By Jon Merwin, Founder and CEO, Licensed Insurance Advisor
Riding season in northern New England is short, and riders here use every week of it. On a June weekend you can be on Route 1A along the Rye shore in the morning and in the White Mountains by afternoon; Connecticut riders have the Litchfield Hills, the Quiet Corner and the shoreline back roads. A motorcycle policy should be built around how much you ride, who rides with you and where the bike spends the winter.
Our family runs this independent agency out of Islington Street in Portsmouth, NH, and has since 2005. We compare motorcycle coverage from 40+ carriers for street bikes, cruisers, touring bikes, sport bikes, trikes and classic motorcycles. We serve Connecticut from our Fairfield, CT office and by phone, email and online. Questions go to (603) 431-4020.
Key takeaways
- New Hampshire does not require most riders to buy liability coverage up front, but financial responsibility rules under RSA 264:20 still apply.
- Connecticut requires liability and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage on every registered motorcycle.
- Both states require helmets for riders and passengers under 18; Connecticut also requires them for anyone riding on a learner’s permit.
- Passenger injuries, custom parts and riding gear are where motorcycle policies differ most.
- A winter lay-up option can keep theft and fire coverage on a stored bike without paying for road coverage.
- Classic and vintage motorcycles may qualify for agreed value coverage.
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New Hampshire rules riders should know
Insurance. New Hampshire is one of very few states without compulsory liability insurance for most vehicle owners. Instead, the state can require proof of financial responsibility after an accident or certain violations, and RSA 264:20 sets how much that proof must cover (RSA 264:20). A rider without insurance who causes a crash can face license and registration consequences and still owes the damages personally. In practice, nearly every rider we work with chooses a policy, and lenders require one on a financed bike.
Helmets and eye protection. RSA 265:122 requires approved headgear for anyone under 18 operating or riding on a motorcycle (RSA 265:122). Adults may ride without one. Separately, RSA 265:123 requires eyeglasses, goggles or a face shield unless the motorcycle has a windshield or screen that protects the rider’s eyes (RSA 265:123).
Endorsements and rider courses. New Hampshire riders need a motorcycle endorsement on their license. Riders under 18 have to complete the Basic RiderCourse through the state’s Motorcycle Rider Training Program, and many adults take it too. Tell us if you have completed a course; some carriers take it into account, and it is useful information for any rider.
Connecticut rules riders should know
Insurance. Connecticut is a compulsory-insurance state. A motorcycle needs liability and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage to be registered and ridden legally. See our guide to Connecticut car insurance requirements for what those coverages do.
Helmets. Under Conn. Gen. Stat. §14-289g, operators and passengers under 18 must wear approved headgear (Conn. Gen. Stat. §14-289g). Anyone riding on a motorcycle learner’s permit must wear one regardless of age (CT DMV motorcycle learner’s permit).
Training. To get the motorcycle endorsement, new Connecticut riders complete an approved novice course through CONREP, the state’s rider education program; passing it takes the place of the DMV’s on-cycle test (CTDOT: CONREP).
What a motorcycle policy covers, and where policies differ
| Coverage | What it does | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Liability | Pays for injuries and damage you cause to others | Limits that match your car and umbrella; whether passengers are included |
| Guest passenger liability | Covers injury to the person riding with you | Whether it is automatic or added, and its limit |
| Uninsured/underinsured motorist | Pays when the at-fault driver has little or no insurance | Limits; required in Connecticut |
| Medical payments | Helps pay injury bills after a crash, regardless of fault | Amount available varies by carrier |
| Collision and comprehensive | Repairs or replaces the bike after a crash, theft, fire or storm | Deductibles; how a total loss is valued |
| Custom parts and equipment | Covers aftermarket parts and accessories | The included amount and how to increase it |
| Gear, roadside and trip interruption | Helmets and apparel; towing; lodging if you break down far from home | Availability differs by carrier |
Valuation matters more than many riders expect. Standard policies pay actual cash value after a total loss. Some carriers offer replacement with a new bike for late-model motorcycles within a set number of years, and some write classic bikes at agreed value. We show which options are available for your bike.
Two-up riding, rallies and long trips
Summer in New Hampshire means rally season. Laconia Motorcycle Week in June and race weekends at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon bring heavy traffic and lots of riders from other states. If you ride in groups or carry a passenger, review three things before the season starts:
- Passenger coverage. Confirm your passenger is covered and at what limit.
- Uninsured motorist limits. In a crash with a car, a rider’s injuries are often far larger than the other driver’s limits. UM/UIM is what fills that gap.
- Out-of-state rules. Your policy follows you through New England, but helmet laws do not. Massachusetts, for example, requires helmets for all riders, so check the law where you are headed.
Track days and timed events are usually excluded from street motorcycle policies. If you use the bike for paid delivery or other business, tell us; personal policies may not cover business use, and some of that work needs a commercial policy.
Winter storage in a northern state
Most New Hampshire and Connecticut bikes are put away from late fall until spring. A stored motorcycle can still be stolen, damaged in a garage fire or crushed by a collapsing roof. Many carriers let you switch to a storage or lay-up option for those months, keeping comprehensive while dropping liability and collision. Some policies are written for the riding season from the start. Either way, keep comprehensive on a bike that has value, and do not let the policy lapse entirely. If the bike is stored at a second home or a friend’s barn, let us know where it is.
Classic, vintage and custom motorcycles
A restored older bike or a custom build is a different risk from a daily rider. Some carriers write collectible motorcycles at an agreed value, with use limits much like a collector car policy, which avoids a dispute about value after a total loss. Document the build with photos, receipts and an appraisal where it makes sense. If you also own collector cars, our collector car insurance page and our New Hampshire collector car page explain how those policies handle storage and limited use.
Putting the bike together with the rest of your coverage
Many riders keep the motorcycle with their car insurance and home policy, so one person sees the whole picture at renewal, and some carriers offer multi-policy options. A personal umbrella policy can sit above the bike’s liability, but umbrella carriers usually want the motorcycle disclosed and insured at minimum underlying limits. If you also ride off-road, see ATV and UTV insurance in New Hampshire or our powersports insurance page. New Hampshire riders who also drive a valuable car can read high-value auto insurance in New Hampshire.
Local pages: Portsmouth, NH, car insurance in Portsmouth, the New Hampshire auto insurance guide and, for Connecticut riders, our Connecticut insurance agency page. To learn more about who runs the agency, see Jon Merwin.
Request a motorcycle insurance quote
Tell us about each bike, how and where you ride and where it spends the winter, or send your current declarations page. We compare 40+ carriers, explain the differences in plain language, and we don’t charge additional fees. If the bike is wrecked or stolen, we walk you through reporting it and keep checking in with the adjuster until the claim is closed. Request a quote. There’s no obligation to buy. Start with the form below, our quotes page, a call to (603) 431-4020 or an email to insure@portsmouthatlanticins.com. Hours: Monday–Thursday 9 AM–5 PM, Friday 8 AM–4 PM (Eastern). Riders and their families have left 1,000+ Google reviews and over 2,000 testimonials.
Frequently asked questions
Does New Hampshire require motorcycle insurance?
Not up front for most riders. New Hampshire does not make you buy liability insurance to register a motorcycle, but after certain accidents or convictions the state can require you to prove financial responsibility, in the amounts set by RSA 264:20, before you ride again (RSA 264:20). A lender on a financed bike will require coverage too. Most riders carry a policy because the alternative is paying for an injury claim out of pocket.
Does Connecticut require motorcycle insurance?
Yes. Connecticut requires liability and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage on registered motor vehicles, motorcycles included. The required coverages are laid out in our post on Connecticut car insurance requirements, and we usually recommend limits above the minimum for riders who carry passengers.
Is my passenger covered if we crash?
It depends on the policy. Some motorcycle policies cover injury to a passenger under liability automatically; others need guest passenger liability added, and the limit can be lower than the main liability limit. If you ride two-up, we confirm how each carrier handles it before you choose.
Are my custom parts and riding gear covered?
Only up to the policy’s limits. Many policies include a modest amount of custom parts and equipment coverage and let you buy more. Pipes, seats, bags, lighting, paint and audio all count, and so can helmets and jackets on some policies. Keep receipts and photos, and tell us about anything you add during the season.
Can I reduce coverage while the bike is stored for the winter?
A lot of carriers let you move to a storage or lay-up setting that drops the road coverages while keeping comprehensive for theft, fire and other non-collision damage. Some policies are simply written for a riding season instead. Do not cancel the policy outright: a gap can cost you continuous-coverage credit and leaves a stored bike unprotected.
Can a vintage or classic motorcycle be insured at agreed value?
Often, yes. Some carriers write collectible motorcycles at an agreed value with use limits similar to a collector car policy. Our collector vehicle and agreed value pages explain how that valuation works.
What do you need to quote my motorcycle?
Each bike’s year, make, model and VIN; any custom parts and their value; where it is garaged; every rider, with license and endorsement details and any rider course completed; whether you carry passengers; and your current declarations page. Request a quote. There’s no obligation to buy. The quote form is below; the phone number is (603) 431-4020.
Sources
- New Hampshire RSA 264:20, financial responsibility amounts
- New Hampshire RSA 265:122, protective headgear
- New Hampshire RSA 265:123, eye and face protection
- Conn. Gen. Stat. §14-289g, protective headgear under 18
- Connecticut DMV, motorcycle learner’s permit
- CTDOT, Connecticut Rider Education Program (CONREP)
General information for motorcycle owners in New Hampshire and Connecticut. Nothing here quotes, starts or amends a policy, and none of it is legal advice. What a policy pays depends on its wording and the carrier’s underwriting, and state laws change. For your own bike, call (603) 431-4020.