The Best Cheap Motorcycle Insurance in Arkansas

Progressive offers rates that are almost as cheap, for a policy with a wider list of coverage options.

In Arkansas, you must have motorcycle insurance before you can ride. After collecting more than 200 quotes from across Arkansas, we determined some of the best motorcycle insurance companies for riders in the state.

The cheapest motorcycle insurance companies in Arkansas

The cheapest motorcycle insurance in Arkansas is offered by Geico, with an average rate of $262 per year. The average cost of motorcycle insurance in Arkansas is $778 per year, or $65 per month.

Cheapest motorcycle insurance companies in Arkansas

Best motorcycle insurance for most people: Progressive

Progressive is the best motorcycle insurance for most Arkansas riders. Its low rates and the basic policy's level of protection set Progressive apart from other motorcycle insurers in the state.

The average cost of coverage from Progressive is $646 per year — about 17% cheaper than the statewide average cost of motorcycle insurance. We also found that Progressive's average price is about $116 cheaper than every Arkansas insurer surveyed besides Geico.

You can lower the cost of motorcycle insurance even further with Progressive's various discounts. Many of these discounts have easy requirements. For example, showing a valid motorcycle license, scheduling automatic monthly payments or completing a safety course could get you a break on the price. We also recommend Progressive if you already have auto insurance with the company.

Progressive also has the lowest rate of complaints among major insurers in the state. It gets just 39% of the complaints expected for a company its size, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

Progressive's standard policy comes with several features that usually cost extra from other providers. You get replacement cost coverage and $3,000 of custom parts protection, with the ability to purchase up to $30,000. These protections usually qualify as endorsements or add-ons, but Progressive includes them in a typical policy.

Additionally, you can add the following to your motorcycle insurance policy:

Best for low rates: Geico

Riders looking for the absolute cheapest rates in Arkansas should go with Geico. The company charges 20% less than the state average, according to our data.

Geico's annual rate is $626 per year, on average. That’s $20 per year less than Progressive and $136 less than Dairyland, the next two cheapest options in the state.

Geico also has a NAIC Complaint Index of 0.67, meaning it received only about 67% of the expected number of complaints for a company its size. That number was the second best, after Progressive, among companies surveyed.

Geico does not offer the most robust set of coverages, but riders can get emergency roadside service, and collision coverage can protect a rider's helmet. The company also offers accessories coverage, which protects items such as:

Best motorcycle insurance for daily riders: Dairyland

Dairyland is the best motorcycle insurance for Arkansas's most frequent riders. Dairyland is the only company we surveyed that offers rental reimbursement, which provides temporary transportation while your bike is unrideable. Additionally, its roadside assistance add-on ensures that you won't be stranded if your motorcycle breaks down on a long ride.

That pairing can be extremely valuable if your bike is your primary means of transportation.

The average cost of Dairyland's motorcycle insurance in Arkansas is $762 per year, 2% cheaper than the typical statewide cost of coverage. Since Dairyland's premiums are so close to the state’s average cost of motorcycle insurance, it's worth considering even if you're not among the most enthusiastic motorcycle riders.

You could reduce the price of your premium below the statewide average if you qualify for Dairyland's discounts. For example, if you're part of a riding club, take a safety course or show that you're a homeowner, then you may get a break on the price.

If you want more coverage, you may also add:

How we chose the best motorcycle insurance in Arkansas

We considered three main categories to determine the best motorcycle insurance provider in Arkansas. The best motorcycle insurance providers stand out from other insurers in these ways:

Policies should fit into your budget and be affordable enough for you to consider extra protection if you need it. However, a company's standard policies ought to provide enough coverage without requiring you to spend lots of additional money on upgrades. Finally, a company should demonstrate the ability to deliver on its obligations.

Affordability: comparing motorcycle prices in Arkansas

The price of an insurance premium can be the sole determining factor for many people shopping for motorcycle insurance. We compiled rate information for addresses across Arkansas to calculate the cost of coverage in the state.

The cost of motorcycle insurance depends on a number of factors: your driving history, the type of bike you own and the amount of coverage you purchase, among others. Your rates may be different from ours. We gathered quotes for a 45-year-old homeowner with 20 years of motorcycle experience, riding a 2021 Harley-Davidson FLHX Street Glide.

Instead of searching for the absolute cheapest rates, it's a good idea to buy enough coverage to protect your financial assets if you are involved in a serious accident. Just make sure it fits within your budget. The following table shows the amount of motorcycle insurance we used to request our quotes.

Coverage options: evaluating motorcycle insurance policies and benefits

The insurers we compared all offer enough insurance to meet the legal minimum requirements mandated by Arkansas. Each company also offers optional endorsements you can use to personalize your coverage beyond the limits called for by the state.

We typically recommend companies whose standard policies provide practical coverage while allowing policyholders to raise or lower coverage limits and purchase useful endorsements. As your needs evolve, your provider should be able to change along with you.

Customer service: considering insurer quality in service and claims

To determine which motorcycle insurance company in Arkansas has the best customer service, we compared the complaint data of the state's largest auto insurance companies, which we retrieved from the NAIC. Additionally, we consulted the scores awarded on AM Best's Financial Strength Rating (FSR).

NAIC Complaint Index: The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) finds the Complaint Index by dividing the number of complaints an insurer receives by its market share. As a company's expected number of complaints is represented by the benchmark 1.0, a score of more than 1.0 means that the company receives a greater number of complaints than its size suggests.

AM Best Financial Strength Rating: AM Best rates insurance providers based on their ability to fulfill their financial obligations in the event of a catastrophic scenario or during an economic downturn. Most companies tend to be well-rated by AM Best, but this tool could help you avoid providers that pose a financial risk.

Arkansas motorcycle insurance: Costs by city

Using the rate information we gathered for this survey, we averaged the cost of coverage in many of Arkansas's largest cities. In the following table, we display this information along with each city's difference from the state's average rate of $778 per year.

The most expensive cities in Arkansas to insure a motorcycle are Little Rock and North Little Rock, which both have average rates of $920 per year. Conversely, the town of Osceola is the cheapest place in Arkansas for motorcycle insurance.

Arkansas motorcycle insurance requirements

Arkansas requires motorcycle riders to buy the same amount of auto insurance as drivers of private passenger vehicles. Thanks to a law that was passed at the beginning of 2020, law enforcement officers in the state are cracking down on uninsured drivers. Officers can now assess real-time insurance information when they run plates, meaning you may be fined if you don't have adequate coverage.

Also, if you let your insurance lapse, you'll receive a notification that you're not in compliance, along with a $100 fine. Without verifying your proof of insurance or paying the fine, your vehicle's registration will be suspended.

How do you get a motorcycle license in Arkansas?

There are two types of motorcycle license endorsements for drivers in Arkansas: Class M and Class MD. A Class M motorcycle endorsement allows you to legally operate a motorcycle or similar vehicles on Arkansas's roadways. You must be 16 years or older to receive certification.

A Class M license:

A Class MD endorsement is for minors ages 14 to 15. It only applies to bikes with engines up to 250cc. As with a Class M license, qualifying for an MD endorsement requires a written test, road test and consent of a parent or guardian.

Methodology

To complete our survey of the best motorcycle insurance in Arkansas, we collected more than 205 quotes from ZIP codes across the state. All quotes were for a 45-year-old male rider of a 2021 Harley-Davidson FLHX Street Glide. Our rider was a married homeowner who has 20 years of experience riding motorcycles. All of these elements may factor into your quoted rate.