Best Motorcycle and ATV Insurance for November 2026
Ride with confidence with the best motorcycle and ATV insurance. Compare top-rated providers offering affordable rates, comprehensive coverage, and protection tailored to your adventures.
Insurance rates, terms, and coverage options shown on this site are estimates only and do not constitute binding offers. Actual premiums and eligibility depend on underwriting factors as well as state regulations. Coverage availability and requirements vary by insurer and state. The lowest advertised rates are typically available only to highly qualified applicants.
What does motorcycle and ATV insurance cover?
Motorcycle and ATV insurance covers damage to your vehicle, injuries, and your liability for harm you cause to others. A policy is built from several coverages, some required and some optional, and each pays out minus your deductible.
| Coverage | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Liability | Injuries and property damage you cause to others. |
| Collision | Repairs to your bike or ATV after a crash you cause. |
| Comprehensive | Theft, fire, vandalism, and other non-crash damage. |
| Uninsured motorist | Your losses when an at-fault rider has little or no coverage. |
| Guest passenger | Injuries to a passenger, which bike policies do not always include automatically. |
| Medical payments or PIP | Medical bills for you and passengers, regardless of fault, in some states. |
Liability is usually the legal minimum for a motorcycle, but it protects only other people, not you or your bike. Comprehensive and collision are worth adding for any ride worth roughly $6,000 or more.
Optional add-ons cover the gaps a standard policy leaves. Popular ones include total loss coverage, carried contents, roadside assistance, trip interruption, and coverage for a transport trailer.
Total loss and gap coverage deserve a mention for financed bikes. Similar to gap insurance on a car, these pay the difference between what your bike is worth and what you still owe, so a totaled ride does not leave you paying off a loan on a vehicle you no longer have.
Remember that every coverage pays out minus your deductible, so a higher deductible lowers your premium but raises what you pay after a claim.
Riders with custom bikes need special attention here. Standard coverage only pays for factory parts, so a custom paint job or chrome upgrades require added custom parts and equipment coverage to be protected.
Pro Tip
Confirm whether your policy includes guest passenger coverage before you give anyone a ride. Unlike car insurance, motorcycle policies do not always cover passengers automatically, and a serious passenger injury without it can leave you personally liable for the medical bills.
Do you need motorcycle or ATV insurance?
Motorcycle liability insurance is required in almost every state, while ATV insurance is usually optional because ATVs are not built for public roads. Even when it is not legally required, coverage protects you from costs that can be far larger than the premium.
The rules break down like this:
- Motorcycles: Liability coverage is mandatory in every state except Florida and Washington, and a lender will require full coverage on a financed bike.
- ATVs: No state requires road coverage, but many parks and state-owned riding areas require liability before you can ride.
Skipping coverage is a gamble. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that motorcycle deaths per mile traveled run many times higher than for cars, so an accident without insurance can wipe out your savings through medical bills and repairs.
ATVs carry their own risk. Hundreds of ATV riders die each year in accidents, often on public roads where the vehicles are not meant to be ridden, which is why liability coverage is worth carrying even when no law demands it.
How much does motorcycle and ATV insurance cost?
Motorcycle insurance averages around $520 a year, while ATV insurance is usually cheaper because ATVs stay off public roads. Your rate swings widely based on the risk you present.
Insurers weigh:
- Riding record: Accidents and moving violations raise your premium.
- Age and experience: Younger and newer riders pay more.
- Vehicle: A powerful or expensive bike costs more to insure than a modest one.
- Annual mileage: More time on the road means more risk.
- Location: Dense, high-traffic areas raise rates.
- Credit: In most states, a stronger credit score lowers your premium.
How the insurer pays a total loss also affects your cost. Actual cash value is cheapest but pays your bike's depreciated value, while agreed value or stated amount lock in a higher payout for a higher premium.
The Insurance Information Institute notes that a bike's engine size, type, and theft rate all feed into the price, so a sport bike often costs far more to insure than a cruiser of the same value. Like auto insurance, the vehicle you choose is one of the biggest levers on your premium.
Discounts that lower your premium
Discounts can meaningfully cut your rate, and stacking several is the easiest way to save. Common ones include:
- Safety course: Completing a Motorcycle Safety Foundation course.
- Multi-vehicle or multi-policy: Insuring more than one vehicle, or bundling with auto or home coverage.
- Anti-theft and anti-lock brakes: Safety and security equipment on your bike.
- Lay-up: Suspending coverage during winter months when you cannot ride.
Bundling is worth a close look because the discount applies across policies. Insuring your bike with the same company as your life or auto coverage can lower each premium, and riders with significant assets may add an umbrella policy for liability beyond the bike's limits.
Pro Tip
If you store your bike for the winter, ask about a lay-up policy instead of canceling coverage. It suspends collision and liability while keeping comprehensive active, so your bike stays protected against theft and fire in storage without paying for coverage you cannot use.
ATV insurance: what is different
ATV insurance works like motorcycle coverage but reflects how and where you ride off-road. Because an ATV is not street-legal, the coverage focuses on the vehicle, injuries, and liability on trails and private land rather than highways.
The key differences are worth understanding before you buy:
- Where you ride matters: Damage while riding legally on trails or private land is typically covered, but racing or riding on public roads usually is not.
- No road requirement: No state mandates ATV coverage for roads, since they are not designed for them.
- Park and land rules: Some parks and state lands require liability coverage before you can ride.
- Lower cost: ATV premiums are generally lower than motorcycle premiums.
Read the fine print on any ATV policy, since insurers spell out exactly which riding conditions are covered. Coverage for a trail ride and coverage during a race are rarely the same thing.
The same optional coverages that protect a motorcycle apply to an ATV. Carried contents coverage is especially useful for riders who haul camping, hunting, or fishing gear, and comprehensive coverage protects an ATV stored in a shed or barn against theft and fire.
How to choose a motorcycle or ATV insurance company
Choosing an insurer means matching the coverage you need to a financially strong company that pays claims fairly. The lowest quote is not the best deal if it uses a stingy payout method or a company with poor reviews.
Payout method is the detail most riders miss. A policy that looks cheap may quietly use actual cash value, which pays a depreciated amount that may not replace your bike after a total loss.
Financial strength matters too, because a claim after a serious crash can be large. An insurer rated A or better is far more likely to pay in full and on time.
How to compare and pick the best motorcycle and ATV insurance
Compare at least three insurers before you buy, holding coverage, limits, and deductibles identical across every quote. Rates for the same policy can differ by hundreds of dollars between companies.
Center your comparison on four things:
- Coverage: The right mix of liability, comprehensive, collision, and add-ons.
- Cost: The premium after discounts, plus your deductible and payout method.
- Reliability: Strong financial ratings and a solid claims record.
- Service: Responsive support and an easy claims process.
When you request quotes, keep the coverage, limits, and payout method identical across every insurer so you compare on equal footing. Insurers weigh the same rider and bike differently, so the cheapest company for one person is not the cheapest for another.
SuperMoney's tools line up insurers side by side, and detailed reviews of carriers like Allstate and Liberty Mutual show how each handles claims. If you own other recreational vehicles, comparing the boat insurance options with the same insurer can unlock a bundle discount.
Reshop your policy each riding season rather than letting it renew automatically. A clean record, a completed safety course, or a new bike can all change your rate, and the few minutes it takes to compare can save hundreds a year.
Key takeaways
- Motorcycle liability is required in every state except Florida and Washington, while ATV coverage is usually optional.
- Coverage includes liability, comprehensive, collision, and add-ons like custom parts and carried contents.
- Motorcycle insurance averages about $520 a year, and ATV coverage is typically cheaper.
- Check the payout method, since actual cash value can pay far less than agreed or stated value.
- Compare matching quotes across at least three financially strong insurers before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
Is motorcycle insurance required?
Motorcycle liability insurance is required in every state except Florida and Washington. If you finance your bike, the lender will also require comprehensive and collision coverage.
Do you need insurance for an ATV?
No state requires ATV insurance for road use because ATVs are not street-legal. However, many parks and state-owned riding areas require liability coverage, and it protects you against costly off-road accidents.
How much does motorcycle insurance cost?
Motorcycle insurance averages around $520 a year, though your rate depends on your riding record, bike, age, and location. ATV insurance usually costs less because ATVs stay off public roads.
What does motorcycle insurance cover?
Motorcycle insurance covers liability for injuries and damage you cause, plus optional comprehensive, collision, uninsured motorist, and medical coverage. Add-ons can cover custom parts, carried contents, roadside assistance, and a transport trailer.
How can I get cheap motorcycle insurance?
Take a safety course, bundle with auto or home coverage, and add anti-theft or anti-lock brake features to earn discounts. Comparing at least three insurers for the same coverage is the most reliable way to find a low rate.
Does motorcycle insurance cover a passenger?
Not always, since motorcycle policies do not automatically include passengers the way car insurance does. Guest passenger liability coverage fills this gap and pays for a passenger's injuries after an accident.
What is the difference between agreed value and actual cash value?
Agreed value pays a set amount you and the insurer agree on when the policy starts, while actual cash value pays your bike's depreciated worth minus the deductible. Agreed value costs more but protects you better after a total loss.
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