INSURANCE

It's illegal to ride without insurance. Before you take a motorcycle onto public roads you must get proper insurance cover.

Insurance costs depend mostly on your age, the size of the bike and the area where you live.

Types of insurance

Third party
This is the cheapest and legal minimum type of insurance cover. The 'third party' is any person you might injure or property you might damage. You aren't covered for injury to yourself or damage to your motorcycle.

If you damage a car the owner could claim against you. Or, if someone damaged your motorcycle you could claim against them.

Third party fire and theft
The same as third party but it also covers you for your motorcycle being stolen or damaged by fire.

Comprehensive
 This is the best, but most expensive insurance. Apart from covering other people and property from injury and damage this covers:

  • Damage to your machine

  • Replacement of parts damaged in an accident

  • Personal injury to yourself

Pillion passenger insurance
All policies used to automatically include cover for a pillion passenger but now you can decide whether to have that cover included or not. You can, apparently, save up to 10% by not taking out cover for a pillion passenger and, of course, never carrying one.

The cost of insurance. This varies with:

  • Your age - the younger you are, the more it will cost

  • The make of your motorcycle

  • The power and capacity of the engine

  • Where you live

Engine-size groups for insurance purposes can vary from one insurer to another so it pays to shop around.

Exactly what is and what isn't insured can vary from company to company so read the small print and ask your insurer or broker.

You'll often have to pay the first £50 or £100 of any claim. This is called the 'excess'.

The certificate of insurance. This is a short and simple document which certifies

  • Who is insured

  • The type vehicle covered

  • Registration number

  • The kind of insurance cover

  • The period of cover

  • The main conditions

Sometimes a broker will give you a temporary certificate or 'cover note'. This is issued while you're waiting for your certificate and is proof of insurance.

Keep the certificate safe and produce it:

  • If the police ask you

  • When you apply to renew your vehicle excise licence

The policy document. This contains the full details of the contract between you and the insurance company. It's usually written in legal language. Ask your broker or the insurance company to explain any details which you don't understand.