These are the 4 best motorcycle insurance companies to cover your bike

Whatever type of motorcycle you have in your garage, chances are that you need insurance to cover it. Almost all states require you to have coverage on your motorcycle, and it can benefit you in a variety of situations. 

Whether you’re a first-time owner or a veteran rider, your insurance coverage is an important part of your motorcycle setup. Standard motorcycle insurance policies include bodily injury liability coverage and property damage liability coverage, which pay for any damages you may cause to others, but there are a number of optional coverages available as well, such as comprehensive and collision coverage.

Here, CNBC Select analyzed motorcycle insurance companies and picked out the four that stand out for their availability, discounts, financial strength and coverage (see our methodology for more information on how we made this list).

Who’s this for? As one of the largest insurers in the nation, State Farm is widely available and offers coverage options for all types of motorcycle owners.

Standout benefits: State Farm offers a variety of other coverages for your home, car and other types of vehicles, allowing you to bundle your policies and save. Some motorcycle insurance policies also come with roadside assistance coverage.

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Who’s this for? Anyone who needs to cover vintage motorcycles, sport bikes, cruisers and more can find coverage through Progressive. With a wide variety of vehicles covered and many opportunities to save, Progressive’s motorcycle insurance offers flexibility and affordability.

Standout benefits: Progressive offers 11 different discounts, including ones for bundling your insurance policies, completing a safety course, being a responsible driver, paying in full, paying on time and even for switching or transferring from another company. Progressive also offers small and large accident forgiveness and disappearing deductibles.

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Who’s this for? Geico could be a good option for those who also own a car and want to bundle their auto and motorcycle insurance policies. It was one of CNBC Select’s top picks for car insurance and could help customers save while managing their policies together. 

Standout benefits: Geico’s motorcycle insurance is available in all 50 states, and also offers seven different discounts. 

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Who’s this for? For those who want to save money on their motorcycle insurance, Harley-Davidson offers a total of 13 discounts, including a discount for those who have a long history of riding, are members of the Harley Owners Group and for those with a motorcycle endorsement on their driver’s license. 

Standout benefits: Harley-Davidson insurance covers a wide variety of types of motorcycles, making it a good option for enthusiasts with highly specific bikes. You don't need to own a Harley-Davidson to enroll for coverage — Harley-Davidson Insurance is available for almost all makes and models.

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State Farm is available nationwide and offers many other lines of insurance to allow for bundling, including auto insurance, homeowners insurance, small business insurance, life insurance and more. It’s rated highly in its auto claims customer satisfaction, has an A- rating from the BBB and is highly rated by AM Best for financial strength.  

States available

Not disclosed

Discounts available

Not disclosed

Other factors to consider

You’ll need to contact an agent in order to get a quote. 

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Progressive is well-regarded for its breadth of policies and availability. Progressive's motorcycle insurance policies offer some impressive features, including full replacement cost without depreciation for parts and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts coverage. It also offers many different easy-to-attain discounts.

States available

49, not available in Massachusetts 

Discounts available

11, including discounts for motorcycle endorsements and association memberships

Other factors to consider

Progressive offers coverage for a wide variety of motorcycles, including vintage motorcycles, scooters and mopeds, and custom bikes. 

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Geico has an A++ financial strength rating from AM Best and is competitive for customer satisfaction. It insures a wide variety of bikes including cruisers, touring bikes, sport bikes and custom motorcycles. Geico also offers several different motorcycle specialty coverages, such as accessories coverage and helmet coverage, and offers ATV and scooter insurance.

States available

50

Discounts available

7

Other factors to consider

Geico offers other insurance policies like homeowners insurance, renters insurance and auto insurance to bundle your coverage and save.

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Harley-Davidson insurance, underwritten by the Sentry Insurance Group, offers coverage for a variety of motorcycles — no matter the make or model — and with many different money-saving discounts. Harley-Davidson also promises to use genuine replacement parts for repairs.

States available

48, not available in Alaska, Hawaii, or Washington, DC

Discounts available

13, including discounts for Harley Owners Group members, on-time payment discounts and military and law enforcement discounts

Other factors to consider

Harley-Davidson doesn’t offer any other types of insurance, so you’ll have to manage other things like car insurance policies separately.

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• What does motorcycle insurance cover?
• Which motorcycles are the most expensive to insure? 
• How can I lower my motorcycle insurance cost? 
• Is motorcycle insurance required? 

When shopping for motorcycle insurance, you’ll want a policy that covers the following: 

• Bodily injury and property damage liability coverage: This coverage can help pay for damages to other vehicles and injuries if you’re liable for an accident.
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: This type of insurance can help if you’re hit by an uninsured person, or someone who doesn’t have enough coverage to pay for your injuries.
• Comprehensive and collision coverage: Comprehensive coverage can cover things like theft or vandalism, while collision coverage pays out when your motorcycle is damaged in an accident. Comprehensive and collision coverage isn't required for motorcycles, but can be helpful in these situations. 

Additionally, some insurers offer coverage to protect your bike and your gear. Here are a few things to consider if you’re looking to enhance your coverage: 

• Custom parts and equipment coverage: If you’ve spent a lot of money on upgrading your bike with parts and accessories, it might be worth covering them. You might be able to purchase extra coverage for these upgrades depending on your state and insurer. 
• Coverage for riding gear: Some insurers offer coverage for your gear, including your helmet and boots.
• Roadside assistance: If your ride breaks down, you may be able to get help with roadside assistance. 

Sports bikes are generally the most expensive type of motorcycles to insure. However, many factors, including your age, location and the amount of experience you have riding might also influence the price you’ll pay for coverage. 

There are several ways to lower the price you’ll pay for coverage. Some common options include: 

• Paying your premium in full. Generally, insurers offer a discount for those who opt to pay their full bill. 
• Shopping around for coverage. Each insurance company considers your personal information and data differently, so getting quotes from several different insurers could help you make sure you’re getting the best deal for you. 
• Take a motorcycle course. Insurers may offer you a discount if you take a motorcycle riding course. 

Almost all states (except Florida) require motorcycle insurance before you can legally register your bike. However, the amount of insurance required varies by state. And, having insurance can help protect you financially if you’re involved in an accident. 

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every motorcycle insurance review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of insurance products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best motorcycle insurance companies.

To determine the best motorcycle insurance companies, CNBC Select analyzed dozens of U.S. insurance companies that come with policies to suit a variety of needs.

When narrowing down and ranking the best motorcycle insurance companies, we focused on coverage, availability, ease of use and customer satisfaction. We considered the number of states where coverage is available, the number and types of motorcycle models covered, financial strength ratings from AM Best (which measures a company’s ability to pay on debts), the number of discounts available, and the customer satisfaction with claims from J.D. Power’s US Auto Claims Satisfaction Study. 

From there, we sorted our recommendations by the best overall and runner-up, best for bundling, and best for discounts. 

Note that the premiums and policy structures advertised for motorcycle insurance companies are subject to fluctuate in accordance with the company’s policies. 

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