Motorbike insurance

COMPARE CHEAP MOTORBIKE INSURANCE QUOTES[1]

50% of customers paid £214 or less for their motorbike policy[2]
Couple with a dog on a motorbike

Why compare motorbike insurance quotes with us?

Motorbike insurance is as much of an essential as your helmet. But it doesn't have to cost over the odds. We'll help you find affordable cover from over 25 top UK bike insurers.[3]

What are the different levels of motorcycle cover?

There are three levels of motorcycle insurance cover. Third party only, third party fire and theft, and comprehensive. They each offer varying levels of protection at different prices.

Don't just pick the cheapest policy. Take a look at the level of cover, exclusions, and insurer's reputation too. That way you’ll be sure to find the best motorbike insurance for your needs.

Comprehensive

  • The most extensive type of cover you can get. This option covers damages to your bike and any third party, should you cause an accident.
  • Your policy will include cover for fire damage, theft and the cost of a replacement bike if yours is written off.
  • Despite offering the most cover, it’s generally the cheapest option.

Third party, fire and theft (TPFT)

  • Third party, fire and theft (TPFT) will cover you for damages caused to other people, vehicles or property should you cause an accident.
  • You’ll also be covered if your bike is stolen, damaged due to an attempted theft or damaged by fire.
  • If you’re responsible for an accident, TPFT won’t cover the costs of repairing or replacing your bike. You’d need comprehensive cover for this.

Third party only (TPO)

  • The most basic level of cover you can get. And the minimum level of cover required by law.
  • It’ll only cover damage and injury you cause to others.
  • It won’t cover the costs of repairing or replacing your own motorbike if it gets damaged or stolen.

Compare motorbike insurance in minutes

We just need a few details to get your bike insurance quotes:

  1. How you use your bike

    For social, commuting or business purposes

  2. Details about you and your vehicle

    Name, address, reg number and where you keep your bike

  3. Your annual mileage

    How far do you ride in a year? Remember to account for more riding in summer if you’re a fair-weather biker. Try our mileage calculator.

  4. Additional riders

    Including any past claims or convictions they may have had

  5. Your bike’s value

    How much is it currently worth?

What's usually excluded from motorbike insurance?

You’ll need to check the T&Cs to find out exactly what’s not covered. But here are some common exclusions:

  • Wear and tear: For example, dents and scrapes from everyday use.
  • Negligence: Like leaving your key in an unoccupied bike.
  • Intentional damage: If you or anyone else on the policy purposely damages the bike.
  • Riding under the influence: As well as being illegal, drink or drug driving is also dangerous and unsurprisingly not covered by insurers.
  • Racing or other high risk activities: Standard insurance says no. But you might be able to get specialist cover for this.
  • Modifications: Modified bikes might be covered as a whole, but some insurers won’t pay to specifically replace or repair the modified parts.

How much is motorbike insurance?

According to vast:visibility, the average cost of motorbike insurance is £214 a year.[2]

However, the price of your bike insurance will depend partly on how risky it is to cover you. It’s affected by things like:

  1. Your age - The younger you are, the less experience you have which means you’re more risky to insure.
  2. Your job - Work that involves more time on the road – like a courier – means more expensive insurance.
  3. Engine size - More powerful engines generally mean higher insurance costs.
  4. Time you usually ride - Riding in peak times? The busier the roads, the higher the risk of an accident.
  5. Security - If you safely store your bike overnight in a garage and have other security devices, you might get cheaper insurance.
  6. Claims history - Previous claims can signal to insurers that you’re riskier to insure.
  7. Annual mileage - Clocking more miles can raise the cost of cover as you’re on the road for longer.

How could I get cheaper motorcycle insurance?

Most motorbike insurance policies will cost you a few hundred pounds. But there are ways you could reduce the cost. Try these tips:

  1. Shop around

    Use comparison sites like ours to find the right cover for the best price. Probably the easiest way to save.

  2. Improve security

    Reduce the risk of your bike being stolen by fitting a Thatcham-approved alarm or lock and storing your bike in a locked garage overnight.

  3. Cut down on extras

    Adding optional extras to your policy, such as protected no claims or leathers cover, can increase the cost of your premium.

  4. Take a motorbike training course

    Advanced riding courses can help you gain experience and further your skills, but not all insurers offer a discount for the extra experience. You'll need to weigh up the cost of the course versus the reduction you get.

  5. Reduce your annual mileage

    The less time you spend on the road, the less likely you are to need to make a claim. But always be honest with your insurer about your annual mileage.

  6. Choosing the right bike

    Smaller motorbikes tend to have less powerful engines, which means your insurance might be less expensive. They're usually cheaper to repair or replace too.

  7. Build your no-claims history

    A riding history without claims can get you a no-claims discount (NCD). But it'll usually have to be earned on a bike, not a car or other vehicle.

  8. Avoid modified and unusual motorbikes

    Having a motorbike with lots of modifications will make you premiums more expensive. They make your bike more expensive to repair, or replace, and more attractive to thieves.

  9. Pay annually

    It’s cheaper to pay annually, as paying monthly means you’ll be charged interest.

Motorbike insurance upgrades and additional cover

You can upgrade your cover with policy extras if you need them, but you'll have to pay extra for them. Learn more about the extras you can get to supplement your policy.


Breakdown cover

Breakdown cover can assist you if your bike breaks down at home or on the roadside. A mechanic will come out to fix your bike or tow you to a garage if it can’t be repaired immediately. Basic breakdown cover might not include breaking down at home, abroad or because of misfuelling.

European travel cover

Comprehensive bike insurance policies may only offer third party cover when riding in EU countries. And there might be restrictions to how many days you can travel abroad on your bike too. You’ll need to add travel cover to your policy to get the same level of cover as your UK policy.

Helmets and leathers cover

Bike gear’s expensive. Luckily, you can insure your protective clothing for extra peace of mind. This’ll cover damage to things like your helmets, boots, gloves and other protective riding gear. But not theft. Most policies offer around £1,500 cover. Check policy details before you buy.

Legal protection

Legal protection covers the cost of pursuing at-fault parties for things like loss of earnings and travel expenses following an accident. Your policy will only cover you up to a limited amount - usually between £50,000 to £100,000 but each insurer will differ. Also, they'll likely only take legal proceedings if there’s a reasonable chance of success.

Key cover

You can add cover for lost or stolen keys, so if yours go missing your insurer will cover the cost of getting the key and locks replaced. Check how much you're covered for though, as there’s likely to be a limit.

Personal accident cover

Personal accident cover offers compensation for serious injury or death after a motorbike accident when you can’t claim from a third party.

Pillion cover

You’ll need pillion cover to carry passengers, even if you only do it occasionally. You must have a full motorbike or moped licence for the class of bike you’re riding to legally carry a passenger. Provisional licence holders can’t carry passengers under any circumstances.

Protected no claims

If you have a no claims discount, you can pay extra to protect it. That way, if you need to claim on your insurance you won’t lose all of the years of no claims you’ve built up. The number of years bonus you can keep, and the amount of claims you can make while protecting your discount vary between insurers.

Classes of motorbike use

When you compare quotes, you’ll be asked how you intend to use your motorbike. There are four options: social, social including commuting, business use and delivery use.

Social only

For riders who use their bike for social, domestic and pleasure (SD&P) purposes. Things like leisurely rides, or trips to the shops. It excludes use of a motorbike for business purposes or commuting to and from a place of work.

Social including commuting

This covers social use of your motorbike, as well as commuting to and from a single place of work. If you regularly travel to more than one place of work, you’ll need business use cover instead.

Business use

For riding to multiple places of work. You’ll need it if you regularly travel to meet with clients, visit multiple offices, or travel for training purposes. It’ll also include cover for social use.

Delivery use

This class covers you for the carriage and delivery of low costs goods such as food or parcels. It may also include cover for occupations such as door-to-door salesmen.

motorbike insurance

Comparing quotes is still a great way to save on your bike insurance

If your current insurer was the cheapest option last year, it doesn’t mean they will be again this time. Comparing prices from multiple providers could land you a much cheaper deal. Also a few simple changes – like improving your bike’s security, getting more riding experience and reducing the amount of unnecessary extras – can all add up to more great savings.
Ryan Fulthorpe - Go.Compare motoring expert

Policies for you, whatever bike you ride

If you’re looking for something more specific than standard motorcycle insurance, there are other policies available for many types of riders and bikes.

Classic motorbikes

If your bike is over 20 years old, it may qualify for classic or vintage bike insurance. Cover may include discounts for low mileage, and an agreed value of the amount you’ll be paid in the event of a total loss claim.

Classic motorbike insurance >

Learner insurance

It’s perfectly legal to get out on the road unsupervised while you’re learning to ride a motorbike. You’ll still need to have adequate insurance and a provisional license, however.

Learner insurance >

Multi-bike insurance

If you have more than one bike in your household, you can usually insure them all under one policy with multi-bike insurance. You’ll usually get a discount and all of your cover documents will be in one place.

Multi-bike insurance >

Quad bike insurance

Standard motorbike insurance won’t cover a quad bike - you’ll need specialist cover instead. Quad bike insurance can cover your quad for theft, fire or damage on and off the road.

Quad bike insurance >

Scooters and moped insurance

Protection for smaller engine two-wheeled vehicles. Due to their low speeds, they’re suitable for learners and are often cheaper to insure than more powerful motorbikes.

Scooter insurance >

Short-term motorbike insurance

Temporarily covers your motorcycle for a day, a week, a month or several months. You may need it if you're borrowing someone else’s bike, or riding a replacement bike.

Short-term motorbike insurance >

Trike insurance

Trikes aren’t usually covered by standard bike insurance. But some providers may cover standard production models from recognised manufacturers.

Trike insurance >

Young or new riders insurance

Insurance can be costly if you’re a new or young rider. Lack of experience and perceived risk all contribute towards your premium. However, you could find the cover you need for less when you compare quotes with us.

Young riders insurance >

[1]Go.Compare introduces customers to Vast Visibility Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Go.Compare's relationship with Vast Visibility Limited is limited to that of a business partnership, no common ownership or control rights exist between us. Please note, we cannot be held responsible for the content of external websites and by using the links stated to access these separate websites you will be subject to the terms of use applying to those sites.

[2]50% of customers paid £213.99 or less on average through vast:visibility motorbike insurance in August 2022. Based on average premiums paid in the month of August 2022, excluding cancellations. Figures correct at 08 September 2022.

[3]As of September 2022, there are 29 active motorbike insurers on the panel at vast:visibility.

Page last reviewed: 02 February 2023

Page reviewed by Ryan Fulthorpe