Compare Motorbike Insurance

Motorcycle insurance providers offer the same three levels of bike cover as you would find when searching for other vehicle insurance quotes: third party; third party, fire and theft, and comprehensive.

By law, all motorcyclists must have third party motorbike insurance as a minimum. What this means is that other people and their vehicles are covered in the event of an accident but not you. So, if your bike damages someone else's car, your insurance policy will pay for the repairs to their car but not to your bike.

While third party only motorcycle insurance might sound tempting as it's usually cheaper, remember that you'll be left with the cost of any repairs to your own bike in the case of an accident. This could prove to be a false economy in the long run.

Third party, fire and theft motorcycle insurance offers the same third party cover as the basic coverage, but it also covers the cost of repairing or replacing your motorbike if it's stolen or damaged by fire. It's important to note that your bike won't be insured in the case of accidental damage.

Fully comprehensive is the final option for motorbike insurance and it covers everything above along with ensuring your own bike is insured if you have an accident. You can claim even if the accident was your fault, plus any vandalism or accidental damage can be claimed on your motorbike insurance policy.

Different types of motorbike are looked upon differently by motorcycle insurance companies, as some bikes are inherently more at risk of damage than others. Remember, the type of motorbike is only one element of a motorcycle insurance quote, but it certainly plays a part in it.

These are some common types of motorbikes and how they might stack up for bike insurers:

• Mopeds - These are cheap to buy and consequently cheaper to insure than other types of bike. However, as a favoured starter bike for younger riders, the insurance premiums could work out higher.
• Classic Bikes - While these can be valuable and that can raise the insurance costs, these bikes also tend to be rarely used. That can lower your premiums.
• Touring Bikes - These bikes are well-built and are designed to cover plenty of miles, but they don't have a reputation as a speedy bike. However, if you take your bike abroad, this will push your premiums up.
• Sports Bikes - As high-performance bikes built for speed, these are one of the most expensive types of motorbike you can insure.
• Cruisers - Heavy duty motorcycles like these modelled after the big American names are often customised, so bear in mind that this will bump up your premiums.
• Modified Bikes - Any motorcycle that's been modified or chopped from its original form into a different design will likely count as a custom-made design and that will bring its own insurance consequences with it.

As you can see, the type of motorcycle you have can drastically alter the chances of cheap insurance. If you're thinking of getting a bike, checking the level of insurance prior to purchase might be worthwhile. However, if you already have a bike from one of the more expensive categories, there are things you can do to make your motorbike insurance cheaper.

If you're looking to keep your motorcycle insurance premiums as low as possible, there are several things you can do to get cheaper bike cover.

How you use your motorbike will be a major factor in the cost of your insurance premiums. If you use it to commute to work then you'll necessarily be using it regularly, and this might increase your insurance premiums. Similarly, any type of business use might an have impact on your insurance.

Where you store your motorcycle will impact your insurance quote too. A motorbike that's kept in a secure location like a garage or a locked shed will be less susceptible to theft, but if it's kept on the roadside, your premiums will be higher. The area you live in and therefore where the bike primarily resides will also have an impact, especially if you live in a high crime area.

Similarly, the security features attached to your motorbike including locks, alarms and trackers will have a positive effect on your motorcycle insurance premiums.

Any bike with modifications is likely to involve higher premiums, and some insurance policies won't cover modified motorbikes or will be explicit about which elements they will and won't cover. This isn't to say you won't be able to get comprehensive cover for your motorcycle, but it might be trickier to find a quote.

If you have more than one motorbike, you might be interested in multi-bike policies. Some insurance providers will offer policies that cover more than one motorcycle, but it's important to read the small print.

Adding several motorcycles to one policy can mean the overall premiums are reduced, so it can be more economical to take out one policy covering all of your bikes. Another benefit of this is that all your motorbikes will be under the same policy, so you won't have to scramble to find the right policy documentation if you are involved in an accident.

That said, it doesn't always follow that multi-bike insurance policies are cheaper than taking out several single motorcycle policies with different providers. This might be the case if your storage locations differ in levels of security or if one of your bikes has modifications.

Remember, however, that you can only ride one bike at the same time, and this can help you think carefully about how much you intend to ride each motorcycle during an average year. Lowering the number of miles you do will lower your premiums.

To be sure about which type of policy is right for you, always check on your options for single policies and multi-bike policies. This allows you to compare motorcycle insurance effectively without feeling pressured into taking multiple policies with the same insurance company.

As with other types of insurance policy, there are extras you can add to your motorcycle insurance which might be attractive. However, the key with any insurance quote involving extras is to work out what you would pay for those additions separately - sometimes they may not be as good a deal as they seem on the surface.

These are some common additions, some specific to motorcycle insurance policies and others which are general to insurance quotes:

• Helmet and Leathers - This will cover your riding gear in case of an accident which, considering how expensive these can be to replace, may prove useful.
• Pillion Cover - Allows you to ride with passengers while still being fully covered, and not having this in a policy can lower your premiums.
• Sidecar Cover - Ensures any sidecar you ride with is covered by the extended policy.
• Breakdown Cover - Helps you get yourself and your bike out of a tricky situation if you break down.
• Legal Protection - This would cover the legal costs if a driver made a claim against you and you needed to defend yourself in court.
• Personal Accident Cover - This means that if you were permanently disabled or suffered a serious injury while in an accident involving your motorcycle.
• Wrong Fuel - If you put the wrong fuel in your bike, you'd be covered.

Remember, however, that you might already have some of these included with other insurance policies, perhaps ones for different types of vehicles or personal insurance cover.

As with other types of insurance, there is often a compulsory excess when you purchase motorbike insurance that prevents customers making claims for every scratch and bump.

The reasoning behind a compulsory excess is that it ensures the customer will pay a set amount towards any claim. This can be as low as £50, but it means the customer will be forced to contribute £50 to any claim they make, and so they'll think carefully about which claims they do make.

A voluntary excess takes this theory further by encouraging customers to commit to paying more in the event of a claim. So, with a voluntary excess of £200, a customer would pay £200 towards any claim. This obviously acts as even more of a deterrent to put in small claims, so insurance companies look favourably on those willing to accept a higher voluntary excess.

Beware though: while a higher voluntary excess on your motorcycle insurance may mean lower monthly premiums, it could leave you in a difficult situation if you did have an accident and were forced to pay the excess to get your motorbike fixed. A good general rule is to think about how much you could afford to pay in a typical month and set your excess at around that level, so you won't be caught short.

It's easy to apply for motorbike insurance online and you may even find there are better deals for buying your insurance online.

Once you've searched for the right motorcycle insurance policy for you and your bike, browse the results and find the closest fit to your needs. Once you click through to the insurance company's website, you'll find more details about the policy and you'll be invited to apply.

At this point, it's worth remembering that getting a quote from an insurance company doesn't impact on your credit score but putting in a full application for motorbike insurance will. So, only apply once you're certain that policy is the right one for you.

When you fill in the application form, you'll need all details of your motorbike and driving history to hand. It's important to be completely honest as you fill out all these details, and don't be tempted to underestimate the number of miles you ride in an average year or lie about where the bike will be stored. Any untruth on your insurance application has the potential to invalidate your motorcycle insurance policy later.

You should also read the small print before you sign up for any insurance policy, just so you know exactly what's covered and what isn't.