Confused.com's guide to multi-bike cover

• Guides
• Published: 23 Dec 2009 in Motoring and Motorbike Insurance

By Kate Hughes

The freedom of the open road and a beautifully crafted motorbike can be an addictive combination, and once you’ve got one bike, the temptation of adding to your collection can be huge. But rack up the number of bikes in the garage and the associated costs can spiral – not least the insurance.

You certainly can’t use more than one bike at a time, and rather than insuring each bike separately, you can now put two or more bikes on a single policy, without having to fill in lots of forms. So if you do have more than one bike at home, as many enthusiasts do, a multi-bike insurance policy makes sense – saving you time and money. That means you can go out and enjoy your ride safe in the knowledge that the others are safe and sound, and covered against theft or damage.

How multi-bike cover works

There’s no question that a multi-bike policy can save a lot of cash, but this kind of cover only insures one policyholder, so you can’t pool an entire bike-mad family’s transport under one multi-bike policy. (For that, you’ll need a multi-driver policy.) Different insurers will cover a maximum number of bikes, with many stopping at three or four. The more bikes you have the harder it will be to cover them all under one policy.

And then there’s the way the premium is calculated. The price is based on the bike in your collection that is considered the highest risk – perhaps because it is something particularly powerful that is more likely to be involved in an accident or because its value is a special temptation for thieves. For each additional bike, you’ll them be charged an additional, but much lower cost, than that of an individual policy.

Equally, it’s important to bear in mind that any no-claims bonus is based on the track record from your highest risk bike. It may not sound vital, but if you’ve recently had an accident or your bike has been stolen, the cost of your policy for all your bikes may be significantly affected.

“Generally, motorcyclists can ensure they get the best policy by making an honest application and disclosing all the necessary information,” says Nigel Bartram, Motor Strategy Manager for Aviva. “By making sure your details are up to date you can make sure you’re not paying for anything unnecessary.”

“Insurance companies pay out much more for bike thefts than for car thefts because they’re so easy to take and strip down. Making your bike as secure as possible using chains and storing it in a locked garage can help to trim down your premiums,” he says.

How to drive down your premium cost

Meanwhile, the same actions that will bring down the cost of a single bike policy will work for multi-bike insurance. If you are struggling to cover the cost of a huge, powerful motorbike, consider scaling down to something a little less powerful – you’ll still get the feeling of the wind in your face on the open road, but you may have a few more pounds in your pocket as well.

And if you tend to ride out on long journeys just for the thrill of it, also remember that lower mileage will help keep a lid on your premiums because you’re on the road less and are less likely to be doing extended journeys on country roads that lend themselves to a little too much speed – where many motorbike accidents happen. Frequently riding pillion, with a passenger on the back, can also add to the cost of your premium because of the increased risk of severe injury in two people rather than just one.

“Being seen to be taking your role as a responsible biker seriously will help your insurance application,” Bartram adds. “An enhanced driver bonus, sanctioned by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA), is a great idea for riders who want to make sure they are safe on a bike. Simply enrolling on a course like this sends positive messages to your insurer, and post test premiums can typically bring the cost of your policy down by around 10%.”

And of course, once you’ve got these savings under your belt, shopping around for the best deal can mean even greater savings!