How Much Is Motorcycle Insurance? 6 Factors That Will Affect Your Premium

How much is motorcycle insurance in the UK? Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer — but we’re here to help you get to grips with the things that might affect your quote.

Motorbike insurance costs can range from as little as £50 or even less, to thousands of pounds, and your age, location, job, type of bike, riding habits, and level of coverage can all affect the price you pay.

Here, we explore those six factors in more detail and share a few different ways that might help you save money on your motorcycle insurance premium.

Six factors that affect motorcycle insurance cost in the UK

Motorcycle insurance companies look at numerous factors to try and figure out how likely you are to make a claim (and how expensive that claim might be if you do).

Here’s some of the basic information they want to know before giving you a quote:

1. Your age

One of the first things an insurer will check is your age.

Motorcycle insurance costs for young and new riders in the UK tend to be higher as younger bikers and those new to riding are less experienced and at greater risk of accidents. However, premiums tend to decrease as you get older and gain more experience riding.

That said, reaction times can slow as we age, so once you hit your late 50s or early 60s, your premiums may rise again.

2. Your location

The next thing an insurer will want to know is where you live. Most insurance companies will look at accident and crime statistics related to your postcode to understand how safe your bike is (whether you’re on it or not).

They’ll typically consider the following:

Accident data for your area: A dangerous stretch of road or a particularly hairy hairpin turn near you could affect how much you pay for motorbike insurance.
Crime rates in your area: If you live in a high-crime part of the UK, you may need to pay more to offset the risk of your bike being stolen.
Where you store your bike at night: Do you have your motorbike under lock and key in a garage or secure storage shed? Is it parked in a private driveway? Or is it out on the street? Generally, the safer your bike is while you’re sleeping, the cheaper it is to insure.

3. Your profession

Insurance companies consider some jobs riskier than others — especially if they involve lots of time on the road.

For example, a motorcycle courier or fast-food delivery driver will probably be charged a higher premium than someone with an office based job, as they’ll be deemed at greater risk of being involved in an accident.

4. Your motorcycle

Once the insurer knows more about you, your job, and where you live, they’ll ask about the bike you plan to insure. They’ll consider the following factors:

The bike’s age and value: New and expensive motorbikes will typically be more expensive to insure than older, cheaper machines. This is because the cost of repairs will usually be higher for new bikes — especially if specialist parts need to be sourced and replaced. Newer bikes may also be targets for thieves, making them riskier to cover.
The bike’s engine size: Your motorcycle's engine will also be considered when calculating the insurance premium, as faster, more powerful bikes can be deemed riskier to ride. For example, a 1,000c superbike will probably cost more to insure than a modest 50cc motorcycle (especially if you’re not an experienced rider).
The bike’s security features: If your motorcycle has certain features that make it harder to steal, this could help lower the cost of your insurance premium. A sturdy bike lock, ground anchor, and immobiliser could deter thieves, while a GPS tracker could help you locate your bike if it’s stolen.

If you want to insure a moped instead of a motorcycle, read this: How much is moped insurance?

5. Your riding habits, history, and experience

Along with the age, value, make, and model of your motorcycle, insurers will also consider your experience behind the handlebars when calculating your premium. To do this, they’ll look at:

How long you’ve been riding: Some motorcyclists have steadily progressed from riding mopeds at 16 to their full unrestricted licence at 21. Others have learned later in life. Your level of training and time on the road will be taken into account. If you have less experience, you may be charged a higher premium, but this can decrease with time.
Your annual mileage: The more miles you ride, the higher your chances of being involved in an accident and needing to make a claim. This can result in higher premiums to offset this risk.
Your claims history: If you’ve been involved in an accident and had to claim in the past, you may be seen as a riskier rider from the outset, resulting in higher premiums.

6. Your level of coverage

Finally, the level of cover you select will impact your overall motorcycle insurance cost.

There are three main types of motorbike insurance coverage to choose from:

Third-party only: Third-party motorcycle insurance is the minimum level of cover required to ride legally in the UK. It only covers third parties (other vehicles, drivers, or passengers) in the event of an accident. It doesn’t cover any damage to your bike.
Third-party, fire, and theft: Third-party, fire and theft motorbike insurance is the next level up from third-party only. In addition to covering third parties, it also covers your motorbike if it’s stolen or damaged/destroyed by fire.
Comprehensive: Comprehensive motorbike insurance is the most complete level of coverage you can get for your bike. It’s designed to pay out if you damage your bike or someone else’s vehicle or injure someone in an accident.

How to reduce motorcycle insurance costs

Taking the above factors into account, there are several things you can do to try and bring your motorbike insurance costs under control, including:

Paying for your insurance annually: Paying for your motorbike insurance monthly means you’ll usually be charged interest. You can typically save money by paying for your insurance all in one go.
Building up your no-claims discount: The more consecutive years you’ve ridden without making a claim, the bigger the discount you could earn as a reward for being a safe and careful biker.
Paying a higher voluntary excess: Most insurance policies have an excess, which is the amount you need to pay towards a claim. The compulsory excess is set by the insurance provider, whereas the voluntary excess is chosen by you.

Paying a higher voluntary excess could reduce the overall price of your motorbike insurance. However, you should be aware that if you need to make a claim, you’ll have to pay both the compulsory and voluntary excess, which could be pricey.

Making your bike more secure: If your bike doesn’t have specific security measures like an alarm or immobiliser to deter thieves, installing them could lower your premium (depending on the insurer).
Taking an advanced riding course: Many insurers will consider additional qualifications like the Enhanced Rider Scheme or BikeSafe Certificate as a sign that you’re a safer, more competent rider — and may lower your premium as a result.

Motorcycle insurance FAQs

What’s the average cost of motorcycle insurance in the UK?

As we’ve discovered, motorbike insurance premiums can vary depending on various factors. However, to help you see where your quote sits in the grand scheme of things, here’s a quick roundup of average prices based on some different categories:

How much does it cost on average to insure a motorbike when*:

Category	Average Premium*
You have a motorcycle up to 50cc?	£395.56
You have a motorbike between 50cc and 125cc?	£598.93
You’re a 16 to 20-year-old rider?	£1,026.63
You’re a 25 to 29-year-old rider?	£647.29
You’re a 30 to 34-year-old rider?	£492.22

*Source; average of policies purchased through The Bike Insurer from 1 Jan 2024 to 31 August 2024

What is the cheapest motorcycle insurance?

You might think that comprehensive insurance is the most expensive option as it’s the broadest level of coverage. However, that’s not always the case.

Third-party-only insurance tends to be more popular with young riders, who are often deemed a higher risk and more likely to be involved in an accident. As a result, many insurance providers will price third-party insurance higher to offset that risk.

So, if you shop around and compare motorbike insurance providers, you may find a comprehensive quote that beats the rest.

Why does motorbike insurance matter?

If you want to ride your motorbike on UK roads, you need motorcycle insurance. It’s illegal to ride without it. If you do, you could face a £300 fine and six points on your licence.

You may also have your bike clamped, impounded, or destroyed. And if it goes to court, you could receive an unlimited fine and be disqualified from driving.

How can I get the best motorbike insurance rate?

The quickest way to find the best motorbike insurance rate for you is by shopping around and comparing quotes.

Better yet, let The Bike Insurer do the legwork for you. We’ve been helping riders save money on their motorbike insurance since 2006. Compare quotes from dozens of the most recognisable insurance providers in an instant.

50% of bikers paid £269.89 or less in July 2024 when they compared with The Bike Insurer. See how much you could save: Get a free, no-obligation quote here.