How to Get a Motorcycle Insurance Discount (2024)

Riding a motorcycle is a great way to shuttle yourself from A to B in a fun, economic fashion. Being lightweight, bikes tout hefty miles per gallon, and in terms of MSRP, they’re quite affordable by comparison to most passenger vehicles. This can make insurance incredibly cheap for what it is, but only under the right circumstances.

Insuring a bike is tricky business because claims become polarized, meaning that in most cases, claims either don’t exist or they’re monstrously large. Certain risk factors, especially trivial claims, will be eliminated entirely. If you’re riding a bike, you won’t have to worry about bumping your car door into your neighbor’s car or backing into a mailbox. At the same rate, any incident you encounter has a ridiculously high chance of injury. Being run off the road or knocked off your bike will oftentimes incur hefty medical bills, and that’s if the motorcycle accident isn’t fatal.

Pricing models on motorcycle insurance vary depending on the coverage selected and discounts being offered. Unlike passenger vehicles, motorcycle insurance can vary from company to company both in procedure and in pricing models, so gathering quotes is imperative. As you do, be sure to compare each item line-by-line to understand exactly what you’re being offered and how it will benefit you.

Motorcycle Insurance Discounts

You could save on your motorcycle insurance premiums by taking advantage of the following discounts:

• Safe rider discounts. These types of discounts are often automatic. If an insurance company pulls your driving record and finds it spotless, you simply appear to be at a lower risk than a driver who has accumulated moving violations. The longer your clean record stretches back, the larger the immediate discount tends to be. This is a tricky one because driving records are permanent — you can’t go back and retroactively expunge the skeletons in your driving closet. However, putting a little time between the present date and your most recent violation helps. Clean for three years is good, but clean for five is better.

• Loyalty discounts. Once locked in with an insurer, sit awhile. If you don’t change insurance companies, and you keep your record clean, safe rider discounts will often morph into loyalty discounts, and you’ll see your benefits multiply. From State Farm to Geico to military benefits with USAA, the specific coverage advantages of loyalty discounts vary by provider. Some allow for vanishing or disappearing deductibles, surcharge-free accidents, and more. But the one thing they all have in common: being a loyal, safe driver pays off in lower premiums.

• Multiple policy discounts. These are the unspoken heroes of the insurance premium world. Insurance companies prefer exclusivity. If you have two cars, a home, and a motorcycle, bundling all those policies with a single company often scrounges up serious savings. Whether you’re bundling insurance policies or combining separate types of coverage under one roof, these represent some of the largest automatic savings available. Again, you look like less of a risk when a single company assumes full responsibility for all of your risk exposures.

• Low mileage discounts. This one is a little less obvious but rather important. Pay attention to your odometer and report your usage correctly from the start. Many motorcycle insurance companies automatically quote your vehicle at either 10,000 or 12,000 miles per year, even though many operators log less than 4,000 miles per year. If you drive less, you should be charged less due to smaller risk exposure, but most companies don’t regularly reach out for odometer updates, meaning that oftentimes the rated mileage never changes. This is an easy discount to receive, which only requires periodic diligence, as well as reading your renewal when it comes in the mail to ensure you’re being logged properly.

• Anti-theft discounts. These also tend to be automatic. If your bike comes preinstalled with any features which make it inherently less prone to theft, these features will be logged in your vehicle’s VIN. When you reach out for a quote, don’t just ask them to quote the year, make, and model. Get more specific. Giving your VIN allows a full quote, and this can raise or reduce the price depending on specific features as well as replacement costs.

Other Ways to Save on Motorcycle Insurance

• Consider raising your insurance deductibles. Is your bike financed? If so, you’ll have to carry comprehensive and collision insurance, but oftentimes people opt for the standard $500 deductible even when it could be higher. Since we’re talking motorcycles, you won’t have to worry about windshield replacements or small comprehensive claims, and raising deductibles likely won’t have consequences. While bumping those deductibles upwards won’t be enough to change your world, every little bit helps.

• Looking to buy a new bike? Quote it before you drive off with it. This sounds obvious, but quite frequently, customers call in to add or swap a vehicle, only to be shocked by the premium. At that point, however, it’s too late. You must insure any vehicle you purchase, so do your research before you scratch your signature on a buyer’s order. Rates vary by year, make, model, and trim level. Entering your VIN will populate all of the above, but if you don’t do it until after the purchase, you’re not doing yourself any favors. Remember: there’s more to it than replacement cost. Insurance companies also factor in claims history on each make and model from across the country, and these figures can be shocking.

• Know your coverage. As you’re getting quotes, make sure you understand what you must have and what is merely optional. One of the most expensive coverage options for motorcycles is underinsured motorist coverage. On a bike, this coverage often steps in when the offending driver hits you, causes a serious injury, then maxes out their liability policy. Because injury claims tend to be expensive, the state minimum in terms of liability is rarely enough to cover the costs of a bodily injury claim. For this reason, carrying underinsured coverage may raise your premiums by as much as a third, but the cost of not having it could be monumental. Know the risks involved and decide what’s right for you.

The Bottom Line on Motorcycle Insurance Discount

Don’t just get a quote. Get all the quotes. Sure, all insurance is the same to a certain extent, but prices vary. Coverage varies. Customer service varies. Getting an array of quotes allows you to determine where quality and price intersect, giving you the best chance of getting it right the first time.