North Carolina motorcycle insurance
When you're on the road in North Carolina, you'll drive alongside mountains, shorelines, and farmlands. From North Carolina Highway 80 (NC80) to the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP), there are some excellent roads that the motorcycle community has adopted for riding adventures.
Despite the ideal biking territory, the state has some of the fewest options for motorcycle insurance coverage on the East Coast. So, before you ride, make sure you're adequately covered. Receive a free Dairyland® quote for North Carolina motorcycle insurance to discover your options.
What’s required of all motorcycle riders in North Carolina?
According to the North Carolina Department of Insurance, if you're going to ride in North Carolina, you’ll need a full provisional or regular driver's license as well as a motorcycle learner's permit or a motorcycle endorsement. Note: These rules don't apply to mopeds.
To acquire an endorsement, you must complete a knowledge test including motorcycling questions and an off-street motorcycle skills test.
Once you’re licensed, make sure your motorcycle meets these North Carolina requirements:
A license plate visible from 50 feet away at night
A horn audible from 200 feet away
A rear-view mirror
An exhaust system
A headlight allowing you to see 200 feet in front of you; this headlight must be on at all times
A speedometer
A red rear light visible from 500 feet away; this light must also be lit at all times while riding
A rear brake light visible from at least 100 feet away
A foot peg or rest for passengers
Whether you're the operator or a passenger on a motorcycle or moped, you’re required by law to wear a helmet that complies with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218.
Prep your bike for a North Carolina ride
Make sure your motorcycle is in ride-ready condition.
What are the motorcycle insurance requirements in North Carolina?
All bikers are required to have motorcycle insurance in North Carolina. While most states require liability insurance coverage, North Carolina requires uninsured motorist coverage as well.
You’re required to have the minimum insurance coverages:
$30,000 per person for bodily injury liability
$60,000 per incident for bodily injury liability
$25,000 per incident for property damage liability
$30,000 per person for uninsured motorist bodily injury
$60,000 per accident for uninsured motorist bodily injury
$25,000 per accident for uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage
Confused by motorcycle insurance?
Check out these coverage recommendations.
Does North Carolina have any optional motorcycle insurance coverage?
In addition to standard liability coverage, you can choose from an array of specialized options:
Medical payments
Other than collision (known as Comprehensive in other states)
Collision
Diminishing deductible
Roadside assistance
Physical Damage Plus
Trip interruption
Extended transportation expenses
Replacement cost
How to get a motorcycle insurance quote
Insurance quotes are quick and free. You’ll just need to:
Have your bike’s year, make, model, and vehicle identification number (VIN) on hand.
Answer some additional questions about your bike (e.g. customizations, where it’s kept, whether you’ve taken a rider safety course, etc.).
Select the coverages you want.
North Carolina motorcycle insurance discounts
We offer a wide selection of money-saving motorcycle insurance discounts to North Carolina riders who desire customizable insurance coverage. These options help make quality motorbike-insurance policies affordable, while providing the exceptional service and support you deserve.
We offer a range of discounts for your motorcycle insurance rates, including:
Advance quote
Anti-theft
Claim-free renewal
Experience
Harley Owners Group (H.O.G.) member
Homeownership
Loyalty
Motorcycle endorsement
Multi-vehicle
Operator safety course
Ownership
Paid-in-full
Prompt payer
Rider group
Transfer
Here’s what you need to know to plan your ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway, what to expect when you get there, and all about the iconic roadway’s history.
Known as the “Devil’s Whip,” North Carolina Highway 80 (NC80) is one of a growing number of excellent motorcycle roads that have gained a moniker and national awareness in the motorcycle community.
Country roads. Scenic views. That’s what we’re looking for in our rides today. And they can be found by following the blue highways on our maps. For the uninitiated, that means avoiding the interstate.
Sites to see in North Carolina
South of the Border
Less than three miles south of the North Carolina border in Dillon, South Carolina, is South of the Border—one of America's most beloved tourist destinations.
The 350-acre attraction has a mini-golf course, truck stop, 300-room motel, many shops to buy souvenirs, a campground, amusement rides, and a 200-foot high observation tower in the shape of a giant sombrero.
South of the Border also has the Reptile Lagoon—America's largest indoor-reptile exhibit.
Elsewhere
Elsewhere is a former thrift store in Greensboro, North Carolina, that has been turned into a museum and artists’ residency where creatives use the items that were previously for sale to make art.
Past highlights include dioramas made of ‘80s toys, a bin full of action figures throughout the ages, and mixed-medium collages made of everything from clothing to vinyl records.
Elsewhere is truly a one-of-a-kind destination that will delight all attendees with great heights of creativity. Then you can walk down the street to Cheesecakes by Alex and get your taste buds rocked by a beloved local baker.
Blue Ridge Parkway
Designed by landscape architect Stanley Abbott, the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway connects North Carolina's Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Virginia's Shenandoah National Park.
The parkway is most crowded in October when tourists flock to take in the sea of changing foliage. The summer is also a popular time to visit because of the blazing azaleas and rhododendrons.
Along the way, there are both seasonal and year-round museums, including The Folk Art Center, which has artwork created by local artisans, and the Museum of North Carolina Minerals, which examines the Tar Heel State's historical connection to minerals and mining.
Enjoy a regional road trip
Check out the 7 best motorcycle rides in the South.
Get a North Carolina motorcycle insurance quote
With over a quarter of a million registered riders in the state, it’s no secret that North Carolina drivers love motorcycles. The natural beauty of North Carolina makes it a great place to ride. Just be sure you're covered with a motorcycle insurance policy before you hit the road.
