How Much is Motorcycle Insurance for an 18-Year-Old

Getting motorcycle insurance at the age of 18 can be quite challenging, especially due to the higher insurance rates. Insurance companies calculate premiums based on perceived risk, and the chance of younger riders to file more insurance claims.  

Younger riders, including 18-year-olds, have a common trend of indulging in risky behaviors such as unnecessary speeding, illegal racing, and performing dangerous motorcycle stunts.  

These risky activities significantly increase the chances of getting involved in a motorcycle accident leading to increased insurance claims. So, to mitigate the costs, and deal with higher motorcycle insurance claims, insurers charge a significantly higher rate for 18-year-olds.  

How Much Does Motorcycle Insurance Cost for an 18-Year-Old?

The average cost of motorcycle insurance for an 18-year-old is $313 per year for liability-only insurance. If you’re willing to get full-coverage motorcycle insurance, then it can cost you between $811 and $1,146 per year. On average, the cost of full-coverage motorcycle insurance for 18-year-olds in the US is $948 per year.

If you compare the cost of motorcycle insurance for 18-year-olds compared to the national average of $13 per month or $156 per year, motorcycle insurance typically costs 1.94 times for 18-year-old riders.  

And 18-year-old policyholders are typically charged 2.39 times more for full-coverage motorcycle insurance compared to the national average of $33 per month or $396 per year.

You may be wondering why do the costs vary so much. Motorcycle insurance rates can significantly vary from one insurance company to another, mainly due to differences in pricing strategies.  

Plus, age isn’t the only factor that affects motorcycle insurance premiums, your location, riding record, insurance claims history, and credit score, among others, affect motorcycle insurance rates.  

Remember one thing, in most states in the US, it is legally mandatory for you to have at least a valid minimum liability insurance to ride it legally on the streets. Typically, full-coverage motorcycle insurance includes a combination of mandatory liability only insurance along with the other optional coverages such as collision insurance, comprehensive insurance, and more.  

Factors That Affect the Cost of Motorcycle Insurance for an 18-Year-Old  

The cost of motorcycle insurance can significantly vary for an 18-year-old based on multiple factors. It can either increase or decrease depending on how each of these factors influence the motorcycle insurance rates as follows.

Location  

Location is the most crucial factor when it comes to determining the cost of motorcycle insurance. The cost of motorcycle insurance for an 18-year-old can widely vary from one state to another. Although the average cost of full-coverage motorcycle insurance is $79 per month or $948 per year, in most US states it is roughly around $900 per year.

Here’s the motorcycle insurance rate for an 18-year-old in the 5 US states from highest to lowest premiums.

Source: ValuePenguin

Coverage Limits

Even though motorcycle insurance is much more expensive for an 18-year-old, the actual cost ultimately comes to your choice of coverage, and its limit. If you choose to purchase just minimum liability coverage, then you can expect to spend $26 per month or $313 or more per year.

If you obtain full coverage motorcycle insurance, or any other combination of both mandatory and optional policies then it can cost you up to $811 to $1,146 per year or more. It also depends on the insurance company as every insurer has its own individual, and unique pricing strategies. 

Based on our research, the cheapest full coverage motorcycle insurance comes at $67.5 per month, which is $811 per year. When it comes to coverage limits, it’s ultimately your choice whether you want to spend the bare minimum or purchase adequate financial protection within your budget.

If it’s possible then it’s highly recommended that you opt for full coverage insurance based on your requirements and budget, the key here is to ensure that you’re fully protected from any tough financial burden.  

Riding History 

Your riding history, and track records play a significant role when it comes to determining your motorcycle insurance rate. As motorcycle insurance rate is generally high for 18-year-old riders, with a clean riding record, there is a chance that you can get discounts, or redeem a lower rate.  

However, if you’ve a poor riding history with legal penalties for traffic violations such as speeding tickets, fines, license suspension among others, your motorcycle insurance rate will increase even more.  

Insurance companies basically use your riding history to determine whether you’re a high-risk rider or a safe rider, mainly to evaluate how often or to what extent you may claim your insurance.  

Insurance Claims History

The more frequently you claim your motorcycle insurance, the more expensive it’s going to be either when you renew it or purchase it. The insurance company will evaluate your motorcycle insurance claims history to evaluate how much coverage do they have to pay you.  

So, if you have already claimed a significant amount of your motorcycle insurance this year, or the past 3 years your motorcycle insurance rate will significantly increase. Some insurance companies have accidental forgiveness policies for first time claims. If that applies, then you may not face increased premiums in the following year.  

As motorcycle rates are already quite high for 18-year-old riders, an increase in premiums for frequently claiming motorcycle insurance can increase it by 2 to 3 times more.  

Credit Score

Insurance companies use credit scores as a metric to evaluate how committed you’re to repaying your debt, which could be credit card bills or any type of loan payment. A good credit score shows that you pay your credit bills on time, or at least before or within the due date.

As motorcycle insurance is typically a recurring subscription, having a good credit score demonstrates that you will pay for the insurance premiums in a timely manner. So, with a good credit score, your motorcycle insurance rate can proportionately decrease, or you may get a certain percentage discount.  

On the other hand, a bad credit score can substantially increase your motorcycle insurance rate. Although even with a bad credit score, and if you’re located in California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon or Utah, then you’re in luck as these states strictly prohibit insurance companies to determine premiums based on credit score.  

Marital Status  

Marital status has a perceived impact on motorcycle insurance rate even for 18-year-old young riders. Married people tend to be more responsible in general, and even based on common track records, most married policyholders maintain safe riding practices.  

So, based on that if you’re married with a clean riding record, you may get a lower motorcycle insurance quote compared to single motorcyclists. Another advantage is, there are bundle policies for married couples, so if you and your spouse purchase a joint policy then you can save up a significant amount on your motorcycle insurance rate.  

Deductibles  

As motorcycle insurance is already quite expensive for 18-year-old riders, opting for a higher deductible or increasing it is something that you can consider for reducing your motorcycle insurance rate.  

But remember the higher your deductibles are the greater your financial risk, this is because you agree to pay the deductible amount from your own out-of-pocket expenses. So, if you agree to a deductible of $2,000, so you will have to pay $2,000 from your own expenses, and the rest will be covered by your motorcycle insurance policy.  

To protect yourself financially, it is always recommended to go for the lowest deductibles, or none at all. But if you need to decrease your motorcycle insurance rate, then opting for higher deductibles is a viable option.  

Tips to Lower Motorcycle Insurance for an 18-Year-Old  

Although motorcycle insurance for an 18-year-old is almost double compared to an average 40-year-old motorcyclist with a clean riding record, there are tactful ways you can significantly reduce it.  

The main reason motorcycle insurance is so expensive for younger riders, specifically between the ages of 16 and 18 is due to the perceived risk of higher insurance claims, and lack of riding experience.

But if you can prove that you’re a responsible rider with a good credit score, and insurance history then you can significantly reduce the high motorcycle insurance rate by following the tips suggested below.

• Join Someone Else’s Motorcycle Insurance Policy: You can join a family member’s policy preferably over 25- or 35-year-old. It could either be your parents or any other household member. As you will be joining their policy, you will either be charged the same rate or slightly higher than what they’re paying.  
• Complete a Motorcycle Safety Course: By completing a motorcycle safety course, you will get a certificate which is proof that you’re taking considerable steps to safe riding habits. This will increase your chances to get a lower motorcycle insurance rate compared to the high rate for an 18-year-old on average.  
• Maintain a Clean Riding Record: Make sure to ride safely, and don’t speed up unnecessarily or get involved in any risky riding stunts. By riding safely, you can avoid legal penalties such as speeding tickets, and fines. Plus, you can easily prove that you’re a responsible rider which you can use as a strong point for negotiating a lower insurance rate.  
• Get into a Reputed Motorcycle Club: Reputed motorcycle clubs have deals, affiliations and exclusive agreements for exclusive motorcycle insurance rates for its members. So, by joining a reputable motorcycle club, you can leverage a lower motorcycle insurance premium. 

Should I Get Motorcycle Insurance as an 18-Year-Old Rider? 

Motorcycle insurance is legally mandatory in most US states. You cannot legally own a motorcycle or ride it without proof of a valid motorcycle insurance. Apart from the legal requirements to get at least the minimum liability coverage, getting motorcycle insurance with adequate coverage is more essential to protect yourself financially.  

So, even as an 18-year-old, it is crucial for you to get motorcycle insurance. Besides, motorcycle insurance rates typically go down with age, so as you grow older in the upcoming year, your premiums will significantly drop.

Moreover, by having motorcycle insurance as an 18-year-old, you’re avoiding policy lapse, which is super beneficial for getting lower rates in the future. Of course, there are some smart ways to reduce motorcycle insurance rates, which have been suggested earlier.  

So, if you’re looking for affordable, and cheaper motorcycle insurance coverage, you should find a local agent nearby, or you can contact us with your query to get a free consultation, and quote.  

Frequently Ask Question

What's the cheapest insurance for 18-year-olds?

The cheapest motorcycle insurance for an 18-year-old comes at $68 per month, or $811 per year.

How much does motorcycle insurance go up for an 18-year-old?

On average, liability-only motorcycle insurance can cost 1.94 times more, and full-coverage motorcycle insurance can cost 2.39 times more compared to the national average for an 18-year-old in the US. The national average minimum liability-only coverage is $13 per month or $156 per year, and for full coverage, it’s $33 per month or $396 per year.

Does motorcycle insurance go down at 18?

If it’s compared to younger ages, then yes, compared to age 16 and 17, motorcycle insurance is slightly lower for 18-year-old riders. For instance, the average cost of liability-only motorcycle insurance is $340 per year for a 16-year-old, and for an 18-year-old, it is $313 per year.  

Why is motorcycle insurance so expensive for an 18-year-old?

Motorcycle insurance is generally more expensive for an 18-year-old due to the perceived risk of reckless riding, and lack of riding experience, which could lead to increased motorcycle insurance claims.