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

You may be surprised to hear that Michigan has more coastline than both Florida and California. With its location between four of the five great lakes, Michigan has more coastline than any state other than Alaska. Combine that with the state’s farms, winding roads, and other attractions, and you realize that Michigan is a great place to ride a motorcycle – at least, when it’s not winter.

If you’re ready to ride your motorcycle in Michigan, here’s what you need to know to do so safely and legally, including purchasing Michigan motorcycle insurance. When it comes to cheap motorcycle insurance Michigan has a few ways that you can cut your costs that we'll go over below.

What are the requirements for motorcycle insurance in Michigan?

When it comes to motorcycle insurance Michigan requires motorcyclists to carry liability insurance. The state has mandatory liability insurance limits in place. All motorcyclists must have at least the minimum required coverage amounts, but many choose to purchase more than the minimum limits. For property damage and bodily injury liability coverage, the state’s current minimums are:

$15,000 for property damage,
$500,000 for bodily injury per person, and
$100,000 for bodily injury per accident.

Michigan’s car and motorcycle insurance laws have changed as of July 1st, 2020. Prior to July 1st, Michigan's mandatory minimums for liability insurance were $20,000 for each injured person and $40,000 per accident.

It’s important to keep in mind that having the minimum amount of coverage – even the new, higher minimum amounts – may not be enough in the event of a serious accident. 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 that all bikers consider these insurance coverages. Additional liability motorcycle insurance coverage above the minimum required amount would offer more protection to you and your assets if you’re found to be the at-fault driver. This way you're not responsible for someone else's medical expenses.

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

How much is motorcycle insurance in Michigan?

Several factors will help determine just how much you’ll pay for motorcycle insurance in Michigan. 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 Michigan, including:

Your age
Your driving record
Where you live in Michigan
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 - try to get 3+ quotes to find the best price for your needs

Many drivers look for the most affordable motorcycle insurance options, but they need to be mindful that they're fulfilling the minimum requirements as mentioned above as well.

What are the motorcycle insurance coverage options in Michigan?

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 Michigan.

Most motorcycle insurance companies in Michigan offer the following coverages:

Liability insurance: Liability coverage is required in Michigan. 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 if 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 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, comprehensive motorcycle insurance 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. It would cover any medical payments for injuries to you and your passengers regardless of who is at fault for the accident.

Are there any optional motorcycle insurance coverages in Michigan?

In addition to the standard coverage options listed above, there are also other optional coverages you may be able to add to your motorcycle policy if your company offers them. Optional coverages for motorcycle insurance in Michigan include the following.

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 Michigan: Roadside assistance provides you with service in the event that you experience a bike mechanical or electrical malfunction. It may even include towing in some cases. Roadside assistance may also offer help for issues like a dead battery, a flat tire, and an unexpectedly empty gas tank, for example.
Rental reimbursement in Michigan: While your bike is getting fixed, you may need a rental in order to get around. Rental reimbursement coverage may allow you to get money back from your insurance company for a rental while your bike is being repaired from a covered accident.
Replacement cost in Michigan: 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. 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 for Michigan residents: Lay-up insurance could come in handy if you live in a colder state (like Michigan) and only drive your 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.

What can you do with your motorcycle in the winter?

Michigan has a reputation for cold, snowy winters – and it’s a reputation that’s well earned. There’s a reason Thrillist ranked Michigan winters as the second worst of all 50 states. That’s why you may want to pack your motorcycle away for the winter months and wait until spring hits before riding again. If you do so, you may be tempted to cancel your motorcycle insurance during the winter months in Michigan, but doing so may not be the best idea.

Canceling your Michigan motorcycle insurance may seem like an easy way to save some money while you aren’t using your motorcycle, 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 use it since motorcycle insurance is required in Michigan.

Lay-up insurance is an option that allows you to put a hold on certain parts of your insurance policy. For example, you could 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 Michigan?

When shopping for motorcycle insurance in Michigan, you may have a few options for what type of policy you want to purchase. 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 you can 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 Michigan 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 Michigan, 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 Michigan vary greatly by company.

Use the table at the top of this page to find the best motorcycle insurance companies in your zip code according to consumers. In this table, you can see which motorcycle insurance companies in Michigan 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.

Are there any motorcycle insurance discounts in Michigan?

Many companies offer motorcycle insurance discounts to Michigan 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 Michigan 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 Michigan motorcycle licensing laws?

Michigan does not offer a motorcycle-only license. In order to legally drive a motorcycle in Michigan, you need a CY endorsement on your driver’s license. Before obtaining the endorsement, you’ll need to get a temporary instruction permit.

If you are under the age of 18, you have to enroll in a motorcycle safety training course before you can get the permit. To get the endorsement, you have to pass a vision and written exam, and you’ll need to pass either a rider skills test from a rider skills testing organization or pass a motorcycle safety training course.

What are the Michigan motorcycle laws?

Not all Michigan motorcycle riders must wear helmets. The state’s laws allow you to opt out of wearing a helmet if you are at least 21 years old, have at least $20,000 in first-party medical benefits, and have held a motorcycle endorsement for at least two years or have passed an approved motorcycle safety course.

Passengers can opt out of wearing a helmet if they, too, are at least 21 years old and have at least $20,000 in first-party medical benefits (in addition to the insurance that is required of the motorcycle operator). Even though you may not be required to wear a helmet, keep in mind that helmets are very important protective equipment to wear and could save your life.

Michigan requires all motorcyclists to have either shatterproof goggles, a face shield, or a windshield if they are traveling at speeds higher than 35 miles per hour. Lane splitting, the practice of driving between lanes of slowed or stopped automobile traffic, is not legal in Michigan, but motorcycles can share lanes.

How is the Michigan weather for motorcyclists?

Earlier on this page, we discussed Michigan’s well-earned reputation for brutal winters. Michigan winters are icy and snowy, with many days where the temperature does not climb past the freezing mark. Summers are short, but warm and comfortable, and the weather in Michigan tends to be the best between May and October, making for a relatively short riding season. However the scenery may prove to be worth it for drivers out for an enjoyable cruise.

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

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. Getting to see what customers say about a company can provide you with an inside look at how they will handle any potential future claim you may have.

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

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