Motorcycle insurance costs vary from state to state, with the highest average rate in the United States costing drivers more than 3 times the lowest average rate. Motorcycle rates, on average are lower than automobile insurance rates, because of the seasonality of riding a motorcycle, which declines in inclement weather, and at night. States where biking is popular enjoy some of the lowest annual motorcycle insurance premiums.
Insurance rates are higher in states where biking occurs in urban environments that are congested, and consequently, where motorcycle drivers are more likely to have an accident. States where the level of mortality is elevated and theft is a problem also see higher insurance premiums. The upper midwest and great plains have most of the states with the lowest lowest motorcycle rates, as congestion is low and accidents are subdued.
The states with the least expensive Motorcycle insurance are in the midwest, where drivers experience open roads and less traffic congestion. This compares to the states with the most expensive insurance, where the weather is warm, and drivers can ride year round. Unfortunately, motorcycle drivers in these states experience high theft levels along with elevated mortality rates due to motorcycle accidents.
Top 5 Most Expensive Motorcycle Insurance Rates
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Louisiana – $896
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Texas – $749
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Michigan – $746
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Delaware – $734
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Florida – $689
The states with the highest motorcycle premiums correlate to the number of residents per bike, which also seems to play a role in determining insurance rates. For example, Louisiana has one registered rider per 67 people in the state, and is near the bottom of the list while Iowa, which has some of the least expensive motorcycle insurance premiums, has 1 bike per 18 people.
Top 5 Least Expensive Motorcycle Insurance Rates
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North Dakota – $283
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Iowa – $323
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Oklahoma – $341
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New Hampshire – $352
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Wyoming – $354
Four of the five states with the least expensive motorcycle insurance are in the midwest or great plains. Biking is exceptionally popular in the states that have low premiums, making the number of bikes per person a low number. For example, New Hampshire has 79,000 motorcycles registered and a population of 1.3 million, which amounts to approximately one motocycle owned per every 17 people.
Several of the states with the highest insurance premiums also have elevated mortality and theft rates. Florida had the second highest number of motorcycle thefts, just behind California, with 4,758 bikes reported stolen. Texas reported 455 mortalities in 2015 due to motorcycle accidents. Like Florida, Texas also has excellent riding weather and a large riding population, which increases the chances of a fatal accident.
No matter how careful you are, there are some factors entirely beyond your control that can affect how much you have to pay for insurance. Factors like how many people ride bikes where you live, how urban your city is, and even how often the weather is good or bad can all play a part in your fees. Hopefully, if you’re a bike owner already, or if you want to buy a motorcycle in the near future, our map of the average insurance cost for insurance in every U.S. state will help you make an informed final choice.