Motorcycle Insurance for California
California motorcycle insurance for riders who actually split lanes.
California motorcycle insurance for riders who actually split lanes.
Carving Big Sur twisties or cruising Pacific Coast Highway, coverage that understands how Californians ride.
California at a Glance
Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
Minimum liability | 30/60/15 ($30k/$60k bodily injury, $15k property). Raised from 15/30/5 effective January 1, 2025. |
Helmet law | Required for every rider and passenger, every time. No age exemptions. Must be DOT-compliant. |
Lane splitting | Legal under California Vehicle Code § 21658.1 — one of the only states where it's explicitly legal. |
Registration | Proof of insurance verified electronically with the DMV. No periodic safety inspection; smog checks apply only to 1976+ bikes in 33 specific counties. |
Requirements and regulations may change. Verify with the California Department of Insurance for the most current information.
What you need to know about Motorcycle Insurance in California
Whether you're splitting lanes through gridlock or logging weekend miles up Highway 1, here's what actually shapes your policy.
California Minimum: 30/60/15
Liability coverage required: $30k/$60k bodily injury, $15k property damage. We'll help you figure out if you need more. Requirements vary by state — check your state's Department of Insurance for current minimums.
Custom Builds Welcome
Roamly works with carriers who may insure your garage-built cafe racer for what it's actually worth — not some database number. Agreed Value coverage options available through our carrier partners.
Rent Your Bike, Keep Coverage
List on Twisted Road or Riders Share without losing your policy. Most insurers won't do this. Roamly works with carriers who may be able to help.
SR-22? We Handle It
Need to get back on the road after a rough patch? Roamly works with carriers that file SR-22s and make the process simple. California requires the filing to stay active for at least three years from your reinstatement date. Coverage terms, conditions, and availability vary by state and policy. See policy for details.
Protection Beyond Basics - For Californians
Type | Details |
|---|---|
Mechanical Breakdown Coverage | Engines fail at the worst times. Through Roamly's carrier partners, coverage may be available to help with sudden mechanical breakdowns beyond warranty. |
Riding Gear Coverage | Helmets, jackets, boots, and gloves — your gear keeps you alive. Roamly works with carriers who may offer coverage options to help protect your riding equipment. |
Agreed Value for Custom Builds | Your garage-built bike is worth more than a database number. Roamly works with carriers who offer Agreed Value coverage that may insure your build for what it's actually worth. |
Peer-to-Peer Rental Coverage. Seriously.
You want to list your bike on Twisted Road while you're traveling. Smart move. Most insurers cancel your policy the second someone else touches your throttle. Read the fine print—there's usually a peer-to-peer exclusion buried in there.
Roamly works with carriers who may cover your bike even when it's rented through legitimate platforms. Your bike, your side hustle, your coverage — still intact.
California Requirements Without the Legal Speak.
Here's what the state actually requires: 30/60/15 liability coverage. That's $30k per person, $60k per accident for injuries, and $15k for property damage. Every rider and passenger needs a DOT-compliant helmet — no age exemptions, no opt-out.
That's it. The rest is about protecting yourself and your build. We'll help you figure out what makes sense for how you ride.
Requirements vary by state — check your state's Department of Insurance for current minimums.
Your Sweat Equity Has Real Value.
You didn't spend 200 hours building a custom bike to have it valued at stock KBB. Roamly works with carriers who offer Agreed Value coverage options — we'll help document your build so it can be insured for what it's actually worth. Your labor. Your parts. Your vision. Not some adjuster's guess.
LEGAL DISCLAIMERS
Roamly is a licensed insurance agency. Insurance policies referenced are offered through Roamly and underwritten by third-party carriers including Progressive, National General, Foremost, Safeco, Nationwide, Dairyland, Mercury, and Plymouth Rock, among others. Not all products or coverages are available in every state. Coverage terms, conditions, limits, deductibles, exclusions, and availability vary by state, carrier, and policy. This page is provided for general information and is not a contract of insurance. See the actual policy for a full description of coverages, terms, and conditions. California law references current as of 2026 — confirm current requirements with the California Department of Insurance and the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
Why Roamly?
Tailored coverage
We know a cruiser isn't a sport bike. Roamly helps you find the coverage that fits with how you ride, from dirt trails to open roads.
Custom parts protection
Most insurers offer minimal coverage for custom parts. Our partners provide up to $20,000 in coverage for your aftermarket mods and custom work.
Track day coverage
Most insurers don’t cover organized track events, riding schools, and time trials. Push your limits. We’ll make sure you’re covered.
30/60/15 liability coverage: $30,000 per person / $60,000 per accident for bodily injury, $15,000 for property damage. That's the legal minimum to ride on public roads. These limits took effect January 1, 2025 — before that, California's minimum was 15/30/5, among the lowest in the country. Requirements may change — verify with the California Department of Insurance for current minimums.
Yes, every rider, every passenger, every time. No age exemptions, and no opt-out for a safety course or extra health coverage like some states allow. The helmet must be DOT-compliant, properly fitted, and secured with a chin strap.
Liability-only averages around $170/year — California actually runs above the national average for minimum coverage. Full coverage (adding collision and comprehensive) averages roughly $600–650/year. Your actual rate depends on your age, bike, location, and record. Takes a few minutes to find out.
Yes. That's one of the main reasons California riders choose us. Most insurers exclude rental platforms — check your fine print. We built coverage for how riders actually use their bikes.
Roamly offers Agreed Value coverage options — we may document your mods and insure your bike for what it's actually worth, not some depreciated database guess. Coverage terms, conditions, and availability vary by state and policy. See policy for details.
Liability is the legal minimum — covers others if you cause an accident. Full coverage (collision + comprehensive) protects your bike, too. If you're financing, your lender almost certainly requires full coverage. The right choice depends on your situation and your bike's value.
We handle it. SR-22 is a certificate proving you carry minimum coverage — typically required after a DUI/DWI conviction, reckless driving, or riding uninsured. California requires the filing to stay active for at least three years from your reinstatement date (longer for repeat DUI offenses). We file it, keep it active, and make the process simple.
No. California banned the use of credit-based insurance scores under Proposition 103 in 1988. Your rate is based on factors like your riding record, age, and bike type — not your credit.
Yes. California is one of the only states where lane splitting is explicitly legal (California Vehicle Code § 21658.1), and coverage applies as long as you're riding within CHP safety guidance. Weaving through traffic at excessive speed is a different story — that can be treated as reckless driving, and insurers respond to that accordingly.
Still have questions?
Call us at 877.725.1245
California Motorcycle Insurance Quotes in Minutes
California motorcycle insurance for riders who actually split lanes.
* Roamly is an insurance agency, not a carrier. Coverage, limits, and availability vary by carrier and by state, and are subject to underwriting approval.
Roamly Insurance Group, LLC ("Roamly") is a licensed general agent for affiliated and non-affiliated insurance companies. Roamly is licensed as an agency in all states in which products are offered. Roamly license numbers. Availability and qualification for coverage, terms, rates, and discounts may vary by jurisdiction. We do not in any way imply that the materials on the site or products are available in jurisdictions in which we are not licensed to do business or that we are soliciting business in any such jurisdiction. Coverage under your insurance policy is subject to the terms and conditions of that policy and is ultimately the decision of the buyer.
Policies provided by Roamly are underwritten by Spinnaker Insurance Company, Progressive Insurance Company, Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, Foremost Insurance Company, National General Insurance, and others.
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