Motorbike insurance

While some comprehensive policies might cover you to ride other bikes, the cover is usually limited to third-party. This means that injuries to other people or damage to their property is covered, but you and your bike aren’t. It’s not guaranteed that this cover will be included, though, so check your policy details before riding another motorbike.

If you need to borrow someone else’s motorbike on a short-term basis, temporary motorbike insurance might be a good option.

Generally, yes - most insurers will let you add another named rider to your policy. You’ll need to provide some details about them, such as their riding history, past claims, and information like their age and location.

Adding someone else to your policy can impact your premium - an experienced rider might bring your costs down, while a less experienced rider might mean you pay more for insurance.

Yes, you can build up a no-claims bonus on your motorbike insurance. For every year you’re insured without making a claim, you’ll get a year added to your no-claims discount.

You can lose some or all of your no-claims bonus when you make a claim. You can choose to add no-claims bonus protection to your policy for an extra cost, which can help ensure you keep your discount if you do need to claim.

Some insurance companies will also let you transfer your car no-claims bonus over to a motorbike policy. Just remember that you can only use a no-claims bonus on one vehicle at a time.

Yes, it’s possible to buy multi-bike insurance. This can often be cheaper than buying individual policies for each motorbike. It also means less admin, and you only have to remember one renewal date.

No, standard motorbike insurance generally excludes cover for racing and track days. This is because of the increased risk associated with this type of sport.

If you’re planning on racing with your motorbike on a track, you’ll need insurance from a specialist provider.

If your bike is stolen or vandalised, contact the police as soon as possible. The police will provide you with a crime reference number (CRN) - make a note of this, as you’ll probably need it when making your claim.

If you’re involved in an accident, the first thing to do is move to safety and check for injuries. Call the police to report the incident, and request other emergency services if needed.

If anyone else was involved in the accident, exchange details - this should include their name, address, contact details and vehicle registration. You should also ask for their insurance policy details. It’s important that you don’t admit liability here - even saying sorry could be seen as an admittance of fault.

Gather as much evidence as you can from the incident - whether that’s photos or videos of your bike, the road conditions, the scene of the accident, and details from witnesses.

To start your claim, you should contact your insurer’s claims line as soon as possible - preferably within 24 hours. Have your policy number and CRN ready as well as any evidence from the incident.

Your insurer will then arrange for any repairs needed for your bike. Don’t arrange repairs yourself unless completely necessary. They’ll sometimes send a loss adjuster out who will assess the damage and evaluate the cost of repairs. The loss adjuster works for the insurance company, not for you. But, you can also hire an independent loss assessor to work on your behalf.

If you’re deemed at fault for the incident, you’ll pay the excess on the policy section you’re claiming on. If you’re found not at fault, you’ll claim against the other driver and won’t typically pay an excess.