Best and Cheapest Motorcycle Insurance in Illinois: Companies, Coverage Options and Cost in 2024

Illinois motorcycle insurance

Illinois’ nickname is the Prairie State, thanks in large part to its flat, open lands, which provide miles and miles of scenic roads. That’s likely why there are more than 350,000 motorcycles registered in Illinois, more than the number of riders in all but five other states.

If you decide to ride your motorcycle in Illinois, there are steps that you must take to do so safely and legally. Motorcycle insurance is required for all riders to have in Illinois. There are multiple types of motorcycle insurance riders can choose from in order to meet their individual needs and insurance requirements.

Do I need motorcycle insurance in Illinois?

The legal requirements for motorcycle insurance in Illinois are very straightforward: motorcycle drivers must purchase minimum liability insurance with the following conditions:

• $20,000 for property damage,
• $25,000 for death or bodily injury to one person, and
• $50,000 for death or bodily injury of two or more people.

Keep in mind that these are just the minimum amounts of motorcycle coverage required and you may want to purchase more, depending on your needs. It’s up to you to decide if you want higher coverage limits and additional coverage like collision or comprehensive, but it’s often encouraged and recommended that all bikers consider additional insurance coverages. Additional liability motorcycle insurance coverage would offer more protection to you and your assets if you were to be found at fault for an accident.

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

How much does motorcycle insurance cost in Illinois?

Just how much you’ll pay for motorcycle insurance in Illinois depends in large part on where in the state you live. Insuring a motorcycle in Chicago, for example, could be significantly more expensive than paying for insurance in a more rural part of the state. Other factors, including the types of bikes you have and your age, also will determine how much you pay for motorcycle insurance in Illinois.

If you’re an experienced rider, you may pay an average cost of around $500 per year for the cost of insurance, but if you’re a newer driver with less riding experience, you should expect to pay a higher annual cost 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 Illinois, including:

• Your age
• Your driving record, whether or not you've been in any prior motorcycle accidents
• Where you live in Illinois
• 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 your motorcycle insurance coverage options in Illinois?

Many motorcycle insurance coverage options in Illinois work in the same way that auto 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 Illinois. There are a wide range of coverage levels available, stemming from standard, comprehensive, and to minimum motorcycle insurance options.

Most Illinois motorcycle insurance companies offer the following coverages:

• Liability insurance: Liability coverage is a required motorcycle insurance coverage in Illinois. There are two forms of liability coverage:
  • 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 you caused to another person’s property, such as their car.
  • Motorcycle insurance liability also covers legal expenses if you are sued. Liability doesn’t cover 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’s 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 your deductible was paid.
• 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 will cover the cost of damage, up to your policy’s limit, after you pay 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. This coverage is used instead of medical payments coverage in some states. It would cover medical payments for injuries to you and your passengers regardless of who is at fault for the accident.

Optional motorcycle insurance coverages in Illinois

There are many optional motorcycle insurance coverages available, in addition to the standard coverages listed above. You may be able to add the following coverages to your Illinois motorcycle insurance policy for additional protection. It may seem like extra coverage as it comes at an additional cost, but so many things can happen during motorcycle riding. Any extra protection is valuable coverage.

• 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, 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 in the event that you experience a motorcycle mechanical or electrical malfunction. It may even include towing in some cases. With roadside assistance, you could get help for various issues including if your bike ran out of gas, has a dead battery, has a flat tire, and more.
• 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 while your motorcycle is being fixed at a repair shop.
• 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 motorcycle 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 could 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 could come in handy if you live in Illinois 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 Illinois motorcycle insurance in the winter?

Illinois has cold winter months, which is why many drivers who live in Illinois pack their motorcycles away when the weather turns colder and wait until spring hits before riding again. If you do that, you may be tempted to cancel your Illinois motorcycle insurance during the winter, but doing so may not be the best idea.

Canceling your Illinois motorcycle insurance may seem like an easy way to save money while not using your bike, but it could end up costing you in the long run. If something should happen to your bike while it’s being stored in the winter, say a fire, theft, or vandalism, you wouldn’t be covered for the damages to your bike. Or if there’s an expectedly warm day and you want to ride your bike, you wouldn’t be able to use it since it would be uninsured.

Lay-up insurance might be a good option for you and your motorcycle. It allows you to put a hold on certain parts of your insurance policy that you may not need in the winter while your bike is not being used. You can, for example, put a hold on your liability 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 off season.

How can you find the best and cheapest motorcycle insurance in Illinois?

When shopping for motorcycle insurance in Illinois, 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 Illinois motorcycle insurance policies are typically more flexible and customizable and may even be more affordable in some cases. Make sure to explore your options to find the best one.

In order to find the best and cheapest motorcycle insurance in Illinois, you’ll want to shop around. You should get motorcycle insurance quotes from multiple companies so you can compare motorcycle insurance cost and coverage options. Motorcycle insurance rates in Illinois vary greatly by company.

Use the table at the top of this page to find the highest rated motorcycle insurance companies in your zip code. In this table, you can see which motorcycle insurance companies in Illinois customers say are the best. You can sort through companies and find the ones from which you want to get quotes. Making sure to look through all the available rates for motorcycle insurance will enable you to save money and find an insurance agency with more affordable policies.

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.

Are there any motorcycle insurance discounts in Illinois?

Many companies offer numerous discount options for motorcyclists in Illinois to help you save money on the type of coverage chosen 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 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 motorcycle licensing laws in Illinois?

Illinois requires all motorcyclists to have a Class M license. If you are under the age of 18, you’re required to successfully complete a motorcycle training course approved by the Illinois Department of Transportation and pass a written and a road test. If you are 18 or older and pass the state-approved motorcycle training course, you can get an Illinois motorcycle license without taking either test.

Are there any Illinois motorcycle laws riders should be aware of?

Illinois is one of three states that does not require motorcyclists to wear helmets, although it’s still a great form of protection to wear while riding. (Iowa and New Hampshire are the other two.) Illinois motorcycle drivers are required to have some form of eye protection, though, whether that’s glasses, goggles, or a transparent shield. The state also mandates that passengers have dedicated seats and footrests.

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

What is Illinois weather like for motorcyclists?

The state of Illinois is almost 400 miles long, so it’s no surprise that the weather can vary greatly depending on just how far north or so you travel in the state. The northern part of Illinois is known for having hot, humid summers and cold, snowy, and icy winters. Southern parts of the state, meanwhile, have more moderate winters. If you’re a hardy soul, you may find Illinois a place where you can ride your motorcycle year round, but that won’t hold true for everyone.

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

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 Illinois are derived entirely from customer reviews and ratings. Enter your zip code into an online quote tool to begin finding affordable motorcycle insurance options at the lowest rates near you.