At a glance
There are three types of motorbike cover: third-party, third-party, fire and theft, and comprehensive.
It’s a legal requirement to have motorcycle insurance in the UK.
How you use your bike will impact the cost of your motorbike insurance.
The easiest way to find the right cover is to compare a range of quotes.
Do I need motorbike insurance?
Yes. If you’re riding your motorbike on UK roads, it’s a legal requirement to have motorcycle insurance.
The only exception is if you’ve declared your bike off the road and have a SORN (Statutory Off-Road Notification) to prove it.
If you’re caught riding without motorbike insurance, you could get a fine of up to £300 and at least six penalty points on your licence. And if you end up in court, you could face an unlimited fine, be disqualified from riding or have your bike confiscated.
What levels of motorbike insurance are available?
There are three levels of motorcycle cover to choose from:
Third-party only (TPO)
This is the minimum legal requirement and covers compensation for injury or damage caused to other people and their property. It won’t cover damage to you or your bike.
Third-party fire and theft (TPFT)
Offers the same benefits as third-party, plus cover if your bike is damaged by fire or is stolen.
Comprehensive
Includes all the features of third-party, fire and theft, plus cover for your own bike even in accidents that are your fault.
Comprehensive bike insurance might also cover vandalism and the cost of medical expenses if the accident wasn’t your fault.
According to government data, motorcyclists are one of the most vulnerable road users. They’re harder to spot and aren’t protected from impacts in the same way that other vehicle drivers are. So, having comprehensive insurance may be worth it.
Also bear in mind that third-party cover isn’t always the cheapest motorbike insurance. There are lots of factors that affect the cost of motorcycle cover. So, check the prices for all three levels when you compare quotes.
Do I need pillion cover for passengers?
Yes. If you want to carry passengers on your bike, you’ll need to check your policy to see whether you have pillion cover. It’s not typically included in standard policies.
If you don’t have pillion insurance, you’ll need to ask your insurance provider to add it, possibly at an extra cost.
If you carry a passenger and you don’t have pillion cover, your bike insurance could be invalidated.
Does what I use my bike for affect my insurance?
Yes, it could do. When you ask for a bike insurance quote, you’ll need to say how you use your bike. The four main categories of use are:
Social, domestic and pleasure – this covers day-to-day activities, such as visiting friends and family and journeys made for leisure purposes.
Social, domestic, pleasure and commuting – this covers leisure use, plus commuting to and from a single permanent place of work. If you use your bike to get to a train station as part of your usual commute to work, then park it there, this will usually be covered.
Business use – if you use your bike for business travel, for example you travel between different offices or visit customers, you’ll need business bike insurance. Business cover can be extended to include your spouse and/or additional riders.
Dispatch riding – this will cover you if your main role at work is to deliver or pick up packages or documents.
What else should I consider when insuring my motorbike?
You may want to include optional add-ons like cover for your leathers and helmet, personal accident cover and legal expenses cover in your policy. We’ll ask you about these when you compare with us.
It might also be worth thinking about taking out breakdown cover for your bike. This can be extremely helpful if you get stranded by the roadside at night or in bad weather. Again, we’ll ask you whether you want this when you compare.
It’s also invaluable if you’re taking your bike overseas. And on that note, if you’re planning a motorbike trip to the Continent, you should consider European motorbike cover.
How can I find the right bike insurance for me?
Here at Compare the Market, we make it easy to compare motorbike insurance quotes from a range of the UK’s most trusted providers.
Just give us a few details about you and your bike, and we’ll generate a list of quotes, along with key policy features.
Choose the one you’re interested in and follow the link to the provider’s website to make your purchase.
Looking for something else?
With more than eight years’ experience in writing and sub-editing content, Karen started her career in fashion before making the move to insurance. She now specialises in producing clear, engaging content that helps people make better financial decisions.
Karen’s areas of expertise include insurance products, such as car insurance, travel insurance and life insurance, as well as utilities such as energy comparison.
Stephen Maunder is an experienced personal finance editor, having spent more than a decade working for consumer print and online titles. He won several industry awards for his personal finance features at Which?, before becoming Deputy Editor at Compare the Market.
Amy helps make sure you get the best value when choosing insurance. Thanks to more than four years’ experience at Compare the Market, she understands what people look for, working closely with insurance providers to offer you deals and services that are fair, easy to understand and right for your needs.
Our content is written by a Compare the Market expert, backed by data and enhanced by technology. Find out how we ensure accuracy and quality in our Editorial Guidelines.
