Is Insurance Required for a Motorcycle?

Car insurance is a well-known necessity that every driver understands, to some degree. Motorcycle insurance, however, is a bit trickier. Some states require motorcycle insurance while others don’t, and those requirements vary depending on where you are. 

What States Don’t Require Motorcycle Insurance? 

There are currently four states that do not require motorcycle insurance: Florida, Montana, New Hampshire and Washington. 

Other states have different requirements, but all include a certain limit of liability insurance. Many states require their bikers to carry: 

• Bodily Injury Liability: $25,000 per person 

• Bodily Injury Liability: $50,000 per accident 

• Property Damage Liability: $10,000 

States that require these limits include Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, Vermont, Wisconsin and Washington DC. 

Motorcycle Requirements by State 

There are the limits for the remaining states that require motorcycle insurance. 

Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina and South Dakota: 

Alaska and Maine: 

• Bodily Injury Liability: $50,000 per person 

• Bodily Injury Liability: $100,000 per accident 

• Property Damage Liability: $25,000 

Arizona and Nevada: 

• Bodily Injury Liability: $15,000 per person 

• Bodily Injury Liability: $30,000 per accident 

• Property Damage Liability: $10,000 

California, New Jersey and Pennsylvania: 

• Bodily Injury Liability: $15,000 per person 

• Bodily Injury Liability: $30,000 per accident 

• Property Damage Liability: $5,000 

Colorado, Idaho and Tennessee: 

Delaware/West Virginia: 

Hawaii, Maryland and Michigan: 

• Bodily Injury Liability: $20,000 per person 

• Bodily Injury Liability: $40,000 per accident 

• Property Damage Liability: $10,000 

Illinois, Oregon, Virginia and Wyoming: 

• Bodily Injury Liability: $25,000 per person 

• Bodily Injury Liability: $50,000 per accident 

• Property Damage Liability: $20,000 

Iowa: 

• Bodily Injury Liability: $20,000 per person 

• Bodily Injury Liability: $40,000 per accident 

• Property Damage Liability: $15,000 

Louisiana: 

Massachusetts: 

Minnesota/North Carolina and Texas: 

• Bodily Injury Liability: $30,000 per person 

• Bodily Injury Liability: $60,000 per accident 

• Property Damage Liability: $10,000/$25,000 

Utah: 

• Bodily Injury Liability: $25,000 per person 

• Bodily Injury Liability: $65,000 per accident 

• Property Damage Liability: $15,000 

Check your state’s laws to make sure you have the right amount of coverage to drive legally on the road. 

Do I Need Motorcycle Insurance? 

Whether your state requires motorcycle insurance or not, it’s highly recommended. Motorcycles can be expensive to repair after an accident. Sometimes, they’re your only form of transportation. A crash or natural disaster could cost hundreds or thousands of dollars to fix if you don’t have a proper motorcycle insurance policy. On top of liability insurance, it’s generally recommended that you also carry: 

Every bike is different, and it’s important to find the right policy for you.