Owner, MVP Insurance
Pennsylvania motorcycle insurance starts with state-required liability limits of $15,000/$30,000 for bodily injury and $5,000 for property damage (https://law.justia.com/codes/pennsylvania/title-75/chapter-17/section-1711/). Smart riders usually go further. They add medical benefits, think hard about how their helmet decision affects injury exposure, insure their custom parts properly, and use lay-up coverage to trim winter costs.
That's the short answer. The longer one matters more, because most claims we see aren't about the legal minimum. They come from the gaps around it: a rider with $8,000 in chrome and a policy that pays $1,000 for "accessories," or a helmetless crash on a back road where the at-fault driver carried only state minimums. Rates have also settled down this year, with approved filings showing an average 0.5% decrease in premiums in 2026. That makes this a good season to fix weak spots without a big price jump.
The sections below follow the order a rider actually thinks through: what the state demands, what your body and bike need, how to save in the off months, and how to protect yourself on long rides across the northern tier.
Pennsylvania Motorcycle Insurance Coverage Requirements
Pennsylvania requires every registered motorcycle to carry liability coverage. This coverage pays for other people's injuries and property damage when you cause a crash. The minimum limits are generally $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $5,000 for property damage (https://law.justia.com/codes/pennsylvania/title-75/chapter-17/section-1711/). Liability does not pay for your own bike or your own injuries. It exists to protect everyone else on the road from you.
Here's the problem with stopping at the minimum. Clip a late-model pickup and you can burn through $5,000 in property damage on the bumper, sensors, and tailgate alone. Injure a passenger in that truck and $15,000 might cover an ambulance ride and one night in the hospital. Anything above your limits becomes your personal debt. That's why we usually suggest liability limits of at least $100,000/$300,000 for riders with a home, savings, or steady income.
MVP Insurance writes motorcycle policies through Dairyland, a carrier built around powersports and riders who want straightforward coverage. As an independent agency, we can also compare other options for collectors or touring riders. Our job is matching the policy to the bike and the person, not pushing a single company.
Medical Benefits and First Party Benefits
Car owners in Pennsylvania have to carry first party medical benefits. Motorcycle owners don't. Pennsylvania motorcycle policies do not require medical benefits (often called PIP) by law. That one fact catches a lot of riders off guard after their first crash.
Without medical benefits on your policy, your own health insurance becomes the first payer for your injuries. High deductibles, out-of-network ER bills, and coinsurance can stack up fast. Optional medical payments coverage fills that gap. It pays your bills regardless of fault, and it typically covers a passenger riding with you too. For riders with high-deductible health plans, or riders who often carry a passenger, this is one of the most useful add-ons on the menu.
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage belongs in the same conversation. Industry experts recommend UM/UIM in Pennsylvania specifically because so many drivers carry only the $15,000 state minimum. If one of them hits you and your injuries run $90,000, UIM is what pays the difference.
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MVP Insurance is a local, independent agency, licensed to serve individuals and businesses across Ohio and Pennsylvania.
We serve clients from our offices in New Springfield and Zelienople and throughout Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania, working with multiple carriers to help homeowners, drivers, renters and condo owners, landlords, contractors, restaurant owners, shop owners, auto repair shops, professional offices and many other personal and commercial clients find coverage that fits.
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David Varrati
Owner, MVP Insurance
Owner, MVP Insurance
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Umbrella
An umbrella policy adds liability protection above the limits on your home and auto policies. One serious accident can cost more than those limits, and the umbrella is what stands between the claim and your savings.
| Coverage | PA Minimum | Common Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Auto bodily injury | $15,000 / $30,000 | $250,000 / $500,000 |
| Auto property damage | $5,000 | $100,000 |
| Medical benefits (auto) | $5,000 | $10,000 or more |
| Home personal liability | None required | $300,000 to $500,000 |
| Umbrella | None required | $1 million or more |
Helmet Law Choices and Injury Exposure
Pennsylvania generally lets riders 21 and over ride without a helmet if they have two years of riding experience or have completed the Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Program. Riders under 21, and those who don't meet either condition, must wear one. Eye protection rules apply separately, so plan on goggles or a face shield either way.
Riding without a helmet is your call under the law. Insurance doesn't penalize that choice directly, and your premium won't change because you leave the lid at home. What does change is your personal injury exposure. A low-speed lowside that might mean a scuffed helmet and a sore shoulder can mean a traumatic brain injury without one. Head injury claims are among the most expensive we ever see. Bills run into six figures before rehab, lost wages, and long-term care even enter the picture.
That's why riders who choose to go helmetless should strongly consider higher medical benefit limits. A $5,000 medical payments limit barely touches a serious head injury. Stepping up to $25,000 or more, alongside strong UM/UIM limits, gives you real breathing room. Think of it this way: if you're accepting more risk on the road, your policy should carry more of the load off it.
The Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Program matters for another reason too. State residents can access free training that lets riders skip the DMV skills test and potentially lower insurance costs. Completing a course often earns a premium credit, and it counts toward the helmet exemption. That's a rare win on three fronts at once.
Safety numbers are improving. In 2025, Pennsylvania recorded 2,927 motorcycle crashes and 186 fatalities, decreases of 11.2% and 14.7% from the prior year. The state's own message is blunt, though: "the only acceptable number of deaths is zero."
Comparing PA Motorcycle Insurance Limits
The gap between "legal" and "protected" is easiest to see side by side. These are typical examples, not quotes. Your actual pricing depends on your bike, riding history, and location.
| Coverage | State Minimum | Common Mid-Level | Strong Protection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $15,000/$30,000 | $50,000/$100,000 | $100,000/$300,000 or higher |
| Property damage liability | $5,000 | $25,000 | $50,000 to $100,000 |
| Medical payments | Not required | $5,000 | $25,000+ |
| UM/UIM | Can be waived in writing | $50,000/$100,000 | Match your liability limits |
| Comprehensive/collision | Not required | Actual cash value | Agreed value for custom bikes |
| Custom parts | Not required | Basic allowance | Endorsement sized to your upgrades |
A common client mistake is signing the UM/UIM rejection form to save a few dollars. Riders are more likely than drivers to be seriously hurt by someone else's mistake. That makes waiving this coverage a bad trade for most people.
Written By
David Varrati
Owner, MVP Insurance
Owner, MVP Insurance
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Where you live
Your ZIP code sets the base for both home and auto: weather patterns, repair costs, traffic density and local claim history all feed into it. Distance to a fire station and hydrant matters for the home policy.
Where you live
| Coverage | Ohio Minimum | Suggested for Cross-Border Commuters |
|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury (per person) | $25,000 | $100,000 or more |
| Bodily injury (per accident) | $50,000 | $300,000 or more |
| Property damage | $25,000 | $100,000 |
| Uninsured/underinsured motorist | Optional | Match your liability limits |
| Medical payments | Optional | Worth adding for PA trips |
| Umbrella policy | Not required | Consider if you own a home |
Protecting Your Investment with Custom Parts Coverage
Standard motorcycle policies often provide limited coverage for aftermarket upgrades. If you've added custom exhaust, a new seat, saddlebags, a stereo, or chrome, you should add specific custom parts and equipment coverage. Without it, a total loss may pay for your bike as it left the factory and little else.
We see this play out after theft claims more than anything else. A rider buys a used cruiser for $11,000, then spends $6,500 over three seasons on pipes, a tuner, bags, and a lighting kit. The bike gets stolen from a driveway in August. The base policy pays actual cash value on the stock motorcycle plus a small accessory allowance, often somewhere around $1,000 to $3,000 depending on the carrier. The rest of that investment just disappears.
Fixing this is usually simple and affordable:
- List your upgrades now. Write down every part, its cost, and the install date while it's fresh.
- Keep receipts and photos. Store them in a cloud folder, not in the garage with the bike.
- Count your gear. Helmets, leathers, and heated jackets can be covered under some endorsements, so ask.
- Update after each project. A winter build can double the value of your add-ons by spring.
Carriers like Progressive, Foremost, and American Modern offer specialized endorsements for custom equipment, safety gear, and chrome. For heavily modified bikes or classics, an agreed value policy can lock in the payout ahead of time, so you aren't arguing over depreciation after a loss. An independent agent can compare how each carrier defines "custom," because those definitions differ more than most riders expect.
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David Varrati
Owner, MVP Insurance
Owner, MVP Insurance
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The Role of Umbrella and Life Insurance in a Comprehensive Plan
Life Insurance
Life coverage keeps a mortgage paid, funds college plans and gives a surviving spouse time to adjust. Term policies cover a set period at a lower cost, while permanent policies build cash value. The most frequent mistake we see is relying only on a group policy through work, which usually ends when the job does.
Saving with Lay-Up Season Policies
A lay-up policy lets you keep comprehensive coverage against theft, fire, vandalism, and storm damage during the winter months. At the same time, it lowers your premium by suspending liability and collision coverage while the bike is parked. You pay for protection that matches how the motorcycle is actually being used.
This is one of the most common ways our clients manage costs. Bikes stored in Zelienople or New Springfield from late November through March aren't putting other drivers at risk. They can still burn in a garage fire, get crushed by a collapsed roof under heavy snow, or vanish from a storage unit. Dropping coverage entirely to save money is a mistake we see every winter, and theft from storage unfortunately doesn't take the season off.
A few points to keep straight before you lay up:
- Don't ride while liability is suspended, not even "just around the block" on a warm February afternoon. That's an uninsured ride.
- Check how your registration fits your plans. Cancelling liability on a registered vehicle can create problems with PennDOT, which is why a lay-up endorsement through your carrier generally works better than cancelling.
- Set a reinstatement date on your calendar. The first 60-degree day in March sneaks up on everyone.
- Store the bike securely. A locked garage, cover, and disk lock can make a comprehensive claim less likely.
Some carriers build seasonal pricing in automatically rather than requiring a formal lay-up request. We'll explain which approach your policy uses, so you don't pay for riding months you never ride.
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David Varrati
Owner, MVP Insurance
Owner, MVP Insurance
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Once you approve, we bind the policies, send your ID cards and set a reminder for next year's review.
Replacement Cost Rebuilds vs Actual Cash Value
Riding Routes Like Route 6 Across the Northern Tier
Route 6 is a premier destination for Pennsylvania riders. It stretches roughly 400 miles across the northern tier of the state, from the Ohio line near Erie County to the Delaware River at Milford. It's two-lane country riding at its finest, with small towns, river valleys, and long sweepers through state forests.
Most riders pick off sections over a few weekends or plan a multi-day tour. Popular stretches include:
- Warren to Kane, cutting through the edge of the Allegheny National Forest
- The Kinzua Bridge area, a short detour north of the route with a skywalk worth the stop
- Wellsboro and the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, where Pine Creek Gorge draws crowds every October
- Towanda to Honesdale, with rolling farmland and some of the route's tightest curves
Long tours like this are where coverage gaps hurt the most. Before you head into the Allegheny National Forest, confirm your policy is active and that any lay-up period has ended. Cell service is spotty up there, so save your insurer's claims number and your agent's number in your phone ahead of time. Roadside assistance and trip interruption coverage earn their keep here too. A breakdown 40 miles from the nearest dealer can mean a tow, a motel night, and a rental car home.
Keep the phone in your pocket while rolling. Paul Miller's Law, which bans handheld devices while driving, became fully enforceable on June 5, 2026. Violators face a $50 fine plus court costs, and State Police issued nearly 700 citations in the first three days of full enforcement. Mount your GPS before you leave the driveway.
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David Varrati
Owner, MVP Insurance
Owner, MVP Insurance
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The Role of Umbrella and Life Insurance in a Comprehensive Plan
Life Insurance
Life coverage keeps a mortgage paid, funds college plans and gives a surviving spouse time to adjust. Term policies cover a set period at a lower cost, while permanent policies build cash value. The most frequent mistake we see is relying only on a group policy through work, which usually ends when the job does.
Managing Risk with Umbrella Insurance Pennsylvania
An umbrella policy adds an extra layer of liability protection on top of your motorcycle policy. Once your motorcycle liability limits are used up, the umbrella pays the rest, usually in $1 million increments. It also sits above your auto and homeowners liability, so one policy backs up several.
Here's why riders in particular should think about one. Picture a crash on a group ride where you misjudge a curve and strike a car carrying three people. Injuries, lost wages, and a lawsuit could easily pass $300,000. Your motorcycle policy pays to its limit, and then the plaintiff's attorney looks at your house, your savings, and your future paychecks. An umbrella keeps that from becoming your problem.
Most umbrella carriers require minimum underlying limits first, often $250,000/$500,000 on vehicles. That's one more reason not to run bare-minimum liability on your bike. Josh Medure and David Varrati, who founded MVP Insurance in 2008, recommend that riders review their bike, car, and home coverage together. Gaps tend to show up where those policies meet. You can learn more on our umbrella insurance Pennsylvania page,or see how everything fits together on our personal insurance in Pennsylvania overview.
For the price of a decent riding jacket each year, many households can add $1 million in protection. Few coverage decisions offer that much value per dollar.
Written By
David Varrati
Owner, MVP Insurance
Owner, MVP Insurance
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04
Review, bind, and relax
Once you approve, we bind the policies, send your ID cards and set a reminder for next year's review.
Frequently Asked Questions About PA Rider Coverage
What is the minimum motorcycle insurance required in PA? Pennsylvania generally requires $15,000/$30,000 in bodily injury liability and $5,000 in property damage liability (https://law.justia.com/codes/pennsylvania/title-75/chapter-17/section-1711/). That pays others when you're at fault, not your own bike or injuries.
Do I need medical coverage on my motorcycle policy in Pennsylvania? It's not required by law for motorcycles. Optional medical payments coverage is still strongly recommended, because without it your health insurance and deductible take the hit.
Can I ride without a helmet in Pennsylvania? Riders 21 and older generally can if they have two years of riding experience or have completed the Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Program. Higher medical limits are smart if you choose to ride without one.
Does a motorcycle safety course lower my insurance? Often, yes. Many carriers give credit for completing an approved course, and the state program is free for Pennsylvania residents.
Can I pause my motorcycle insurance in the winter? Rather than cancelling, ask about a lay-up policy. It keeps theft and fire coverage while suspending liability and collision so you pay less while the bike is stored.
Are my aftermarket parts covered? Only up to a small allowance on most standard policies. Add a custom parts and equipment endorsement that matches what you've actually spent.
Written By
David Varrati
Owner, MVP Insurance
Owner, MVP Insurance
On this page
The Role of Umbrella and Life Insurance in a Comprehensive Plan
Life Insurance
Life coverage keeps a mortgage paid, funds college plans and gives a surviving spouse time to adjust. Term policies cover a set period at a lower cost, while permanent policies build cash value. The most frequent mistake we see is relying only on a group policy through work, which usually ends when the job does.
Get a Quote from MVP Insurance Agency
Good motorcycle coverage in Pennsylvania comes down to a few honest questions. Do your liability limits protect what you own? Are your injuries covered if a minimum-limit driver hits you? Is that new exhaust insured, and are you paying for collision while the bike sits under a cover until April? Get those answers right and the legal minimum becomes just your starting point.
If you'd like a second set of eyes on your current Dairyland or Hagerty policy, call our Zelienople office at (724) 453-1122 or our New Springfield office at (330) 707-9055. We'll walk through your limits, your custom parts, and your lay-up options in plain language. Because we're independent, we shop the comparison for you instead of handing you a single take-it-or-leave-it price.
Ready before your next ride? Start your quoteonline and we'll follow up with options that fit how you actually ride. MVP Insurance is licensed in Ohio (#37714) and Pennsylvania (#519263), NPN 10588293.
The road up Route 6 is better when the only thing on your mind is the next curve.
MVP Insurance is a local, independent agency, licensed to serve individuals and businesses across Ohio and Pennsylvania.
We serve clients from our offices in New Springfield, Ohio and Zelienople, Pennsylvania and throughout Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania, working with multiple carriers to help contractors, landlords and real estate investors, restaurants, retail shops, auto repair shops, professional offices and many other personal and commercial clients find coverage that fits.
Our Owners
Two friends who started an agency
Owner
Joshua Medure
I am a Penn State marketing graduate with more than ten years in insurance. My childhood friend David and I started MVP Insurance in Northeast Ohio because we wanted the people around us to have an agency that gives honest advice, real choices and someone who picks up the phone. I lead the agency’s insurance strategy, which means I read the policies so our clients do not have to. Away from the office, I coach youth football.
About the Author
David Varrati
Owner, MVP Insurance
I started MVP Insurance with my childhood friend Josh because we wanted people in Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania to have an agency that explains things plainly and picks up the phone. I studied Political Science at Slippery Rock University and have spent more than ten years helping families and individuals protect what matters to them. When I am not in the office, you will find me coaching youth sports.
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What does an independent insurance agency do?
An independent agency works with multiple insurance companies. We compare your options, explain the differences, and help you choose coverage that fits your needs.
Can MVP Insurance quote both my home and auto?
Yes. We can compare home and auto insurance options together. We explain available discounts and check how the policies work together.
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Use our Canopy policy import link to share your current policy information. Our team can then review your existing coverage and compare options with you.
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