You could pay less than £285* Motorbike Insurance Compare quotes to find the best insurance policy for you
In the UK, motorbike insurance is a legally required type of insurance for anyone who rides or keeps their motorbike on public roads. It provides financial protection for the rider and others involved in an accident. Motorbike insurance can cover various aspects, including damage to your bike, injuries to you and others, and damage to third-party property.
Here’s a more detailed look at motorbike insurance in the UK:
Legal Requirement:
Having motorbike insurance is a legal requirement for riding on public roads in the UK.
Protection:
It protects you from liability if you are involved in an accident, damage another vehicle, or injure someone.
Coverage:
Depending on the type of policy, it can cover damage to your bike, repairs, and potential liability for injuries to others and damage to their property.
Levels of Cover:
There are three main types of motorbike insurance:
Third Party Only (TPO):This is the minimum legal requirement and only covers liability for injury to others or damage to their property caused by your motorbike.
Comprehensive:This offers the most comprehensive cover, including damage to your bike, whether you are at fault or not, and liability for others.
Factors Affecting Cost:
The cost of motorbike insurance can vary based on several factors, including your riding history, the type and size of your bike, your age, where you live, and your claim history
Motorbike insurance in the UK: a comprehensive guide
Motorbike insurance is a crucial aspect of responsible motorcycle ownership in the United Kingdom. It provides financial protection against various risks associated with owning and riding a motorbike, ensuring both the rider and other road users are protected in the event of an accident or incident.
Why is motorbike insurance mandatory in the UK?
In the UK, it’s a legal requirement to have at least third-party insurance to ride a motorbike on public roads. Riding without valid insurance can lead to severe penalties, including fines, penalty points, and even vehicle impoundment. This requirement stems from the principle of continuous insurance enforcement, aiming to ensure all vehicles used in public are covered in case of an accident.
Understanding the different levels of cover
There are three primary levels of motorbike insurance cover available in the UK, each offering varying degrees of protection:
1. Third-party only (TPO)
This is the minimum legal requirement for motorbike insurance in the UK. TPO policies cover damage or injury you cause to a third party (another person, vehicle, or property) in an accident. However, it does not cover any damage to your own motorbike.
2. Third-party, fire, and theft (TPFT)
Building upon TPO, this level includes cover for third-party liabilities and also protects your motorbike against theft or fire damage. If your motorbike is stolen or destroyed by fire, you can claim on your own policy.
3. Comprehensive (fully comp)
Offering the highest level of protection, comprehensive insurance includes all the benefits of TPO and TPFT, and additionally covers accidental or malicious damage to your own motorbike, regardless of fault. This means even if you are responsible for an accident, your comprehensive policy will cover the cost of repairing or replacing your bike, according to www.bennetts.co.uk.
Factors influencing motorbike insurance premiums
Several key factors determine the cost of your motorbike insurance premium:
Age: Younger, less experienced riders typically face higher premiums due to perceived higher risk.
Location: Living in areas with higher rates of traffic accidents or motorcycle theft will generally result in higher premiums.
Riding history: A history of safe, claim-free riding can significantly reduce your premium over time.
Bike type: More powerful, expensive, or easily stolen motorbikes generally have higher insurance costs.
Modifications: Modifications, whether cosmetic or performance-enhancing, can increase your premium as they may increase the bike’s value or attractiveness to thieves.
Storage security: Keeping your bike in a secure location, like a locked garage, can positively impact your premium.
Anticipated annual mileage: The more miles you expect to ride, the higher your premium is likely to be.
Voluntary excess: A higher voluntary excess (the amount you agree to pay towards a claim) can reduce your premium.
Ways to reduce your motorbike insurance costs
Several strategies can help lower your motorbike insurance premium:
Choose a smaller, older, or less expensive bike: These are generally cheaper to insure due to lower repair/replacement costs and perceived lower risk.
Improve motorbike security: Installing approved alarms or immobilisers, and parking in secure locations can reduce premiums.
Limit your mileage: Reduce your declared annual mileage if you don’t intend to ride frequently.
Pay annually: Paying your premium in one lump sum is usually cheaper than monthly installments.
Take a training course: Advanced rider training courses can demonstrate a commitment to safe riding and potentially reduce premiums.
Build a no-claims discount (NCD): Riding for consecutive years without making a claim accumulates NCD, leading to significant premium reductions.
Increase your voluntary excess: Be cautious, but a higher voluntary excess can lead to lower premiums.
Consider multi-bike cover: If you own multiple motorbikes, some insurers offer discounted multi-bike policies.
Shop around: Don’t just accept your renewal quote; compare quotes from different providers to find the best deal.
Motorbike insurance add-ons
In addition to the basic cover levels, you can choose to add optional extras to enhance your policy:
Motor legal protection: Covers legal costs if you’re involved in an accident that leads to a claim.
Helmet and leathers cover: Protects your riding gear from damage in an accident.
Motorcycle breakdown cover: Provides roadside assistance and recovery if your bike breaks down.
Personal accident cover: Offers a lump sum payout for specific injuries, disability, or death resulting from an accident.
Key cover: Covers the cost of replacing lost or stolen keys.
Protected no-claims discount: Allows you to make a limited number of claims without losing your NCD.
EU cover: Extends your policy to cover you when riding in Europe.
Making a motorbike insurance claim
If you’re involved in an accident or incident requiring a claim, follow these steps:
Ensure safety: Assess for injuries and contact emergency services if necessary.
Gather evidence: Take photos of damage, the scene, and collect details of other parties involved and witnesses.
Report to authorities: If the police are involved, note their details and report the incident.
Inform your insurer: Contact your insurance provider as soon as possible to initiate the claims process. Delaying the report can complicate the claim.
Cooperate with your insurer: Provide them with all the necessary information and documents to support your claim.
Specialised motorbike insurance policies
Some riders may require specialised motorbike insurance policies:
Classic motorbike insurance: Designed for the unique needs of classic and vintage motorbikes, often including agreed value and limited mileage cover.
Modified motorbike insurance: Essential for bikes with modifications, covering the altered value and risk associated with the changes.
Young rider insurance: Tailored policies addressing the higher risk associated with new and younger riders.
By understanding the different levels of cover, factors affecting premiums, cost-saving strategies, and available add-ons, you can make informed decisions when choosing the right motorbike insurance policy in the UK.
Motorbike Insurance Pay less
You could pay less than £285*
*51% of consumers who received a quote for Motorbike Insurance through this service
provided by Seopa Ltd. in January 2025 were quoted less than £284.82. The price you could
achieve is dependent on your individual circumstances.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
