Class Code 8400
Motorcycle Dealers Or Repair Facilities
Class code 8400 applies to motorcycle dealers and repair facilities in California, including sales floors, service bays, parts departments and test riding. The September 1, 2026 pure premium rate for this class is $2.016 per $100 of payroll — a baseline used to calculate workers' comp premium for these exposures.
What Class Code 8400 Covers
This classification covers businesses whose primary operations are selling, servicing, rebuilding or storing motorcycles, scooters and similar two- or three-wheeled motor vehicles. That includes showroom sales staff who demonstrate bikes, parts counter employees, parts warehouse workers, factory-trained and independent motorcycle mechanics, diagnostics technicians, and employees who road-test or transport motorcycles. Repair operations include routine maintenance (oil/filter, brake service), engine and transmission repair, electrical diagnostics, tire mounting and balancing, wheel alignment, welding and fabrication tied to motorcycle repair, and diagnostic test rides. Dealers that operate rental fleets, service loaner bikes, or in-house custom fabrication shops are also typically included under 8400 for payroll assigned to those shop and sales activities.
Who It Applies To
- Franchised and independent motorcycle dealers with sales showrooms
- Motorcycle repair shops and service centers
- Parts and accessories warehouses and storefronts attached to dealerships
- Shop technicians: mechanics, electricians and fabricators
- Service advisors and parts counter personnel who handle test rides or bike movement
- Employees who road-test, pick up or deliver motorcycles for customers
Common Job Duties
- Performing maintenance: oil changes, brake service, chain adjustments and tune-ups
- Engine, transmission and carburetor diagnostics, repair and overhaul
- Electrical system testing, battery service, and wiring repairs
- Mounting, balancing and replacing tires, wheel truing and alignment
- Welding, brazing and fabrication of frames, brackets and exhaust components
- Road testing, loading/unloading, and transporting motorcycles
- Parts handling, inventory management and customer parts sales
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $2.016 Rate
The pure premium rate of $2.016 per $100 of payroll represents the WCIRB-approved expected loss cost for claims and claim development for this class. Insurers use this rate as the base when calculating your premium, multiplying it by your payroll in the class and then applying experience modification, schedule credits/debits, policy-level discounts, payroll audits and state residual factors. Your actual workers' comp premium may be higher or lower depending on your company’s claims history, payroll accuracy, deductible or retrospective-rating choices, and whether payroll is properly allocated between shop/sales and office classes.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Motorcycle dealers and repair shops must comply with Cal/OSHA General Industry Safety Orders including a written Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP), hazard communication (HCS/Right-to-Know) for fuels and solvents, and lockout/tagout procedures for servicing powered equipment. Specific requirements include machine guarding for lifts and presses, PPE for welding and battery handling, ventilation for solvent and paint use, and formal training and certification for forklift and lift/jack operation. Employers must also report serious work-related injuries (hospitalizations, amputations, loss of eye, or fatalities) to Cal/OSHA within eight hours and maintain accurate injury and illness records.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 8400
As a PEO, Key HR can centralize workers' comp administration for motorcycle dealers and repair shops: ensuring payroll is correctly classified, managing claims and return-to-work plans, and implementing shop-specific loss control programs (lift maintenance, LOTO, HAZCOM, welding controls). We provide Cal/OSHA-compliant safety training, on-demand HR support, and claims advocacy to help reduce experience modification and lower long-term premium costs.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Are showroom sales clerks included in class 8400?
Sales clerks who demonstrate motorcycles, move bikes or spend meaningful time on the sales floor where they handle motorcycles typically fall under 8400. Purely clerical employees who never handle motorcycles or perform demonstrations should be classified separately (for example, clerical office codes) and their payroll excluded from 8400.
What specific practices reduce claims for motorcycle repair shops?
Key practices include regular inspection and maintenance of lifts and jacks, mandatory use of wheel chocks and stands during work, hot-work permits and welding controls, battery handling procedures, spill containment for fuels and lubricants, documented road-test policies and rider PPE, and structured return-to-work programs to speed recovery and reduce indemnity costs.
How does working with a PEO change my workers' comp premium for class 8400?
A PEO like Key HR can improve payroll classification accuracy, provide safety programs that lower frequency/severity of claims, and centralize claims handling which can reduce your experience modification over time. Depending on the PEO structure, you may also benefit from pooled purchasing, streamlined audits, and professional claims advocacy — all of which influence the final premium you pay.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 8400
- Classification
- Motorcycle Dealers Or Repair Facilities
- Pure Premium Rate
- $2.016 / $100 payroll
- Effective Date
- September 1, 2026
- Source
- WCIRB Approved Filing
Manage Workers' Comp Through a PEO
Key HR provides pay-as-you-go workers' comp for California employers — no large deposits, no audits, better rates.
Get a Quoteor call (800) 922-4133Ready to Simplify Workers' Comp for Class Code 8400?
Key HR provides California employers with pay-as-you-go workers' comp, HR compliance support, and payroll — all through one PEO partnership.