Best Motorcycle Insurance Companies 2026Compared
Motorcycle coverage varies far more than car insurance—here's how seven established carriers compare on custom-parts protection, storage credits, high-risk acceptance and the kind of rider each one fits best.
Motorcycle insurance is less standardized than car insurance. The required liability piece looks similar everywhere, but the coverage that matters most to riders—protection for custom parts, agreed-value payouts, seasonal storage credits and willingness to write high-risk records—varies a lot from one carrier to the next.
Below is a qualitative comparison of seven established US motorcycle insurers. Rather than quoting prices, which depend heavily on your bike, location and riding record, it focuses on how each carrier is positioned, the coverage features they're known for, and which riders they tend to suit best.
Motorcycle Insurance carriers at a glance
Progressive
Best for: Riders who want wide availability and strong self-service- ✓The largest motorcycle insurer in the United States, writing coverage nationwide with a mature online quoting and claims platform.
- ✓Offers optional custom parts and equipment coverage that extends protection to aftermarket additions beyond the base built-in allowance.
- ✓Rider-friendly extras are widely available, including roadside assistance, total-loss protection and diminishing/disappearing deductible options.
- ✓Insures a broad mix of machines—sport, cruiser, touring and standard bikes plus scooters—so bundling and multi-bike households are straightforward.
Watch for: As a largely direct/online insurer, hands-on local agent support is more limited than with agent-based carriers.
Dairyland
Best for: High-risk riders and anyone who needs an SR-22 filing- ✓Specializes in non-standard and high-risk motorcycle coverage, and is a common option for riders with violations, coverage lapses or prior denials.
- ✓Well known for handling SR-22 filings, so it suits riders who need proof of financial responsibility to reinstate a license.
- ✓Flexible payment plans and low down-payment options fit riders who have struggled to get covered elsewhere.
Watch for: As a specialist in higher-risk business, it isn't necessarily the strongest fit for spotless-record riders shopping purely on features.
Markel
Best for: Enthusiasts, custom builds and specialty bikes- ✓A long-established specialty powersports insurer with experience covering custom, vintage and non-traditional motorcycles.
- ✓Coverage options are aimed at enthusiasts, including protection for aftermarket and custom equipment.
- ✓Comfortable insuring a wide range of two- and three-wheeled machines that fall outside standard road-bike underwriting.
Watch for: Sold largely through agents and specialty channels rather than as a mass-market direct brand, so availability can vary.
GEICO
Best for: Budget-minded riders and existing GEICO auto customers- ✓A large, widely recognized insurer with strong direct and online tools and nationwide reach.
- ✓Bundling with an existing GEICO auto or other policy is straightforward for multi-policy households.
- ✓Offers optional accessory/custom parts coverage and, for eligible bikes, add-ons such as roadside or mechanical protection.
Watch for: Motorcycle policies may be underwritten through partner companies, so the exact options and eligibility can vary by state.
Nationwide
Best for: Riders who want an agent relationship and easy home/auto bundling- ✓Combines a national agent network with direct options, suiting riders who prefer guided advice over a purely online process.
- ✓Offers rider-oriented features such as optional OEM/original-equipment replacement, accessory coverage and a vanishing-deductible option.
- ✓Bundling with Nationwide home and auto is a common draw for multi-line customers.
Watch for: Availability and specific endorsements can vary by state and by the local agent writing the policy.
Harley-Davidson Insurance
Best for: Harley owners and cruiser/touring riders- ✓A brand program built around Harley-Davidson and cruiser/touring ownership, with coverage oriented to those bikes and their accessories.
- ✓Emphasizes protection for the custom parts, chrome and accessories common on cruisers and baggers.
- ✓Convenient for buyers who want to arrange coverage within the Harley-Davidson ecosystem at or near the point of purchase.
Watch for: The program is underwritten by third-party insurers, so policy terms reflect the underwriting carrier rather than the motorcycle manufacturer.
Foremost
Best for: Specialty and non-standard bikes, and riders wanting a specialty carrier- ✓A specialty insurer within the Farmers family with a long history in non-standard and hard-to-place vehicle coverage.
- ✓Comfortable insuring a range of motorcycles, including custom and specialty machines that standard carriers may hesitate on.
- ✓Sold through agents, which helps riders whose bikes or profiles don't fit standard underwriting boxes.
Watch for: Agent-sold, so quotes and available options depend on local availability and the writing agent.
This comparison is editorial and intentionally omits premium quotes — rates depend entirely on your specifics. Confirm coverage, availability, and current pricing directly with each carrier.
Start with the coverage layers, then protect what's bolted on
Every motorcycle policy starts with liability—the bodily injury and property damage you cause others—which is the part most states require. Comprehensive and collision are optional but usually worth it for a financed or late-model bike, since they cover theft, fire, vandalism and crash damage to your own motorcycle.
The detail that trips up riders is custom parts and accessory coverage. Standard comp/collision typically includes only a limited built-in allowance for aftermarket additions, so if you've added saddlebags, exhaust, chrome, a custom paint job or audio, you often need to schedule that value separately. Carriers with an enthusiast focus tend to make this easier.
- •Liability is the required baseline; comprehensive and collision protect your own bike.
- •Check the built-in custom-parts allowance and how much extra coverage you can add.
- •Agreed value vs actual cash value (ACV) changes what a total-loss payout looks like—see the FAQs.
Factor in what and how you ride
A cross-country touring rider, a track-oriented sport rider and a weekend cruiser owner carry different exposures, and carriers position themselves accordingly. Touring and cruiser owners often care most about accessory coverage, roadside assistance and trip-related protections, while sport-bike riders are more affected by underwriting around horsepower and rider history.
Brand and specialty programs—Harley-Davidson Insurance for cruisers and baggers, or Markel and Foremost for custom and non-standard machines—are built around specific rider profiles. Mass-market direct carriers like Progressive and GEICO cover the full spectrum and are easy to bundle, which is usually the simpler path for a standard, unmodified bike.
High-risk records and seasonal storage
If you need an SR-22, or have violations, lapses or prior denials on your record, a non-standard specialist is usually the realistic option. Dairyland is well known for high-risk motorcycle coverage and SR-22 filings, and specialty carriers are generally more willing to write riders that standard underwriting turns away.
If you don't ride year-round, ask about lay-up or seasonal storage options. Many motorcycle insurers let you reduce coverage during off-season months—commonly keeping comprehensive to protect a stored bike against theft or fire while suspending collision and sometimes liability—which lowers cost without leaving the bike unprotected. Confirm the exact rules before you change or cancel anything.
- •Need an SR-22? Start with high-risk specialists such as Dairyland.
- •Store your bike in winter? Ask about lay-up/seasonal coverage rather than canceling outright.
Motorcycle Insurance — Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between agreed value and actual cash value (ACV)?
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With actual cash value, a total-loss payout is based on the bike's depreciated market value at the time of the claim, so the amount falls as the motorcycle ages. Agreed value sets a payout figure up front when the policy is written, based on documentation you provide. Agreed value is most relevant for custom, vintage or collector bikes whose worth isn't captured by standard depreciation; whether it's offered depends on the carrier and the bike.
Does motorcycle insurance cover custom parts and accessories?
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Comprehensive and collision usually include a limited built-in allowance for aftermarket parts and accessories, but that amount is often modest. If you've invested in exhaust, saddlebags, chrome, custom paint or audio, you typically need to add custom parts/equipment coverage and document the value. Enthusiast-focused carriers tend to offer higher limits and make scheduling that value easier.
Which carrier is best for high-risk riders or an SR-22?
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Non-standard specialists are the usual answer. Dairyland is widely known for insuring high-risk motorcycle riders and for handling SR-22 filings, and it's a common choice for riders with violations, coverage lapses or prior denials. Standard carriers may decline or price these riders out, so starting with a high-risk specialist is often more productive.
Can I lower coverage while my bike is in storage for the winter?
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Often yes. Many motorcycle insurers offer lay-up or seasonal storage options that let you reduce coverage during months you don't ride. A common approach keeps comprehensive—so the bike is still protected against theft, fire or vandalism in storage—while suspending collision and sometimes liability. Ask your carrier about the specific rules before making changes, and avoid simply canceling the policy.
Is Progressive really the biggest motorcycle insurer?
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Yes—Progressive is the largest motorcycle insurer in the United States and writes coverage nationwide. That scale comes with mature online quoting and claims tools and broad eligibility across bike types. Being the largest doesn't automatically make it the best fit for every rider, though; custom builds, high-risk records and specialty bikes are often better served by enthusiast or non-standard carriers.
Related guides
Sarah Mitchell
Editorial Lead, Property & Casualty
This article was researched and written by the Cover Forge USA editorial team against federal sources (NAIC, CMS, FEMA, DOL, SSA, state DOIs) and standard policy forms. Bylines organize content by topic — they do not assert individual licensure. See our editorial-policy for details.
Reviewed June 2026
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