Motorbike Insurance

From the age of 16, assuming you have both a provisional licence and a CBT (Compulsory Basic Training Certificate), you can ride a vehicle up to 50cc, which will be speed limited to 28mph.

From age 17 you can ride motorbikes up to 125cc (A1 category) with the same certification and documentation.

To ride a vehicle above 125cc, you need to be aged 19 or over, and have 2 years’ experience on an A1 licence to ride medium-sized motorbikes (category A2 – typically up to 500cc).

You need to be aged 21 with 2 years’ experience at A2 level, or be aged 24+ to take the large motorbike (category A) direct access test.

To obtain a motorbike insurance quote from the RAC, you’ll need:

• details of the motorbike you intend to insure
• your personal details
• your driving history (including any claims and convictions).

You’ll also need to select the type of bike insurance cover you require, be it Comprehensive, Third Party Fire and Theft or Third Party Only. You can also choose further cover from our great range of optional extras.

The type of motorbike insurance you need will depend on many factors, including your budget, the extent of protection you require, how you intend to use your motorbike and what type of bike you own.

There are three levels of motorbike insurance – Third Party only; Third party, Fire and Theft (TPFT); and Comprehensive.

Third Party cover is the most basic level of motorbike insurance cover, and the minimum required by law. It covers damage to a third party’s vehicle, their property or themselves as well as any passengers they or you may be carrying. It does not cover you or your motorbike for damage or loss of any kind.

Third Party, Fire and Theft (TPFT) cover offers the same level of motorbike insurance cover as Third Party Only, with the addition of cover for your own vehicle in the event of fire or theft.

Comprehensive cover is the most complete level of motorbike insurance cover. It adds cover for you and your motorbike in the event of an accident which is your fault, in addition to all the cover provided by TPFT.

We also provide a range of extra cover options, for example, breakdown and legal expenses, to protect you from additional losses not covered by a standard motorbike insurance policy.

A general rule is that the smaller and less powerful the motorbike, the cheaper the cover will be. However, an insurance policy is calculated using many factors, including your age, annual mileage, claims history, and where you store your bike at night.

It’s possible to help reduce your premium by using approved security devices, storing your motorbike in a secure location, or by riding a less powerful motorbike.

If you wish to use your motorbike to travel to and from your usual workplace, you will need to let us know when you apply for your insurance. When asked what/how you will use your bike, you should select “Social, Domestic and Pleasure (SDP) Including Commuting”.

If you will be using your bike to travel to and from client meetings, or to other business sites or places of work, you should select “Class 1: Business Use”.

If you think you may be unable to maintain your policy payments, please contact us in the first instance on 0330 159 1156. We have specialists on hand who can discuss your individual circumstances and agree how we can help with your financial situation.