Best Motorcycle Insurance in Massachusetts

From the Berkshires to Boston, there are lots of great places to ride in Massachusetts. For peace of mind (and to ride legally), you need to have insurance. Learn more about the requirements and your options for motorcycle insurance in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts Motorcycle Insurance: An Overview

• State minimum insurance requirements
  • Bodily injury: $20,000 per person, $40,000 per accident
  • Property damage: $5,000
  • Personal injury protection: $8,000 per person, per accident
• Average annual rate with a clean driving record: $649

Massachusetts Motorcycle Insurance Law Explained

Massachusetts requires 3 types of motorcycle insurance coverage:

• Bodily injury liability: If you’re found to be at fault in an accident, this coverage helps to pay for the other parties’ medical bills and expenses. It can also help pay for lost wages.
• Property damage liability: This helps cover damage to the property of other parties if you’re found to be at fault in an accident.
• Personal injury protection: This helps to cover the medical costs of you and your passengers if you’re involved in an accident. It may also help cover lost wages. 

Massachusetts requires $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident for bodily injury protection. If you’re found responsible for an accident, you could be held liable for medical bills and lost wages. That can add up to significantly more than $20,000 and $40,000, so you may want to consider higher limits. 

Similarly, property damage to a vehicle could cost more than $5,000 to repair, and medical expenses for you and a passenger could be more than $8,000. 

For full coverage, consider adding these options to your policy:

• Motorcycle collision insurance: The minimum insurance coverage in Massachusetts doesn’t cover damage to your motorcycle. This pays for those damages, subject to the limits of your policy. 
• Coverage for customized parts: Insurance will typically only pay for factory standard parts. If you’ve customized your bike, you may want to opt for customized part coverage. Otherwise, the insurance company may not pay you the full value of your bike. 
• Comprehensive coverage: Accidents aren’t the only event that could damage your bike. To have events like fire, theft and vandalism covered, you’ll need comprehensive insurance. 
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: This pays for damages from an accident with an uninsured or inadequately insured driver. 

How Motorcycle Insurance Works

Motorcycle insurance has premiums, deductibles and limits. The premium is the amount you pay the insurance company for coverage. You may pay a monthly, semi-annual or annual premium. 

Policies also have deductibles. Your deductible is the amount you pay toward damages before your insurance company provides coverage. Let’s say you’re in an accident and your bike has $1,000 of damage. You have a $500 deductible. That means you pay $500 and your insurance covers the other $500. 

Motorcycle policies also have limits. This is the maximum your policy will pay. If you’re found responsible for an accident and the costs exceed your limits, you’re responsible for the balance. That’s why it’s essential to consider your policy limits carefully. Each type of coverage you have will have a separate limit. 

Massachusetts Motorcycle Insurance Rates per Bike

The cost of motorcycle insurance is based on several factors. One of the most important is the type of motorcycle. Standard and dual sports bikes are typically the least expensive to insure. Touring bikes and cruisers are more expensive, and sportbikes are usually the most expensive to insure. 

The size of the engine also makes a difference. A motorcycle with a large engine is often more expensive to insure than one with a smaller engine. 

If you’ve customized your bike or if it’s rebuilt, you’ll also find it more expensive to insure. 

Here are more factors that influence the cost of motorcycle insurance:

• Age and experience: Younger riders will typically pay more than older riders. Riding experience also plays a role, though, and more experienced riders will pay less than less experienced riders. For example, a 25-year-old rider with 5 years of riding experience will likely pay less than a 30-year-old rider who just got a motorcycle license. 
• Location: Where you live also makes a difference in your insurance rates. You’ll ride less if you live in an area with harsh winters. Some areas are also more prone to theft. All of that impacts your rates. 
• How you use your bike: If you primarily ride recreationally, you’ll pay less than someone who uses their motorcycle to commute or for business purposes. 
• Driving history: Speeding tickets and accidents will increase your rates. Even accidents where you weren’t at fault will have a negative effect on your premiums. The good news is that these typically fall off your record after 3-5 years, and your rates should decrease. 
• Your coverage: A policy with comprehensive and collision coverage will cost more than a liability-only policy. 
• Your policy limits and deductibles: The higher your deductible is, the lower your premiums will be. Lowering your policy limits will also lower your premiums. Both of these options could mean spending more out-of-pocket, though, so keep that in mind as you choose your policy. 

Discounts can lower the cost of your insurance. Here are the discounts typically offered by insurance companies:

• Safety and security features: A professionally installed theft recovery device can lower the costs of your insurance. Anti-lock brakes can also reduce your premiums. 
• Bundling policies: Insurance companies often provide a discount for buying multiple lines of insurance, like motorcycle and homeowners insurance. They may also offer a discount for insuring multiple vehicles. 
• Paying in full: You may receive a discount for paying your annual or semi-annual premiums in full. 
• Motorcycle safety courses: Completing a safety course can help you be better prepared for what happens on the road. It can also earn you a discount on your insurance. 
• Owning a home: You may receive a discount for owning a home, even if it’s not insured with the same company as your motorcycle insurance. 
• Riding association: Riding groups provide camaraderie. They may also make you eligible for an insurance discount. 
• Affinity memberships: Organizations like alumni associations and professional groups often partner with insurance companies for member discounts. 
• Transfer discounts: If you transfer your insurance from one company to another, the new company may offer you a discount. 
• Loyalty discounts: If you keep your policy with the same insurance company for a set number of years, you may earn a discount. 
• Being claims-free: Many insurers offer a discount for not having claims for 3 years or more. 

Motorcycle Insurance Quotes in Massachusetts

How much will motorcycle insurance cost in Massachusetts? Here are quotes from several companies to help you see your options. 

Motorcycle Insurance Discounts

Discounts can lower your insurance costs, but they vary by company. Here are the discounts offered by several Massachusetts insurance companies. 

Best Motorcycle Insurance Providers in Massachusetts

Which motorcycle insurance companies are the best? Here are our top picks.

Finding the Right Insurance for You 

You have a lot of options for motorcycle insurance. Before you start shopping, consider what coverage you need and how much you can afford. If you have an expensive motorcycle, you may want a higher coverage level than someone with a cheaper bike. If you have a significant amount of assets, consider getting higher levels of liability coverage. 

Once you know what coverage you want, contact multiple insurance companies. Review your quotes carefully, looking at deductibles and coverage limits as well as the premiums. Choose a policy that’s a good fit for your budget while providing the coverage you need.