Motorcycle insurance: buyer's guide

Why do I need insurance?
It's the law—if you own or ride a motorbike on the road then you have to have motorcycle insurance.

What types are there?
The cheapest motorcycle insurance cover is third party. It protects you from liability if you injure someone and pays to replace or repair their vehicle. It does not cover damage to your bike.

A slightly more expensive option is third party, fire and theft. In addition to third party cover it pays to repair or replace your bike if it's stolen, or damaged or destroyed by fire.

The most expensive motorcycle insurance is comprehensive. Comprehensive policies also cover damage to your bike if you're involved in an accident.

How much will motorcycle insurance cost?
It's a good idea to shop around and get several motorcycle insurance quotes.

How much you pay will depend on several factors, including:

• your riding history (how long you've been riding, any previous claims on motorcycle insurance, any convictions you've had)
• the type of bike you ride (a high-performance will cost more to insure)
• where you keep your bike
• where you live

Can I ride other people's bikes?
You can ride a friend's bike if your motorcycle insurance has ROM—"Riding Other Motorcycles—cover included. It's included only on some comprehensive policies, and only provides Third Party cover.

You should also check you're covered by your motorcycle insurance policy if you want to carry a passenger.

How can I save money?
You may be able to cut your motorcycle insurance premium by agreeing to pay a voluntary higher excess (the excess is the minimum amount you agree to pay towards the total value of a claim).

If you have advanced riding qualifications you could cut your motorcycle insurance premium by up to 10 per cent.

By not making a claim you can build up a no-claims discount.

What about modifications to my bike?
Surprisingly perhaps, most common modifications make little or no difference to premiums. But you must tell your motorcycle insurance broker or company, or risk problems making a successful claim.

Where can I buy motorcycle insurance?
The best advice is to go to a specialist motorcycle insurance provider who understands biking and the insurance risks involved.