Best and Cheapest Motorcycle Insurance in Virginia for 2024

Motorcyclists looking for variety will find a lot to like in Virginia. The state has mountains, valleys, winding roads, historic villages and battlefields, and more than 110 miles of Atlantic coastline. It also boasts temperate weather that will allow bikers to hit the road most of the year. That’s likely why there are more than 195,000 motorcycles registered in Virginia, according to Statista.com.

Ready to ride in Virginia? Here’s what you need to know to ride your motorcycle safely and legally there, including purchasing Virginia motorcycle insurance.

Do I need motorcycle insurance in Virginia?

Virginia is one of the few states that does not require motorcycle insurance. Motorcycle riders can opt to ride without motorcycle insurance if they pay a $500 uninsured motor vehicle fee to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. The state takes pains to point out that this fee does not provide you with insurance and offers no protection if you are in a motorcycle accident, however. This option is not recommended because it's only marginally less expensive than purchasing motorcycle coverage, but in fact, you'll be personally liable for any damages your cause in an accident.

That's why it's important to have motorcycle insurance that will protect you and your motorcycle when riding on Virginia roads and highways.

You should still consider purchasing motorcycle insurance in Virginia to receive valuable protection for yourself and your bike. If you choose to purchase motorcycle insurance in Virginia, the state requires you to purchase the minimum insurance requirements i.e liability insurance at the least. The state’s mandatory minimums for coverage are:

$20,000 for property damage,
$25,000 for bodily injury per person, and
$50,000 for bodily injury per accident (two or more people).

It’s important to keep in mind that the state minimums may not provide enough coverage in the event of a serious accident. You can decide if you want higher coverage limits and additional coverage like collision or comprehensive, but it’s encouraged that all bikers consider these insurance coverages. Additional liability coverage above the state minimum limits would offer more protection to you and your assets if you’re found at fault for an accident while driving your motorcycle.

If you were to get into an accident with your motorcycle and you didn’t have collision insurance 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 motorcycle insurance coverage, you wouldn’t be covered for the damages with your insurance and would have to pay out of pocket.

How much does motorcycle insurance cost in Virginia?

Several factors will help determine just how much you’ll pay for motorcycle insurance in Virginia. Your annual premiums will depend on where in the state you live, your age, the kind of bike you have, and more.

For example, if you’re an experienced 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.

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

Your age
Your driving record
Where you live in Virginia
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 Virginia?

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 collision and comprehensive protection in addition to any other coverages required by the state of Virginia.

Most motorcycle insurance companies in Virginia offer a variety of coverage options such as the following:

Liability insurance: Liability coverage is a required motorcycle insurance coverage in Virginia. 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. If 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 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. Similar to collision coverage, your motorcycle insurance company would cover the cost of damage, up to your policy’s limit, after you paid your deductible
Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM): Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage 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 may 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: Some states require drivers to have personal injury protection (PIP) or no-fault insurance, but Virginia is not one of them. If you opt for PIP, 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 Virginia?

In addition to the coverages that are in the list above, there are many other types of Virginia motorcycle insurance coverages. You may be able to add the following coverages to your Virginia motorcycle insurance policy.

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 in Virginia: Roadside assistance provides you with service in the event that you experience a motorcycle mechanical or electrical malfunction. It may even include towing in some cases. Roadside assistance may offer help for various issues, including if you run out of gas, have a dead battery or flat tire, or something similar.
Rental reimbursement in Virginia: 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 if your bike is damaged in a covered accident.
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 would give you a payout of the value of your bike at the time of its loss. Actual cash value would take 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. Talk 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 may not be necessary in Virginia, as it’s designed for people in the northern states who drive their motorcycle seasonally while storing it away in the winter months. Lay-up motorcycle insurance allows you to keep your comprehensive coverage active while pausing your other coverages.

How to find the best and cheapest motorcycle insurance in Virginia?

When shopping for motorcycle insurance in Virginia, 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. Another option is to 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 Virginia motorcycle insurance policies are typically more flexible and customizable and may even be more affordable in some cases. Make sure to evaluate all your options to find the best one for you.

In order to find the best and cheapest motorcycle insurance in Virginia, 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. Motorcycle insurance rates in Virginia vary greatly by company.y.

Use the table at the top of this page to find the best motorcycle insurance companies in your zip code rated by consumers. In this table, you can see which motorcycle insurance companies in Virginia 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 available motorcycle insurance discounts in Virginia?

Many companies offer motorcycle insurance discounts to Virginia residents to help you save money on coverage for your bike. 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 Virginia 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 Virginia motorcycle licensing laws?

Virginians have to get a motorcycle-specific license or get an endorsement on their regular driver's license. Virginia offers motorcycle licenses either as a standalone Class M license or as a designation on another driver’s license. Anyone applying for a motorcycle license or designation must pass a vision screening and a motorcycle knowledge exam. If you are applying for a Class M license and not a designation for an existing license, you must successfully complete Virginia’s two-part driver’s license knowledge exam.

Anyone applying for a motorcycle license or a designation must obtain a motorcycle learner’s permit. If you are under 18, you must hold the learner’s permit for at least nine months; if you’re over 18, you must hold it for at least 30 days. You are required to take a motorcycle road skills test unless you show proof of successful completion of a Virginia Rider Training Program. This training program will allow you to waive the knowledge and road tests.

What are Virginia motorcycle laws?

Like most states, Virginia requires motorcycle helmets for all motorcycle drivers and passengers. The state has no minimum age requirement for passengers. Virginia does require that the driver have face protection, whether that’s a face shield, glasses, or goggles, or safety glass or a windshield installed on their bike.

Lane splitting, the practice of driving between lanes of slowed or stopped automobile traffic, is not allowed in Virginia, but motorcyclists are allowed to share lanes.

What's Virginia weather like for motorcyclists?

Virginia’s official site describes the state’s climate as a “Goldilocks Climate” – not too hot and not too cold. And that description is accurate, though, like all states, the weather in Virginia can vary greatly depending on just where in the state you are. Virginia’s coast can get hot and humid in the summer but tends to stay above freezing in the winter. Meanwhile, Virginia’s mountains tend to be more comfortable in the summer, but often see temperatures below freezing and may have snow in the winter months.

How does Clearsurance rate and rank the best motorcycle insurance companies in Virginia?

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 Virginia are derived entirely from customer reviews and ratings.

Use the table at the top of this page to find the best motorcycle insurance companies in your ZIP code.

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