Best and Cheapest Motorcycle Insurance in New Jersey for 2024

New Jersey motorcycle insurance

New Jersey is home to some famous Americans, including Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, and Tony Soprano. It’s also home to more than 330,00 motorcycles, according to The Motley Fool. That’s more motorcycles than you’ll find in all but seven other states, and a lot of those states are much bigger than the Garden State.

With so many motorcycles on the road, it’s important to stay safe. Here’s what you need to know about driving, registering, and insuring a motorcycle in New Jersey.

Do I need motorcycle insurance in New Jersey?

Motorcycle insurance is mandatory in New Jersey. Motorcycle riders must show proof of insurance before registering their motorcycle.

Similar to most states, New Jersey requires motorcyclists to obtain minimum liability coverage. The state’s mandatory minimums for motorcycle insurance are:

• $5,000 for property damage,
• $15,000 for death or bodily injury to one person, and
• $30,000 for death or bodily injury of two or more people.

New Jersey also requires that all vehicles registered in the state, including motorcycles, have personal injury protection (PIP), which pays medical expenses regardless of who was at fault in an accident, and uninsured motorist coverage, which provides additional protection if you are in an accident with someone who does not have proper insurance and who is at fault for an accident. The limits are set at the liability limits that policyholders choose for their policy.

While motorcycle owners are required to have at least the state minimum requirements, it’s up to you to decide if you want higher coverage limits and additional coverage such as collision or comprehensive. It’s encouraged that all bikers consider these insurance coverages. Additional liability motorcycle insurance coverage would offer additional protection to you and your assets if you’re found at fault for an accident.

If you were to get into an accident with your motorcycle and you didn’t have collision coverage, you’d be on your own to pay for the damages to your bike. Likewise, if your bike were damaged by a fire or severe weather and you didn’t have comprehensive New Jersey motorcycle insurance coverage, you wouldn’t be covered for the damages.

How much does motorcycle insurance cost in New Jersey?

The cost of motorcycle insurance in New Jersey can vary greatly. Several factors, including where in the state you live, the type of bike you have, and your age, will determine how much or how little you pay for motorcycle insurance in New Jersey.

If you’re an experienced New Jersey rider, you may pay around $500 per year for motorcycle insurance, but if you’re a new driver, you should expect to pay more for motorcycle insurance. Likewise, if you have a luxury motorcycle of high value, your premium could be more than $1,000 per year.

The average cost of motorcycle insurance in New Jersey is less expensive than the national annual premium of motorcycle insurance.

There are many factors that affect the cost of motorcycle insurance in New Jersey, including:

• Your age
• Your driving record
• Where you live in New Jersey
• Where you store your bike
• Your motorcycle - type of bike and age
• If your motorcycle has any modifications
• How much you drive each year (seasonal or full time)
• Your deductible
• The motorcycle insurance company you choose - get 3+ quotes to find the best price for your needs

What are the motorcycle insurance coverage options in New Jersey?

Many motorcycle insurance coverage options work in the same way that car insurance coverage does. If you’re leasing or financing your bike, you’ll likely be required by your lender to purchase New Jersey collision and comprehensive motorcycle protection in addition to any other coverages required by the state of New Jersey.

Most motorcycle insurance companies in New Jersey offer the following coverages:

• Liability insurance: Liability coverage is a required motorcycle insurance coverage in New Jersey. There are two forms of liability coverage: bodily injury liability and property damage liability.
  • Bodily injury liability covers injury or death to other people in an accident that you caused while on your motorcycle.
  • Property damage liability covers damage that you caused to another person’s property, such as their car.
  • Motorcycle insurance liability also covers legal expenses in case you are sued. Liability doesn’t cover any injury to you or damage to your motorcycle. This coverage doesn’t have a deductible.
• Collision insurance: Motorcycle insurance collision coverage protects your bike if it were damaged in a collision with another vehicle. In the event that you’re in an at-fault accident in which your motorcycle is damaged, your motorcycle insurance company would cover the cost of damages, up to your policy’s limit, after you’ve paid your deductible.
• Comprehensive insurance: Motorcycle insurance comprehensive coverage protects your motorcycle from damages not caused by a collision. Comprehensive covers damages from fire, theft, vandalism and anything else not caused by a car accident, such as severe weather like a flood or hail. Like collision coverage, your motorcycle insurance company would cover the cost of damage, up to your policy’s limit, after you’ve paid your deductible
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM): Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is required in New Jersey. It protects you from drivers on the road who either don’t have insurance or don’t have enough insurance coverage. If you get into an accident with someone who is uninsured or underinsured, this coverage can help pay for medical treatment, lost wages and damage to your bike. Exactly what this coverage would pay for may vary based on your policy.
• Medical payments: Medical payments coverage pays for medical payments from injuries to you or any of your passengers in an accident while you were on your motorcycle. Medical payments motorcycle insurance coverage is not available in all states. If you have health insurance, you may not need this coverage. If you don’t have health insurance or you don’t have enough health insurance coverage, medical payments coverage would be useful.
• Personal injury protection: New Jersey requires drivers to have personal injury protection (PIP) or no-fault insurance. It would cover any medical payments for injuries to you and your passengers regardless of who is at fault for the accident.

What are the optional motorcycle insurance coverages in New Jersey?

In addition to the standard motorcycle coverages listed above, there are also many other optional coverage options available. You may be able to add the following coverages to your New Jersey motorcycle insurance policy if you want them.

• Coverage for customized motorcycle parts: Most of the time, standard collision and comprehensive coverages don’t cover motorcycle parts that aren’t factory parts. For example, if you replaced your factory fenders with custom fenders, they may not be covered under a standard collision and comprehensive policy. If you’ve modified your bike with customized motorcycle parts and accessories, you may be able to add coverage for the customized parts to your policy, depending on your motorcycle insurance company. Coverage for customized motorcycle parts would protect your after-market purchases.
• Motorcycle trailer coverage: If you have a trailer for your motorcycle, make sure to ask your motorcycle insurance company about coverage for your transport trailer. Many companies offer coverage for your trailer for up to $7,500.
• Roadside assistance: Roadside assistance provides you with service if you’re ever caught with a bike mechanical or electrical malfunction. It may even include towing in some cases. With roadside assistance, you can get help for various issues including if your bike ran out of gas, has a dead battery, has a flat tire and so on.
• Rental reimbursement: While your bike is getting fixed, you may need a rental in order to get around. Rental reimbursement coverage will allow you to get money back from your insurance company for a rental to use during the time you’re waiting for your bike to be fixed.
• Replacement cost: You have the option to choose replacement cost coverage or actual cash value coverage for your bike if it’s a total loss.
  • Actual cash value (ACV): ACV will give you a payout of the value of your bike at the time of its loss. Actual cash value takes into consideration the depreciation of your motorcycle.
  • Replacement cost coverage: If you want more coverage, you can choose to have replacement cost coverage which may pay out enough for you to get a new bike. Speak with your motorcycle insurance company when you purchase a policy to find out which option is best for your bike.
• Lay-up motorcycle insurance: Lay-up insurance could come in handy if you live in New Jersey and only drive your motorcycle seasonally while storing it away in the winter months. Lay-up motorcycle insurance would allow you to keep your comprehensive coverage active while pausing your other coverages.

What to do with your New Jersey motorcycle insurance in the winter?

New Jersey is located in the northeastern United States, an area that is known for cold and snowy winters. That’s why many New Jersey motorcyclists pack their motorcycles away during those months and wait until spring hits before riding again. You may be tempted to cancel your New Jersey motorcycle insurance during the winter months, but doing so may not be the best idea.

Cancelling your NJ motorcycle insurance may seem like an easy way to save a little bit of money, but it could end up costing you in the long run. If something should happen to your bike, say a fire, theft, or vandalism, you wouldn’t be covered. Or if there’s an expectedly warm day and you want to ride your bike, you wouldn’t be able to drive it without an active New Jersey motorcycle insurance policy because it’s illegal to drive without insurance in the state.

Instead of cancelling your motorcycle insurance policy in the winter, an option to consider is lay-up insurance. It allows you to put a hold on certain parts of your insurance policy and can be a much better and safer option. You can, for example, put a hold on your liability insurance coverage while leaving your comprehensive coverage intact. If your insurance company does not offer this option, you may be able to save money by increasing your deductible during the motorcycle offseason.

How to find the best and cheapest motorcycle insurance in New Jersey?

When shopping for motorcycle insurance in New Jersey, you may have a few options. Some car insurance companies allow policyholders to add motorcycle insurance to their car insurance policy as an endorsement or rider. You can choose to do this or purchase a separate motorcycle insurance policy.

Be aware that if you add your motorcycle to your car insurance policy as an endorsement or rider, you may be restricted in the coverage options you have. Standalone New Jersey motorcycle insurance policies are typically more flexible and customizable and may even be more affordable in some cases. Make sure to look into all your options to find the best one for you.

In order to find the best and cheapest motorcycle insurance in New Jersey, you’ll want to shop around. You should get motorcycle insurance quotes from multiple companies so you can compare motorcycle insurance costs and coverage options. The motorcycle insurance rate in New Jersey varies greatly by company.

Use the table at the top of this page to find the top-rated motorcycle insurance companies in your zip code. In this table, you can see which motorcycle insurance companies in New Jersey customers say are the best. You can sort through companies and find the ones from which you want to get quotes.

If you want to read customer reviews of the company, click the company name in the table and you will be directed to the company’s profile page containing information about the company and reviews.

What are the motorcycle insurance discounts in New Jersey?

Many companies offer motorcycle insurance discounts to New Jersey residents to help them save money on motorcycle coverage. You can receive discounts based on you and your motorcycle. Discounts vary by company and eligibility. The following motorcycle insurance discounts are commonly offered.

• Multi-policy discount: If you insure your motorcycle with a company with which you already have a policy for another line of insurance, you may qualify for a bundling discount. This discount may apply if you insure your motorcycle along with your car, home, apartment, condo, boat or RV with the same company.
• Multiple motorcycles discount: Some motorcycle insurance companies offer a discount if you insure more than one motorcycle with the same company on the same New Jersey insurance policy.
• Biker group discount: Many motorcycle insurance companies offer biker group discounts or riding association discounts if you’re a member of certain motorcycle organizations. Some examples of motorcycle organizations include the American Motorcycle Association and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.
• Mature riders discount: If you’ve had your motorcycle insurance for a certain number of years, your motorcycle insurance company may offer you this discount.
• Safe driver discount: You may qualify for a safe driver motorcycle insurance discount if you’ve been motorcycle insurance claim free for a number of years.
• Safety and security discounts: If your motorcycle has certain safety and security features, such as anti-lock brakes or an anti-theft device, you may be eligible for a discount.
• Motorcycle safety course discount: If you take a motorcycle safety course to educate yourself, your motorcycle insurance company may offer you a discount on your insurance.
• Renewal discount: If you renew your motorcycle insurance policy, you may be rewarded with a discount.
• Transfer discount: Some motorcycle insurance companies offer a discount to bikers who switch or transfer their motorcycle insurance to them.

What are the New Jersey motorcycle licensing laws?

New Jersey allows motorcyclists to get a dedicated motorcycle license or to add it as an endorsement to an existing driver license. Riders must carry a valid motorcycle endorsement or license unless they ride a low-speed motorcycle.

If you do not already have a driver’s license, you must apply for a motorcycle permit by passing a knowledge and vision test. If you are under 18, you are required to complete a Basic Rider Course from an approved motorcycle training provider.

Drivers under the age of 21 must practice driving for at least six months; those over 21 must do so for at least three months. Once you’ve completed the course, you can schedule a road test and obtain a probationary motorcycle license, which will become a full license when you are at least 18 years of age and have completed at least one year of probationary driving.

If you do not have a driver’s license and you are over 18, you can opt-out of the Basic Rider Course, but all of the other steps to obtain a motorcycle license remain the same.

If you already have a New Jersey driver’s license, the steps to add a motorcycle endorsement are simpler. Drivers under the age of 18 are required to complete a Basic Rider Course. You must then pass a vision test and pay the required fees. All applicants must be at least 17 years of age, and parent/guardian consent is required for those under 18. Adults can also take the course if they want.

If you are over 18 years of age and you chose not to take the Basic Rider Course, you’ll need to complete a knowledge and vision test to apply for a permit. Once you have the permit, you must practice riding for at least 20 days before you can take the road test.

What are the New Jersey motorcycle laws?

New Jersey law requires all motorcyclists and passengers to wear a helmet with a chin strap that's been approved by the Department of Transportation. Eye protection is also required unless the motorcycle is equipped with a windshield. New Jersey has no age restrictions on motorcycle passengers, though they are required to have a passenger seat and footrests.

Lane splitting, the practice of driving between lanes of slowed or stopped automobile traffic, is not legal in New Jersey.

Motorcycles must be registered with the state, but they are not required to be submitted for inspection in New Jersey. Owners, however, are responsible to make sure their bikes are operating safely and properly and can be cited for equipment that is not in compliance with state laws.

What's New Jersey weather like for motorcyclists?

Like much of the northeastern United States, New Jersey is known for hot, humid summers and relatively cold winters. And while the state isn’t considered large – it measures 166 miles long and its greatest width is 65 miles – there can be a marked difference in weather depending on just how far north or south you go.

The weather in Cape May, in southern New Jersey, tends to be more moderate and much less snowy than in the mountains of northwest New Jersey. Riding year-round in New Jersey can be difficult, though, even in the southern part of the state.

How Clearsurance rates and ranks the best motorcycle insurance companies in New Jersey

Consistent with its mission towards greater transparency, Clearsurance does not keep its rating and ranking formulas in a black box. Our algorithm analyzes a range of inputs from our independent community of insurance customers, including:

• Price
• Customer Service
• Claim service
• Likelihood to renew

The algorithm also takes into account the percentage of what customers say the company does well vs. the percentage of what customers say the company could do better.

The Clearsurance customer ratings and rankings of the best motorcycle insurance in New Jersey are derived entirely from customer reviews and ratings.