Who Has the Cheapest Motorcycle Insurance In Virginia?
Motorcycle insurance will protect you and your motorcycle while you ride in Virginia, and we recommend that all motorcyclists purchase coverage. The cheapest annual rate for motorcycle insurance in Virginia was $524 per year, from Nationwide.
Compare Motorcycle Insurance Quotes in Virginia
After collecting hundreds of quotes across Virginia, we rounded up some of the best motorcycle insurers in the state.
The cheapest motorcycle insurance companies in Virginia
The average motorcycle insurance cost in Virginia is $684 per year. This is slightly less than the typical price across the country, which is around $721 annually.
Compare Motorcycle Insurance Quotes in Virginia
Cheapest motorcycle insurance companies in Virginia
Company | Average annual cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Progressive | $524 |
| Nationwide | $530 |
| Geico | $620 |
| Dairyland | $806 |
| Allstate | $938 |
Best motorcycle insurance for most people: Progressive
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Editor rating
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Annual rate
$524 ?
Pros and cons
If you want to get full coverage insurance for your motorcycle at an affordable price in Virginia, we recommend Progressive. Progressive offers an unmatched variety of coverage options for motorcycle riders while still offering affordable rates and a positive customer service experience.
The average price for motorcycle insurance from Progressive was $524 per year. That's 23% more expensive than the average rate in Virginia and $6 less costly than the second-cheapest option, Nationwide.
Progressive also shines with its coverage options. While all insurers offer liability, collision and comprehensive coverage, Progressive has far more choices than other motorcycle insurers. For example, it offers up to two years of full replacement cost coverage, which means if your bike is totaled in a crash, Progressive will pay for a new bike. You also have the option to add original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts coverage and carried contents coverage.
Riders may be able to reduce Progressive's already-low rates by taking advantage of its many discounts. For example, riders can get a lower premium if they also insure a car with Progressive, as well as for being a member of certain affinity groups.
Best for daily riders: Dairyland
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Editor rating
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Annual rate
$806 ?
Pros and cons
Dairyland is a top option in Virginia for riders who use their bikes as their primary mode of transit. The ability to pair roadside assistance and rental reimbursement means you will rarely be caught without a vehicle after an accident.
Roadside assistance provides 24/7 towing and service for situations that include battery issues, a flat tire or mechanical problems. Riders can also get supplies of fuel, oil, fluid or water. Rental reimbursement will give riders the funds for 30 days of a rental vehicle while their bike is in the shop.
Those services and other coverage options from Dairyland will cost you more. The company's average rate in Virginia is $806 per year, 18% higher than the state average.
Dairyland also receives a higher-than-average number of complaints, an indicator of issues with customer service. It scored a 2.69 rating in the NAIC complaint index, which means it receives more than double the complaints expected for a company of its size.
Best for members of the military: USAA
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Editor rating
Pros and cons
Virginia residents in the military looking for motorcycle insurance may be interested in buying a policy from USAA. The company is well known for its great customer service that is tailored to military members, as well as affordable insurance rates.
However, USAA doesn't actually sell motorcycle insurance directly. Instead, it directs its members to a partner, Progressive, where they receive a 5% discount off the standard rate.
USAA also has very few in-person locations, so you may want to look at another insurer if you prefer to buy insurance in person.
How we chose the best motorcycle insurers in Virginia
When deciding which insurance company provided the best motorcycle insurance policy in Virginia, we looked at three main categories: the price of the coverage, the strength of the provided coverage options and customer service reviews. These are the three main ways an insurer can set itself apart from the competition.
- Affordability: Does the insurer offer the best price for the amount of coverage you're buying?
- Coverage options: Can you customize your policy to match your needs?
- Customer service: Is the insurer's customer service well-reviewed by its customers?
Affordability: Finding cheap motorcycle insurance in Virginia
Choosing an affordable motorcycle insurance company can save you hundreds of dollars per year while receiving the same amount of insurance coverage. We collected hundreds of insurance quotes across Virginia to find the most affordable rates.
The cost of motorcycle insurance in Virginia can vary significantly based on who you are, where you live and the type of motorcycle you drive. A young person with a sport bike is going to pay much more for coverage than a senior riding a cruiser, even if they buy the same level of coverage.
We don't recommend that insurance shoppers simply buy the minimum coverage amounts, either. Instead, you should buy enough coverage so that you won't be ruined financially by a crash or theft, while still staying within your budget.
We gathered quotes for a 45-year-old homeowner with 20 years' motorcycle experience, riding a 2021 Harley-Davidson FLHX Street Glide. Our selected levels of coverage were:
- Bodily injury liability coverage: $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident
- Property damage liability coverage: $50,000 per accident
- Collision coverage: Included/$500 deductible
- Comprehensive coverage: Included/$500 deductible
- All other coverages: Not included
Coverage options: Comparing motorcycle insurance policies and benefits
Not everyone has the same insurance needs. If you travel a lot on your motorcycle, you might want trip interruption coverage; if you depend on your motorcycle to get around, you might want rental reimbursement. Everyone has their own requirements, so we prefer insurers who offer a wide range of coverage options.
Insurance provider | Replacement cost coverage | OEM parts replacement | Custom parts | Roadside assistance | Rental reimbursement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Progressive | X† | X | X† | X | - |
| GEICO | - | - | - | X | - |
| Dairyland | X | X | X | X | X |
| Nationwide | - | X | X† | X | - |
| Allstate | X | - | - | - | X |
Customer service: Evaluating insurer quality in service and claims
To evaluate the customer service of the major motorcycle insurance companies in Virginia, we looked at three main sources of data: the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' complaint index and AM Best's financial stability rating.
Insurer | NAIC complaint index | AM Best financial strength rating |
|---|---|---|
| Insurer | NAIC complaint index | AM Best FSR |
| Allstate | 0.87 | A+ |
| Dairyland | 2.69 | A+ |
| Geico | 0.67 | A++ |
| Nationwide | 0.61 | A+ |
| Progressive | 0.50 | A+ |
| USAA | 0.85 | A++ |
NAIC complaint indexes of 0.00 should be taken with a grain of salt, as they can be the result of a small sample size.
NAIC complaint index: The NAIC complaint index is a comparison between the number of complaints an insurer has received and its market share. The higher a company's complaint index, the more complaints it's received relative to its size — a lower score is better. The average score is 1.00.
AM Best financial strength rating: AM Best's financial strength rating is a grade that describes an insurer's overall financial health and its ability to pay out insurance claims, regardless of high claim demand or negative economic climate. Financial strength ratings range from A++ to D.
Virginia motorcycle insurance: Costs by city
We collected hundreds of quotes in Virginia’s major metropolitan areas and found a significant difference in price for our sample rider based on location. See how much you can expect to pay for motorcycle insurance in your area.
City | Annual rate | Difference from state average |
|---|---|---|
| Alexandria | $771 | 12.8% |
| Arlington | $825 | 20.8% |
| Bedford | $629 | -7.9% |
| Big Stone Gap | $640 | -6.4% |
| Bristol | $599 | -12.3% |
For an overall look at the cost of motorcycle insurance in the United States, see our study on the cost of motorcycle insurance.
Virginia motorcycle insurance requirements
Virginia has minimum motorcycle insurance requirements. All motorcycle insurance policies sold in Virginia must include at least this much coverage, though we recommend against simply buying the minimum amount.
Coverage type | Required minimum coverage |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury: per person | $30,000 |
| Bodily injury: per accident | $60,000 |
| Property damage | $20,000 |
Instead of getting insurance, motorcyclists in Virginia may also choose to pay the "uninsured motor vehicle fee," which costs $500 per year. However, we don't recommend this option as it's only marginally less expensive than buying motorcycle insurance, and you will be personally responsible for any damages you cause or incur in a crash.
How do you get a motorcycle license in Virginia?
Virginians who want to ride a motorcycle have to get a motorcycle-specific license or get an endorsement on their regular driver's license.
If you already have a driver's license, get an endorsement
To get a motorcycle endorsement, you must take a vision screening and knowledge exam to get your learner's permit and have that for 30 days before taking a road skills test. The Virginia DMV also offers a rider training program, which will allow you to waive the knowledge and road tests.
If you're under 18, you must have your motorcycle permit for nine months before you can take the road skills test.
If you don't have a driver's license, get a stand-alone motorcycle license
To get a stand-alone motorcycle license, you must do all the above, plus pass a road knowledge test that covers road signs and rules. Riders under 18 must also provide proof they've taken driver's ed.
Methodology
To perform a comprehensive analysis of motorcycle insurance in Virginia, we collected over 225 quotes from 45 cities across the commonwealth. 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' experience riding motorcycles. Your rates may be different.