Pastoralists inhabiting the rangeland of northern Iran are threatened by dangers like drought, cold, floods, livestock diseases, and livestock price fluctuations. Insurance offers them a promising mechanism to manage their activities. However, information on the willingness of pastoralists to take the risk or accept insurance remains unknown. To answer this question, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among pastoralists in the Kiasar rangelands from the north of Iran; 65 pastoralists were selected from a total of 200 pastoralists of the area. Data were collected using interviews and questionnaires. The variables of risk taking and the tendency to have rangeland insurance was performed based on the logit regression method using nominal and ordinal logit models. The variables of age, main occupation of the pastoralists, existence of pasture out of season, compulsory livestock and rangeland insurance, education, and access to agents (P ≤ 0.05) were included in the model as factors affecting the level of risk taking of pastoralists in the study area. The existence of pasture out of season (with an estimated coefficient equal 3.04), livestock insurance (4.86), risk taking (0.25), and the age of herder (-0.09) were the most important variables (P ≤ 0.05) affecting the willingness of pastoralists for rangeland insurance. Structural changes should be made in the behavior of insurance companies to ensure more acceptance of rangeland insurance by pastoralists. Suggested changes include a variety of insurance coverage, proportionality, and fairness of premiums (according to the income of the pastoralists), timely payment of compensation, increased availability of out of season pastures. Structural changes in the behavior of insurance companies using promotional activities would improve and promote insurance in rangelands. In general, policies that increase income, awareness, and education of pastoralists are essential in enhancing the livelihood of pastoralists in the area.