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Prices vary widely by state, bike, and driving record—compare multiple insurers to capture the best rate. Recent quote studies put average “full coverage” motorcycle premiums around $50–$70 per month nationally, with large state differences, so shopping can offset post‑violation surcharges (ValuePenguin; NAIC).
What Factors Impact Motorcycle Insurance Quotes and Premiums?
Driving History
Recent accidents, tickets, and serious violations remain among the strongest predictors of what you’ll pay. Insurers commonly rate incidents within the last three to five years, but the exact window and surcharge size depend on your state and carrier filings. Examples: California ties the driving safety record rating factor to the most recent 36 months and separately requires 10 years without a DUI to qualify for its Good Driver discount (CA Regs; CA Good Driver). Massachusetts keeps surchargeable incidents on your SDIP record for 6 years (MA SDIP), while New Jersey and North Carolina apply three‑year windows through their merit‑rating systems (NJ; NC). National 2025 benchmarks show that a single speeding ticket often raises full‑coverage premiums roughly 20–25%, an at‑fault accident about 40–45%, and a DUI around 75–85% on average; multiple incidents compound these impacts (Bankrate; NAIC). Motorcycle policies frequently use similar surcharge frameworks approved by state regulators, but each insurer’s filed relativities differ—so re‑quoting after any incident can materially reduce your cost. Where available, approved safety courses/defensive driving programs and accident forgiveness can moderate surcharges depending on your insurer and state (NAIC).
The Motorcycle
Bike choice and configuration drive repair costs, theft exposure, and valuation—key inputs to premium. Broad premium inflation in personal lines has persisted into 2025 per the motor vehicle insurance CPI, keeping upward pressure on rates industry‑wide (BLS CPI). Theft risk is significant for motorcycles and peaks in summer months, with certain makes/models targeted more often (NICB), so garaging and anti‑theft measures matter. Custom builds typically require higher Custom Parts & Equipment (CPE)/accessories limits—many carriers include a small base amount and let you buy more (for example, Progressive includes accessories/custom parts coverage with comp/collision and offers higher limits for major builds) (Progressive CPE). Vintage/collector bikes are often best insured on specialty agreed value policies with garage storage and limited‑use requirements; agreed value pays the amount you and the insurer set up front for a total loss and commonly features mileage/usage limits and documentation standards (Hagerty). For both customs and classics, maintain photos, receipts, and appraisals as needed to substantiate value. Security features can directly reduce theft exposure and pricing on the comprehensive portion—anti‑theft discounts commonly range roughly 5–25% where approved, and some states mandate credits for qualifying devices (e.g., Florida’s statute requires appropriate discounts) (III; Florida Statute). Safety tech also matters: ABS has been shown to reduce fatal crash involvement on motorcycles, and many carriers reflect ABS in pricing (IIHS on ABS). As a cost benchmark, 2025 quote analyses place average full‑coverage motorcycle premiums near $50–$70 per month nationally, but high‑cost states can be 2–3× more expensive than low‑cost states—always price locally and consider specialty markets for customs/collectors (ValuePenguin). Electric motorcycles are generally insured under the same coverages as ICE bikes; batteries are typically addressed under collision/comprehensive when damage results from a covered loss (Progressive Electric).
The Coverage
Core protections include liability (BI/PD), uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM), Medical Payments (MedPay) and, where applicable, Personal Injury Protection (PIP), plus collision and comprehensive. Because injury severity for riders can be high, many select liability and UM/UIM limits well above state minimums (III). In some no‑fault states motorcycles are excluded from PIP—Florida expressly notes its No‑Fault (PIP) system does not cover motorcycles—making MedPay and health insurance especially important (FLHSMV). Popular options include accessories/custom parts coverage (often a base amount included with the ability to buy higher limits), OEM parts endorsements, roadside assistance with trip interruption, total loss coverage for new bikes, and loan/lease payoff (Progressive coverages; GEICO; Markel). Specialty policies for custom/vintage bikes commonly use agreed value, require locked garaging, and impose mileage/usage limits; documentation (photos/receipts and sometimes an appraisal) is typically required (Hagerty; Markel). Many specialty markets also offer seasonal “lay‑up” features that suspend on‑road coverages during winter while keeping comprehensive theft/fire active (Markel). Note that telematics/usage‑based discounts remain limited for motorcycles—major programs often exclude bikes—so verified mileage pricing is less common than in auto (Allstate Drivewise; III on UBI). Also check state nuances such as guest‑passenger liability requirements and standard exclusions for track/competition use (III).
Credit Score
Where permitted, insurers use credit‑based insurance scores (CBIS) as part of pricing because lower scores correlate with higher expected loss costs. Current national analyses show that moving from good/excellent to poor credit can raise average full‑coverage auto premiums by roughly 60% to 100%+ depending on the dataset and state, and motorcycle pricing commonly follows the same regulatory framework in those jurisdictions (Bankrate; Forbes Advisor; III background). Some states prohibit using credit in personal auto (e.g., California, Hawaii, Massachusetts), while others allow it with consumer protections; Washington currently allows credit use with restrictions and transparency requirements (NAIC CIPR; Washington OIC). CBIS are distinct from lending scores and focus on credit attributes predictive of insurance loss; if credit has worsened due to extraordinary circumstances, ask your carrier about available exceptions where allowed (NAIC CIPR).
Other Personal Information
Premiums also reflect age, gender (where allowed), and garaging ZIP, plus annual mileage/usage (commute vs. pleasure), marital status, and vehicle characteristics. Younger riders generally face higher rates due to elevated crash risk; males account for the majority of motor‑vehicle fatalities, underpinning gender‑based rating where permitted (III; IIHS). Location matters: dense urban areas and regions with higher theft or severe weather risk tend to see higher premiums. NOAA reports persistent high counts of billion‑dollar weather disasters in recent years, which flow through comprehensive premiums—hail, wind, and flood can damage stored bikes, leading some riders to favor higher comp deductibles or seasonal lay‑up options in specific regions (NOAA; Markel). Telematics and usage‑based insurance can materially affect auto premiums, but motorcycle availability is limited; many programs exclude motorcycles, so riders may not have the same data‑driven discounts available to drivers (III on UBI; Allstate Drivewise). Security features and storage choices are actionable: insurers commonly credit anti‑theft devices (often 5–25% off the comprehensive portion) and may price ABS‑equipped bikes more favorably given loss data (III; IIHS on ABS). Looking ahead, data access and AI oversight are shaping pricing and claims: the EU Data Act will expand user‑directed access to connected‑vehicle data from September 12, 2025, enabling more granular telematics in markets where it applies, while U.S. regulators (NAIC) have issued an AI Model Bulletin requiring stronger governance and fairness testing for insurer AI systems—developments that may influence motorcycle insurance products and pricing by region and carrier (EU Data Act; NAIC AI Bulletin). Finally, many insurers recognize approved rider safety courses when allowed by state law; completing one may help eligibility for certain discounts or mitigate surcharges—ask your carrier what’s available (NAIC).