
- No online quotes
- No specialty bike coverage
Coverage Options
- Roadside assistance
OEM
Safety apparel
Harley Davidson replacement cost
Discounts Available
- Claims free
- Multi-policy
- Safety course
- Experienced riders
Best for Daily Riders: Geico
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Responsive live agents
- Covers a variety of motorcycle types
Cons
- Discounts not available everywhere
- Limited add-on coverage
Coverage Options
- Medical payments
- Towing and labor
- Accessories
Discounts Available
- Mature rider
- Renewal
- Multi-policy
- Motorcycle Safety Foundation course
- Transfer
Best for Military Members: USAA
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- High customer satisfaction rating
- Low rates
Cons
- Only available to military members
- Limited website information
Coverage Options
- Medical payments
- Uninsured/underinsured
- Roadside assistance
Discounts Available
- Claims-free
- Safety course
- Multi-vehicle
Best for Vintage and Collector’s Bikes: Hagerty
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Member discounts
- No fixed mileage restrictions
Cons
- Doesn’t underwrite its own policies
- Strict motorcycle requirements
- No mobile app
Coverage Options
- Fair value covered loss
- Trailer
Discounts Available
- Multi-vehicle discounts
*J.D. Power’s 2020 Insurance Shopping Study. Based on a 1,000-point scale.
Motorcycle Insurance: What You Need to Know
Motorcycle Types
There are many different kinds of motorcycles, including:
- Cruisers: Common models where the rider places their feet forward and hands up high on the bars. This causes the rider to sit with the spine erect or slightly leaning back.
- Touring motorcycles: These models are generally “wider” with larger fairings and screens to offer better wind and weather protection during long rides. Seating posture is more relaxed, with most models also featuring panniers or saddlebags.
- Sportbikes: Focused more on speed and acceleration. Riders straddle the motorcycle with higher footpegs to curl the legs up closer to the body to improve ground clearance.
- Sport-touring motorcycles: Combines the comfort and luggage space of a touring motorcycle with the speed and handling of a sportbike.
- Dirt bikes: These off-road motorcycles are light and durable to handle travel over uneven surfaces that are not conventionally paved. Tires are knobby to improve traction.
- Trikes: Also known as motorized tricycles. Similar to a motorcycle, only with three wheels. The handling is also different with many models, featuring housing that encloses the rider almost like a car.
Knowing what kind of motorcycle you’re trying to insure will help you when it comes time to determine coverage, as each of these tend to have their own traits and risks that help insurance providers adjust policies accordingly.
Insuring a dirt bike might be less expensive than covering a brand-new cruiser. Once you know what you’re covering, you can have a better idea of what to expect when gathering quotes.
Essential Motorcycle Insurance Coverage
In most states, you’re legal to ride with only bare-bones liability coverage, which could potentially cost as little at $75 per year. Washington, Florida, Montana, and New Hampshire don’t require any motorcycle insurance. However, the agents and lawyers we spoke with agree that state minimums don’t reflect the reality of costs associated with an accident. They recommend five essential coverage options (with relatively high limits) to make sure you’re truly covered in the event of an accident or theft:
Collision
Covers damage caused by a collision with another vehicle. Most common accidents qualify as collisions, so this is the coverage you’ll likely use most.
Comprehensive
Covers theft or damage caused by something other than a collision with another car or object. This includes vandalism, natural disasters, and damage caused by animals.
Liability
The amount your provider will pay out to the injured party if you’re at-fault in an accident. Experts recommend getting as much as you can afford, but 100/ 300/ 50 is a good starting point. (That’s $100,000 per person injured, up to $300,000 per accident, plus $50,000 in property damage.)
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage
This covers your own repairs and medical bills if the person who hits you is un- or underinsured. As with liability, we suggest getting the highest limits you can — but at least 100/ 300 is highly recommended ($100,000 per person, or up to $300,000 total per accident).
Buy as much liability insurance as you can afford
While the more liability insurance you add to your policy, the more expensive your premium, poor coverage can really hurt you in the long run. If you hit someone and are underinsured, there’s a chance they may sue you to cover their losses — which could end up costing you your home or other assets. Attorney Chris Johnston suggests starting with at least 100/300 ($100,000 per person injured, up to $300,000 total per accident). However, with the right policy, it costs as little as a few dollars per year to get the most liability coverage your provider offers. That’s a small price for a lot of peace of mind.
Supplemental coverage
With the right policy, motorcycle insurance can cover anything from repairs for your bike to replacement costs for your favorite leather jacket — you just have to choose a provider that covers what’s important to you.
Motorcycle insurance companies offer supplemental and add-on coverage, such as:
- Custom parts and equipment
- Roadside assistance
- Trip interruption
- Guest passenger liability
- Accessory, safety gear, and equipment
- Towing
- Total loss coverage
- Vintage/antique bikes
Compare quotes
Don’t settle for the first company you look at. Every provider has a unique underwriting process, meaning it’ll evaluate your “risk factors” (like age, bike model, and driving history) a little differently and come up with a personalized quote. You won’t know which one can offer you the best premium until you’ve looked at a few. That’s why we always recommend comparing quotes from multiple providers to find the coverage you need at the right price.
Don’t forget about medical coverage
Our insurance experts highly recommend an insurance policy with medical coverage. Brian Dunmire, motorcycle accident attorney, recommends PIP or medpay in the amount of at least $10,000. He points out that “oftentimes, these coverages can be added to your insurance policy for only a few dollars a month,” and they’ll be a huge help with medical bills.
The type of medical coverage offered with motorcycle insurance varies by state; typically you’re looking at personal injury protection (PIP) or medpay. PIP, or “no fault” insurance, is available in 24 states and required in 17 of them. It covers health insurance deductibles, medical copays, lost wages, and other costs — regardless of who is at fault in an accident. Medpay is similar to PIP but less comprehensive. It works with health insurance to cover deductibles and copays but won’t supplement lost wages, child care, or funeral expenses, like PIP will.
Does Motorcycle Insurance Cover Theft?
Motorcycle theft coverage is usually part of the comprehensive coverage on a motorcycle insurance policy. When your motorcycle is stolen, you need to file a motorcycle theft claim with your insurance provider after reporting the theft to the police. From there, you will need to provide your claims adjuster with all the pertinent information to make sure you are properly compensated. This information includes:
- Police report number
- Date, time, and location of theft
- Your motorcycle’s year, make, model, and mileage
- All existing photos and receipts for any custom parts or accessories
You will also need to sign over the title of your motorcycle to the insurance company. If you still owe money to a bank for a loan, you will need to get the bank to sign off.
Once you have done all this, it’s just a waiting game where one of two things will happen first:
- The authorities will recover your motorcycle
- The entire motorcycle theft claims process will finish and you’re compensated
In the event that your motorcycle is recovered, the comprehensive coverage will go toward repair costs. If your motorcycle turns up after you’ve gone through the motorcycle claims process, then it is now the property of the insurance company.
Methodology
We evaluated motorcycle insurance companies based on discounts, coverage, claim filing, financial strength and customer satisfaction to determine Reviews.com scores and create our best motorcycle insurance reviews. To compare motorcycle insurance companies with other providers across the board, we calculate each Reviews.com score based on the following:
- Discounts: Motorcycle insurance companies that advertised more discounts received higher scores in our methodology
- Financial Stability: Reviews.com utilized AM Best ratings to assign a score based on each motorcycle insurance company’s financial stability.
- Customer Satisfaction: Because J.D. Power does not study motorcycle insurance customer satisfaction, we utilized J.D. Power’s 2020 Insurance Shopping Satisfaction Study for auto insurers.
- Coverage: Motorcycle insurance companies were awarded higher scores for advertised coverages beyond the body liability, property liability, collision and personal injury protection.
- Claims Filing: Reviews.com compared each company’s claims filing process — companies that had mobile claims filing scored the highest in this metric.
About the Authors
Maggie is a former lead insurance editor at Reviews.com. She's written more than 70 insurance articles covering homeowners, auto, life, motorcycle, travel, and more.
