How much motorcycle insurance do you need in North Carolina?
State minimums, moped rules and the coverages riders actually use, from an independent insurance company in North Carolina since 1977.
North Carolina requires liability insurance on a registered motorcycle, at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for bodily injury and $50,000 for property damage on policies issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2025. That is the legal floor, not a recommendation.
Riders face more injury risk than drivers, so most riders carry higher liability limits, strong uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, and comprehensive and collision coverage on the bike. Mopeds must also be registered and insured.
What motorcycle insurance covers
Liability. Pays for injuries and damage you cause to others, including, on many policies, your passenger. Check the passenger wording; forms, limits and exclusions vary by insurance company, and your own policy governs.
Uninsured and underinsured motorist. Pays for your injuries when the driver who hits you has no insurance or too little. For riders this is often the coverage that matters most.
Comprehensive and collision coverage. Comprehensive covers theft, fire, vandalism, hail and hitting an animal. Collision covers damage to your bike in a crash. Lenders require both on financed bikes.
Custom parts and equipment. Covers aftermarket parts like exhausts, seats, saddlebags, paint and chrome. Many policies include a small amount and let you buy more.
Riding gear. Some policies cover helmets, jackets and other gear damaged in a covered loss.
Medical payments. Helps pay medical bills for you and your passenger after a crash, regardless of fault.
Roadside assistance and trip interruption. Covers towing and, on some policies, lodging and meals if you break down far from home.
Total loss and new bike replacement. Some insurance companies offer replacement with a new model for a newer bike that is totaled, instead of its depreciated value.
What it usually does not cover
- Damage to your own bike, if you carry liability only
- Racing, track days and timed events, in most policies
- Aftermarket parts above the custom equipment limit
- Riders the policy excludes, or who lack the required license
- Business use like deliveries, unless the policy allows it
Forms, endorsements and availability vary by insurance company. Your own policy governs.
Who needs it
- Every owner of a registered motorcycle, scooter or moped in North Carolina
- New riders with a learner's permit or a new endorsement
- Riders who carry passengers
- Owners of custom, financed or high-value bikes
- Seasonal riders who store the bike for winter
North Carolina rules for riders
Insurance is required to register. No motor vehicle can be registered in North Carolina unless the owner shows proof of financial responsibility, and that coverage must stay in force for the whole registration period (G.S. 20-309). Driving or letting someone drive without it is a Class 3 misdemeanor (G.S. 20-313).
Minimum limits. Policies issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2025 must carry at least 50/100/50 liability, and underinsured motorist coverage is now included in all new or renewed policies (NCDOI, NCDMV).
Lapses cost money. If coverage lapses on a registered vehicle, NCDMV charges a civil penalty of $50, $100 or $150 depending on prior lapses, plus a $50 restoration fee (NCDMV insurance requirements). Keep liability on the bike while it is registered, even in winter.
Helmets for riders and passengers. Every operator and passenger on a motorcycle or moped must wear a helmet that meets federal standard FMVSS 218, with the strap secured (G.S. 20-140.4). A violation is an infraction with no license points or insurance surcharge, and it is not negligence per se in a civil case.
Motorcycle endorsement. You need a motorcycle learner's permit or endorsement to ride, earned with a knowledge test and either a road test or an approved safety course. A rider under 18 with an endorsement may not carry a passenger (G.S. 20-7).
Mopeds. A moped has two or three wheels, a motor of 50cc or less and a top speed of 30 mph (G.S. 20-4.01). Mopeds must be registered (G.S. 20-53.4), and the financial responsibility law counts mopeds as motor vehicles (G.S. 20-309). No license or motorcycle endorsement is required to drive one (G.S. 20-7).
What drives the cost of motorcycle insurance
Motorcycle prices vary widely from rider to rider. Insurance companies weigh:
- Type of bike: cruiser, touring, sport or scooter
- Engine size and the value of the bike
- Your age, riding experience and safety course completion
- Driving record and insurance points
- Where the bike is kept and where you ride
- Liability limits, deductibles and custom equipment amounts
- Bundling with your auto or home policy
We do not publish average prices. A licensed advisor quotes your actual situation across more than 100 insurance companies.
Common Questions
Is motorcycle insurance required in NC?
Yes. A motorcycle must have liability insurance to be registered, and the coverage must stay in force the whole time it is registered.
How much motorcycle insurance do I need?
The legal minimum is 50/100/50 on policies issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2025. Most riders should carry higher liability limits and strong uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, because injuries in motorcycle crashes are often serious.
What are the minimum motorcycle insurance limits in NC?
At least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for bodily injury and $50,000 for property damage. Policies issued before July 1, 2025 carried lower minimums until renewal.
Does motorcycle insurance cover passengers?
Many policies cover injuries to your passenger under liability or medical payments, but the wording varies. Ask us to confirm before you ride two-up.
Do mopeds need insurance in NC?
Yes. Mopeds must be registered, and the state's financial responsibility law counts them as motor vehicles that need liability coverage.
Do you need a license to drive a moped in NC?
No. State law says neither a drivers license nor a motorcycle endorsement is required to drive a moped, but the moped still has to be registered and insured.
Do you have to wear a helmet on a motorcycle in NC?
Yes. Every rider and passenger on a motorcycle or moped must wear a helmet that meets federal standard FMVSS 218.
Does motorcycle insurance cover theft?
Theft is covered under comprehensive coverage. If you carry liability only, a stolen bike is not covered.
Is motorcycle insurance cheaper than car insurance?
It can be, but it depends on the bike, your experience and the coverages you choose. Sport bikes and new riders usually cost more.
Can I cancel my motorcycle insurance in the winter?
Not while the bike is registered, because North Carolina requires continuous liability coverage. Ask us about lowering physical damage coverage during storage instead, if your insurance company allows it.
The Bottom Line
- Tell us before you add a passenger or a new rider to the bike.
- Tell us when you add custom parts, so the equipment limit keeps up.
- Carry liability limits above the minimum, and match your uninsured and underinsured motorist limits to them.
- Keep liability in force all year while the bike is registered.
- Tell us if you finish a rider safety course; some insurance companies give credit for it.
- Register and insure mopeds and scooters the same way.
Forms, endorsements and availability vary by insurance company. Your own policy governs.
Sizemore Insurance is an independent insurance company founded in North Carolina in 1977. Tell us what you need to protect, and a licensed advisor will compare more than 100 insurance companies to find the coverage that fits. Insurance made just for you.
Sources: G.S. 20-309, financial responsibility required for registration; G.S. 20-313, driving without financial responsibility; NC Department of Insurance, auto changes effective July 1, 2025; NCDMV, insurance requirements; G.S. 20-140.4, motorcycle and moped helmet law; G.S. 20-7, drivers licenses and motorcycle endorsements; G.S. 20-4.01, motor vehicle definitions; G.S. 20-53.4, moped registration.
Forms, exclusions, endorsements, and availability vary by insurance company. This page is general information, not a policy or legal advice. Review your own policy or talk to your advisor.