Motorcycle insurance groups

What are motorbike insurance groups?

All motorbikes are classified into insurance groups by insurers to help them calculate the cost of premiums.

Insurers use groups to grade and price motorbikes, based on performance and value. Putting bikes into these groups helps insurance providers to calculate premiums.

Motorbike insurance groups typically range from one up to 17, but some insurers have groups that go up to 22. Bikes that fall into the higher number groups are often more expensive and higher performance bikes.

Generally, the lower the group number the cheaper your insurance.

The insurance group your bike falls into will affect how much your premium will cost, but it’s only one factor. Your insurance price will also be affected by things like your riding history and where you live.

How can I check my motorbike insurance group?

You can’t really check it for yourself, because the way insurers categorise motorbikes varies, with each insurance provider having its own grading system.

The majority of motorbikes fall into insurance groups between three and 17, with only very small and cheap, or large and expensive bikes being in the groups at the extremes.

It’s far better to compare quotes for motorbike insurance to give you an accurate idea of how much you’ll pay.

What other factors affect the cost of motorbike insurance?

The insurance group your motorcycle falls into isn’t the only thing that determines how much you’ll need to pay for your insurance.

Other factors insurers use to calculate the cost of your premium include:

• Your age – Younger riders, especially those between the ages of 16 and 25, are considered higher risk and more likely to have an accident. This tends to make insurance more expensive, but after the age of 25 you’ll often find premiums drop significantly.
• Your experience – New riders are considered high risk by insurers, especially if they ride a high-powered bike. Starting out with a smaller engine capacity can help lower your risk, safely build your motorbiking experience, and reduce insurance costs. Experienced riders who have built up a good no-claims bonus, and motorcyclists who have taken advanced rider skills training, can get a discount with some insurers.
• The make, model and power of your motorbike – The more powerful, high performance and valuable your bike is, the higher your insurance premium will be. The age of your bike is also taken into account, with newer models more likely to be stolen and costing more to insure.
• Where you live and how much you ride – The levels of traffic and crime rate where you live can have a significant impact on the cost of your motorcycle insurance, as can how many miles you cover in a year.
• Where your bike’s kept – Storing your motorbike in a safe place like a secure garage, or if that’s not possible keeping it on a private driveway, lowers your risk. Good bike security, and having alarms and devices like immobilisers fitted, can also help reduce insurance costs.

Which motorbikes are in the lowest insurance groups?

Motorbikes are grouped based on their performance, value and age.

For a bike to be put into a low insurance group it would usually need to have a smaller engine capacity, such as 125cc. These motorcycles tend to fall into groups between three and six, depending on the insurer.

You’ll find bikes with 700cc engines or larger being put into groups between 17 and 22. It’s because they can accelerate at higher speeds, so they’re at greater risk of accidents and collisions. Motorcycles with bodywork that’s costly to repair or replace will also be expensive to insure.

How much will my motorbike insurance cost?

There’s no flat rate to pay for the insurance group your bike falls into and there are many other factors that will determine the cost of your premium:

• Your age
• Your riding experience
• Your no-claims bonus
• Where you live
• Whether you pay monthly or annually for insurance
• Any modifications
• Security measures
• The level of cover – comprehensive is the highest level, yet for many it’s also the cheapest

Looking for motorbike insurance?

There are plenty of different motorcycle insurance options and providers to choose from, and the insurance group your motorbike falls into isn’t the only factor that will affect the cost of your policy.

It’s best to shop around for quotes and find the right level of motorcycle insurance cover and premium cost to suit your needs and circumstances.