Classic motorcycle insurance

Classic motorcycle insurance offers financial protection for older bikes against unforeseen incidents such as damage and theft.

Being a classic bike owner can be a labour of love. Tracking down that very specific part or paint colour might be difficult, but insuring your beloved bike doesn’t have to be.

Whether you like to ride on the open road or only display your bike at shows, we can help you search for the right cover for you.

At Compare the Market, we compare classic bike insurance quotes for bikes manufactured from 1970 onwards.

Yes, if you ride or even park your classic motorbike on the road, you’re legally required to have at least third-party insurance cover.

Even if you don’t ride your classic motorcycle on public roads, it’s still a good idea to consider insuring your bike against damage and theft. This is particularly important if you’ve invested a lot of time and money in it.

A classic motorcycle is a motorbike that’s reached a certain age. Older bikes can also be described as ‘modern classics’, ‘vintage’ or ‘antique’ – although everyone seems to have a different idea of what that means.

When comparing vintage motorcycle insurance policies, it’s worth checking how your provider defines this.

When does a motorcycle become a classic in the UK?

There isn’t a set definition of how old a motorcycle has to be before it becomes classic. However, you can expect your motorbike to be classed as classic when it reaches 20 to 30 years old.

Yes, both standard and classic motorbike insurance are treated differently because the bikes themselves are usually used differently. The main differences include:

Cost

Classic motorcycle premiums are often cheaper than standard policies. That’s because owners of classic bikes tend to be more experienced riders, travel less and take good care of their vehicle. So, they’re seen as less of a risk to insurance providers. This makes it possible to find cheap classic bike insurance.

Mileage

Unlike standard bikes, classics aren’t normally used for everyday travel or commuting. They’re more likely to be reserved for special trips and weekend use. This means you can typically set lower mileage limits when taking out a policy, which could keep your premiums down.

Agreed value

With classic motorcycle insurance, you’ll be given the option of setting an agreed value. This is the amount you’ll be paid if your bike is stolen or written off, instead of its market value. This could be worth considering because well-maintained classic bikes tend to hold their true value well.

Age limits

Many classic motorcycle insurance providers will only cover policyholders who are aged 25 or over. With a standard motorcycle policy, you can be insured from the age of 16.

As with standard bike insurance, there are three levels of cover for classic motorbikes:

Third-party

Third-party classic motorbike insurance is the legal minimum level of cover required for your bike. It offers cover for any damage you do to someone else, their vehicle or their property.

However, it won’t cover you for the cost of repairing any damage to your own motorbike. You’ll have to pay for this yourself.

Third-party, fire and theft

This includes everything in third-party insurance, but also covers you if your classic bike is stolen or damaged by fire.

It won’t pay out for repairs if your bike is damaged in an accident that was your fault.

Comprehensive

This is the highest level of insurance available. Cover includes third-party, fire and theft, plus any damage done to your classic motorcycle in an accident.

As you’re covered for a variety of scenarios, this type of policy is a must if your classic is particularly valuable.

Classic motorbike insurance varies from provider to provider, but you’ll usually be able to add these optional extras to your policy for an extra cost:

• Helmet and leathers cover – this could offer cover if accessories like helmets, leathers, gloves and boots are damaged, lost or stolen.

• Events cover – this is a special level of cover if you take your classic motorbike to rallies, events and trade shows.

• International cover for travelling abroad with your motorbike - make sure you get the right insurance that will cover you in the country you’re travelling to, and be aware of any limits or restrictions, too.

• Pillion cover – protects you against any injuries to your passengers. If you regularly have passengers riding with you, you should definitely add this on as most standard policies don’t include it.

• Modifications cover – if you make any changes to your bike, you might need an extra policy to cover you.

• Breakdown cover – can get you back up and running by the roadside or get you back home, if you’re unlucky enough to have an issue with your bike.

• Personal accident cover – protects you for medical expenses and compensation for injuries like loss of limbs, permanent disability and even death.

• Motor legal protection – covers you against any of the legal expenses that can rack up when you need to make a claim after an accident. Whether you make the claim or one is made against you, this could protect you.

It depends on your individual circumstances, but classic bike insurance could be less expensive than normal bike cover because:

• Riders are considered more careful drivers – classic bikers tend to be more experienced and take greater care with their machines.

• Classic bikes are less likely to be stolen – they’re much easier to trace than normal bikes, so much harder to sell on.

If you’re lucky enough to own more than one classic motorcycle, you could compare multi-bike quotes to see if you could save money. Classic motorcycle insurance on multi-bike policies will cover you for the same things. But you might get a discount for insuring them with the same provider.

What affects the cost of classic motorcycle insurance?

Although vintage vehicles are generally seen as less of a risk to insure, the cost can also be affected by:

• Rider’s age – younger and less experienced riders typically pay a higher premium.

• Where you live – if you live in an area with a high crime rate, you’re more likely to claim for theft or vandalism.

• Make and model of bike – the most powerful bikes are more expensive and more likely to be involved in an accident, so your insurance tends to be higher.

• Value of the bike – spare parts for classic bikes might be in short supply and expensive to obtain.

• Modifications – modified bikes may go faster or be more attractive to thieves, resulting in you being considered more of a risk.

How can I get cheap classic motorcycle insurance?

As well as setting a limited mileage on your classic bike, you may be able to lower the cost of your insurance policy by improving its security.

Consider:

• Adding an immobiliser

• Making sure you have an alarm

• Integrating motorbike tracking tech

• Keeping your classic bike in a locked garage.

Some insurance providers also offer a discount if you’re a member of a classic motorcycle club, so remember to let your provider know.

Before starting your classic bike insurance quote, make sure you have details of:

1. The make and model of your motorbike – plus the registration number.

2. The year it was manufactured.

3. Any modifications after manufacture.

4. The value of your motorcycle and the date you bought it, if applicable.

5. How long you’ve had your motorbike licence.

6. Any claims or convictions.

7. Any additional riders, including any claims and convictions they may have had.

8. Any special security devices you carry or have had fitted to your motorbike.