The Basics of UK Motorcycle Insurance
To define motorbike insurance let’s first break it down into its separate parts. Motorbikes are defined as any two wheeled vehicle that is powered by a mechanical engine (it can also include those 3 wheeled vehicles that have two of their wheels on the same axle). Insurance is cover provided by a financial body for which a premium is paid, in case of the event of loss or damage incurred by or due to the actions of the insured person.
Motorcycle insurance became compulsory for all motorcycles in the UK through the Road Traffic Act in 1988, with 3 basic levels of cover to choose from. The highest level of cover is provided by Comprehensive motorbike insurance and covers any loss or damage to the motorcycle and anyone directly affected by an accident, whether accidental or intentional.
The second level of cover is known as Third Party Fire and Theft, and is often shortened to TPFT. This means that in the event of an accident caused by the policyholder, any third parties affected will have their costs – including repairs to property and medical bills – covered by the insurance company. The policyholder will not have their personal costs covered. However you will still be able to claim in the case of theft or fire damage.
Finally the lowest level of cover available is simply called Third Party Only, and as the name suggests, covers the same as TPFT without the fire and theft coverage. It basically means that the rider is covered for any damage or loss of income to others in the event of an accident that is their fault, but offers no compensation for loss or damage to the rider themself or their property.
One of the most valuable ways to get cheaper motorcycle insurance is the No Claims Discount. It is possible to find insurers offering up to fifty percent discount. The way this works is that one has to let a minimum of twelve months elapse without a claim on the insurance, and then they can be on their way up the discount ladder. The longer one goes without making a claim, the bigger the discount becomes.
There are other steps riders can make in order to lower their bike insurance premiums. For example, limiting their amount of use of the motorcycle and perhaps using public transport on occasion could help the biker to qualify for a limited mileage discount (in the insurers eyes, the less time spent on the road the less likely the chances of an accident). In terms of the motorcycle itself, it is usually more favourable to avoid the more high-powered machines and go for a more standard motorbike. Insurers can often be put off by large sports bikes due to the higher risks they carry. One final premium-cutting measure would be to increase the security of your motorcycle so as to reduce the risk of theft. Locking it away in a garage, or if that’s not possible – purchasing a heavy duty chain and padlock, will certainly help to keep your motorbike insurance costs to a minimum.
Raphael Waterstone writes more about cheap insurance for motorbikes at Motorbike Insurance Online, where you can find articles and resources on various subjects such as Yamaha insurance
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Raphael Waterstone on June 25th 2011 in Car Insurance