Motorcycle Insurance for Teen Riders

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One of the biggest challenges for any teenage rider is insurance. After all, insurers base their rates on a multitude of factors, but two of the most influential are 1) age and 2) driving record. As a teen, you simply haven’t had the time to show these companies that you’re a responsible rider, and rates are typically high for all riders under the age of 25 — particularly males.

But don’t abandon hope! Some insurers are more willing to work with teen riders than others, and we can help you find the coverage you need at a price you can afford — and secure a few discounts along the way.

Teen Motorcycle Insurance: Coverage Types

You will hear the terms “Basic Coverage” and “Full Coverage” used a lot. These are not really specific types of coverage, but shorthand for policies that do or do not include more than liability coverage.

Liability is the type of coverage you’re legally required to carry in most states. It’s typically expressed in a series of three amounts: $50,000 / $100,000 / $30,000, for example.  In this scenario, these numbers denote the following:

• $50,000 for bodily injury to one person.
• $100,000 for bodily injury to two or more people.
• $30,000 for damage of property.

Nearly every state requires that you carry a certain amount of coverage in each of these three areas, and any motorcycle policy you get in your state will meet these minimum requirements. If liability coverage is all your policy includes, it’s often known as “Basic Coverage.”

While Basic is the most affordable type of coverage, it’s only available to those riders who own their bikes outright. If you financed your machine, the bank, dealer, or lender will require you to call carry what’s generally known as “Full Coverage.”

Full coverage, in most cases, includes Collision, Comprehensive, and in some cases, Uninsured Motorist coverage.

• Collision: Covers your bike in a traffic accident.
• Comprehensive: Covers your bike in case of theft, non-moving accidents, vandalism, and weather.
• Uninsured/Under-insured Motorist (UM/UIM): Covers you in case of an accident with a driver who’s not insured, or else comes from a state that has lower insurance minimums than your own.

We strongly encourage all teen riders to carry full coverage if they can afford it. Otherwise, any damage to your bike on or off the road will end up coming out of your own pocket. Fortunately, we can help you find the most affordable coverage possible. Enter your zip code to get started.

Choosing the Right Bike

While you can’t do anything to control your age, you can control what bike you ride — another big factor in determining your insurance rates. Sport bikes, as tempting as they are, typically come with exorbitant insurance rates for teen riders. In fact, it’s not uncommon to hear of a young sport rider being quoted several thousand dollars per year to insure their bike — more than the annual payment for the bike itself!

Fortunately, the motorcycle industry has responded in recent years with a number of beginner/teen-friendly machines that don’t break the bank to insure.  Here are a few of our favorites:

1.  Suzuki TU250

A lightweight, retro-inspired street bike that harks back to the golden age of motorcycling and the UJM (Universal Japanese Motorcycle) style of the 1960s. Despite the old-school looks, the TU250 as fuel-injection, a 32-bit ECU, and an air injection system that minimizes emissions.

2. Honda Grom

The 125cc has become a hit among veteran and new riders alike. Motorcycle USA named it “Motorcycle of the Year” award, and the bike has developed something of a cult following. It’s one of the most popular bikes for stunt riders to learn their trade, and a thriving aftermarket ensures you can upgrade your Grom as you gain experience. If you want something with more of a bobber style, we’re also big fans of the Honda Rebel, both in 300cc and 500cc variants.

3. Yamaha R3

This is the sportiest of these three machines, designed to compete with the likes of the Honda CBR300 and Kawasaki Ninja 300. It’s powered by a 42-hp liquid-cooled inline twin, which makes for a 0-60 time of less than 5.5 seconds! Unfortunately, the R3 will almost certainly be the most expensive of these teen-friendly riders to insure, given its super sport heritage. For this reason, it’s doubly important to compare quotes from multiple insurers.

If none of these bikes suit your fancy, check out the Yamaha MT-03 or Yamaha Star Bolt.

Teen Rider Discounts

Putting together a few of these discounts could really bring down your monthly insurance costs.

• MSF Course: We really can’t recommend taking an MSF (Motorcycle Safety Foundation) course enough. It’s a program that’s been developed over the decades to teach riders life-saving skills on the road. While there is some classroom time involved, the fun part is getting out to practice various techniques on the practice ground. Best of all, if inform your insurer that you’ve graduated from an MSF Basic Rider course, they’ll almost certainly give you a significant discount. Fnd a course near you at www.msf-usa.org.
• Good Student:  Good grades are enough way to save on your motorcycle insurance. Have you got a GPA of 3.0 or higher (B average)? If so, most insurers will give you a discount of 5-10%. You may have to send them your transcripts — so make sure to ask your insurer what’s required.

Compare Rates Now

Some companies are more open to insuring teen riders than others. For that reason, it’s absolutely crucial to compare quotes from several different companies. Fortunately, we’re here to help. Just enter the zip code to begin!