Motorbike insurance
Compare cheap motorbike insurance quotes.[1]
On average, our customers paid £357 for their motorbike policy[2]
[2]Based on median price paid for motorbike insurance sales made through Go.Compare between October and December 2024 for annual payment type only. Cancellations included.
Compare motorbike insurance with us
Motorbike insurance is as much of an essential as your helmet. But it doesn’t have to cost the earth. We’ll help you find affordable cover from 40 top UK bike insurers.[3]
1
Tell us a bit about you
Your name, age, location, and details of any previous claims.
2
Tell us about your bike
The make, model, value and whether it’s an official UK model.
3
How you use your bike
Whether it’s used primarily for social riding, commuting, or business, and how many miles you’ll ride a year.
3
The cover you need
Choose a fully comp, third party fire and theft, or third party only policy, along with any add-ons you need.
Our motorbike insurance partners
We compare quotes from 40 UK motorbike insurance companies, including:[3]
Join thousands of customers who rated Go.Compare excellent^
4.7 out of 5
What are the different levels of motorcycle cover?
There are three levels of motorcycle insurance: 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 – consider the level of cover, exclusions, and the insurer’s reputation to find the best policy for your needs.
Comprehensive
This is the most extensive type of cover you can get. It covers you for:
- Damages to your bike and any third party, should you cause an accident.
- Fire damage, theft and the cost of a replacement bike if yours is written off.
Despite offering the most cover, it’s generally the cheapest option.
Third party, fire and theft (TPFT)
This will cover you for:
- Third party, fire and theft (TPFT) will cover you for damages caused to other people, vehicles or property should you cause an accident.
- You’ll also be covered if your bike is stolen, damaged due to an attempted theft or damaged by fire.
- If you’re responsible for an accident, TPFT won’t cover the costs of repairing or replacing your bike. You’d need comprehensive cover for this.
Third party only (TPO)
This is the most basic level of cover you can get:
- It’s the minimum level of cover required by law.
- It’ll only cover damage and injury you cause to others.
- It won’t cover the costs of repairing or replacing your own motorbike if it gets damaged or stolen.
How much is motorbike insurance?
According to vast:visibility, the median cost of fully comprehensive motorbike insurance is £271 a year.*[4]
Other types of cover are more expensive. Third party, fire and theft (TPFT) cover costs £515, and third party only (TPO) costs £555.
The price of your own bike insurance will depend partly on how risky it is to cover you. It’s affected by things like:
- Your age
- Your job
- Engine size
- Time you usually ride
- Security
- Claims history
- Annual mileage
*[4]Between October and December 2024, the median cost of a third party only motorbike insurance policy at vast:visibility was £555. The median cost of a third party, fire & theft motorbike insurance policy was £515. The median cost of fully comprehensive motorbike insurance policy was £271.
How could I get cheaper motorcycle insurance?
Most motorbike insurance policies will cost you a few hundred pounds. But there are ways you could reduce the cost. Try these tips:
1
Pay annually
It’s cheaper to pay annually, as paying monthly means you’ll be charged interest.
2
Take a motorbike training course
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 in premium you get.
3
Reduce your annual mileage
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.
4
Choosing the right bike
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.
5
Improve security
Reduce the risk of your bike being stolen by fitting a Thatcham-approved alarm or locking and storing it in a locked garage overnight.
6
Build your no-claims history
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.
7
Avoid modified and unusual motorbikes
Having a motorbike with lots of modifications will make your premiums more expensive. That’s because they make your bike more expensive to repair, or replace, and more attractive to thieves.
Find more tips on how to cut the costs of your bike insurance premiums in our guide.
Frequently asked questions
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
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.
European travel cover
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.
Helmets and leathers cover
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
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.
Key cover
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
Personal accident cover offers compensation for serious injury or death after a motorbike accident when you can’t claim from a third party.
Pillion cover
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.
Protected no claims
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.
Classes of motorbike use
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.
Social only
For riders who use their bike for social, domestic and pleasure (SD&P) purposes. Things like leisurely rides, or trips to the shops or to visit family and friends. It excludes use of a motorbike for business purposes or commuting to and from a place of work.
Social including commuting
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.
Business use
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.
Delivery 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.
Comparing quotes is still a great way to save on your bike insurance
If your current insurer was the cheapest option last year, it doesn’t mean they will be again for the following year. Comparing prices from multiple providers could land you a much cheaper deal. Also a few simple changes – like improving your bike’s security, getting more riding experience and reducing the amount of unnecessary extras – can all add up to more great savings.
Tom Banks – Go.Compare motoring expert
Policies for you, whatever bike you ride
If you’re looking for something more specific than standard motorcycle insurance, there are other policies available for many types of riders and bikes.
Classic motorbikes
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.
Learner insurance
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.
Multi-bike insurance
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.
Quad bike insurance
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.
Scooters and moped insurance
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.
Short-term motorbike insurance
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.
Trike insurance
Trikes aren’t usually covered by standard bike insurance. But some providers may cover standard production models from recognised manufacturers.
Young or new riders insurance
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is motorbike insurance?
Motorbike insurance is an agreement between you and an insurer – you agree to pay a monthly or yearly fee and the insurer agrees to cover the cost of certain damages covered by the policy.
Generally, motorbike insurance covers damage due to theft, fire, road accidents and vandalism. You can usually get extra cover too for things like legal expenses, which will add to the cost of the policy.
Is motorbike insurance a legal requirement?
Yes. If you want to ride your bike on the road, you’ll need at least third party cover.
What's usually excluded from motorbike insurance?
You’ll need to check the T&Cs to find out exactly what’s not covered. But here are some common exclusions:
- Wear and tear: For example, dents and scrapes from everyday use.
- Negligence: Like leaving your key in the ignition of an unoccupied bike.
- Intentional damage: If you or anyone else on the policy purposely damages the bike.
- Riding under the influence: As well as being illegal, drink or drug driving is also dangerous and unsurprisingly not covered by insurers.
- Racing or other high-risk activities: Standard insurance says no. But you might be able to get specialist cover for this.
- Modifications: Modified bikes might be covered as a whole, but some insurers won’t pay to specifically replace or repair the modified parts.
Can I insure multiple bikes on one policy?
Yes. Some insurers will offer insurance that covers more than one motorbike. It can be cheaper than insuring each bike individually, so it’s worth comparing both options to find the right one for you.
Can I ride someone else’s bike if I have insurance?
If you’re an experienced rider with comprehensive insurance, you might have cover to ride other bikes. It’ll be third party only, and there for emergencies rather than to ride another bike all the time.
Not all insurers offer cover, however, so check policy documents before you think about getting on someone else’s bike.
If you find you’re not covered, short-term motorbike insurance is a solution. You can get cover from days to months. And the cover is almost always comprehensive.
Compare motorbike insurance quotes and see if you could save
Ride with peace of mind knowing you’ve found the right cover for the right price
Go.Compare awards and accreditations
We’re chuffed to say we’ve received some snazzy recognition since we started in 2006. Here’s a bit more about quote.me awards and accreditations:
We’re authorised and regulated by the FCA, which oversees financial services firms and markets in the UK. That means you can compare quotes and get cover with confidence.
We hear you – ‘But you’re not an insurer?’ you say. And you’re right. But our shared goal of doing right by customers is why we’re the only comparison site to be invited to join them.
We work with the IFB to fight against fraud in the insurance industry. We use their specialist fraud intelligence and data to improve our systems and raise awareness of scams.
Page last reviewed: 28 January 2025
Page reviewed by Tom Banks
^Average rating based on 131,961 Trustpilot reviews across all Go.Compare services, correct as of 07/04/2025. The score 4.7 corresponds to the Star Label “Excellent”.
[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]Based on median price paid for motorbike insurance sales made through Go.Compare between October and December 2024 for annual payment type only. Cancellations included.
[3]As of 6 February 2025, there are 40 active motorbike insurance brands on the panel at vast:visibility.
*[4]Between October and December 2024, the median cost of a third party only motorbike insurance policy at vast:visibility was £555. The median cost of a third party, fire & theft motorbike insurance policy was £515. The median cost of fully comprehensive motorbike insurance policy was £271.