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Dirt bike insurance

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How does off road motorbike insurance work?

Standard motorbike insurance policies only cover you for riding on the road. Off road ones cover you for off-roading too.

Usually, off-road insurance is an extra feature that you can pay to add on to a bike policy, so you'll need to have standard motorbike insurance in place to get it.

If off road cover is something you're interested in, contact your insurance provider and ask them if they can add it on to your existing motorbike policy.

Do off road bikes need insurance?

If you're riding your motorbike purely off-road, you don't have to have motorbike insurance.

But if you ever ride your motorbike on a public road - no matter how far you travel - you must have valid insurance in place.

If you're caught riding without insurance, you could face:

  • 3-6 points on your licence
  • A fine of up to £1,000
  • A potential disqualification from riding

Even though it's not a legal requirement to be insured off-road, it's worth considering. Without it, you'll have to pay the repair costs for any off-road accidents you have out of your own pocket.

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What does off-road motorbike insurance cover?

Motorbike insurance covers your dirt bike against theft. If you have fully comprehensive cover, it'll also pay out if your bike is damaged in a road accident.

Off-road insurance is an add-on that extends your insurance to cover you for any accidents you have off-road too.

It'll normally help you cover the costs of:

  • Damage you do to other riders, their motorcycles and their property while offroading
  • Damage your own motorbike suffers while offroading

Some off-road insurance policies also offer extras you can bolt-on to your policy to make sure it covers everything you need it to.

These include:

  • Limited mileage cover, as off-road bikers tend to cover fewer miles than traditional bikers. A limited mileage policy reflects this, reducing your insurance costs.
  • Motorbike breakdown cover could help get your motorbike back on the road after an on or off-road accident.
  • Accidental damage & personal accident cover could be particularly beneficial to off-road bikers, who tend to take more risks with both their motorbike and themselves

Will it cover me for mototcross?

Off-road policies don't normally cover you for motocross events.

Motocross bike insurance, sometimes called motorbike track day insurance, is a separate policy add-on that you can add to a standard motorbike policy.

It'll typically cover you for any damage to your bike, or damage you inflict on another bike, during race events.

You don't legally have to have it to ride on the track. But it can give you peace of mind knowing that you're covered.

Not all motorbike insurance providers offer motocross insurance, and you might need to go to a specialist insurer to get it.

Contact your current policy provider if you need help finding it and they should be able to point you in the right direction.

Levels of motorbike insurance

When driving on the road, there are 3 main levels of cover when it comes to motorbike insurance:

  • Third party only
  • Third party, fire and theft
  • Fully comprehensive
  • Third-party only covers any damage to other people, their motorbikes and property after an accident.

     

  • Third-party, fire and theft offers the same benefits as third-party only, but also covers you if your motorbike is stolen or suffers fire damage.

     

  • Fully comprehensive insurance also covers the costs to repair or replace your motorbike if it’s damaged in an accident.

     

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Where can I ride my dirt bike legally?

If you have a standard motorbike insurance policy, you can ride your dirt bike on any public road.

You'll also need insurance to ride on green roads. These are usually unpaved but are still classed as public roads. There are two types: unclassified country roads (UCRs) and byways open to all traffic (BOATs).

If you don't have insurance, you can only ride your dirt bike on:

  • Private land that you own
  • Land where you have the owner's permission
  • Dedicated off-road tracks 

What do I need to get an off road insurance quote?

To get started, we'll need to know a few things about your bike like:

  • Your motorcycle registration (or its make, model and year of manufacture)
  • Your bike’s value
  • The date you bought the bike (though you can still get a quote for a bike you haven’t bought yet)
  • Where you keep your motorbike when not in use
  • What security measures you've taken to secure it
  • About any modifications you’ve made to your motorbike, as these can affect your insurance costs

We’ll also need some details about you like:

  • The category of your motorbike licence and how long you’ve had it
  • How you plan on using your motorbike, also known as its class of use
  • Any convictions or claims you’ve had in the last 5 years
  • How many miles you expect to ride in a year
  • Details of any other riders who use your motorbike
  • Any optional extras you want such as pillion cover, personal accident or breakdown cover

How do I make a claim on my dirt bike insurance?

Making a claim on your off-road motorbike insurance should be straightforward. You'll need to:

  • Call your motorbike insurance company and give them the details of the claim
  • Give them the crime reference number if your motorbike has been stolen
  • Submit any photos, receipts and witness statements if you've been involved in an accident

Depending on the extent of the damage, your motorbike insurance company might cover the cost of repairs. It might also declare the motorbike a write-off.

For more information, read our guide to claiming on your motorbike insurance policy.

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What our motorbike insurance expert says

If you're riding an off-roader on the road, you're probably going to be doing fewer miles than other bikers. Lower mileage can equal cheaper insurance. So it's worth being as accurate as you can with it when you get a quote to make sure you're getting the best price.
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