The Best Cheap Motorcycle Insurance in North Carolina
Progressive is the cheapest motorcycle insurance company in NC, at $17 per month for full coverage. Dairyland and Harley-Davidson are also around $17 per month.
Best cheap NC motorcycle insurance
How we chose the top companies
Cheapest motorcycle insurance in North Carolina
Progressive has the most affordable motorcycle insurance rates in North Carolina.
A full coverage policy from Progressive costs around $17 per month, which is 26% cheaper than the North Carolina average. Dairyland and Harley-Davidson also charge around $17 per month.
Geico's rate is only $1 per month higher, at $18 per month, so it's worth looking at, too.
Find Cheap Motorcycle Insurance Quotes in North Carolina
The average cost of motorcycle insurance in North Carolina is $23 per month. Riders in North Carolina pay almost one-third less for motorcycle insurance than the national average, which is $32 per month.
Cheapest motorcycle insurance companies in NC
Company | Monthly rate | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Progressive | $17 | |
| Dairyland | $17 | |
| Harley-Davidson Insurance | $17 | |
| Geico | $18 | |
| Allstate | $26 | |
| Nationwide | $40 | |
Best for most people: Progressive
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Editor's rating
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Cost: $17/month
Progressive has the best motorcycle insurance for most people in North Carolina. It has great prices and lots of coverage options that will appeal to most riders.
Progressive costs $17 per month on average, the lowest rate in NC.
Standard motorcycle insurance from Progressive comes with many perks that usually cost extra at other companies. For instance, you get with any policy, as well as $3,000 of custom parts protection.
With Progressive, you can lower your rates even more if you can get one of several insurance discounts.
- Requesting a quote before your policy is scheduled to start
- Bundling with another kind of insurance, such as renters or home
- Having a motorcycle endorsement on your license
- Completing a safety course
- Transferring your insurance from another company
- Paying your bill on time or in full
In North Carolina, Progressive has about-average customer service. It receives 18% more complaints than a typical insurance company its size, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
The other downside of Progressive is that it doesn't offer rental reimbursement. Progressive may not be the best choice if you depend on your motorcycle as your primary means of transportation and don't have another way to get around after an accident.
Best customer service: Dairyland
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Editor's rating
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Cost: $17/month
Dairyland has top-notch customer service, along with low rates.
Dairyland's average price in North Carolina is $17 per month, only a few cents more per month than Progressive.
The company's customers tend to be satisfied with the service they receive. Dairyland gets less than half the complaints of an average company its size, according to the NAIC.
Dairyland has fewer coverage options than other top companies, but it does still offer some useful extras, including:
- Rental reimbursement helps pay for a rental vehicle for up to 30 days while a repair shop fixes your bike.
- Roadside assistance includes 24/7 towing, plus service for battery issues, a flat tire or mechanical problems.
You'll need to pay extra for these coverages. But they're essential if you don't have another vehicle and need your bike to get to work or run errands.
The other big downside to Dairyland is that it doesn't offer car insurance. So if you also own a car, you'll need to open a separate policy with a car insurance company.
Best for touring: Harley-Davidson
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Editor's rating
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Cost: $17/month
Overview
Pros/cons
Harley-Davidson has affordable rates, plus lots of useful coverage options.
For riders who regularly take their bikes touring or use them for commuting, Harley-Davidson Insurance is a top option in NC. It has great rates, plus an excellent selection of optional coverages like original manufacturer parts coverage, rental reimbursement and trip interruption.
You can purchase trip interruption protection for costs you encounter after you're 100 miles from home, including assistance if you:
- Run out of gas or oil
- Have a dead battery
- Lose your keys
- Get a flat tire
- Need a tow
Harley-Davidson is also quite cheap: It's tied for the lowest monthly rate in the state at $17 and is about one-quarter cheaper than the state average.
However, customer service is fairly poor at Harley-Davidson. It receives than an average insurance company its size.
Harley-Davidson also only offers motorcycle insurance. That means you'll have to work with a different company to cover your home and car. You're also missing out on a bundle discount, which is one of the best ways to save on your insurance rates overall.
Average cost of motorcycle insurance in North Carolina by city
Asheboro, Burlington, Chapel Hill and Eden are the cheapest larger cities in NC for motorcycle insurance, at $20 per month.
Gastonia, outside of Charlotte, has the most expensive motorcycle insurance in NC, with an average of $26 per month.
Full coverage motorcycle insurance rates in NC by city
City | Monthly cost | % from average |
|---|---|---|
| Asheboro | $20 | -9% |
| Burlington | $20 | -9% |
| Cary | $22 | -2% |
| Chapel Hill | $20 | -10% |
| Clayton | $23 | 2% |
Full coverage motorcycle insurance costs in North Carolina do not change much by city. The difference between the cheapest and most expensive of the larger cities in the state is only $6 per month.
What are North Carolina's motorcycle requirements?
North Carolina requires all riders to have a motorcycle license and wear a helmet while on a bike, even if you're a passenger. This is true whether you're a resident of North Carolina or just passing through.
North Carolina's motorcycle license requirements
North Carolina requires you to have a motorcycle learner's permit or endorsement on your regular driver's license. Fortunately, it's fairly straightforward to get certified. If you just need a learner's permit, you must pass a motorcycle knowledge test, a road sign identification test and a vision test.
To get a motorcycle endorsement on your license, you’ll have to pass a motorcycle knowledge test and an on-road skills test. Both types of certification require you to already have a regular license.
Helmet laws in North Carolina
Whether you're driving a motorcycle or riding with someone else, you must wear a helmet. Helmets that meet the state's safety standards are marked by a Department of Transportation sticker stuck permanently to the back. Those helmets will have a lining of foam that's at least 1 inch thick.
Sometimes it's possible to find novelty-style helmets with facsimiles of the Department of Transportation's sticker. However, these aren't actually allowed under North Carolina's regulations.
Insurance requirements in North Carolina
All motorcycle riders in North Carolina must have liability insurance in order to ride.
North Carolina's legally mandated coverage minimums are listed below, but it's a good idea to purchase enough insurance to adequately protect your assets — even if it exceeds the state's minimum requirements.
- Bodily injury liability: $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident
- Property damage liability: $25,000
North Carolina also requires uninsured motorist coverage.
Frequently asked questions
How much is motorcycle insurance in North Carolina?
The average cost of motorcycle insurance in North Carolina is $23 per month for a full coverage policy.
Do I need insurance for a motorcycle in North Carolina?
Yes, motorcycle insurance is required for riders in North Carolina. You're required to have at least $30,000 of bodily injury liability per person and $60,000 per accident, along with $25,000 of property damage liability. You will also need to get uninsured motorist coverage.
What company has the cheapest motorcycle insurance in North Carolina?
Progressive has the cheapest motorcycle insurance in North Carolina, at $17 per month for full coverage. And Dairyland and Harley-Davidson are only a few cents more per month.
Methodology
To find the cheapest motorcycle insurance in North Carolina, ValuePenguin collected more than 140 motorcycle insurance quotes from six major motorcycle insurance companies across 24 of the largest cities in North Carolina. Rates are for a 45-year-old single man who owns a 2018 Honda CMX500 Rebel.
Quotes are for a full coverage policy. It includes comprehensive and collision coverage and higher liability limits than the state requirement.
- Bodily injury liability coverage: $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident
- Property damage liability coverage: $25,000 per accident
- Uninsured motorist bodily injury liability: $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident
- Medical payments: $5,000
- Collision and comprehensive deductible: $500
The ValuePenguin team has a combined total of more than 50 years of experience in the property and casualty insurance industry.
About the Author
Lead Writer
Matt Timmons is a Lead Writer on the insurance team at ValuePenguin, where he writes in-depth and timely pieces helping find the right coverage for them.
He's covered insurance at ValuePenguin since 2018, specializing in auto and home insurance, as well as life insurance. He's paid special attention to the EV insurance market, where prices are much higher than for gas cars.
Before he started writing about personal finance, Matt wrote about professional skills and online tools at an e-learning company.
How insurance helped Matt
During freshman orientation in college, Matt's iPod was stolen off his table while he was eating lunch. Luckily, he'd bought a college insurance plan the day before and he had money to buy a replacement before classes started.
Expertise
- Auto insurance
- Home insurance
- Insurance rate analysis
- Life insurance
Referenced by
- CNBC
- Miami Herald
- Yahoo! Finance
Education
- BA, Wesleyan University
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author’s opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.
