Is motorcycle insurance required in California?

Yes. Every registered motorcycle must carry at least 30/60/15 liability coverage, or prove financial responsibility another way, before riding on public roads. For most riders, a policy is the most practical option.

What does 30/60/15 mean?

These are your liability limits, showing the most your insurer will pay for an accident you cause: $30,000 in bodily injury per person, $60,000 in total bodily injury per accident and $15,000 in property damage. The per-person limit caps what's paid toward any one person's injuries, while the per-accident limit caps the total across everyone hurt. These limits only cover the other party, not you or your bike, so if the damage exceeds these, you'll need to pay the difference yourself.

Does my California liability policy cover my own injuries?

No. California is an at-fault state, and liability coverage only pays for the other person's injuries and property when you cause a crash. To cover your own medical bills, you need MedPay or your health insurance.

What is no pay, no play in California?

Under Proposition 213, if you are riding uninsured when a crash happens, you cannot recover pain and suffering damages from the at-fault driver, even if the crash was their fault. You can still recover economic costs like property damage, medical bills and lost wages.

What happens if I cause a crash without insurance in California?

You can face fines, a possible impound, and suspension of your vehicle registration or driving privilege. You may also need to file an SR-22 certificate to get reinstated. The injured person can pursue your personal assets through a lawsuit, and you lose the right to collect pain and suffering.

Is motorcycle insurance expensive in California?

Rates can run higher in dense areas like Los Angeles, the Bay Area and San Diego because of traffic and theft. Even so, motorcycle insurance is typically more affordable than car insurance, and comparing quotes is a good way to ensure you don't overpay for your coverage.

California Motorcycle Insurance Requirements: What Riders Need to Know

Key takeaways

California requires every registered motorcycle to have liability insurance, with minimum limits of 30/60/15, the same coverage as for cars.

California’s state minimums are enough coverage to let you ride legally, but consider carrying higher liability limits of 100/300/100 plus comprehensive and collision, so costs after a crash or theft are less likely to come from your own pocket.

California is an at-fault state with a no pay, no play law, which means riding uninsured can stop you from collecting pain and suffering damages even in a crash someone else caused.

California treats your motorcycle the same way it treats a car. Before you can register and ride on public roads, you need at least the state minimum liability insurance in place. California is also an at-fault state, which means the rider who causes a crash is the one whose insurance pays for the damage.

Jerry customers typically pay between $17 and $69 per month for state minimum coverage in California. Full coverage, which adds protection against theft and damage to your own bike, costs about $85 to $284 per month.

Jerry has helped 1,801 California riders find motorcycle insurance. Here’s what the state requires, the helmet rule every rider has to follow and why riding uninsured in California can cost far more than a policy ever would.

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What California requires for motorcyclists

California law requires every motorcycle owner to carry liability insurance, or to prove financial responsibility another way, before riding on public roads. The minimum motorcycle liability limits are 30/60/15, according to the California DMV. That means at least:

$30,000 bodily injury per person. This covers one person’s injuries you cause in a crash.
$60,000 bodily injury per accident. This is the total available for everyone hurt in a single crash you cause.
$15,000 property damage per accident. This covers damage you cause to someone else’s vehicle or property.

Jerry recommends: Treat California’s state minimums as a starting point. A single hospital stay can easily surpass $30,000, and once your limits run out, the rest comes from your pocket. If your budget allows, consider higher liability limits of 100/300/100.

Alternatives to getting a motorcycle insurance policy

Like a handful of other states, California lets you prove financial responsibility without a standard insurance policy. You don’t need to buy motorcycle insurance if you do any of the following.

Cash deposit. You can deposit $75,000 with the California DMV to cover potential liability.
Surety bond. You can file a $75,000 bond through a company licensed to do business in California.
Self-insurance certificate. The DMV issues this to owners of a large number of vehicles who can prove they can cover their own liability.

Key takeaway: The deposit and bond options may sound like loopholes, but locking up $75,000 to skip a policy isn’t the best financial decision for most riders, since a motorcycle insurance policy typically costs much less.

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California helmet rule

California has a universal helmet law. Every motorcycle rider and passenger must wear a DOT-compliant helmet at all times, regardless of age or experience.

But all riders should wear a helmet regardless of regulation. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that helmets sharply reduce the risk of fatal and serious head injuries, and the medical bills from a crash without one can run high.

Jerry recommends: Always wear a DOT-compliant helmet, not just to follow the law but to protect your life. Riding without one in California also risks a fine and can reduce the compensation you get if you are hurt in a crash.

What happens if you ride uninsured

Riding without proof of insurance in California is illegal and comes with consequences.

Fines and a possible impound. A first offense can bring fines that climb past $450 with fees, and your bike can be impounded.
No pay, no play. Under Proposition 213, if you crash while uninsured you cannot recover pain and suffering damages, even when the other driver was at-fault.
Registration and license trouble. The DMV can suspend your vehicle registration and your driving privileges after a crash with no coverage.
You are personally liable. If you cause a crash, the injured person can sue for your savings, wages and assets.

Key takeaway: Skipping coverage in California is illegal. Without it, you’re responsible for all injuries or damage you cause, you lose the right to collect pain and suffering, and you face fines plus a possible registration suspension.

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Insurance coverages California riders should consider

California’s state minimums satisfy the law, but are generally too low to fully protect you. Here is what Jerry recommends California riders to consider when buying a motorcycle policy.

Liability limits of 100/300/100. That means $100,000 in bodily injury per person, $300,000 per accident and $100,000 in property damage, well above the 30/60/15 minimum.
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. Roughly one in five California drivers is uninsured, according to the Insurance Research Council, which is among the highest rates in the country. California insurers must offer UM/UIM coverage, and you have to reject it in writing to decline it. We recommend keeping it and matching your UM/UIM limits to your liability limit.
Comprehensive and collision. Add comprehensive and collision if you could not easily replace your bike out of pocket. California is one of the top states for motorcycle theft, and comprehensive covers theft, weather and vandalism, while collision covers crash damage to your own motorcycle.
Medical payments coverage. California liability does not pay for your own injuries, so MedPay helps cover your medical bills after a crash, no matter who is at fault.

Jerry recommends: Carry 100/300/100 in liability and keep uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage at the same limits to protect yourself from California’s many uninsured drivers. If you could not afford to replace your bike, add comprehensive and collision too.

How Jerry helps California riders get covered

Jerry is the only company that lets you compare motorcycle insurance quotes and buy your policy right in the app. With Jerry, you can:

Compare insurers in one place. See prices and coverage from top carriers in one place. Instead of spending hours gathering quotes, Jerry pulls them together in minutes.
Buy entirely online. Get covered without the unwanted phone calls or spam. Jerry never sells your data, and we’re backed by bank-level security.
Get help when you need it. Not sure how much uninsured motorist coverage to carry, or whether MedPay fits your situation? Jerry’s licensed agents are a chat or call away, 7 days a week.
Stay protected over time. Jerry monitors your rate, tells you when it is time to reshop, and reminds you about renewals. We’re your insurance assistant, not just a one-time tool.

Why it matters: Carriers price California’s risks very differently, from dense urban traffic to high theft rates, so comparing quotes matters more here than in most states. Jerry does that comparison for you directly in the app.

Get covered and ride confident with Jerry.

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FAQ

Is motorcycle insurance required in California?

Yes. Every registered motorcycle must carry at least 30/60/15 liability coverage, or prove financial responsibility another way, before riding on public roads. For most riders, a policy is the most practical option.
What does 30/60/15 mean?

These are your liability limits, showing the most your insurer will pay for an accident you cause: $30,000 in bodily injury per person, $60,000 in total bodily injury per accident and $15,000 in property damage. The per-person limit caps what’s paid toward any one person’s injuries, while the per-accident limit caps the total across everyone hurt. These limits only cover the other party, not you or your bike, so if the damage exceeds these, you’ll need to pay the difference yourself.
Do I have to wear a helmet in California?

Yes. California has a universal helmet law, so every rider and passenger must wear a DOT-compliant helmet at all times, no matter their age or experience.
Does my California liability policy cover my own injuries?

No. California is an at-fault state, and liability coverage only pays for the other person’s injuries and property when you cause a crash. To cover your own medical bills, you need MedPay or your health insurance.
What is no pay, no play in California?

Under Proposition 213, if you are riding uninsured when a crash happens, you cannot recover pain and suffering damages from the at-fault driver, even if the crash was their fault. You can still recover economic costs like property damage, medical bills and lost wages.
What happens if I cause a crash without insurance in California?

You can face fines, a possible impound, and suspension of your vehicle registration or driving privilege. You may also need to file an SR-22 certificate to get reinstated. The injured person can pursue your personal assets through a lawsuit, and you lose the right to collect pain and suffering.
Is motorcycle insurance expensive in California?

Rates can run higher in dense areas like Los Angeles, the Bay Area and San Diego because of traffic and theft. Even so, motorcycle insurance is typically more affordable than car insurance, and comparing quotes is a good way to ensure you don’t overpay for your coverage.

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Ben Moore

Ben Moore is a writer and editor at Jerry and an auto insurance expert. He previously worked as a writer, editor and content strategist on NerdWallet’s auto insurance team for five years. His work has been published in The Associated Press, Washington Post, Chicago Sun-Times, MarketWatch, Nasdaq and Yahoo News. He also served as a NerdWallet spokesperson, with appearances on local broadcast television and quotes in Martha Stewart and Real Simple magazine.

Ben has an extensive background in digital marketing, working on affiliate and programmatic advertising campaigns for brands like Cabela’s, H&R Block and Sears. He holds a bachelors degree in marketing from Olivet Nazarene University.