Engine size and speed
Moped engines go up to 50cc, with a top speed of 28mph. Scooter engines start at 50cc and go up to 750cc, with higher top speeds.
Moped insurance
Find affordable cover for your moped.
Do I need moped insurance in the UK?
Yes, you need moped insurance to ride on UK roads, whether you’re using your moped for leisure or commuting. It’s a legal requirement to have at least third-party insurance, which is the basic level of cover.
If you ride your moped without insurance you run the risk of:
A £300 fine
At least six points on your licence
Being disqualified from riding
Having your moped seized and possibly destroyed
Aside from legal compliance, moped insurance can protect you should you cause an accident or have your moped stolen.
💡 Top tip: You won’t need insurance if your moped is declared off the road with a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN).
What are the differences between a moped and a scooter?
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Design
Mopeds traditionally had pedals whereas scooters had a flat floor for your feet, but styles now vary.
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Cost
Mopeds are usually cheaper to buy and insure than scooters due to their lower power and top speed.
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Transmission type
Mopeds have automatic gears and are considered easier to ride, whereas a scooter can be manual or automatic.
What types of moped insurance can I get?
Moped insurance, like car insurance, has three different levels of cover:
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Third-party only
Covers you for damage done to another person and/or their vehicle, but not for damage done to your moped.
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Third-party, fire and theft
Offers the same cover as third-party only, plus protection if your moped is stolen or damaged by fire.
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Fully comprehensive
Provides protection for third-party damages, as well as accidental damage, vandalism, and repairs to your moped.
How much does moped insurance cost?
Your moped insurance costs will depend on a range of factors, including:
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Your age
Insurers see young or inexperienced riders as more at risk of being involved in a road accident and therefore charge them higher premiums.
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Your policy
As with other motor insurance,fully comprehensive cover will usually be the cheapest form of moped insurance.
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Your moped
Motorcycle insurers, like car insurers, sort their vehicles into motorcycle insurance groups, based on factors such as their size and speed. Bikes in lower insurance groups generally have smaller engines and usually qualify for the cheapest moped insurance quotes.
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Your mileage
The less time you spend on the road, the less likely you are to be involved in a road accident – and the cheaper your moped insurance could be. However, under-estimating your mileage could lead to claims being rejected.
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Your payments
As with other types of insurance, you can pay your premiums monthly or annually. But while monthly payments help to spread the cost, you pay more overall due to interest.
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Your excess
The voluntary excess is the amount you contribute towards the cost of any claims. Volunteering to pay more should result in a lower insurance premium.
How can I get cheaper moped insurance?
You can often lower your moped insurance quote by following these tips:
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Improve security
If you can keep your moped in a locked garage and fit a Thatcham-approved security device this should reduce the risk of it being stolen and potentially lower your premium.
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Remove extras
Think carefully about whether you need certain add-ons with your moped insurance. For example, you might not need cover for your helmet and leathers, depending on the cost.
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Avoid modifications
Avoid modifying your moped, especially making any changes to its speed, which will change its classification and likely raise your premium.
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Ride fewer miles
If you can reduce your estimated mileage, your insurer is likely to charge less in premiums as you are potentially less likely to have an accident and make a claim.
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Join an owners club
Some insurers offer a discount if you’re a member of a moped owners club as you’re seen as a responsible enthusiast who is likely to take better care of their moped.
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Choose fully comprehensive cover
Fully comprehensive moped insurance is often the cheapest option, as well as offering the highest level of cover.
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Build a no-claims bonus
If you go for at least 12 months without making a moped insurance claim, your insurer will apply a no-claims bonus (also known as a no-claims discount) to your premiums.
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Pay annually
Covering the entire cost of your annual moped insurance policy up front often works out cheaper than spreading it over 12 monthly instalments as you won’t pay interest.
What add-ons can I get with my moped insurance?
You can tailor your moped insurance to your needs by paying a bit more to add extra features to your policy. These include:
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Pillion cover
This covers you to take passengers on your This covers you to take passengers on your moped, although you’ll need a full licence to legally carry them..
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Helmet and leathers cover
This covers the cost of your helmet or riding leathers if they are damaged in an accident.
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Breakdown cover
Breakdown cover gives you roadside assistance if your moped breaks down.
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Riding abroad cover
If you want to take your moped abroad you may be able to add on cover but not if you only have a provisional licence or CBT certificate.
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Personal accident cover
Pays out a lump sum if you’re injured or killed on the road and a claim can’t be made from a third party.
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Legal protection
This covers the cost of legal fees you might face as a result of a motorbike incident which wasn’t your fault.
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Misfuelling
If you top up your moped with the wrong type of fuel, you’ll be able to claim for the cost of repairs.
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No-claims discount protection
This allows you to make a set number of claims per year (usually one or two) without affecting your no-claims discount.
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Key cover
Pays out if your moped keys are lost or stolen.
Do I need a licence to ride a moped?
Yes, you need a licence to ride a moped. The minimum you will need is a provisional licence, after which you must complete the CBT course before riding a moped (with L plates) on the road. There’s no test to pass at the end; just complete the training and you can ride a 50cc moped at 16 years old or a motorcycle up to 125cc (or with a power output of up to 11kW) from the age of 17.
If you have a full car driving licence dating from before 1 February 2001, you can ride a 50cc moped without L plates or any further training. However, if you passed your driving test on or after 1 February 2001, you’ll need to complete CBT before you can ride a moped legally on UK roads.
9,500+^
Mopeds, motorcycles and tricycles were registered in 2026 - a 14.5% increase on June 2025.
How do I qualify to ride a moped?
Unlike scooters and larger motorbikes, you’re legally allowed to start riding a moped when you’re 16 years old, provided the engine size is no more than 50cc and the maximum speed is 28mph. You’ll also need to:
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Get your provisional licence
Once you’re at least 15 years and 9 months old you can apply for your provisional moped driving licence from DVLA online.
However, you can’t learn to ride until you turn 16.
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Complete your CBT
A CBT course allows you to ride on UK roads while you practise for your full moped or motorbike test.
You’ll have to display L plates and you can’t carry passengers.
You’ll have two years to get your AM Moped Licence or you’ll need to retake your CBT.
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Register with the DVLA
You should get your registration paperwork when you buy your moped.
If not, you must register it with the DVLA yourself before taking it on the roads.
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Pay vehicle tax
Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), also known as road tax, is a charge people pay to drive on public roads in the UK.
Mopeds are in the lowest vehicle tax bracket. The exact cost depends on your engine.
How can I get a cheap moped insurance quote?
Finding cheap moped insurance is easy when you compare policies with MoneySuperMarket. There are three steps:
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Provide your details
Just tell us a little about yourself, your moped, and the type of cover you need.
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Compare with us
We’ll search the market for a list of moped insurance quotes tailored to your needs.
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Get insured
Once you’ve found the policy you want, just click through to the provider to finalise your purchase.
Moped insurance guides and expert tips
How much will a moped cost me?
The price you pay for a moped will depend on the make and model, as well as whether it is new or secondhand. You can often buy a secondhand 50cc moped for well under £1,000, according to AutoTrader, while brand new budget models are closer to £2,000. For example, the Keeway Fact X 50cc retails at £1,799.
Can you build up a no-claims discount with moped insurance?
Yes, moped insurance providers will let you build up a no-claims discount (also known as a no-claims) bonus, which generally translates into a discount on your insurance premiums. Typically, the longer you go without making a claim, the higher your no-claims bonus, although some insurers cap the discount after a certain number of years.
How can 16 year olds get insurance for a moped?
Moped insurance for 16 year old riders is available from lots of insurers. However, it can be hard to find cheap moped insurance for 16 year olds, as insurers view young, inexperienced riders as higher risk policyholders. So, it’s even more important to shop around for the best deal using a comparison service like MoneySuperMarket.
Other ways to keep your costs down include:
Agreeing to pay a higher excess towards any claims
Investing in extra security features such as chains and disc locks
Is moped insurance cheaper than car insurance?
Yes, moped insurance is typically cheaper than car insurance as insurers see mopeds at lower risk vehicles due to their smaller engines and limited top speed.
Can I use my moped for food delivery or business purposes?
Yes, you can use your moped for food delivery or business purposes but you’ll need to have the right type of insurance. Standard moped insurance covers social use and commuting only so you’ll need to take out a hire and reward policy to carry goods or class 1 or 2 business insurance.
Can I ride a moped on a motorway?
No, you can’t ride a moped on a motorway due to its limited speed but you can ride a scooter with a 125cc engine or above.
What is multi-bike insurance?
Multi-bike insurance consolidates all your motorbikes under one policy with a single premium payment, simplifying administration and renewal tracking. Multi-bike insurance could work out cheaper if you own a moped, scooter and a motorbike or several motorbikes rather than insuring them individually.
What doesn’t my moped insurance cover?
You’ll need to check your specific moped insurance policy but common exclusions include:
Taking part in racing, competitions or speed trials
Riding on race tracks or circuits
Carrying passengers for hire or reward
Carrying passengers without a full licence
Using your moped for courier or food-delivery services (you’ll need hire and reward cover for that)
Can I insure a moped without a CBT?
Can I get electric moped insurance?
Yes, you can get electric moped insurance from a number of providers and, like a petrol or diesel motorbike, it’s a legal requirement.
Standards features or add-ons when insuring your electric moped include:
Battery cover: Covers the cost of your battery if it’s damaged or stolen, although it won’t cover you for battery degradation
Charging cable cover: In case your charging cable is stolen or damaged
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Our goal is to search deals from as wide a range of companies as possible so that you can choose the deal that suits you.
Is motorbike insurance eligible for SuperSaveClub and rewards?
No, at this time motorbike and moped insurance is not an eligible product for unlocking our SuperSaveClub rewards. It is also not included in our Price Promise.
Reviewed on 11 Aug 2026 by
YouGov Survey 1st July 2024 to 30th June 2025. Net Recommend score derived from “Which of the following online service websites would you recommend to a friend or colleague, or tell them to avoid?” Base: Current Customers of (MoneySuperMarket n=18,382, Compare the Market n=16,802, Go.Compare n=10,162, Confused.com n=8,229, Uswitch n=528).
Source: The Motor Cycle Industry Association, 2026. 'June 2026 Press Statistics'. https://mcia.co.uk/downloads/155
