North Dakota Motorcycle Insurance Requirements

North Dakota motorcycle insurance at a glance:

Minimum liability: 25/50/25
UM/UIM: Required
No-fault/PIP: $30,000
Lane splitting: Illegal

North Dakota is one of the easier states to misunderstand if you ride. A car policy here usually carries basic no-fault/PIP. A motorcycle policy does not. But a North Dakota bike still has to carry 25/50/25 liability, plus 25/50 uninsured motorist coverage and matching underinsured motorist coverage. That mix is unusual, and it changes both what you have to buy and how a crash claim plays out after one bad moment on I-94, U.S. 2, or a city arterial in Fargo or Bismarck.^{[1, 2, 4, 5, 6]}

The practical takeaway is simple. In North Dakota, the legal minimum for a motorcycle is more than bare liability, but it is still nowhere close to “full coverage.” It will not automatically fix your bike, replace your helmet, or cover your own medical bills after a single-bike crash unless you deliberately add more protection.^[1]

Table of Contents

North Dakota’s motorcycle minimums are leaner than the car rulebook

North Dakota’s compulsory-insurance law is N.D.C.C. § 39-08-20. It bars anyone from driving a motor vehicle in the state without liability insurance in the amount required by chapter 39-16.1. For a motorcycle, the floor starts with 25/50/25 liability: $25,000 for bodily injury to one person, $50,000 for bodily injury to two or more people in one accident, and $25,000 for property damage.^{[3, 4]}

North Dakota then goes farther than some states do for bikes. Under N.D.C.C. § 26.1-40-15.2, uninsured motorist coverage must be included at the same 25/50 limits. Under N.D.C.C. § 26.1-40-15.3, underinsured motorist coverage must also be provided at limits equal to the uninsured motorist coverage. So the legal minimum on a North Dakota motorcycle is not just liability-only coverage.^{[1, 5]}

The part riders miss is no-fault. North Dakota is a no-fault state for many four-wheel vehicles, and the Insurance Department’s auto page shows that basic no-fault/PIP is $30,000 per person on an auto policy. But chapter 26.1-41 defines a no-fault “motor vehicle” as a vehicle with more than three load-bearing wheels. That definition leaves motorcycles outside the no-fault system, which is why the Insurance Department specifically says no-fault coverage is not required on a motorcycle.^{[2, 6, 1]}

Coverage	Required on a North Dakota motorcycle?	Minimum amount	What it covers
Bodily injury liability	Yes	$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident	Injury claims made against you when you cause a crash.
Property damage liability	Yes	$25,000 per accident	Damage you cause to someone else’s vehicle or other property.
Uninsured motorist (UM)	Yes	$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident	Your bodily injury claim against a driver with no insurance.
Underinsured motorist (UIM)	Yes	Must equal your UM limits	Your bodily injury claim when the at-fault driver’s limits are too low.
Basic no-fault / PIP	No	Not required on motorcycles	North Dakota’s no-fault law does not treat motorcycles as covered “motor vehicles.”
Medical payments	No	Optional	Can help with medical bills for you or your passenger depending on the policy.

The statutes worth knowing are N.D.C.C. § 39-08-20, chapter 39-16.1 for the liability floor, N.D.C.C. §§ 26.1-40-15.2 and 26.1-40-15.3 for UM/UIM, and N.D.C.C. § 26.1-41-01 for the no-fault definition that excludes motorcycles. If an insurer, ticket, or claim adjuster conversation gets sloppy, those are the sections that clear it up fast.^{[3, 4, 5, 6]}

Proof of insurance in North Dakota: your phone works, but buying a policy after the stop does not

North Dakota lets you prove insurance electronically. Under N.D.C.C. § 39-08-20(2), an officer can demand satisfactory evidence of insurance, and the statute expressly says that can be written or electronic proof. A paper card is fine. So is a current digital card on your phone.^[3]

The law also draws a sharp line between no proof on you and actually uninsured. If you had a valid policy in force at the time of the stop but did not have proof handy, you can later produce satisfactory written or electronic proof to the prosecutor’s office where the matter is pending, and you may not be found in violation. That is a real fix. Buying coverage after the stop is not. The statute says a person may still be in violation if the policy was acquired after the alleged uninsured driving, and the driver or owner has the burden of proving when the policy was obtained.^[3]

There is another North Dakota wrinkle if you were riding someone else’s motorcycle. If the driver is not the owner, the driver does not violate § 39-08-20 by default if the driver provides the court evidence identifying the owner and describing the circumstances under which the owner caused or permitted the driver to operate the bike. That is narrow, but it matters in borrowed-bike cases.^[3]

The statutes and agency guidance cited here focus on carrying written or electronic proof and, after a violation, keeping proof on file with NDDOT. In practical terms, North Dakota’s enforcement picture is still very much “show proof when asked, and be able to verify it afterward if needed.”^{[3, 11]}

What happens if you ride uninsured in North Dakota

North Dakota does not treat uninsured riding as a harmless paperwork miss. A first violation of N.D.C.C. § 39-08-20 carries a $150 fee. A second or subsequent violation carries a $300 fee. Those amounts appear in NDDOT’s Uniform Complaint and Summons schedule.^[13]

Points matter too. NDDOT’s points schedule lists “No liability insurance” at 6, 12, or 14 points depending on the circumstances. And once a North Dakota driving record hits 12 points, the suspension formula kicks in: 7 days of suspension for each point over 11. That means an uninsured-riding violation can start as a money problem and quickly become a license problem.^{[12, 13, 11]}

Repeat offenders face an extra penalty a lot of riders do not know about. For a second or subsequent uninsured violation, the court must order the number plates on the vehicle owned and operated at the time of the offense to be impounded until the rider shows proof of insurance and pays a $20 fee to the court. Fail to hand over the plates as ordered, and that failure itself becomes a class B misdemeanor.^[3]

North Dakota also imposes an administrative follow-through after any violation. The rider has to provide proof of motor vehicle liability insurance to the department for one year in the form of a written or electronically transmitted certificate from an authorized insurer. If that proof is not filed and kept on file, the department must suspend driving privileges and may not issue or renew the license until the rider complies.^{[3, 11]}

Then there is the license notation. A person who violates § 39-08-20 has to surrender the operator’s license and purchase a duplicate license carrying a notation that proof of liability insurance must remain on file with the department. The fee for that duplicate is $50, and the fee to remove the notation later is another $50.^[3]

NDDOT’s reinstatement page adds another cost layer. The department says the reinstatement fee is $50 for failures to provide proof of insurance, failures to maintain liability insurance, and suspensions based on accumulating 12 or more points. The same page also explains when SR-22 proof of future financial responsibility is required. That filing is needed, among other situations, for any crash where no insurance was in effect at the time of the crash, and proof has to stay on file for one year from reinstatement, a temporary restricted license, or the date of the uninsured crash.^[11]

One more North Dakota-specific sting sits in N.D.C.C. § 39-08-20.1. If you cause damage while driving uninsured, the court must order you to pay the other person at least the amount of that person’s insurance deductible. So the uninsured rider can wind up paying the ticket, paying reinstatement costs, keeping proof on file, and paying the other driver’s deductible on top of the underlying damage claim.^[3]

What the minimum policy actually does — and what it leaves on you

Picture a common North Dakota crash. You are riding through Fargo, a driver turns left across your lane, and you dump the bike trying to avoid the impact. Your legal-minimum policy does not work like a catch-all repair plan. The liability portion is there to pay other people if you caused the crash. It does not repair your own motorcycle or replace your own riding gear.^[1]

Your required UM/UIM helps, but only on the bodily-injury side. If the left-turn driver had no insurance or not enough insurance, UM/UIM can respond to the injury claim you are legally entitled to make against that driver. It still does not pay for physical damage to the bike itself. And because North Dakota excludes motorcycles from mandatory no-fault/PIP, there is no automatic basic no-fault bucket on the bike policy paying your medical bills the way there usually is on a North Dakota auto policy.^{[1, 2, 5, 6]}

Real-World Risk: That gap matters more in North Dakota than some riders expect. The state’s Vision Zero program says deer account for several thousand vehicle crashes every year, with November producing the highest number and common crash windows around 5 to 7 a.m. and 6 to 11 p.m. The Insurance Department also lists hail and hitting an animal as textbook comprehensive claims. In other words, one of the most common North Dakota losses is exactly the kind of loss your minimum policy does not cover for the motorcycle itself.^{[14, 1]}

That is why “I meet the state minimum” and “I am well protected” are not the same statement here. In North Dakota, the minimum keeps you legal. It does not make you whole after a bad deer strike west of Minot, a hail loss in Bismarck, or a solo slide on gravel in spring.^{[1, 14]}

Coverage upgrades that make sense for North Dakota riders

Higher liability limits

North Dakota’s 25/50/25 floor is a legal floor, not a serious liability plan. A realistic upgrade is 100/300/100. If you injure more than one person or damage a newer pickup, work van, storefront, or barrier, the statutory minimum can run out fast. North Dakota law also requires insurers to make higher UM limits available on request, subject to the statute’s cap structure, so raising liability and UM/UIM together is usually the more coherent move.^{[5, 1]}

Collision

Collision pays for damage to your motorcycle after you hit another vehicle, a fixed object, or the pavement. In a state where motorcycles do not get mandatory PIP, collision becomes one of the main ways to protect the machine after a slide, a low-side, or a one-bike crash on a rural highway. The Insurance Department specifically describes it as coverage for physical damage caused by collision or overturning, regardless of fault.^[1]

Comprehensive

This is one of the easiest North Dakota add-ons to justify. The Insurance Department lists theft, fire, vandalism, hail, falling objects, and hitting an animal as classic comprehensive losses. Vision Zero’s wildlife page makes the local risk impossible to ignore: several thousand deer crashes each year, peaking in November and concentrated in dawn and evening hours. For a North Dakota rider, comprehensive is not a luxury line item. It is the coverage that matches the state’s real-world loss pattern.^{[1, 14]}

Uninsured and underinsured motorist above the minimum

North Dakota already requires UM and matching UIM, which is better than what many riders get elsewhere. The problem is the minimum amount. Twenty-five thousand dollars can disappear quickly once an ambulance, imaging, orthopedic care, or rehab enters the picture. North Dakota law requires the insurer to make higher UM limits available on request, up to the lesser of your bodily injury limits or 100/300, so it makes sense to ask for the higher tier quote instead of assuming the minimum is enough.^[5]

Medical payments or supplemental medical coverage

Because a North Dakota motorcycle does not carry mandatory no-fault/PIP, optional medical-payments coverage can keep smaller emergency-room, ambulance, or passenger-injury bills from landing on you immediately. The Insurance Department lists medical expenses as an available motorcycle option. Just read the coordination language carefully, because N.D.C.C. § 26.1-40-15.4 says UM/UIM damages are reduced by amounts paid or payable under motor vehicle medical-payments or PIP-type coverages.^{[1, 5]}

Custom parts, accessories, and riding-gear coverage

North Dakota’s consumer guidance is unusually clear here. The Insurance Department says some companies offer equipment coverage for saddlebags, helmets, and other motorcycle-related equipment, and some require collision or comprehensive before that coverage applies. If your bike has bags, upgraded lights, an aftermarket seat, a windshield, or expensive riding gear, do not assume the base form covers all of it.^[1]

Roadside assistance and towing

Motorcycle-specific towing coverage matters in a big, rural state. The Insurance Department lists towing as an available motorcycle coverage, but the quote screen is not the place to stop reading. Ask how many miles are covered, whether a flatbed is required, whether recovery from a ditch or shoulder is excluded, and whether the insurer treats a bike differently from a passenger car for dispatch purposes.^[1]

Trip interruption

Trip interruption is more useful in North Dakota than it looks. Riders here often turn a summer trip into a long interstate run, a Black Hills loop, or a Canada-bound ride. The Insurance Department notes that most motorcycle policies limit ordinary territory to the U.S., its territories or possessions, Puerto Rico, and Canada. If you tour across state lines, pair that territorial check with a question about hotel, meal, and transportation reimbursement after a breakdown or covered loss.^[1]

Gap insurance

The Insurance Department specifically lists GAP as an available motorcycle add-on. If the bike is financed and is totaled early in the loan, GAP can pay the lender for the difference between the outstanding loan balance and the actual cash value settlement. That matters in North Dakota because the department also warns that most motorcycle total-loss settlements are based on ACV unless you bought something better.^[1]

Laid-up or storage coverage

This is one of the most North Dakota-specific quote questions you can ask. The Insurance Department says motorcycle policies are usually annual, and when companies weight the months, July or August may count for about 16 percent of the premium while December or January may account for only about 2 percent. Translation: canceling the policy for winter often saves less than riders think. A storage or laid-up option can preserve the protections you still need, especially comprehensive, without breaking your coverage history.^[1]

Helmet law in North Dakota: partial, not universal

North Dakota does not have a universal helmet law. N.D.C.C. § 39-10.2-06 requires a DOT-compliant safety helmet for any operator or passenger under age 18. The statute also says that if the operator is required to wear a helmet, then any passenger must wear one too regardless of age. So a 17-year-old operator cannot carry an adult passenger without also putting that passenger in a helmet. The only express exception in the statute is participation in a lawful parade.^[7]

The insurance angle is straightforward. North Dakota does not impose a Michigan-style extra medical-coverage requirement before an adult may ride without a helmet. The risk is claims-related, not licensing-related. If a head injury case turns into a fight over damages, North Dakota’s comparative-fault system and general damages arguments still matter, even when the rider’s helmet choice was legal. Riding bareheaded may be legal for many adults here; it is not consequence-free in a serious injury dispute.^{[7, 20]}

Lane splitting is illegal here, and other motorcycle rules are worth memorizing

Lane splitting: Illegal. N.D.C.C. § 39-10.2-03 says a motorcycle operator may not overtake and pass in the same lane occupied by the vehicle being overtaken.^[7]
Lane filtering at stops: Also illegal. The same statute says a motorcycle may not be operated between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles.^[7]
Two abreast: Allowed, but never more than two motorcycles in a single lane.^[7]
Passengers: The motorcycle must be designed to carry more than one person; the passenger must sit astride facing forward; and passenger footrests are required unless the passenger is in a sidecar or enclosed cab.^{[7, 8]}
Handlebars: Grips may not be above the shoulder height of the seated operator, and the bars must provide at least 18 inches between grips after final assembly.^[8]
Mirror: At least one mirror is required, with a minimum reflective surface of 10 square inches.^[8]
Exhaust and noise: A muffler is mandatory, cutouts and bypasses are prohibited, and the bike has to meet EPA noise limits.^[8]
Turn signals: Any signal to turn, move right or left, or merge must be given continuously during at least the last 100 feet before the move.^[21]
Lighting: Motorcycles must have compliant lamps, at least one taillamp, and a stop lamp; headlamps must meet statutory visibility standards.^[8]
Permit restriction: A class M permit holder may not ride during the hours when headlights are required and may not carry a passenger.^[9]

The license class insurers expect to see

North Dakota uses the class M system. If you already have a class A, B, C, or D license, you add a class M endorsement by examination; the director may waive the skills portion if you completed an approved motorcycle safety course. If you do not already hold a regular operator’s license, you can get a class M learner’s permit and then a class M license. Riders age 14 or 15 can start early, but the rules tighten up: approved course enrollment or completion, at least two months on the learner’s permit before licensure, no passengers, helmet use, daylight-only riding, and a 510cc engine cap until age 16. North Dakota’s Insurance Department also says most companies offer a discount for a motorcycle safety course.^{[9, 10, 1]}

Motorcycle vs. moped vs. scooter vs. e-bike in North Dakota

North Dakota does not give “scooter” its own separate insurance category. Small scooters usually fit the state’s motorized-bicycle definition. Bigger scooters cross into motorcycle territory. Electric bicycles are different again because the definitions chapter excludes them from the motor-vehicle framework used for registration, title, and operator’s licenses.^{[18, 19, 10]}

Vehicle type	North Dakota definition	Insurance required?	License required?
Motorcycle	A motor vehicle with a seat or saddle, designed to travel on not more than three wheels. NDDOT treats 49.99cc-and-up / over-30-mph machines as motorcycles.	Yes	Yes — class M permit, class M license, or class M endorsement
Motorized bicycle / moped / small scooter	Two or three wheels, pedals or footrests, automatic/direct drive, no more than two brake horsepower, max 49.98cc if combustion-powered, no wider than 32 inches, and not over 30 mph on a level surface.	Yes	Yes — a valid permit or license of any class, or a motorized-bicycle operator’s permit; minimum age 14
Larger scooter	No stand-alone statutory category. If it exceeds the motorized-bicycle limits, North Dakota treats it as a motorcycle.	Yes	Yes — same as a motorcycle
Electric bicycle	A bicycle with fully operable pedals, a seat or saddle, and an electric motor of 750 watts or less. Class 1 and 2 top out at 20 mph; class 3 assists up to 28 mph.	No motor-vehicle insurance requirement under Title 39	No motor-vehicle license; riders under 18 on class 3 e-bikes must wear a helmet

How North Dakota’s insurance system changes a motorcycle claim

For many four-wheel vehicles, North Dakota uses no-fault auto reparations. For motorcycles, the claim system is functionally fault-based. That is the direct consequence of chapter 26.1-41 defining a covered no-fault “motor vehicle” as one with more than three load-bearing wheels. So a rider is generally proving fault, dealing with liability insurance, and using UM/UIM when the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured rather than looking first to mandatory PIP on the motorcycle policy.^{[6, 2, 1]}

North Dakota also uses modified comparative fault under N.D.C.C. § 32-03.2-02. The statute says contributory fault does not bar recovery unless the rider’s fault was “as great as” the combined fault of all other persons who contributed to the injury, and any damages allowed are reduced in proportion to the rider’s fault. In plain English, a rider who is 20 percent at fault sees damages reduced by 20 percent. A rider who reaches the 50 percent bar loses the claim altogether.^[20]

Important: There is another North Dakota-specific claims rule worth knowing before you buy higher UM/UIM limits. Under N.D.C.C. § 26.1-40-15.4, UM/UIM damages are reduced by amounts paid or payable under motor vehicle medical-payments or PIP-type coverages, and UM/UIM limits may not be stacked across multiple vehicles or multiple premiums to build a larger recovery for one crash. If you insure several vehicles with the same company, do not assume the UM/UIM limits pile on top of each other just because you paid several premiums.^[5]

What drives motorcycle insurance prices up or down in North Dakota

Coverage choices and limits: More coverage costs more. The Insurance Department notes that broader coverage and higher limits drive higher premiums.^[2]
Driving record: Recent crashes, tickets, and especially point-heavy violations matter. In North Dakota, uninsured-riding violations can land at 6, 12, or 14 points.^{[2, 12]}
Age and experience: The department’s rate guidance says age affects pricing, and young riders generally pay more.^[2]
Where you live: North Dakota insurers divide the state into rating territories, and metropolitan areas generally price differently from rural areas.^[2]
How much you ride: Mileage matters, and North Dakota’s riding season is concentrated into warmer months.^{[2, 1]}
Bike type and displacement: Repair cost, engine size, and classification as a motorcycle rather than a motorized bicycle all change risk.^{[2, 10]}
Claims history: The Insurance Department warns that recent or frequent claims usually push premiums upward.^[2]
Credit history: North Dakota allows insurers to use credit information. The Insurance Department says many personal auto insurers do, and state law requires disclosure if credit is used for underwriting or rating.^{[17, 2]}
Safety-course completion: Most companies offer a motorcycle safety-course discount according to the Insurance Department.^[1]
Seasonality and storage: North Dakota’s month-weighting approach for motorcycle premiums means the biggest premium weight often lands in peak riding months, not winter.^[1]
Deductibles and optional endorsements: Lower deductibles, accessory coverage, OEM-parts endorsements, and roadside packages all affect price.^{[2, 1]}
Bundling and payment method: Multi-policy and paid-in-full discounts are common, but only matter if the motorcycle form still gives you the coverages you actually need.^[2]

How to compare North Dakota motorcycle quotes without comparing the wrong thing

Get one quote at the legal minimum and one at a stronger tier such as 100/300/100 with higher UM/UIM. In North Dakota, that side-by-side comparison tells you what better protection actually costs instead of what you assume it costs.^{[1, 5]}
Hold deductibles constant across every quote. A $250 collision deductible and a $1,000 collision deductible are not the same product even if the premium difference looks attractive.^[2]
Ask exactly how the carrier handles winter lay-up. North Dakota’s own consumer guidance says July or August can be weighted at roughly 16 percent of premium while December or January may be only 2 percent each, so canceling for the winter can save much less than riders expect.^[1]
Ask how helmets, saddlebags, custom seats, upgraded lighting, and other equipment are handled after a loss. Some carriers require collision or comprehensive before equipment coverage applies.^[1]
Confirm that roadside assistance is motorcycle-specific. Ask about tow-mile caps, flatbed requirements, and whether recovery from the shoulder or ditch is excluded.^[1]
Check the carrier’s financial strength, then check complaints. The North Dakota Insurance Department points consumers to the NAIC Consumer Information Source for basic financial and complaint information, and it also maintains its own complaint process.^{[15, 16]}
Ask about discounts that actually show up in North Dakota motorcycle pricing: safety course, multi-policy, paid in full, homeowner bundle, and storage/garaging discounts.^{[1, 2]}
Before you buy, read the policy territory and rental language. North Dakota’s Insurance Department says most policies ordinarily extend to the U.S., its territories or possessions, Puerto Rico, and Canada, but your auto policy does not automatically cover a rented motorcycle.^[1]

Frequently asked questions

Do I need motorcycle insurance in North Dakota?

Yes. North Dakota bars you from riding without liability insurance in the amount required by chapter 39-16.1, and the Insurance Department says a motorcycle policy must also include UM and matching UIM. What a motorcycle does not have to carry is North Dakota’s basic no-fault/PIP coverage.^{[3, 1, 6]}

Is the state minimum enough?

Usually not. It keeps you legal, but it does not repair your motorcycle, replace your gear, or automatically pay your own medical bills after a solo crash. In a state where hail and deer strikes are both ordinary claim scenarios, the minimum is a thin shield.^{[1, 14]}

Does North Dakota’s no-fault/PIP law apply to motorcycles?

Not the way it applies to many cars. North Dakota’s no-fault chapter defines a covered “motor vehicle” as one with more than three load-bearing wheels, so motorcycles sit outside that definition. That is why no-fault/PIP is not required on a North Dakota motorcycle policy.^{[6, 1]}

What happens if I ride without insurance in North Dakota?

A first offense is a $150 fee. A second or later offense is $300 and can trigger plate impoundment until you show proof and pay a $20 court fee. On top of that, North Dakota can require one year of proof on file, a duplicate license with a notation, points, suspension exposure, reinstatement fees, and in some cases SR-22 proof of future financial responsibility.^{[13, 3, 11, 12]}

Do mopeds and scooters need insurance in North Dakota?

If the machine fits North Dakota’s motorized-bicycle definition, yes, liability insurance is required. If it is a larger scooter that qualifies as a motorcycle, yes again. Electric bicycles are different because Title 39 excludes them from the motor-vehicle framework used for registration and operator licensing.^{[18, 10, 19]}

Does a motorcycle safety course lower my insurance rate?

Often, yes. The North Dakota Insurance Department says most companies offer a discount for a motorcycle safety course. On the licensing side, an approved course can also waive the motorcycle skills test in the situations described by N.D.C.C. § 39-06-14.1 and NDDOT’s motorcycle-license page.^{[1, 9, 10]}

What if my bike is financed or leased?

State law does not raise the compulsory-insurance minimum just because the bike is financed. In practice, lenders usually want collision and comprehensive, and GAP is worth checking because the Insurance Department specifically lists it as an available coverage. That matters because most motorcycle total-loss settlements are based on actual cash value unless you bought replacement-cost treatment.^[1]

Does North Dakota require uninsured motorist coverage on motorcycle policies?

Yes. UM is compulsory, and UIM must match it. That is one of the odd but useful features of North Dakota’s motorcycle minimum: you are not allowed to buy a bike policy that stops at 25/50/25 liability only.^{[1, 5]}

Can I show proof of insurance on my phone in North Dakota?

Yes. North Dakota’s proof statute specifically allows written or electronic proof. And if your coverage was already in force at the time of the stop, later proof shown to the prosecutor’s office can prevent a conviction for violating § 39-08-20.^[3]

Is lane filtering legal in Fargo or Bismarck?

No. This is a statewide rule, not a city option. North Dakota bars riding between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles, and it also bars overtaking and passing in the same lane occupied by the vehicle being overtaken.^[7]

Can I cancel my motorcycle policy for the winter?

You can ask, but the math is usually worse than riders assume. The Insurance Department says July or August can be weighted at around 16 percent of premium while December or January may count for only about 2 percent each. Many North Dakota riders are better served by a storage or laid-up approach than a full cancellation.^[1]

Can I insure a motorcycle in North Dakota with only a permit?

Sometimes. The Insurance Department says some companies will allow a rider with only a permit to buy a policy. That is not universal, so a permit holder should expect underwriting differences from carrier to carrier.^[1]

Does my auto policy cover a motorcycle that I rent?

No, not automatically. The Insurance Department says North Dakota’s rental-vehicle statute does not extend auto-policy liability coverage to rented motorcycles. Some motorcycle policies may cover a rental, but usually only if the policy already has collision or comprehensive, and some policies do not cover rented motorcycles at all.^[1]

Official North Dakota sources and where to verify

North Dakota Insurance Department, Boats and Recreational
North Dakota Insurance Department, Auto
North Dakota Department of Transportation, Motorcycle License
North Dakota Department of Transportation, Driver Record Services and Suspensions and Driver License Points Reduction and Points Schedule
North Dakota Legislative Branch, North Dakota Century Code (see chapters 39-01, 39-06, 39-08, 39-10, 39-10.1, 39-10.2, 39-16.1, 39-27, 26.1-40, 26.1-41, and 32-03.2)
NDDOT Vision Zero, Wildlife