Compare motorcycle insurance Australia

Compare types of motorcycle insurance

There are four main types of motorbike insurance available on the market:

• Compulsory Third Party (CTP) is your mandatory, bare-bones cover. If you only want to get on the road then this is the only thing you need. However, should an accident come your way, you may find yourself in dire straits as this only covers injuries to the people involved in the accident. Neither yourself nor any property is covered.
• Third Party Property Damage (TPPD) is your basic optional insurance, giving you a little more cover should trouble strike. This will cover damage and repairs to any property you might crash into, as well as any legal fees should you be dragged into court. Any repairs to your own bike will have to come out of your pocket. This is a good option if your bike is particularly old or cheap.
• Third Party, Fire and Theft covers everything that TPP insurance does, in addition to any damage from fire or theft to your own bike or to other people's property. There is usually a limit on the amount of cover provided, often dependant on the value of your motorcycle.
• Comprehensive is your 'no worries' policy. This covers nearly all damage, whether that be accidental or your own fault. It also covers you for theft, fire, natural disaster, or if your bike was plucked up by mysterious forces and never seen again.

What else should I be looking for in a policy?

Consider the cost of a policy and the cover offered, as well as the various extras and options available. Some of the extras you might find include:

• Helmet and riding gear cover. Your riding leathers, helmet and other gear can be expensive. A lot of policies can cover theft or damage of helmets and riding gear.
• Personal effects cover. Often found separate to riding gear cover, you may be able to find policies that let you insure personal effects carried on or in the bike.
• Agreed or market value. If market value isn't a fair reflection of your bike's true worth, for example if you need insurance for a modified motorcycle, then you might want to look for policies that offer agreed value as an option, rather than simply insuring it at market value.
• Flexible excess. It may be worth looking for insurers that let you set your own standard excess, to further tailor your costs.
• New replacement. If a relatively new motorcycle is written off following an insured event, you might be able to get a brand new equivalent replacement. A time limit, often 2 years, usually applies to this cover type.
• Temporary replacement vehicle. If you need your bike to get around, then it might be worth looking for policies that cover hire vehicles following theft.
• Personal items. You can get covered for the theft or damage of personal items and trailers.
• Keys and locks. Cover for the cost of re-keying or re-coding locks if your keys are stolen.
• Windscreen damage. You may be able to find an option for excess-free windscreen and broken glass claims.
• Protected no claims bonus. Policies that offer no claims discounts may also offer an extra-cost option that lets you make at-fault claims without losing your discount.
• Tools and trailer cover. If you use your bike to tow a trailer, or use it to transport any trade tools, then cover for these will often be found as separate options.

What motorbike insurance options do I have in Australia?

Like car insurance, motorcycle insurance generally comes in three forms: comprehensive, third party fire and theft, and third party property online. The best motorcycle insurance policy for you depends on how you use your motorcycle.

Each policy typically covers the following, however this may differ between insurers:

Compare motorcycle insurance policy types

Australian motorcycle insurance options by state

• WA
• SA
• NT
• QLD
• NSW
• VIC

What affects my motorbike insurance premiums?

• The value of your bike. Newer, more expensive and more powerful bikes will usually cost more to insure than older, cheaper and less powerful models. Consider how much your bike will cost to insure before you lay down your hard earned cash to buy your motorcycle insurance.
• Your claim history. The longer you have a policy without making a claim, the greater the no claim discount you will receive from your motorcycle insurance provider. This can help you save on your premiums.
• Your age. Riders under the age of 25 are much more costly than older drivers. So, if you're over 25 you may wish to consider whether it's worth adding an under 25 rider to your motorcycle insurance policy. Specifying that no one under 25 will be riding your bike might save you a lot of money.
• Modifications. In some cases, modifications to your bike can help you save on premiums, such as if you add a security system to deter thieves. However, if your bike undergoes performance enhancements to make it faster or more powerful, you can expect your premiums to go up.
• How much you ride. You can save money by finding motorcycle insurance that allows you to only pay for cover for the kilometres you ride. Make sure not to over or underestimate your annual mileage when purchasing cover.
• Where you keep your bike. Keeping your bike in a secure, locked garage (or car hold) whenever it isn't being ridden it will lower your premiums. If your bike is left parked on the street you can expect to pay more for your motorcycle insurance.
• Your level of cover. If you need to be covered for more risks under a comprehensive policy, your premiums will obviously be higher.
• Engine capacity. More powerful engines typically come with higher premiums. This is because accidents at higher speeds often cause more damage, riders may be more likely to lose control of powerful motorcycles, and these types of motorbike might be statistically more likely to be ridden in an unsafe way.
• Your excess option. You can opt to pay a higher excess in return for a lower premium.

What excess will I have to pay on my motorcycle insurance?

The excess is the amount you will need to contribute towards a claim. The exact amount will often depend on the type of claim, the insurer, the policy and your chosen options. Sometimes there will be more than one excess payable, including:

• Basic excess - Also known as the "standard excess." This basic excess will apply to most types of claims. When you get to choose your own excess for higher or lower premiums, you're typically adjusting the basic excess.
• Age excess - Under 25s will often have to pay an additional age excess in the event of a claim.
• Undisclosed rider excess - If the driver isn't listed as a user on the policy, an additional excess may need to be paid in the event of a claim.
• License or experience excess - Inexperienced riders who have held their motorcycle license for less than 2 years may need to pay an inexperienced rider excess. Sometimes this will only apply to over 25s.
• Special excess - Special excesses may be applied for individual circumstances. For example, if you have a history of traffic infringements then an insurer might only agree to cover you with a special excess. Often a special excess will apply to certain types of claim. For example, there might be a special "theft excess" with some policies.

How much should I choose for my basic excess?

The ideal amount depends on your circumstances and the policy. It may be worth opting for a higher excess to help reduce your premiums, especially if you're a particularly safe rider, or only intend to make claims in the event of a total loss.

However, it's generally a good idea to make sure the excess is affordable, so you can more easily make a claim if needed.

How are my bike insurance premiums calculated?

Different insurers will use different factors when determining premiums. Generally all of these factors might be considered to determine motorbike insurance quotes.

• What is your claims history like? If you've made a claim on your motorcycle insurance in the past, insurers will classify you as posing an increased likelihood of making a future claim. This will drive your premiums up. On the flip-side, a no claims bonus can help lower the cost of cover significantly.
• Who rides your bike? If you're an experienced rider with an unblemished claims history and you're the only person riding your bike, the cost of your cover should stay low. But if you want your motorcycle insurance policy to also cover a 22-year-old rider with a speeding conviction and several previous insurance claims, expect your premiums to skyrocket.
• Do you have a clean riding history? If you've got a long string of speeding and traffic offences, insurers will see you as posing a high level of risk and will increase your motorcycle insurance premiums.
• Where do you live? If you live in a high crime area the likelihood of your bike being stolen increases. This will be reflected in the cost of your motorbike insurance premiums, as will whether or not you keep your bike safely garaged overnight.
• Are there any security systems installed on your bike? Bikes with alarm systems or immobilisers are less likely to be stolen, which means you can save on your motorcycle insurance premiums.
• What kind of bike do you ride? If your bike is expensive and/or high powered, expect it to cost more to insure than cheaper, less powerful models.
• How much do you ride? The fewer kilometres you ride, the lower your motorcycle insurance premiums.

Still have questions? The answer may be here ...

• Q. Who offers motorcycle insurance?

  A.You can take out a motorcycle insurance policy with some of these companies:

  • NRMA
  • QBE
  • AAMI
  • Youi
  • Swann

  • Suncorp
  • RAC
  • Real Insurance
  • GIO
  • Shannons

• Q. What about scooter and moped insurance?

  A. Moped insurance and scooter insurance are widely available. Motorbike insurance premiums are determined by the vehicle's engine capacity, so as less powerful vehicles mopeds and motor scooters enjoy lower insurance premiums than higher end machines.
  Is my scooter or moped less than 225cc?
  Mopeds typically have a very low engine capacity, and are almost always less than 225cc, while most but not all scooters are.
  225cc and under is the lightest class of motorcycles, and simply falling into this category as a moped or scooter will lower your insurance premiums with standard motorcycle insurance. Compare scooter insurance policies by knowing what kind of engine it has.

• Q. What about vintage and classic motorcycle insurance?

  A. Offers agreed value rather than market value, and covers modificationsYou can insure classic and vintage motorcycles too. If it's an everyday rider, or if it spends more time laid up, you can find cover to suit. For example, you might look for a specialist vintage motorcycle policy that:

  • Insures the bike while it's being carried on a trailer
  • Is tailored to your frequency of use, with laid-up or limited use cover. This type of policy can cut costs by recognising that your vintage motorcycle is only for occasional riding.
  • Grants salvage rights in the event of a write-off, so you can restore it at your own pace
  • Offers you full choice of your own repairer
  • Covers the cost of air freight for spare parts
  • Insures classic or vintage bikes while being used at rallies, as displays or in other special events

  While premiums may be pushed upwards thanks to a relatively high agreed value, compared to many standard motorcycles, vintage motorcycle insurance premiums can also be pushed downwards by insurers recognising that classic bikes tend to be involved in fewer accidents, and are often not used on a daily basis.

• Q. How does pillion cover work?

  A. If you choose not to get pillion cover but are involved in an incident while carrying a passenger, you could risk voiding your policy altogether. The vast majority of insurers will offer pillion cover as an extra on their motorcycle insurance policies, with the price you'll have to pay typically being influenced by factors such as your age, riding experience and the type of bike you own.The pillion is a motorcycle's passenger seat. Motorcycle insurance for pillion passengers used to be included as standard on all motorbike insurance policies, but not anymore. Times have changed, so you must check the fine print of your policy to see how passengers are protected.

• Q. What are the main types of motorcycle insurance available?

  A. You can choose from Comprehensive, Third Party Fire and Theft, and Third Party Only motorcycle insurance. Specialist policies are also available for vintage bikes, mopeds and scooters.

• Q. I'm new to motorcycles - what should I do?

  As a young or inexperienced driver, it's an unfortunate reality that you will have to pay more on your premiums. However, there are some ways to help reduce your premiums. Choose a bike with a less powerful engine. Larger and more powerful engines are more expensive to insure.

  If you keep your bike in a garage and have good security measures in place, your premium may be reduced. This is because it reduces the likelihood of your bike getting damaged. If you can, try to avoid accidents to build up a no-claim history.

• Q. When will I have to pay an excess?

  A. You will usually have to pay an excess when you make a claim. While a standard excess applies, a range of other excesses may apply depending on your motorbike insurance policy and who is insured.

  There are four different types of excess that may be available:

  • Age – If a rider under 25 is riding your bike at the time of an incident.
  • Inexperienced – If a rider who has had their license under one year is riding your bike at the time of the incident.
  • Standard – All claims unless specified otherwise.
  • Voluntary – If you choose voluntary excess reduction. This excess replaces the standard excess.

• Q. Do I need to list all of the regular riders of my motorcycle insurance policy?

  A. Yes, this is crucial as it will impact your premium and could also influence an insurer's decision on whether or not to offer you cover.

• Q. How do I pay for my motorbike insurance?

  A. Many insurers will offer you payment options to suit your budget. You can typically pay for your cover with a lump sum, or spread payments out monthly or even fortnightly to make them more affordable.

• Q. I've been in an accident – what should I do?

  A. First of all, make sure that everyone is safe and call 000 if required. Next, exchange details, registration and licence information with all other drivers involved. You should also get the details of any witnesses and take photos of the accident scene if possible. Never admit any liability and contact your motorcycle insurance provider as soon as possible, and inform them of what has happened.

• Q. I use my motorcycle for business purposes – can I get cover?

  A. Yes you can, but you'll need to inform your insurer exactly how your bike will be used before you can be approved for cover.

• Q. What is a No Claim Bonus?

  A. A No Claim Bonus is a discount off your motorcycle insurance premium, which acts as a reward for your good driving. Each year when you renew your policy, your discount increases each year you don't make a claim that affects your No Claims Bonus. This bonus continues to increase until you hit the maximum bonus.