Motorcycle MOT checker
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COMPARE CHEAP MOTORBIKE INSURANCE QUOTES[1]
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.
We just need a few details to get your bike insurance quotes:
For social, commuting or business purposes
Name, address, reg number and where you keep your bike
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.
Including any past claims or convictions they have had
How much is it currently worth?
You’ll need to check the T&Cs to find out exactly what’s not covered. But here are some common exclusions:
According to vast:visibility, the average cost of fully comprehensive motorbike insurance is £180 a year.[2]
Third party, fire and theft (TPFT) cover costs more at £315, and third party only (TPO) is more again, at £316.
The price of your own bike insurance will depend partly on how risky it is to cover you. It’s affected by things like:
Most motorbike insurance policies will cost you a few hundred pounds. But there are ways you could reduce the cost. Try these tips:
Use comparison sites like ours to find the right cover for the best price. Probably the easiest way to save.
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.
Adding optional extras to your policy, such as protected no claims or leathers cover, can increase the cost of your premium.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Having a motorbike with lots of modifications will make your premiums more expensive. They make your bike more expensive to repair, or replace, and more attractive to thieves.
It’s cheaper to pay annually, as paying monthly means you’ll be charged interest.
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 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.
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.
Bike gear is 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 worth of cover. Check policy details before you buy.
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.
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 offers compensation for serious injury or death after a motorbike accident when you can’t claim from a third party.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This class covers you for the carriage and delivery of low-cost goods such as food or parcels. It may also include cover for occupations such as door-to-door salesmen.
If you’re looking for something more specific than standard motorcycle insurance, there are other policies available for many types of riders and bikes.
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.
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 licence, however.
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.
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.
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.
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 >
Trikes aren’t usually covered by standard bike insurance. But some providers may cover standard production models from recognised manufacturers.
Insurance can be costly if you’re a new or young rider. Lack of experience and increased perceived risk all contribute towards your premium. However, you could find the cover you need for less when you compare quotes with us.
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Page last reviewed: 11 August 2023
Page reviewed by Holly Thomas
*In January 2023, the average median cost of a third party only motorbike insurance policy at vast:visibility was £316. The average median cost of a third party, fire & theft motorbike insurance policy was £315. The average median cost of fully comprehensive motorbike insurance policy was £180.
[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 £243 or less on average through vast:visibility motorbike insurance in January 2023. Based on average median premiums paid in the month of January 2023, excluding cancellations.
[3]As of September 2023, there are 29 active motorbike insurers on the panel at vast:visibility.