Bike Insurance

We’ve all seen the motorbikes which tear up and down our motorways weaving in and out of traffic. They just don’t seem safe to many people but, in the hands of trained drivers, they are perfectly reliable and safe. Even so, it is important, and indeed a legal imperative, to seek out insurance before you put your leathers on and fasten down your helmet. 

As with all other types of vehicle insurance which are available, there are three main categories of insurance which you can legally have- they go upwards in a sliding scale of how much they will cost you but also how much cover they will afford to you as well.



As well as these three basic types of insurance, bikers also need to consider whether they are going to insure their biking paraphernalia and equipment. Top of the range leathers and helmets do certainly not come cheap and, with many bikers taking their journeying seriously, they are well worth protecting. Different forms of biking content insurance can thus be found to be offered by many different insurance companies but this is not a universal trait of all policies, particularly the ones which are not fully comprehensive.

There are many policies out there which are specifically geared towards pro bikers or towards those who take their bikes very seriously- competition bikes or racing bikes must, however, seek out separate insurance as, clearly, regular insurance policies cannot cover vehicles which are so likely to be become damaged or be involved with some sort of accident. If you’ve shelled out loads for some new leathers, you might as well pay out a little bit more in order to have them insured and make sure that, should they get stolen or damaged, you will be able to replace them with relative ease. 

Third Party Bike Insurance

The lowest form of bike insurance which you can legally have is third party insurance. This is the same sort of third part insurance which you will have come across when looking at other types of motor vehicle insurance.  It means that, should you be unlucky enough to be involved in a collision, only the other party involved in the accident (if you are at fault) will be able to claim off your insurance. The other road user will be protected but any damage to yourself, your leathers or indeed your bike must be paid for out of your own pocket. Thus, it can seem like you are saving money when you first sign up to a third party policy but, especially when custom bikes can be so expensive to repair, you may well find yourself paying out much more money further down the line.  

Third Party Fire & Theft

The next step up the ladder of bike insurance is to go for third party theft and fire. This, as with all other types of motor vehicle insurance, does exactly what it says on the tin.  You get the third party cover which you do with the previously discussed type of bike insurance, but your vehicle will also be covered if it is stolen or if there is some sort of fire. However, you and your bike will still not be covered in the event of an accident occurring, it is still only the other road user who will be able to claim from your insurance should the accident be deemed to be your fault- again, whilst you do get slightly more cover with this type of insurance, you will likely end up paying out much more in the future if you are unlucky enough to have an accident.

The special add-ons of protecting your leathers etc will also probably not be available on this type of insurance, for that you would have to take the next step, go the extra mile down the insurance road so to speak, and get fully comprehensive insurance.

Comprehensive Bike Insurance

Fully comprehensive insurance is where you are completely covered under every eventuality (within reason). Other road users are covered, your own bike is covered in the event of fire or theft but, most importantly, you and your bike will also be covered should anything happen to you or your vehicle whilst out on the road. This means that, whilst premiums may well be higher, you will probably end up saving money in the long run. With a comprehensive policy you are also more likely to get the add-ons which you need, such as protection for your bike leathers and helmets.

If you have a fully customised bike then you may want to search for specific and specialist insurance which caters directly towards this market- normal bike insurance policies may well not be able to offer you the kind of cover which you both want and need. Read any policy very carefully before you sign and, of course, drive safely!