Motorbike Insurance Policy Types

Motorbikes can be a great alternative to cars: they are more fuel efficient, easy to maintain plus, they’re fun when you’re out on the open road.

And for many, their motorbike is more than just a vehicle for getting around on. Riding is a part of life with no car being able to quite compare to the freedom and excitement.

Making sure you have the right insurance for your two wheels is therefore essential. And because every bike and individual’s needs are different, it’s important to ensure you get the right level of cover for you.

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Third-party motorbike insurance

With motorbike insurance to a certain degree, you get what you pay for. The cheapest policies offer the lowest level of cover. If you want to be comprehensively insured it will cost you more.

Third party bike insurance offers the most basic level of cover and is therefore normally the cheapest form of insurance. This will cover damage to a third party’s bike, property or to the third party themselves. Therefore if the worst was to happen and you were to be involved in an accident, this would pay out for damage to the other vehicle as well as any of their medical expenses that came about as a result. It also means that if you had a pillion rider and they were injured in the accident, this policy would also extend to cover them.

However, the major disadvantage of third party bike insurance is that is does not cover your bike or your own medical expenses. If you own a top-of the range bike it is therefore probably advisable to go for a higher level of cover. Scrimping on protection in order to cut costs could prove a false economy if you end up having to make a claim.

Third Party Fire and Theft Bike Insurance

Despite all the best safeguards being taken, there is always a chance that your bike could be stolen. As well as covering all that a basic third party policy does, third party fire and theft bike insurance will ensure you are covered if your bike is stolen or damaged by fire. So this policy offers slightly more than a basic third party policy and would give you further reassurance.

For a more detailed look at this level of cover, visit our third party fire and theft bike insurance page.

Fully Comprehensive Bike Insurance

This type of cover will afford you the maximum level of cover, and as such can cost significantly more than the other types of insurance.
However, it is important to realise that although the policy may cost more, if the unforeseen were to happen, you could be thanking your lucky stars that you paid that bit extra.

As well as covering all of the above, a fully comprehensive bike insurance policy will also pay out for damage to your own bike as a result of an accident you are at fault for.

As with most insurance policies, there are a number of extras that will increase your premium that bit more but could be worth considering for added peace of mind. These could include things such as motorcycle breakdown cover, legal expenses, or a courtesy bike while yours is being repaired.

However, it is essential that when you are shopping around for insurance you check the small print and ensure you are comparing like with like. Some policies will include elements of cover as standard that you might have to pay extra for with another insurer. Never assume – always read the small print.

Get the best deal for you

There is no definitive answer as to which insurance policy is the best as it is entirely dependent on each individual’s needs.

Cheapest isn’t necessarily best, but that doesn’t mean that the most expensive quote offers superior cover. Whatever type of bike insurance you opt for; make sure you get the right level of protection and the right price. A simple way of doing this is by using MoneySupermarket’s dedicated bike insurance comparison website. You will be able to shop around and compare quotes, to find the best policy for you.