Motorbike Insurance
Compare Motorbike Insurance Quotes
You could pay less than £257* for your motorbike insurance.
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Compare affordable quotes from up to 25 UK motorbike insurers, including;
What Is Motorbike Insurance?
Motorbike insurance is a legal requirement that covers you, your motorcycle and other road users if you’re involved in an accident, theft or damage.
Under the Road Traffic Act 1988, every motorbike ridden or kept on a public road in the UK must have at least third-party cover. Riding without insurance is a criminal offence that carries a fixed penalty of £300, six points on your licence and potential seizure of your bike.
The GOV.UK vehicle insurance rules apply to all powered two-wheelers, from 50cc mopeds to 1,000cc+ sportbikes. You can choose from three cover levels and a range of policy classes depending on how you use your bike.
How To Compare Motorbike Insurance Quotes At SimplyQuote.co.uk
Comparing quotes from multiple insurers is the fastest way to find cover that matches your bike, your riding profile and your budget.
Enter your details
You’ll need your bike’s registration or make and model, your licence type (CBT, A1, A2 or full A), years of riding experience, annual mileage estimate and where the bike is kept overnight.
Choose cover level
Decide between third-party only, third-party fire and theft, or comprehensive. Your choice affects both the premium and the protection you get if something goes wrong.
Compare quotes
Enter your details once and compare prices from up to 25 UK motorbike insurers. Look beyond the headline price and check excess amounts, cover limits and any exclusions before choosing.
Buy online
Pick the add-ons that suit your riding, such as breakdown cover or helmet and leathers protection. Once you’re happy with the policy, buy it directly through the provider.
What Cover Levels Are Available?
UK motorbike insurance comes in three tiers, each offering a different balance of protection and cost.
The structure mirrors car insurance, but premiums are calculated using engine size, bike type and rider experience rather than vehicle value alone.
Comprehensive cover
Covers damage to your own bike, theft, fire and third-party claims. It’s the broadest protection and often includes windscreen, personal belongings and courtesy bike cover. Despite the name, comprehensive cover isn’t always the most expensive option. Insurers sometimes price it lower than TPFT because riders who choose it tend to make fewer claims.
Third-party, fire and theft (TPFT)
Covers claims from other road users, plus damage or loss to your bike from fire or theft. It won’t pay out for accidental damage you cause to your own motorcycle.
Third-party only (TPO)
The minimum legal requirement. It pays for damage or injury you cause to others but offers no protection for your own bike. TPO is common among riders with older or lower-value motorcycles where the cost of comprehensive cover outweighs the bike’s value.
What each level covers
| Cover Level | Your Bike (Accident) | Your Bike (Theft/Fire) | Third-Party Claims |
| Comprehensive | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| TPFT | No | Yes | Yes |
| TPO | No | No | Yes |
Which Policy Classes Do You Need?
Your policy class tells the insurer how you use your bike, and using the wrong class can invalidate your cover.
Social, domestic and pleasure
Covers leisure riding, weekend trips and visiting friends or family. It does not cover commuting to a fixed place of work.
Social and commuting
Adds cover for riding to and from a single workplace. This is the most popular class for riders who commute by bike to save on fuel and parking costs.
Business use
Covers riding between multiple work sites, client visits or work-related travel. Needed if your employer requires you to ride for business purposes during the working day.
Courier and hire and reward
If you deliver parcels or food by motorcycle, you need hire and reward insurance. Standard social or commuting policies exclude carrying goods for payment.
What Types Of Motorbike Can You Insure?
Specialist policies exist for almost every type of powered two-wheeler, from learner mopeds to high-performance sportbikes.
Mopeds and scooters
Bikes up to 50cc with a maximum speed of 28mph. You can ride a moped from age 16 with a CBT certificate.
Moped insurance is typically the cheapest motorcycle cover because of the lower engine power and top speed.
125cc bikes
The most popular category for new riders. You can ride a 125cc on a CBT from age 17, though the certificate is only valid for two years before you need to retake it or pass a full test.
125cc bike insurance costs less than larger bikes but more than mopeds due to the higher top speed.
Quads and trikes
Three- and four-wheeled vehicles need specialist policies because they handle differently and carry different risk profiles.
Quad bike and ATV insurance covers both road-legal and off-road use depending on your policy.
Classic and vintage bikes
Bikes typically over 25 years old qualify for classic insurance.
Premiums are often lower because owners tend to ride fewer miles and store bikes securely, but agreed-value cover is important to protect against under-valuation.
Modified bikes
Aftermarket exhausts, engine tuning, cosmetic changes or suspension upgrades must be declared to your insurer.
Undeclared modifications can void your policy entirely. Some insurers specialise in modified bike cover and may offer better rates than standard providers.
Multi-bike policies
If you own more than one motorcycle, a multi-bike policy covers all of them under a single renewal date. This simplifies admin and often reduces the per-bike premium.
If you also insure a car, check whether a multi-car policy offers a combined discount.
What Does Motorbike Insurance Exclude?
Every policy has exclusions, and knowing what isn’t covered is just as important as knowing what is.
Common exclusions
Most policies won’t cover riding under the influence of alcohol or drugs, racing or track days (unless specifically added), use by unnamed riders on a named-rider policy, or deliberate damage.
If you’re caught riding without valid insurance, the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) can recover compensation costs from you directly.
Wear and tear
Insurance covers sudden events like accidents and theft. It won’t pay for mechanical breakdowns, tyre wear or engine failure caused by age or lack of maintenance.
Riding abroad without notification
UK policies provide minimum third-party cover in EU and EEA countries, but you must tell your insurer before travelling. Without notification, a claim abroad could be refused or limited to the legal minimum.
Related: What Is Impound Insurance?
What Add-Ons Should You Consider?
Add-ons let you build a policy around your riding style without paying for cover you don’t need.
Breakdown cover
Roadside assistance, recovery and onward travel if your bike breaks down. Some policies include home-start cover for breakdowns on your driveway.
Helmet and leathers cover
Pays to replace your helmet, jacket, gloves and boots if they’re damaged in an accident. Gear replacement can easily cost £500 to £1,000+, so this add-on often pays for itself.
Personal accident cover
Provides a lump-sum payout if you suffer a serious injury or death while riding. Amounts typically range from £5,000 to £30,000 depending on the insurer.
Legal expenses cover
Covers the cost of pursuing a claim against a third party after an accident that wasn’t your fault. Legal fees can run into thousands, so this is one of the most cost-effective add-ons.
No-claims discount protection
Protects your no-claims bonus if you make a claim. Building years of no-claims history can cut your premium by up to 65%, so protecting it makes sense for experienced riders.
European travel cover
Extends your full UK cover level to European countries for a set number of days per year. Worth adding if you ride abroad regularly, as the default minimum third-party cover offers limited protection.
Pillion passenger cover
Provides personal accident cover for your passenger. Standard policies cover third-party injury claims from your pillion, but this add-on provides additional protection.
Key replacement cover
Covers the cost of replacing lost or stolen keys and any lock or immobiliser changes. Modern motorcycle key fobs can cost £200 to £400+ to replace through a dealer.
How Much Does Motorbike Insurance Cost?
The average UK motorbike insurance premium is around £300 to £500 per year, but costs vary hugely depending on your age, bike and riding history.
Cost by age
| Age Group | Typical Annual Premium | Key Factor |
| 16-20 | £800 – £2,000+ | Limited experience, higher accident risk |
| 21-25 | £400 – £900 | Building no-claims, still statistically higher risk |
| 26-35 | £250 – £500 | Most riders hit their cheapest premiums here |
| 36-50 | £200 – £450 | Established no-claims, lower risk profile |
| 51-65 | £200 – £500 | Stable premiums, some increase for larger bikes |
| 66+ | £250 – £600 | Premiums may rise due to age-related risk factors |
Cost by bike type
| Bike Type | Typical Annual Premium | Insurance Group Range |
| 50cc moped | £150 – £400 | Groups 1-3 |
| 125cc commuter | £200 – £600 | Groups 2-6 |
| 300-650cc mid-range | £250 – £700 | Groups 6-12 |
| 600-1000cc sportbike | £500 – £1,500+ | Groups 12-17 |
| Touring/adventure | £300 – £800 | Groups 8-14 |
| Classic (25+ years) | £100 – £350 | Agreed value, limited mileage |
According to the ABI, riders aged 16 to 20 pay the highest premiums because they’re statistically more likely to be involved in accidents.
If you’re a young rider, comparing quotes is the single biggest thing you can do to keep costs down.
What does a real quote look like?
To give you an idea of what to expect, here’s a sample quote from a real comparison. A 32-year-old rider in Manchester with a 2021 Honda CB650R, five years’ no-claims discount, riding for commuting and pleasure, bike kept in a locked garage overnight:
| Detail | Quote |
| Cover level | Comprehensive |
| Annual premium | £247.50 |
| Compulsory excess | £150 |
| Voluntary excess | £200 |
| Breakdown cover | Included |
| Helmet and leathers | Up to £1,000 |
Sample quote for illustration only. Your premium will depend on your individual circumstances. Quotes compared via SimplyQuote, May 2026.
This rider’s cheapest quote came in well below the national average, largely because of the five years’ no-claims history, the garage storage, and the fact that a mid-range naked bike sits in a lower insurance group than a sportbike of the same engine size.
Motorbike insurance premiums typically drop during the winter months when fewer riders are on the road. If your renewal is coming up, comparing quotes now rather than waiting until spring could save you money.
How Can You Save On Motorbike Insurance?
Small changes to your policy, your bike or your riding habits can cut hundreds off your annual premium.
Compare quotes every renewal
Loyalty rarely pays with insurance. Comparing quotes at renewal typically saves £50 to £150 because new-customer pricing is almost always lower than auto-renewal offers.
Take an advanced riding course
Completing a course like the IAM RoadSmart or RoSPA advanced test proves to insurers that you’re a lower-risk rider. Many providers offer a 5% to 10% discount for advanced qualifications.
Increase your voluntary excess
Raising your voluntary excess from £100 to £300 can reduce your premium noticeably. Just make sure you can afford the total excess (compulsory + voluntary) if you need to claim.
Improve security
Fitting a Thatcham-approved disc lock, chain or ground anchor, and keeping your bike in a locked garage overnight, signals lower theft risk to insurers. Some won’t cover high-value bikes without approved security.
Limit your mileage
Lower annual mileage means less time on the road and fewer opportunities for accidents. Be honest with your estimate, because exceeding your declared mileage by a large margin could invalidate a claim.
Avoid unnecessary modifications
Performance modifications like aftermarket exhausts, ECU remaps or suspension upgrades push premiums up. Cosmetic-only changes usually have less impact, but you must still declare them.
Pay annually
Monthly payments include interest, typically adding 15% to 30% to the total cost. Paying in a single annual lump sum avoids these charges entirely.
Build your no-claims discount
Each claim-free year reduces your premium. After five years, your no-claims discount can cut costs by up to 65%. If you’re still building your riding history, a learner rider policy can help you start accumulating no-claims years from day one.
Who Needs Specialist Motorbike Cover?
Some riders need cover that goes beyond a standard policy, either because of their bike, their riding record or how they use it.
Convicted riders
If you have points on your licence for speeding (SP30), drink-driving (DR10) or other motoring offences, mainstream insurers may refuse cover or charge very high premiums. Specialist convicted driver insurance providers work with higher-risk profiles and can often find competitive quotes.
Motorcycle couriers
Delivering parcels or food by bike requires courier insurance with hire and reward cover. Standard social policies don’t cover you when carrying goods for payment, and riding without the right cover is both illegal and uninsured.
Motorcycle traders and dealers
If you buy, sell or repair motorcycles as a business, you need motorcycle trade insurance. It covers multiple bikes under one policy and includes road risk for test rides and customer demonstrations.
This is a specialist form of motor trade insurance designed specifically for motorcycle dealers, workshops and restorers.
*51% of consumers who received a quote for Motorbike Insurance through this service provided by Seopa Ltd. In May 2026 were quoted less than £256.34. The price you could achieve is dependent on your individual circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the Road Traffic Act 1988 requires at least third-party cover for every motorbike used or kept on a public road. Riding without it carries a £300 fixed penalty, six points and possible seizure.
No, car insurance only covers the vehicle named on the policy. You need a separate motorbike policy even if you hold a full car licence.
Not if the bike is only ever used on private land. However, if it’s kept on or near a public road, you must either insure it or file a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) with the DVLA.
Riders on a CBT certificate typically pay more than those with a full A licence because they have less training and experience. Passing your full test can reduce your premium.
Most insurers won’t transfer a motorbike no-claims bonus to a car policy, or vice versa. They treat them as separate risk categories.
Your insurer can void your policy, refuse a claim, or charge you the difference in premium. Always declare every modification, including cosmetic changes like custom paint or aftermarket mirrors.
Some insurers offer policies where you’re the main rider but not the registered keeper. This is common for bikes on finance or those owned by a family member.
Generally yes, a 125cc commuter costs roughly £200 to £600 per year compared to £500 to £1,500+ for a 1,000cc sportbike. Engine size and insurance group are the biggest price drivers.
An agreed-value policy pays out a pre-agreed amount if your bike is written off, rather than its market value at the time of the claim. This is common for classic and rare motorcycles where market value can be hard to determine.
The MIB compensates victims of accidents caused by uninsured or untraced drivers. If you ride without insurance and cause an accident, the MIB pays the victim and recovers the cost from you.
Yes, standard road insurance excludes racing, timed events and most track day use. You can buy standalone track day cover or add it as an optional extra.
