Insurance Necessity

• Not all states require motorcycle insurance to drive a motorcycle -- just a permit. However, only a few states allow this and state regulations can change over time. As of 2011, only Florida, Montana and Washington did not require motorcycle insurance, although the liability limits varied much more widely.
  
  

Permit Necessity

• While a permit is required to drive a motorcycle, by itself it does not have a large, direct effect on insurance. Some insurers may require the owner to get a license within a certain timeframe of acquiring the policy, but it is not likely that insurance will be denied. A permit will not affect other types of insurance, such as car insurance. The two are not treated as the same policy by most insurers, and have separate processes for calculating premiums.
  
  

Multi-Policies

• Acquiring a motorcycle permit will allow the owner to buy motorcycle insurance, which will in turn allow the owner to save money on both motorcycle and car insurance. Many insurers offer multi-policy discounts that lower premiums if policyholders buy both bike and car insurance through the same company.
  
  

Training Classes

• A motorcycle learner's permit will likely incur the highest premiums for motorcycle insurance, but these premiums may go down when it is replaced by a full permit. Also, further training often decreases premiums. This means that a permit showing defensive driving certification, available through a training program, can help lower motorcycle premiums. Different states may offer different permits for advanced levels of training that can change insurance in this way.