Best Motorcycle Insuranceof 2026
Several motorcycle insurance brands that look independent actually share the same underwriter behind the scenes — one insurance group alone stands behind Dairyland and Harley-Davidson Insurance, and another stands behind Foremost, AARP Motorcycle Insurance, and USAA Motorcycle Insurance. We sorted 21 real options into major national carriers, shared-underwriter storefronts, specialist and usage-based coverage, classic/collector bike insurance, and comparison marketplaces, so you can see who’s actually on the hook for your claim.
These seven are the widely-available, direct-write names most riders already recognize — each underwrites its own book, though several don’t publish which exact affiliated entity applies in your specific state.
Progressive Motorcycle Insurance
Good to Know: Widely cited as the largest seller of motorcycle insurance in the U.S., underwriting its own book directly (Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates) rather than fronting for another carrier, with standard multi-policy discounts for bundling with auto.
Heads Up: Progressive doesn’t publish one single underwriting entity that applies in every state — several affiliated Progressive companies issue the policy depending on where you live, so check your declarations page if you want to know exactly which one is on the hook.
GEICO Motorcycle Insurance
Good to Know: Motorcycle policies are underwritten directly by GEICO Indemnity Company, a genuine in-house GEICO subsidiary rather than a third-party partner borrowing the name.
Heads Up: GEICO’s motorcycle coverage options and custom-parts add-ons are noticeably thinner than its auto lineup — confirm your customization coverage limit before assuming it matches a specialist brand.
Allstate Motorcycle Insurance
Good to Know: Underwritten by an Allstate-affiliated company (the exact entity varies by state), with standard multi-policy discounts for riders who already carry an Allstate auto or home policy.
Heads Up: Allstate also owns National General and Direct Auto, which run their own separate motorcycle programs under different brand names — all three ultimately trace back to Allstate Corp, so shopping all three isn’t the same as getting three independent quotes.
State Farm Motorcycle Insurance
Good to Know: Sold through State Farm’s large network of local exclusive agents, useful if you’d rather add or schedule a new bike in person than through an online-only flow.
Heads Up: State Farm doesn’t publish a clear motorcycle-specific underwriter disclosure on its public pages — ask your agent directly which State Farm entity is issuing your specific policy.
Nationwide Motorcycle Insurance
Good to Know: Runs a dedicated classic-motorcycle product alongside its standard modern-bike coverage, useful if your garage has both a daily rider and a vintage restoration project.
Heads Up: Like several major carriers, Nationwide doesn’t name the specific underwriting subsidiary for motorcycle by state on its public pages — confirm the exact entity on your declarations page.
American Family Motorcycle Insurance
Good to Know: Underwritten by American Family Mutual Insurance Company, S.I. or an affiliate, sold primarily through independent and exclusive agents rather than a pure online quote flow.
Heads Up: AmFam’s public motorcycle page doesn’t break out which specific affiliate underwrites in your state — your agent can confirm the exact entity named on your policy.
Liberty Mutual Motorcycle Insurance
Good to Know: Liberty Mutual formally retired the long-running Safeco brand in April 2026 after a year-long transition — Safeco’s independent-agent motorcycle, auto, and property lines now sell under the Liberty Mutual name, with the same underlying policies and agent relationships.
Heads Up: If you see "Safeco Motorcycle Insurance" mentioned anywhere in 2026, know that it’s the same company now selling under the Liberty Mutual name, not a discontinued product.
Five brands that market themselves very differently — from budget non-standard coverage to a military-affinity program — actually trace back to just two underwriting groups. Worth knowing before you assume shopping three "different" brands gets you three genuinely different insurers.
Dairyland Motorcycle Insurance
Good to Know: A genuine motorcycle and non-standard auto specialist brand, underwritten by a member of the Sentry Insurance Group (Sentry acquired Dairyland in 1966).
Heads Up: Dairyland is also one of the underlying carriers quoted through The Zebra’s comparison marketplace — you may see Dairyland pricing whether you go direct or through a comparison site.
Harley-Davidson® Insurance
Good to Know: Policies are issued by Viking Insurance Company of Wisconsin, Middlesex Insurance Company, or Sentry Select Insurance Company, depending on your state — all members of the same Sentry Insurance Group that stands behind Dairyland above.
Heads Up: Despite the Harley-Davidson branding and lifestyle marketing, this isn’t a Harley-Davidson-owned insurance company — it’s a licensed brand name for Sentry Insurance Group paper, and you don’t need to own a Harley to buy Dairyland’s motorcycle coverage instead.
Foremost Motorcycle Insurance
Good to Know: Underwritten by Foremost Insurance Company Grand Rapids, Michigan or an affiliate — Foremost is part of Farmers Insurance Group, itself owned by Zurich Financial Services Group, and is also one of only three named carrier partners on The Zebra’s motorcycle marketplace.
Heads Up: Foremost also underwrites the AARP- and USAA-branded motorcycle programs listed next in this section — comparing all three separately won’t give you three genuinely different underwriters.
AARP Motorcycle Insurance Program
Good to Know: Available to AARP members, but the policy itself is underwritten by Foremost Insurance Company Grand Rapids, Michigan, Foremost Property and Casualty Insurance Company, or Foremost County Mutual Insurance Company — AARP licenses its name to the program rather than bearing the insurance risk itself.
Heads Up: AARP doesn’t underwrite this policy or pay your claim — Foremost does, so compare it directly against Foremost’s own branded plan above before assuming the AARP name gets you a meaningfully different product.
USAA Motorcycle Insurance
Good to Know: Sold through a USAA-branded storefront but explicitly disclosed by USAA itself as a third-party product: "Third-party insurance products are not underwritten by USAA or its affiliates." The actual underwriter is Foremost, the same company behind the two cards above.
Heads Up: Buying "USAA Motorcycle Insurance" doesn’t establish USAA membership and isn’t USAA-underwritten — it’s a Foremost policy sold to eligible military members, veterans, and their families under a licensed USAA storefront.
These three solve for a specific rider profile — low annual mileage, a regional specialist market, or a higher-risk rating — rather than being general-purpose options.
Voom (underwritten by Markel)
Good to Know: An insurtech offering usage-based, pay-per-mile motorcycle insurance — a low base rate plus a per-mile charge — underwritten by Markel, aimed specifically at seasonal or low-mileage riders rather than daily commuters.
Heads Up: Voom’s model requires a monthly odometer photo submission to calculate your bill — a genuinely different process than a flat annual premium, so make sure that fits how you actually want to manage your policy.
Rider Insurance
Good to Know: Long known as one of the largest dedicated motorcycle insurance providers in New Jersey with a significant Pennsylvania presence; acquired by Plymouth Rock Assurance in 2019 but still sold under the Rider Insurance name.
Heads Up: Rider Insurance is a regional specialist, not a nationally available option — confirm it writes policies in your state before spending time on a quote.
National General Motorcycle Insurance
Good to Know: An Allstate-owned company running its own separate motorcycle storefront, commonly used for riders who don’t fit a standard-carrier risk profile (newer riders, high-performance bikes, or a less-than-perfect driving record).
Heads Up: National General is part of the same corporate family as Allstate — if you already got a quote from Allstate directly, this isn’t guaranteed to be a meaningfully independent second opinion.
A restored or collector bike usually needs an agreed-value policy built for its actual worth, not a standard actual-cash-value motorcycle policy — these three specialize in exactly that.
Hagerty Classic Motorcycle Insurance
Good to Know: Hagerty is an insurance agency and program administrator, not the risk-bearing insurer itself — its own disclosure states policies are "underwritten by carriers listed on the hagerty.com Disclosures page," with Hagerty handling sales, service, and claims administration.
Heads Up: Because Hagerty is the agency rather than the underwriter, the specific insurance company financially responsible for your claim is named on its Disclosures page, not on the main marketing pages — worth a quick look before you buy.
American Collectors Insurance
Good to Know: A dedicated classic-vehicle insurer with its own Classic Motorcycles product, owned by NSM Insurance Group since a 2014 acquisition.
Heads Up: American Collectors Insurance doesn’t publicly name its underlying risk-bearing carrier on its motorcycle page — ask directly which insurance company is actually underwriting your policy before you buy.
Grundy Worldwide
Good to Know: Lists motorcycles alongside classic cars, EVs, and motorhomes as vehicle types it insures, appealing to collectors who want one agency handling a mixed garage rather than separate policies per vehicle type.
Heads Up: Grundy’s claims portal runs on a Philadelphia Insurance Companies domain and trade coverage references a Philadelphia Insurance/Grundy partnership, but the exact underwriter for Grundy’s motorcycle line specifically isn’t confirmed on its own site — ask before buying if that matters to you.
If you’d rather compare multiple carriers’ quotes side by side before picking a brand, these three are the established options for motorcycle-specific shopping.
The Zebra
Good to Know: Explicitly names its motorcycle-quote carrier partners — Liberty Mutual, Foremost, and Dairyland — rather than leaving you guessing which insurers you’re actually comparing.
Heads Up: Because The Zebra’s named motorcycle partners overlap with brands covered directly elsewhere on this page, a quote here may not surface options beyond what you’d find shopping those three carriers individually.
Insurify
Good to Know: Runs a dedicated motorcycle-insurance vertical with its own quote comparison tool, separate from its auto and home comparison products.
Heads Up: As with any quote aggregator, the specific carriers returned in your results depend on your state and rider profile — treat the comparison as a starting point, not a guarantee every carrier on this page will appear.
Compare.com
Good to Know: States it works with 100-plus partner insurance companies and specifically recommends Dairyland, Progressive, and Liberty Mutual for motorcycle shoppers.
Heads Up: A large partner network doesn’t guarantee every quote source is a full-featured motorcycle specialist — cross-check any unfamiliar carrier name that comes back in your results before buying.
💡 Pro Tips Before You Buy Motorcycle Insurance
🏢 Check who actually underwrites the policy, not just the brand name
Several brands compared above ultimately trace back to the same handful of underwriters — the Sentry Insurance Group alone stands behind both Dairyland and Harley-Davidson Insurance, and Foremost stands behind its own brand plus the AARP and USAA motorcycle programs. Ask directly which insurance company is financially responsible for your claim.
📜 Confirm your state’s actual coverage requirement before assuming you’re covered
Not every state requires motorcycle insurance the way it requires auto insurance — some use a “financial responsibility” model instead of mandatory up-front coverage. Check your specific state’s DMV or insurance department page rather than assuming the same rules apply everywhere.
🔧 Schedule aftermarket parts and custom modifications separately
Standard comprehensive and collision coverage typically caps aftermarket parts reimbursement at a modest dollar amount unless you specifically schedule custom equipment or add a rider. A heavily customized build can be underinsured by default if you skip this step.
❄ Ask about lay-up or seasonal storage coverage if you don’t ride year-round
Lay-up coverage suspends liability and collision while keeping comprehensive protection active during off-season storage, but it’s becoming less common across the industry — ask your specific carrier directly whether it still offers a true seasonal storage option rather than assuming every policy includes one.
🏆 Take a rider safety course for a genuine premium discount
Completing an approved motorcycle safety course is one of the most consistently available discounts across major carriers, and it’s one of the few price breaks that’s fully within your control regardless of which brand you choose.
💰 Bundle with your existing auto or home policy
Most major carriers on this page offer a real multi-policy discount for adding motorcycle coverage to an existing auto or home policy — worth checking with your current insurer before shopping a brand-new standalone policy elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a standard motorcycle insurance policy actually cover?
A typical policy includes liability coverage (bodily injury and property damage you cause to others — usually the only state-mandated piece where insurance is required at all), collision coverage for damage to your own bike regardless of fault, and comprehensive coverage for theft, fire, vandalism, weather, and animal strikes. Add-ons like custom parts coverage and roadside assistance are common but not automatic — read your specific policy’s coverage list rather than assuming based on the carrier’s reputation.
Do I need motorcycle insurance in every state?
Not necessarily in the same way auto insurance is mandated. Some states use a “financial responsibility” model instead of requiring up-front liability coverage, meaning insurance isn’t required to register a bike but becomes mandatory after an at-fault crash involving injury. Requirements vary meaningfully by state, so check your specific state’s DMV or insurance department page before assuming you’re covered or exempt.
Why do several motorcycle insurance brands share the same underwriter?
Motorcycle insurance has consolidated around a small number of underwriting groups. The Sentry Insurance Group underwrites both Dairyland and Harley-Davidson Insurance, while Foremost Insurance Company underwrites its own branded plans plus the AARP Motorcycle Insurance Program and USAA’s motorcycle storefront — five differently-marketed brands that ultimately share just two claims-paying entities.
What happens if I customize or modify my motorcycle?
Most standard comprehensive and collision policies cap reimbursement for aftermarket parts and custom equipment at a set dollar amount — often a few thousand dollars — unless you specifically schedule your custom parts or add a rider/endorsement for the higher value. A heavily customized bike is commonly underinsured by default if this step gets skipped.
What is lay-up or seasonal storage coverage?
Lay-up coverage lets a seasonal rider suspend liability and collision coverage while keeping comprehensive protection active during off-season storage, covering risks like theft, fire, and weather damage without paying for coverage you don’t need while the bike isn’t being ridden. It’s becoming less commonly offered industry-wide, so ask your specific carrier whether it’s still available rather than assuming every policy includes it.
Does a motorcycle safety course actually lower my premium?
Yes — completion of an approved rider safety course (commonly an MSF-style course) is one of the most widely and consistently offered discounts across major motorcycle insurance carriers. Unlike many other rating factors, it’s a discount that’s fully within your control to earn regardless of which brand you ultimately choose.
How does NME choose which motorcycle insurance companies to feature?
NME evaluates motorcycle insurance providers using our own five-criterion framework: coverage depth (which liability, collision, comprehensive, and custom-parts protections are actually included), underwriting transparency (whether the actual risk-bearing entity is clearly disclosed), distribution model (direct carrier, licensed-brand storefront, or comparison marketplace), claims and discount structure (bundling, safety-course, and usage-based options), and use-case fit (daily rider, seasonal rider, or collector). We do not accept payment from providers to be featured, and none of the companies on this page currently have a confirmed, integrated affiliate relationship with NME.
Confirm Who Actually Underwrites Your Policy
Several of the brands compared above share the same underwriter behind the scenes. Before comparing prices, ask which insurance company is actually financially responsible for your claim, and check that carrier’s complaint history.
