How we put this guide together: figures come from ValuePenguin (September 2026), MoneyGeek (October 2026), Insurify and insurers’ own discount pages. Discounts vary by state and insurer. See our advertiser disclosure.
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Sponsored listings. Insuretro may be paid if you click a listing; it doesn’t change your price.1. Compare at least three insurers
Full-coverage averages ranged from $22 a month at Dairyland to $54 at Nationwide in ValuePenguin’s 2026 study. Start with Dairyland, Progressive and Harley-Davidson Insurance, which between them were cheapest in every state. See the cheapest insurer in your state.
2. Take a rider safety course
Most insurers reward approved training. Harley-Davidson Insurance lists a discount for its Riding Academy or a motorcycle safety course completed in the last five years, and Insurify reports GEICO offers up to 20% to current Motorcycle Safety Foundation instructors. Training also lowers your crash risk, which keeps your record clean.
3. Get your motorcycle license endorsement
MoneyGeek found Progressive charged 12% more for full coverage when the rider had no motorcycle endorsement. Getting properly licensed is usually cheap and can pay for itself in one year’s premium.
4. Bundle with your car or home insurance
Most insurers that sell motorcycle cover offer a multi-policy discount. Harley-Davidson Insurance lists a bundled-policy discount, and Insurify lists bundling with auto, home or renters among the common motorcycle discounts.
5. Lay up the bike in winter
If your bike sits in a garage for months, ask about reducing cover while it is stored, for example keeping comprehensive for theft and fire but suspending collision. Insurify lists seasonal coverage suspension among common savings. Don’t cancel completely: a lapse in cover can raise your price when you restart, and a stored bike can still be stolen or damaged.
6. Choose your deductible carefully
Raising your collision and comprehensive deductibles, for example from $250 to $500 or $1,000, lowers the premium. Make sure you could pay the deductible after a crash.
7. Pick a bike that is cheaper to insure
Sport bikes cost far more to insure. MoneyGeek’s 1,000cc sport bike example cost $3,948 a year for full coverage, against $364 for its standard profile bike. Standard bikes under 500cc are usually cheapest. Get quotes before you buy.
8. Ask about every discount
Harley-Davidson Insurance, for example, lists discounts for:
- a new bike, multiple bikes and anti-theft devices
- H.O.G. (Harley Owners Group) membership
- experienced riders and riders with no claims
- home ownership, loyalty and paying promptly or in full
- military and law enforcement
Other insurers offer similar savings for mature riders, club membership and paying in full. Ask each one for its full list.
9. Keep your riding record clean
Tickets and at-fault crashes raise prices for several years. Re-shop your insurance once an old violation drops off your record instead of waiting for your current insurer to cut the price.
10. Review your coverage as your bike ages
On an older bike worth little, collision and comprehensive may cost more than they could pay out. Consider dropping them once the bike is paid off and you could replace it yourself. For a classic bike, look at agreed-value cover instead, which can be good value; see our coverage guide.
Discount checklist
| Discount | Who usually qualifies | How to get it |
|---|---|---|
| Safety course | Riders who complete an approved course | Send your completion certificate |
| Motorcycle endorsement | Licensed riders | Add the endorsement to your license |
| Multi-policy | Riders who also insure a car or home with the insurer | Quote the bundle |
| Multi-bike | Owners of more than one motorcycle | Put the bikes on one policy |
| Club membership | H.O.G. and some other rider groups | Give your membership number |
| Anti-theft | Bikes with alarms, immobilizers or trackers | Provide proof of the device |
| Claims-free and experienced rider | Riders with years of clean history | Ask at quote and renewal |
| Paid in full | Anyone | Choose annual payment |
Savings by type of rider
| If you are… | Focus on |
|---|---|
| A new or young rider | Safety course, endorsement, a smaller standard bike, staying on a family policy where possible |
| Riding a sport bike | Comparing many insurers, higher deductibles, anti-theft devices and secure parking |
| A seasonal rider | Lay-up or seasonal cover options |
| A Harley or club rider | H.O.G. or club discounts and Harley-Davidson Insurance quotes |
| Owning a classic | Agreed-value classic policies |
| Married | Ask about marital-status pricing: MoneyGeek found Progressive charged married riders in Colorado 22% less |
Pay-per-mile cover for occasional riders
If you ride very little, ask whether any insurer in your state offers pay-per-mile or low-mileage motorcycle cover. Insurify reports savings of up to 60% with pay-per-mile insurance for riders who qualify. Compare the total with a standard policy plus a lay-up option.
What these steps could add up to: an example
Take a rider paying the ValuePenguin study’s most expensive average of $54 a month. Switching to the cheapest company in the study, at $22, would save $32 a month, or $384 a year (our arithmetic). A safety-course discount, a bundle discount and a lay-up option would bring the price down further. (Illustration only: discounts vary and don’t simply add together.)
What not to cut
Don’t save money by dropping injury protection if you can’t afford a large medical bill. IIHS reports 6,228 motorcyclists died in US crashes in 2024, and serious injuries are far more common. Uninsured/underinsured motorist cover and medical payments cover are relatively cheap ways to protect yourself.
Savings tip: shop your policy before riding season starts. Insurers are not busy then, and you can switch without a gap in cover.
Common questions
Does a motorcycle safety course lower insurance?
Usually, yes. Many insurers offer a discount for completing an approved course. Harley-Davidson Insurance, for example, discounts riders who took its Riding Academy or a safety course in the last five years.
Can I pause motorcycle insurance in winter?
Some insurers let you reduce cover while the bike is stored, often keeping comprehensive for theft and fire. Cancelling entirely can cause a lapse that raises future prices.
Does not having a motorcycle endorsement raise insurance?
It can. MoneyGeek found Progressive charged 12% more for full coverage when riders lacked a motorcycle endorsement.
Sources
- ValuePenguin: Cheap motorcycle insurance (Sept 2026)
- MoneyGeek: Average cost of motorcycle insurance (Oct 2026)
- Insurify: Motorcycle insurance quotes (Feb 2026)
- Harley-Davidson Insurance: Discounts
- IIHS: Fatality Facts 2024, motorcycles and ATVs (June 2026)
Prices, discounts and rules change often and vary by state and driver. Figures were checked in October 2026; confirm details with the insurer or your state insurance department.