The Best Cheap Motorcycle Insurance in Washington

Geico has the best motorcycle insurance for most riders in Washington, at $706 per year for full coverage.

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For riders in Washington, it's important to keep your motorcycles safe and insured. To compare motorcycle insurance companies in the Evergreen State, we looked at each provider's policy features and customer service reputations in addition to cost.

Cheapest motorcycle insurance in Washington

For most people, the cheapest motorcycle insurance in Washington comes from Geico, which offers coverage for an annual cost of $706. This price is 22% cheaper than the average cost of coverage in the state.

The average cost of motorcycle insurance in Washington is $733 per year.

It's about as easy to find cheap motorcycle insurance in Washington as it is in the rest of the country: We calculated the national average cost of motorcycle insurance to be $721 per year.

Two factors that can play a big part in the cost of motorcycle insurance for you are your location and the amount of protection you get. Although your rates may differ, we've provided the average cost of motorcycle insurance for the best cheap motorcycle insurance companies in Washington.

A bar graph showing the average monthly costs of motorcycle insurance in Louisiana

Compare Motorcycle Insurance Quotes in Washington

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Cheapest motorcycle insurance companies in Washington

Company
Annual cost
Dairyland logo
Dairyland$697
Geico logo
Geico$706
Allstate logo
Allstate$716
Progressive logo
Progressive$814
Average$733

Best motorcycle insurance for most people: Dairyland

  • Editor rating

  • Annual rate

    $697 ?

Why it's great

Dairyland is our pick for best motorcycle insurance company for riders in Washington due to its great balance of affordability and coverage options.

The best motorcycle insurance for most people in Washington is Dairyland. Dairyland provides a variety of optional endorsements while enabling you to save money through a number of easily attainable discounts.

Aside from offering industry-standard protections, Dairyland's motorcycle insurance allows you to add:

  • Optional/special equipment coverage: You can get coverage for the difference in value between optional equipment you add and the standard equipment it replaces.
  • Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts: The physical damage plus endorsement means your bike will be repaired with parts from the original manufacturer.
  • Roadside assistance: You can get service for a flat tire, dead battery or mechanical breakdown, plus tow service and a resupply of fuel, oil, fluid or water.

Dairyland sells the cheapest motorcycle insurance on average for most Washingtonians.

The average price of coverage from Dairyland is $697 per year, 5% cheaper than the typical cost of motorcycle insurance in the state.

There are a lot of ways to save money with Dairyland. You can be eligible for savings if you're a part of any of the riding groups, including the Harley Owners Group, to which Dairyland offers an affinity discount. You may also reduce your rates if you:

  • Have multiple motorcycles insured by Dairyland
  • Have been a customer for more than a year
  • Complete a rider course
  • Switch to Dairyland from another insurer
  • Own a home

Dairyland's customer service reputation is a modest drawback. The company's complaint index, figured by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), sits at 2.69. The expected number of complaints each company gets is represented by 1.0, which means that Dairyland gets more than what's expected for its market share.

Best motorcycle insurance for complete coverage: Progressive

  • Editor rating

  • Annual rate

    $814 ?

Why it's great

Progressive offers the most complete coverage motorcycle insurance for riders in Washington, along with an extensive range of extra coverage options.

You should consider Progressive motorcycle insurance if you want the most protection for your bike. With a standard policy at Progressive, you automatically get replacement cost coverage and $3,000 of protection for repairing your customizations, equipment and accessories. You can get up to $30,000 of extra coverage, too.

You also get OEM parts coverage with a standard Progressive motorcycle insurance policy, which you can use to repair any of your bike's custom parts that may have gotten damaged. If you need additional coverage, you can add the following endorsements from Progressive:

  • Total loss coverage for a new bike
  • Roadside assistance and trip interruption
  • Carried contents and accessories coverage
  • Disappearing deductible for up to 25% each year you remain claim free — all the way to $0
  • Enhanced injury protection up to $250 per week you can't work

Progressive's downside for Washington residents is its price: At $814 per year, its rates are the most expensive in the state. Given the company's offerings, though, we still recommend considering Progressive's motorcycle insurance.

Best for new riders: Geico

  • Editor rating

  • Annual rate

    $706 ?

Why it's great

Geico is a great motorcycle insurance choice for new riders in Washington due to its coverage of the essentials and overall transparency.

Geico's motorcycle insurance is the best option for Washington's new riders. Standard coverage from the company covers the essentials so that inexperienced motorcyclists don't have to commit to more coverage than they need. To supplement your basic protection, you may elect to add comprehensive and collision repair, as well as roadside assistance and accessories coverage.

Geico's online experience also makes it easy to understand how the price of your policy is detemines, how different adjustments can affect your quote and how to keep costs low if you don't want to spend too much on protecting your motorcycle.

The average price of motorcycle insurance from Geico is about $706 per year. This is 4% cheaper than Washington's statewide average price of motorcycle coverage. Although Geico doesn't offer a great deal of chances to lower your rate, you can save money by renewing your policy and completing a safety course. If you bundle your motorcycle insurance with another of Geico's insurance options, you can also qualify for a discount.

The best-reviewed motorcycle insurance companies in Washington

You should consider the quality of a company's customer service along with its rates and coverage offerings when deciding where to buy motorcycle insurance. To find this info, we used the NAIC Complaint Index. Each company's complaint index is determined by dividing its number of complaints by its market share. A score of 1.0 means a company has a typical number of complaints based on its size, while a smaller number means a company gets fewer complaints than expected. The info is displayed in the following table.

Insurer
NAIC Complaint Index
AM Best Financial Strength Rating
Allstate0.63A+
Dairyland Insurance2.69A+
Geico0.67A++
Progressive0.82A+
USAA0.98A++

What are Washington's motorcycle insurance laws?

Whether you live in Washington or are just riding through, it’s important to have an understanding of the state’s laws for motorcyclists. If you don’t comply with local gear, insurance and licensing regulations, you may face fines or other penalties.

Washington's motorcycle license requirements

Washington requires its motorcyclists to have an endorsement on their regular driving license if their bikes can go faster than 30 miles per hour or if their engines are larger than 50 cubic centimeters. You're required to have a three-wheel endorsement if your bike has a stabilizing conversion kit or a sidecar, or if it's a trike.

In order to get a two-wheel motorcycle endorsement, you must successfully complete a motorcycle safety course and a riding and skills test at a state-approved training school. You can also take the tests separately, as long as you provide evidence of completion to a licensing office within 180 days. You have to be at least 16 to apply for an endorsement, and your child must be at least five years old and able to reach the foot pedals to ride with you.

Helmet laws in Washington

You're required to wear a helmet while driving or riding a motorcycle in Washington. Helmets must be approved by the state's Department of Transportation to be legal on any public roads. Washington also requires that its motorcycle riders wear eye protection, such as goggles or a face shield, unless your bike has a windshield.

Motorcycle insurance requirements in Washington

Washington requires owners of all vehicles, including motorcycles, to have insurance coverage. You're also able to apply for different forms of registration, though in most cases it's easier and more practical to get regular protection. The minimum insurance requirements are shown below; however, we recommend you have enough insurance to adequately protect your assets — even if it means buying more than the legally required amount of coverage.

Coverage type
Required minimum insurance
Bodily injury liability$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident
Property damage liability$10,000

You could also qualify for self-insurance with the Department of Transportation if you own at least 26 cars, and you can satisfy Washington's legal requirements by applying for and carrying a certificate of deposit or liability bond worth at least $60,000. Both must be approved by the state of Washington. Like with more conventional forms of insurance, you'd have to show proof of one of these coverages if you were pulled over.

Motorcycle insurance costs: City-by-city breakdowns

Our survey enabled us to enumerate the average cost of motorcycle insurance in cities across Washington. The most expensive city for motorcycle insurance on average is Seattle, which has a rate of $878 per year among all companies. The least expensive city is Pullman, which has a $644-per-year average rate.

City
Annual cost
Difference from statewide average
Bainbridge Island$699-4.4%
Battle Ground$7502.5%
Bellevue$81711.8%
Bellingham$7573.5%
Bonney Lake$81811.0%
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Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need insurance on a motorcycle in Washington state?

Beginning July 28, 2019, motorcycle drivers are required to carry liability insurance in the state of Washington. The minimum requirements are $25,000/$50,000 for injury and death to other people as well as $10,000 for damage to other people's property. You can also choose to have a liability bond of at least $60,000, filed by a bond company licensed in Washington.

How much is motorcycle insurance in Washington?

Our analysis of quotes in Washington state showed that the average cost of full coverage for a motorcycle is $733 per year. However, it's likely possible to find more affordable coverage so long as you're willing to skip collision and comprehensive coverage and stick with just the legally required liability coverages.

Is lane splitting legal in the state of Washington?

Lane splitting is expressly forbidden by state law in Washington. Nationally, only California allows lane splitting through a law change passed in 2016. This remains a controversial issue, and there have been multiple attempts in Washington to legalize lane splitting by motorcycles. So far, none have succeeded.

Methodology

We gathered over 136 quotes for addresses across Washington's ZIP codes. Our data reflects motorcycle insurance rates for a 45-year-old married homeowner who drives a 2021 Harley-Davidson FLHX Street Glide. We elected to use higher levels of protection than legally required by the state, as we believe that you should have enough insurance to protect your assets and property. Your own results may vary. The quotes we collected had these coverage limits:

  • 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

The amount of time you've been riding your motorcycle and your driving history can play a role in how expensive your insurance rates are. No variables affect the price of motorcycle insurance as much as the amount of protection you get.