Best motorcycle insurance

The best motorcycle insurance to buy is usually the company that gives you the right coverage for your bike at the lowest total price — not necessarily the one with the cheapest monthly payment.

If you're in South Carolina, I'd start by comparing Progressive, GEICO, Dairyland, and Nationwide. The best choice depends on your age, riding experience, motorcycle, and whether you finance it or own it outright.

My top motorcycle insurance companies to compare

1. Progressive — Best overall

(My first choice)

Good combination of competitive pricing, accessory coverage, replacement-cost options and roadside assistance. A strong starting point for most riders. CNBC ValuePenguin

Get a quote: Progressive Motorcycle Insurance

2. Dairyland — Best alternative for affordable coverage

Worth comparing if you want a budget-friendly policy, especially with optional rental reimbursement, replacement-cost coverage and motorcycle safety-course discounts. CNBC Dairyland® Motorcycle

Get a quote: Dairyland Motorcycle Insurance

3. GEICO — Best for comparing a familiar national insurer

Get a quote if you already have auto insurance with GEICO or want to compare multi-bike and safety-course discounts. GEICO

Get a quote: GEICO Motorcycle Insurance

4. Harley-Davidson Insurance — Worth checking for cruiser owners

Particularly worth a quote if you ride a Harley and want to compare specialized motorcycle coverage and discounts. CNBC Cars.com

Get a quote: Harley-Davidson Insurance

What coverage should you buy?

My recommendation is to compare quotes with the same coverage limits so you can make a fair comparison.

• Liability: Pays for injuries or property damage you cause to others. Consider limits higher than the legal minimum if you can afford them.
• Collision: Helps pay to repair or replace your bike after a covered crash.
• Comprehensive: Covers certain non-collision losses, such as theft, fire and vandalism.
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist: Helps protect you if another driver has insufficient insurance.
• Roadside assistance: Useful if you ride long distances.
• Accessory coverage: Important if you have expensive upgrades, saddlebags or custom parts.

If your motorcycle is financed, your lender will generally require comprehensive and collision coverage. Progressive GEICO

Let me narrow it down for you

I can help you identify which company is most likely to offer you the best deal. I just need one detail to start:

What motorcycle do you have, or are you planning to buy?

Motorcycle make and model

[Input placeholder: e.g. Honda Shadow 750] (Current value unavailable.)

Model year

[Input placeholder: e.g. 2022] (Current value unavailable.)

Your age range

Under 25

25–39

40–59

60+

Riding experience

New rider

Experienced rider

Coverage you want

Liability only (usually cheaper)

Full coverage (bike damage and liability)

Not sure yet

What's most important?

Lowest possible price

Best value for the money

Best protection, even if it costs more

[Find my best insurance options]

The best motorcycle insurance depends on your riding style, budget, and the type of bike you own. Industry rankings point to several top providers depending on what you need: CNBC

Top Motorcycle Insurance Providers

Best Overall:Progressive offers the best overall mix of customizable policies, a wide range of discounts, and built-in accessories coverage (free custom parts/equipment coverage with collision and comprehensive plans). U.S. News & World Report

Best for Affordability & Daily Riders:GEICO stands out for low average rates, strong 24/7 customer support, and discounts for mature or experienced riders.

Best for Various Bike Types & Value:State Farm is widely praised for diverse bike coverage, while Safeco provides great value with included roadside assistance and low-claim discounts.

Best for Brand-Specific Discounts:Harley-Davidson Insurance provides tailored discount programs and coverage options for brand owners and multi-bike households. Harley-Davidson Motorcycle insurance

Best for Specialty & Track Riders:Foremost is a top choice if you ride on a racetrack (one of the few insurers offering track coverage) or need specialized replacement cost options.

Best for Low Complaints:Amica consistently records the lowest level of customer complaints through the NAIC.

Key Coverages to Look For

Liability Coverage: Pays for injuries or property damage you cause to others; legally required in nearly all U.S. states. Insurify

Collision & Comprehensive: Covers repairs or replacement for your own bike if you crash, or if it is stolen, vandalized, or damaged by weather. Allstate

Accessories & Custom Parts: Replaces custom paint, chrome, electronics, or safety gear added to your bike. YouTube

Medical Payments / PIP: Helps cover medical bills for you and your passenger after an accident. Allstate Allstate

To help narrow down the best choice for you, tell me:

What kind of motorcycle do you ride (cruiser, sportbike, commuter, etc.)?

Do you ride daily, or is it seasonal/weekend-only ?

Roughly what state or area do you live in ?

Finding the "best" motorcycle insurance depends heavily on what you ride, how you ride, and what features matter most to you (such as custom parts coverage, low rates, or specialized perks). Industry evaluations highlight several top-tier choices based on distinct rider needs: CNBC

Top Motorcycle Insurance Providers

• Best Overall: Progressive MoneyGeek.com
  • Why choose them: Widely considered the industry leader for motorcycles, Progressive insures almost every type of bike and offers specialized perks like OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts replacement, high limits for custom equipment, and total-loss coverage for brand-new bikes. Progressive
• Best for Affordability & Custom/Modified Bikes: Dairyland CNBC
  • Why choose them: Dairyland is known for competitive, budget-friendly rates and excellent coverage options for custom parts, making it a favorite for riders who have heavily modified their bikes or are looking to keep annual premiums low. CNBC
• Best for Variety & Bundling: State Farm CNBC
  • Why choose them: If you already have home, renters, or auto insurance, State Farm makes it seamless to bundle policies. CNBC They cover a vast range of bikes and boast a massive agent network for personalized customer service. Insurify
• Best for Young or New Riders: GEICO MoneyGeek.com
  • Why choose them: GEICO excels in providing user-friendly digital tools, high marks for claims satisfaction, and competitive rates that can appeal to younger or newer operators (along with discounts for completing safety courses).
• Best for Specialized & Vintage Protection: Foremost
  • Why choose them: Owned by Farmers, Foremost specializes in unique niches, offering strong replacement cost coverage, packages for vintage/classic bikes, and automatic accident forgiveness on certain plans. CNBC
• Best for Low-Mileage or Pay-Per-Mile: Voom / Markel CNBC
  • Why choose them: If you only take your bike out on weekends or store it for large portions of the year, options like Voom (pay-per-mile) or Markel cater specifically to low-mileage riders so you aren't paying for miles you don't ride.

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing

1. Liability vs. Full Coverage:
   • If your bike is older and worth less than $3,000, carrying liability-only (which only covers damage/injuries you cause to others) usually makes the most financial sense. MoneyGeek.com
   • If your bike is financed, brand new, or expensive, you will want comprehensive and collision coverage to fix or replace your own bike regardless of fault. MoneyGeek.com
2. Custom Parts and Accessories: Standard policies typically only cover factory-standard components. If you've invested heavily in custom chrome, exhaust systems, or custom paint, look for an insurer that offers high-limit accessory/custom parts coverage. MoneyGeek.com
3. Discounts: Look for savings opportunities, such as:
   • Completing a Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) safety course. Insurify
   • Bundling policies (auto, home, etc.). Insurify
   • Maintaining a clean driving record. Forbes
   • Belonging to specific riding groups (e.g., Harley Owners Group / H.O.G.).
4. Seasonal "Lay-Up" Policies: If you live somewhere with harsh winters where you put your bike away for months, check if the insurer offers a lay-up period to lower your rates during the off-season. Insurify

Tip: Rates vary wildly based on your age, location, driving record, and the exact CCs/style of your bike (sport bikes generally cost significantly more to insure than cruisers). It's always best to pull identical quotes from at least three different providers before committing. MoneyGeek.com

Progressive is a strong starting point: recent comparisons rate it best overall for many riders, citing competitive rates, broad coverage, and good service. But the best deal depends on your location, bike, riding history, and coverage needs—compare quotes from Progressive, GEICO, and Dairyland, and check the same limits and deductibles in each.moneygeek.comvaluepenguin.comcnbc.com

The "best" motorcycle insurance depends on your situation—your location (U.S.-focused reviews), age/experience, motorcycle type (custom, vintage, sport bike, or cruiser), riding habits, credit, claims history, and budget. Motorcycle insurance is highly personalized, and rates vary widely by state and individual factors. www.moneygeek.com www.usnews.com

No single company wins universally, but recent 2026 independent reviews consistently rank Progressive as the top overall choice for most riders. It offers strong value through competitive pricing, extensive discounts, add-ons (like safety apparel and accessory coverage), and flexible options. www.moneygeek.com www.usnews.com

Top Motorcycle Insurance Companies (2026 Rankings)

Here are the leaders based on aggregated data from MoneyGeek (which scored 70+ companies on affordability, customer experience, and coverage), U.S. News & World Report, and other analyses:

• Other notables: Amica (lowest complaints), Markel (low-mileage riders). www.moneygeek.com www.usnews.com

Averages (U.S. national, 2026): Minimum liability ~$141/year ($12/mo); full coverage ~$364–$384/year ($30–$32/mo). Expect higher for young/new riders ($290–$1,000+/year) or expensive/custom bikes. www.moneygeek.com

How to Choose and Get the Best Deal

1. Compare quotes from at least 3–5 insurers (Progressive, GEICO, Dairyland, etc.) using independent tools from MoneyGeek, Insurify, or NerdWallet. Bundle with auto/home insurance for savings (up to 13–15%).
2. Key coverages to consider (beyond state minimum liability):
   • Collision & comprehensive (for your bike).
   • Uninsured/underinsured motorist.
   • Medical payments (MedPay) or PIP.
   • Add-ons: Safety apparel/gear ($500–$1,000+ value), custom parts/equipment ($3,000–$30,000), roadside assistance, trip interruption, rental reimbursement.
3. Discounts that save money: Multi-bike, safety course (MSF-approved), claim-free, pay-in-full, multi-policy (auto/home), military, H.O.G. membership, responsible driver (e.g., 3+ years clean record). Progressive and Dairyland offer some of the most. www.moneygeek.com
4. Other tips:
   • Check availability and bike suitability (most cover standard bikes; Dairyland excels with customs/vintage).
   • Verify financial strength (AM Best A or better) and claims handling.
   • Get a written quote and review the policy—factors like deductible, agreed-value for classics, and lay-up coverage matter.
   • Shop annually; rates can change with your record or location.

Bottom line: Start with Progressive for the best balance of price, options, and features for the majority of riders. Get personalized quotes today (many sites let you compare instantly), as the "best" for you could be GEICO (young rider) or Dairyland (custom bike). Always confirm coverage meets your state's requirements and shop based on your exact profile for the lowest rate.