CoverMapDo you need motorbike insurance?
Yes. Any motorbike, scooter or moped ridden on a public road needs insurance. GOV.UK says third-party insurance is the legal minimum: it covers you if you have an accident that causes damage or injury to any other person, vehicle, animal or property. It does not pay to repair or replace your own bike.
The penalties for riding without cover are set out by GOV.UK (updated September 2026):
- a £300 fixed penalty and 6 penalty points;
- if the case goes to court, an unlimited fine and possible disqualification;
- police can seize your bike and, in some cases, destroy it.
There are a lot of bikes to insure. Compare the Market puts the number of licensed motorcycles in the UK at 1.36 million as of December 2025. MoneySuperMarket reports that motorcycle and scooter traffic reached 3 billion vehicle miles, up 2.3% on 2024 and 13.1% on 2019.
How much is motorbike insurance in 2026?
There is no single official average. Comparison sites and insurers publish their own figures, usually as “51% of customers paid or were quoted less than” a given amount. That is close to a median: half of people paid less, half paid more.
| Source | Period | What it measures | Figure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Confused.com | Jan–Mar 2026 | 51% of customers paid this or less | £291 |
| Quotezone | May 2026 | 51% of people quoted were below | £256.34 |
| Compare the Market | June 2026 | 51% of customers quoted below | £489.08 |
| Compare the Market | June 2026 | 125cc bikes, 51% quoted below | £744.43 |
| Compare the Market | June 2026 | Riders aged 16–17, 51% quoted below | £1,160.07 |
| Devitt | Apr–Jun 2026 | Share of new customers quoted £120 or less for comprehensive cover | 24% |
Source: Confused.com (reviewed 24 Sep 2026); Quotezone (updated Apr 2026, May 2026 data); Compare the Market (updated 29 Sep 2026); Devitt (updated 20 Jul 2026). Checked October 2026.
Why the gap? Each site has a different mix of customers. One with lots of young riders or 125cc commuters will show a higher figure than one used mainly by experienced riders on bigger bikes. Compare the Market’s own figures show the spread: quotes for 125cc bikes and for 16–17-year-olds were well above its overall figure. If you are learning or under 20, see our guide to learner motorbike insurance.
Levels of motorbike insurance cover
Bike insurance comes in the same three levels as car insurance:
| Cover level | Pays for damage to others | Your bike stolen or burnt | Damage to your own bike |
|---|---|---|---|
| Third party only (TPO) | Yes | No | No |
| Third party, fire and theft (TPFT) | Yes | Yes | No |
| Comprehensive | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Source: Confused.com, Compare the Market, MoneySuperMarket. Policy terms vary by insurer.
Do not assume third party only is the cheapest. Confused.com says comprehensive is “often the cheaper option”, and MoneySuperMarket says fully comprehensive is often the cheapest choice as well as giving the most cover. It is worth getting quotes for all three.
Optional extras
Specialist bike insurers sell add-ons that car policies rarely mention. Bennetts, for example, lists legal expenses cover up to £100,000, personal accident cover up to £15,000, and helmet and leathers cover up to £1,500. Devitt and Bennetts both include up to 90 days of EU cover as standard. Other common extras include pillion cover and breakdown cover. Check limits and excesses before paying for an add-on, as they differ between insurers.
What affects the price of motorbike insurance?
The comparison sites and insurers we checked list the same main factors:
- Engine size and the bike itself. Compare the Market’s moped and scooter guide says the larger the engine, the more you will pay. Devitt adds rarity, repair costs and theft risk of the model.
- Value. A pricier bike costs more to repair or replace.
- Your age and experience. Younger and newly qualified riders pay most.
- Riding and claims history. Past claims and points raise the price; claim-free years build a no-claims bonus.
- Postcode. Confused.com says local crime rates affect cost.
- Storage and security. MoneySuperMarket suggests a locked garage or Thatcham-approved alarms and locks.
- Use. Confused.com lists leisure, commuting, business and delivery as separate uses. If you ride for delivery work, say so – it is a different class of use.
- Annual mileage. Fewer miles usually means a lower price, according to MoneySuperMarket.
- Modifications. MoneySuperMarket says these push premiums up unless they improve security. You must declare them.
- Excess. A higher voluntary excess can lower the premium, but you pay it on every claim.
Motorbike insurance groups
Bikes are put into insurance groups, like cars, but the system is looser. Devitt says that unlike cars, there is no single industry-wide system for grouping motorcycles. Each insurer uses its own, usually with 1–17 or 1–22 groups.
MoneySuperMarket says most bikes fall into groups 3 to 17, and gives these examples:
| Bike | Typical group |
|---|---|
| 125cc motorcycle | 3–6 |
| 250cc bike | Up to 10 |
| 750cc Ducati | 17 |
Source: MoneySuperMarket motorbike insurance groups (updated April 2026).
Devitt says power, riding position, theft risk and repair costs all affect the group. It puts bikes such as the Honda CBF125F and Suzuki GSX-S125 in groups 1–3, and the Ducati Panigale and Yamaha R1 in groups 15–17. Because groups vary between insurers, use them as a rough guide when choosing a bike, not a price list.
Electric motorbike insurance
Electric bikes are still a small part of the market. MoneySuperMarket reports that 3% of new motorbikes registered in 2025 were electric, and electric bikes make up about 1% of the 1.36 million licensed motorcycles. MoneySuperMarket lists repair costs as one of the factors behind insurance groups, so ask insurers how they treat battery damage and charging equipment before you buy. You still need at least third-party cover, exactly as with a petrol bike.
How to compare motorbike insurance
- Decide on cover level. Quote for comprehensive as well as third party – the price gap may be small or reversed.
- Use a broker panel and specialists. Confused.com compares up to 46 bike insurers, MoneySuperMarket 41 and Quotezone up to 25. Some specialist brokers sell direct, so check them too.
- Be accurate. Give the right mileage, where the bike is kept overnight, your use and any modifications. A wrong answer can lead to a refused claim.
- Match the excess. Compare quotes with the same compulsory and voluntary excess.
- Check the extras. Look at helmet and leathers limits, legal cover and how many days of EU cover you get.
- Pay annually if you can. MoneySuperMarket says paying up front often works out cheaper than 12 monthly instalments.
Consider an advanced riding course
MoneySuperMarket lists post-test courses such as IAM RoadSmart, RoSPA, BikeSafe and the DVSA Enhanced Rider Scheme. Course costs and any insurer discount are covered in our cheap motorbike insurance tips. Ask insurers whether they offer a discount before you book.
Scooters, learners and other riders
Smaller bikes have their own rules. If you ride a 50cc moped or a 125cc scooter, see scooter and moped insurance for licence rules and typical costs. For pedal cycles and e-bikes, see bicycle insurance. If you ride for food or parcel delivery, see delivery rider insurance. If you also drive, our car insurance guide covers how premiums work on four wheels, or browse all insurance guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is motorbike insurance a legal requirement?
Yes. GOV.UK says third-party insurance is the legal minimum for any vehicle on a public road. Riding uninsured can mean a £300 fixed penalty and 6 points, or an unlimited fine and disqualification if it goes to court.
How much is motorbike insurance in the UK?
It depends on the source. 51% of Confused.com customers paid £291 or less in January–March 2026. 51% of Compare the Market customers were quoted less than £489.08 in June 2026, and Quotezone’s May 2026 figure was £256.34.
Is comprehensive motorbike insurance cheaper than third party?
It can be. Confused.com says comprehensive is often the cheaper option and MoneySuperMarket says it is often the cheapest. Get quotes for all three levels before choosing.
Do motorbikes have insurance groups?
Yes, but there is no single industry system. Devitt says insurers use their own groups, usually 1–17 or 1–22. MoneySuperMarket says most bikes sit in groups 3 to 17, with 125cc bikes often in groups 3–6.
Why is 125cc insurance so expensive?
125cc is the largest bike a learner can ride on a CBT and provisional licence (GOV.UK), so riders tend to be newer. Compare the Market found 51% of 125cc quotes were under £744.43 in June 2026, against £489.08 across all bikes.
Does motorbike insurance cover me in Europe?
Many policies include some EU cover. Devitt and Bennetts both include up to 90 days of EU cover as standard. Check your own policy for the limit and level of cover abroad.
Sources
- GOV.UK – Vehicle insurance (updated 2 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK – Driving without insurance
- Confused.com – Motorbike insurance (reviewed 24 Sep 2026)
- Compare the Market – Motorbike insurance (updated 29 Sep 2026)
- MoneySuperMarket – Motorbike insurance guide (28 Sep 2026)
- MoneySuperMarket – Motorbike insurance groups (Apr 2026)
- MoneySuperMarket – Money-saving tips (28 Sep 2026)
- Quotezone – Motorbike insurance (Apr 2026)
- Devitt – Motorbike insurance (Jul 2026)
- Devitt – Motorcycle insurance groups explained (May 2026)
- Bennetts – Motorbike insurance
- Compare the Market – Moped and scooter insurance (Jun 2026)