Motorcycle Insurance in the US: How to Get It and How to Claim It
You can't plan an accident, but you can plan the cost of one. Here's how motorcycle insurance actually works in the US, state by state, and how claims are filed.
No one plans to lay a bike down or get hit by a distracted driver — but you can absolutely plan how much that day costs you. Motorcycle insurance is where that planning happens, and in the US it runs on the same state-by-state patchwork as car insurance, with a few motorcycle-specific twists.
Is It Legally Required?
Nearly every state that requires car insurance requires motorcycle liability insurance too, at similar minimum limits to passenger vehicles. As with cars, New Hampshire is the notable exception with no strict mandate. Beyond the legal minimum, most states also require you to hold the correct motorcycle licence endorsement before an insurer will issue a policy at all.
Getting a Quote: What You'll Need
- Motorcycle licence or endorsement (M-class, or state equivalent)
- Bike details — make, model, engine size, and VIN
- Riding experience and any prior claims history
- Where the bike is stored overnight (garage vs. street)
- Estimated annual mileage
Coverage Types Specific to Motorcycles
Beyond standard liability, collision, and comprehensive, motorcycle-specific add-ons are worth understanding: Guest Passenger Liability covers injury to a passenger riding with you (not automatically included on every policy); Custom Parts and Equipment coverage protects aftermarket modifications, which standard comprehensive often excludes; and Roadside Assistance tailored to motorcycles (rather than car-focused towing services) is worth confirming applies to your specific bike's size and weight.
How Premiums Are Calculated
Engine size (cc) is one of the biggest factors — larger, higher-performance bikes cost more to insure. Rider age and experience matter significantly too; new riders on powerful bikes represent the highest-risk combination insurers price for. Storage location, annual mileage, and your state's minimum requirements all layer on top of this.
How to File a Claim
After an accident: prioritise safety, then document the scene exactly as you would in a car — photos of the bike, the other vehicle if involved, road conditions, and injuries. Motorcycle accidents often involve more serious injury relative to vehicle damage than car accidents do, so medical documentation matters more here than the property damage side of the claim in many cases.
Report to police if your state's threshold is met (the same dollar or injury thresholds that apply to car accidents generally apply here too), then notify your insurer promptly. An adjuster will assess the bike's damage — often requiring a specialist motorcycle repair shop rather than a general auto body shop, since parts and labor differ meaningfully from car repair.
Seasonal and Storage Considerations
In states with real winters, many riders lay up their bike for several months. Some insurers offer reduced "lay-up" premiums for storage periods, provided the bike genuinely isn't ridden — worth asking about explicitly rather than assuming your standard annual premium is your only option.
The Practical Takeaway
Confirm Guest Passenger Liability and Custom Parts coverage specifically if either applies to you, since neither is guaranteed to be automatically included. And document a motorcycle accident scene as thoroughly as you would a car accident — the stakes for injury documentation are often higher.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a special licence endorsement to get motorcycle insurance in the US?
Yes, in most states. Insurers typically require a valid motorcycle licence or endorsement (often called an M-class endorsement) before issuing a policy.
Does standard comprehensive cover aftermarket motorcycle parts?
Not always. Custom Parts and Equipment coverage is usually a separate add-on specifically for modifications beyond factory specifications.
Can I reduce my premium during winter if I don't ride?
Some insurers offer lay-up coverage at a reduced rate for storage periods when the bike genuinely isn't being ridden. It's worth asking about directly.