Optional extras for bike insurance

Sometimes you want some extra cover on your insurance, which isn't included in the policy itself, for example you may want breakdown cover. This extra cover is known as an optional extra or ancillary product and can be bought with your insurance policy.

Legal assistance or protection

Also known as legal cover or Uninsured Loss Recovery, legal assistance helps cover legal costs following an accident where a third party was at fault.

Legal professionals will deal with your case for you and try to recover any losses on your behalf, for example medical losses, loss of earnings or recovering your policy excess. They will also make a claim for compensation for you if you are injured.

Breakdown cover

You've got the motorbike, bought the leathers, found a good deal on your motorbike insurance and you've somewhere to be. Unfortunately you're stuck on the side of a road trying to call someone you know who can help you out because your motorbike has broken down and you don't have any breakdown cover.

Here at Gocompare.com you can get quotes for breakdown cover from some of the largest breakdown recovery specialists. You get to choose the level of cover you actually need and you don't have to spend a fortune to get the peace of mind of knowing the next time you break down, someone will soon be there to help you. Motorbike breakdown policies start from as little as £26.50 when you use Gocompare.com.

There are four types of cover available:

• Recovery/Relay
  If your motorbike can't be fixed locally, you'll get recovery for the vehicle and a set number of people to any mainland destination.

• Home Start
  Provides additional cover if your bike won't start at, or near to, your home address.

• Onward Travel
  If you’re away from home and breakdown and prompt repair is not possible, you will generally be provided with a replacement hire motorbike (dependant on the insurers terms and conditions), overnight accommodation or reasonable onward travel expenses.

• European Cover
  Protection when riding in Europe, generally covered for up to 31 days per trip and 90 days per year in total (Please check each company's terms for details of the countries covered).

Protected no claims discount

Once you have built up four or more years no claims discount, you may be able to protect your no-claims discount. This means that if you make a claim on your insurance, your discount is protected and you will not lose two year’s no claims bonus discount.

The claim would however be a part of your claims history and would have to be declared for possibly the next five years, every time you take out a another insurance policy.

Although your discount is protected, it's highly likely that your premium will go up when your policy is renewed as you are seen as a greater risk to the insurer i.e. you have more chance of making a claim, so they will charge more for the insurance.

Travelling in Europe

Before taking a trip on your motorbike to visit our European neighbours, you need to make sure you have the following and take them with you:

• Insurance certificate (a Green Card isn't needed in EU countries)
• V5 registration document (original)
• A modern driving licence with a photo
• European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) entitling a UK resident to reduced or free medical treatment when visiting the EU
• European breakdown cover; (is advisable)

If you don't have the correct documentation when you ride your bike abroad, some countries will impose heavy fines or even confiscate your bike so make sure you have everything you need!

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