How much should I expect to pay for bike insurance as a learner?

kmb500

Hi. I know this is obviously a very vague question and insurance is based on loads of factors.

I am thinking of doing a CBT day and if I enjoy it, buy a 125cc motorbike. I am getting some insurance quotes on random 125cc bikes and seem to be getting £350-400. I'm sure it would go down a little with some playing around with different sites and different options, but still this seems really high to me. It's the same cost as my car insurance! Is this normal?

user1977

Seems likely to me - after all, the expensive claims are going to be third party ones for the accidents you cause - they probably work out a bit cheaper on a bike (and obviously you won't have e.g. four passengers of your own all claiming for injuries), but add in the fact you're a learner...plus bikes seem to get nicked quite a lot.

shinytop

Having just done quotes for a second bike with zero NCB, the things that make it lower that you might be able to influence are voluntary excess, keeping in a locked garage and not carrying pillions.  Unfortunately the things that you can't change like your age and where you live make the most difference.  Try www.thebikeinsurer.co.uk.  They gave the best quotes for me.  

kmb500

user1977 said:

Seems likely to me - after all, the expensive claims are going to be third party ones for the accidents you cause - they probably work out a bit cheaper on a bike (and obviously you won't have e.g. four passengers of your own all claiming for injuries), but add in the fact you're a learner...plus bikes seem to get nicked quite a lot.

Yeah I just changed it from comprehensive to third party and now getting prices under £200 which is much more reasonable! TBH I wouldn't have thought bikes are an insurance liability because when they crash, they don't really damage anyone other than themselves.

kmb500

shinytop said:

Having just done quotes for a second bike with zero NCB, the things that make it lower that you might be able to influence are voluntary excess, keeping in a locked garage and not carrying pillions.  Unfortunately the things that you can't change like your age and where you live make the most difference.  Try www.thebikeinsurer.co.uk.  They gave the best quotes for me.  

Thanks. I am 27 and live in a low crime area so wouldn't think those are problems. I'll check out that website, cheers.

kmb500

oh also can you use your car NCB on a bike policy?

Geodark

kmb500 said:

oh also can you use your car NCB on a bike policy?

Not sure, but I do know that a lot of insurance companies will only let you use your NCD on one policy at a time - some will mirror it - but not all. 

DullGreyGuy

kmb500 said:

user1977 said:

Seems likely to me - after all, the expensive claims are going to be third party ones for the accidents you cause - they probably work out a bit cheaper on a bike (and obviously you won't have e.g. four passengers of your own all claiming for injuries), but add in the fact you're a learner...plus bikes seem to get nicked quite a lot.

Yeah I just changed it from comprehensive to third party and now getting prices under £200 which is much more reasonable! TBH I wouldn't have thought bikes are an insurance liability because when they crash, they don't really damage anyone other than themselves.

They do when they hit pedestrians and other bike riders (motor or peddle)

ontheroad1970

kmb500 said:

user1977 said:

Seems likely to me - after all, the expensive claims are going to be third party ones for the accidents you cause - they probably work out a bit cheaper on a bike (and obviously you won't have e.g. four passengers of your own all claiming for injuries), but add in the fact you're a learner...plus bikes seem to get nicked quite a lot.

Yeah I just changed it from comprehensive to third party and now getting prices under £200 which is much more reasonable! TBH I wouldn't have thought bikes are an insurance liability because when they crash, they don't really damage anyone other than themselves.

Except when a motorcyclist rides in a way that causes two big vehicles to crash with ,multiple casualties.  Not suggesting this would be you, but it is a consideration.

shinytop

ontheroad1970 said:

kmb500 said:

user1977 said:

Seems likely to me - after all, the expensive claims are going to be third party ones for the accidents you cause - they probably work out a bit cheaper on a bike (and obviously you won't have e.g. four passengers of your own all claiming for injuries), but add in the fact you're a learner...plus bikes seem to get nicked quite a lot.

Yeah I just changed it from comprehensive to third party and now getting prices under £200 which is much more reasonable! TBH I wouldn't have thought bikes are an insurance liability because when they crash, they don't really damage anyone other than themselves.

Except when a motorcyclist rides in a way that causes two big vehicles to crash with ,multiple casualties.  Not suggesting this would be you, but it is a consideration.

I think that would be extremely rare.  Bikes are expensive to insure because they are easy to fall off and damage and they get stolen a lot.  

I didn't find TPT&F that much cheaper when I looked but who knows how these things are worked out. 

ontheroad1970

shinytop said:

ontheroad1970 said:

kmb500 said:

user1977 said:

Seems likely to me - after all, the expensive claims are going to be third party ones for the accidents you cause - they probably work out a bit cheaper on a bike (and obviously you won't have e.g. four passengers of your own all claiming for injuries), but add in the fact you're a learner...plus bikes seem to get nicked quite a lot.

Yeah I just changed it from comprehensive to third party and now getting prices under £200 which is much more reasonable! TBH I wouldn't have thought bikes are an insurance liability because when they crash, they don't really damage anyone other than themselves.

Except when a motorcyclist rides in a way that causes two big vehicles to crash with ,multiple casualties.  Not suggesting this would be you, but it is a consideration.

I think that would be extremely rare.  Bikes are expensive to insure because they are easy to fall off and damage and they get stolen a lot.  

I didn't find TPT&F that much cheaper when I looked but who knows how these things are worked out. 

I wouldn't say it would be all that rare - poor filtering, two cars try and avoid him and end up crashing.