MSF Safety Course (Motorcycle Discount)
An MSF Safety Course is an officially certified motorcycle rider training program administered by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF), the national non-profit organization that develops standardized rider curricula used by motorcycle licensing agencies in almost every US state. Completion of an MSF course typically earns you a discount on your motorcycle insurance premium, often waives your state's road skills test, and — most importantly — reduces your real-world crash risk through range practice on the skills that ordinary mileage does not build.
Definition maintained by the InsurTool Editorial Team. Last reviewed .
What is MSF Safety Course?
In plain English: The MSF is the gold standard for learning to ride safely. A weekend BRC (Basic RiderCourse) costs around $250-$350, takes 15-20 hours total (classroom + range), and the insurance discount alone usually pays for the course in 1-2 years. If you’re a new rider, most states require it to get your M1/M2 endorsement. If you’re an experienced rider, the ARC/ERC will make you a better, sharper rider and still save you money on insurance. Win-win-win.
Key Takeaways
- MSF = Motorcycle Safety Foundation, the national standard for US rider training since 1973
- 3 main course tiers: Basic RiderCourse (BRC) for new riders, Advanced RiderCourse (ARC), and Experienced RiderCourse (ERC/ERC Premier)
- Insurance discount = typically 5-15% of your annual premium, applied for 3-5 years after completion
- Accepted by all 50 states for licensing endorsement; most waive the on-cycle road skills test with BRC completion card
- MSF’s own research reports lower fatal-crash involvement among formally trained riders than among self-taught ones
- You can take courses at community colleges, technical schools, state-run training sites, and private MSF-authorized providers
How MSF Safety Courses Work
The MSF maintains a tiered curriculum system so riders of every skill level get the appropriate training. Here’s each course breakdown:
1. Basic RiderCourse (BRC) — For New Riders
This is the entry-level course required (or accepted) in all 50 states for earning your motorcycle endorsement. Typically 15-20 hours total over 2-3 days: ~5 hours of classroom instruction covering risk management, protective gear, street strategy, and basic controls, plus 10-15 hours of hands-on riding on a closed range using training motorcycles provided by the school (usually 250cc-300cc non-intimidating bikes like Kawasaki Z125s or Yamaha MT-03s). You’ll learn: clutch/throttle coordination, straight-line riding, turning, swerving, quick stops, U-turns, and obstacle avoidance. Successful completion (written test + riding evaluation) gives you an MSF BRC Completion Card — the gold ticket for insurance discount and state licensing.
Worked example — new rider: A new rider takes the BRC, passes the written and riding evaluations, and can often get the endorsement without a separate road test at the DMV. The insurer applies a completion discount once the card is on file. Whether the course pays for itself depends on two things: the size of the discount, which varies by carrier and by the rider’s other rating factors, and the premium — a percentage discount on a high new-rider premium recovers the course fee faster than the same percentage on a cheap one.
2. Basic RiderCourse 2 (BRC2) / License Waiver Course
An abridged version (8 hours, all range, no classroom) for riders who already know the basics — maybe you learned on a friend’s bike but never got licensed. Same riding evaluation; if you pass, you get the same completion card and insurance discount as the full BRC. Cheaper ($150-$200) and faster, but only recommended if you already have 10+ hours of actual riding experience under your belt.
3. Advanced RiderCourse (ARC) / Experienced RiderCourse (ERC) — For Licensed Riders
This is the course for riders who already have their endorsement and 1-2+ years of seat time. Focuses on real-world crash-avoidance: emergency braking on gravel, aggressive swerving, curve-line adjustments, traction limits, risk awareness, and riding in traffic. Usually 8-10 hours on your OWN motorcycle, 1 day. Still earns the insurance discount even if you’ve been riding 10 years, and statistically it’s the best value for reducing your crash rate.
Worked example — experienced rider: An experienced rider takes the Advanced RiderCourse on their own motorcycle. The insurance discount is smaller than a new rider’s, because the premium is already lower, so the course takes longer to pay for itself on premium alone. The case for it does not rest on the discount: the ARC is range time spent practising emergency braking and swerving on your own bike, which is the part of the skill set that commuting mileage does not build.
4. Specialty MSF Courses
The MSF also offers: Sportbike RiderCourse (SRC) focusing on knee-down cornering and track-adjacent technique (check if your insurer counts it for the discount, some don’t because it’s “performance-oriented”), Adventure RiderCourse (off-road focused), 3-Wheel Basic RiderCourse for trikes and Can-Am Spyders, and RiderCoach preparation if you want to become an instructor yourself.
MSF Course Cost and Insurance Savings
MSF course pricing varies by state and provider, but here are the 2026 national averages:
| Course | Typical Cost | Hours | Typical Insurance Discount | Payback Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic RiderCourse (BRC) | $200 - $400 | 15-20 | 10% - 15% | 1 - 2 years |
| BRC2 (License Waiver) | $125 - $250 | 8-10 | 10% - 15% | 0.5 - 1.5 years |
| Advanced RiderCourse (ARC / ERC) | $150 - $300 | 8-10 | 5% - 10% | 1.5 - 3 years |
| Sportbike / Adventure Course | $300 - $600 | 1-2 days | Varies (0% - 10%) | N/A |
| 3-Wheel RiderCourse | $250 - $450 | 15-20 | 10% - 15% | 1 - 2 years |
Discounts are applied for 3-5 years depending on the carrier. If you re-take an advanced course every 3-4 years, you can keep the discount active indefinitely. On an $900/year policy, a 10% discount = $90/year saved = $450 over 5 years, on a $250 course investment — that’s an 180% 5-year ROI, plus the priceless crash-avoidance skills.
MSF Safety Course Discount vs. New-Rider Surcharge
| Rider Profile | Without MSF Course | With MSF BRC Completion |
|---|---|---|
| Rider age: 19, New M1, No experience | $2,400 - $3,200/yr | $2,040 - $2,560/yr (15% discount) |
| Annual savings | — | $360 - $640 per year |
| BRC course cost | — | $250 - $350 (one-time) |
| Net savings Year 1 | — | $10 - $390 + skills + license test waiver |
| Net savings Years 2-4 | — | $360 - $640/year pure savings |
| Crash risk | Baseline (highest demographic) | ~50% lower per MSF outcome studies |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Which insurance companies give the MSF discount? How do I claim it?
Virtually every major US motorcycle insurer honors the MSF discount: Progressive, Geico, State Farm, Allstate, Nationwide, Dairyland, Markel, Farmers, USAA, and Safeco. Some specialty carriers (Hagerty, Grundy) also give it. To claim, simply upload a legible photo or PDF of your MSF Completion Card when you get a quote, or call your current agent and email it to them after binding. The discount is applied immediately to your next billing cycle or renewal. Note: the discount is typically on the liability, collision, and comprehensive portions — not just a flat % of total premium.
Does my state REQUIRE an MSF course to get my motorcycle license?
Many states require successful completion of a basic rider course (MSF or an equivalent state-run programme) for riders under 18, and a substantial number require it of all new riders regardless of age. In the remaining states you can skip the course and take the written and road tests at the DMV — but the course is still the cheaper route, because the insurance discount applies for years and the road test is the step most often failed on the first attempt.
How long does the MSF insurance discount last? Do I have to re-take the course?
Typically 3-5 years, depending on the carrier. Progressive and Geico give 3 years; State Farm gives 5. After that, most carriers will let you renew the discount by taking an ARC / Experienced RiderCourse (the advanced 1-day class). Since advanced skills decay too, this is actually a good thing — a refresher every 3-4 years makes you demonstrably safer. If your carrier expires the discount and won’t accept ARC renewal, shop around — a competitor will give it.
Do online MSF courses count for the insurance discount?
Generally NO for the hands-on riding portion. During COVID, some insurers temporarily accepted online-only courses, but by 2026 that exception has expired. A genuine MSF discount requires completing the hands-on range portion and earning a physical MSF Completion Card with an official course number. A 100% online “motorcycle safety course” from a random website is not an MSF course and will not count for the discount. Make sure the provider you sign up with is listed on the official msf-usa.org directory and has “MSF-authorized” status.
I already have my motorcycle license and 10 years of riding. Is the advanced ARC course actually worth it for the discount + safety?
MSF’s own outcome research reports fewer police-reported crashes and fewer single-vehicle accidents in the period after experienced riders take the ARC. The financial case is arithmetic you can run on your own premium: compare the course fee against the annual discount multiplied by the number of years the carrier applies it, then add the cost of a single low-speed drop that the training prevents. The reason experienced riders keep taking it is narrower than the statistics suggest — it is range time spent practising emergency braking and swerving on your own bike, which is the part of the skill set that ordinary mileage does not build.
What gear do I need to bring to an MSF course? Do I need my own bike?
For BRC and BRC2, the school provides training motorcycles and helmets. You bring: over-the-ankle boots (work boots are fine), long sturdy pants (denim is acceptable, riding jeans better), a long-sleeve shirt or jacket, full-fingered gloves, and eye protection (sunglasses or prescription glasses work). For ARC / Experienced courses, you MUST bring your own registered and insured motorcycle, full DOT/ECE helmet, jacket, gloves, over-the-ankle boots, and long pants. Course providers inspect your bike for basic safety (tire tread, brake pads, no leaks, chain tension) before you’re allowed on the range.
Sources & References
- Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) - Official RiderCurricula, BRC/ARC Course Standards, and 2025 Rider Outcome Study
- Progressive Motorcycle Insurance - Public Rate Filing: MSF Course Discount Underwriting Factor
- Geico Motorcycle - Certified Rider Training Discount Guidelines (2025)
- NHTSA - Motorcycle Rider Training and Crash Risk Reduction Analysis (2024 Report)
- California DMV - Motorcycle Endorsement Requirements & MSF Acceptance
- Texas DPS - Motorcycle Safety Program (MSP) State-Level Course Implementation
- American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) - Rider Training Advocacy & Insurance Discount Research
Related Terms
Motorcycle Liability Full Coverage Motorcycle Lay-Up / Seasonal Insurance UM/UIM Motorcycle Coverage
About this definition
Written and checked against the primary sources linked on this page by the InsurTool Editorial Team. Definitions describe how these terms are used in the United States; policy wording differs between insurers, and state law changes the meaning of some terms. Your own policy document is the authority for your coverage.
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