Compare cheap motorbike insurance quotes

You will also need to tell your insurer how you will use your motorcycle. The basic level of cover is Social, domestic and pleasure (SDP)

You can then add:

• Commuting – to one place of work (or to the station each day to get the train to work)

• Business use – varying levels depending on whether you visit different workplaces, or clients and work sites and what you carry with you

• Commercial use – using your motorbike as a key part of your job

• Courier insurance – for delivery drivers and despatch riders

You will also need to say if you intend to carry a pillion passenger (​​a person who travels in a seat or place behind the rider of the motorcycle). This will increase your premium because your passenger is a third party, so if you come off and injure him or her, your insurer may have to pay any claims he or she makes.

Aside from the basic cover levels above, many policies include (or allow you to add) extra features. These can include cover for riding other bikes, riding abroad, breakdown assistance and cover for your helmet and leathers.

It’s important to note that while some insurance policies will include cover for pillion passengers, it’s not always included as standard. When running an insurance quote, you can choose whether to include cover for passengers. 

Opting not to include insurance for passengers could cut the cost of your cover, but be aware that it’s a legal requirement to have such cover whenever you carry another person on your bike.

Lots of bikers like to add little personalisation to their bikes and insurers understand this. Most will accept a few minor cosmetic changes and straight replacement parts or tyres, but if you change the engine set-up and exhaust and get your bike dyno jetted, increasing its power, expect to pay more.

As is the case with most insurance policies, your motorbike insurer will expect you to pay the first part of any claim — this is called a compulsory excess. The amount will depend on the individual policy (this will be listed in your quote).

Many insurers will also include a voluntary excess, which you can amend yourself. You may be able to reduce the cost of your motorbike insurance by paying a higher voluntary excess on top of the compulsory excess. 

Generally speaking, the more you agree to pay in excess, the cheaper your premium will be. It's important to remember, though, that you will need to pay this amount in the event of a claim.

Motorbike insurance, like car and van insurance, builds up a no claims discount for every full year you are insured but do not claim. But most insurers consider motorbike and car no claims as entirely separate and will not transfer or give credit for one to another. It’s worth declaring it in case they make a mistake though.