What is fully comprehensive motorcycle insurance?

Fully comprehensive cover is the top tier of motorcycle insurance available. It includes, and builds on, the level of cover available under a Third Party Fire & Theft policy by providing you and your bike with additional accident protection - regardless of who is at fault.

What does comprehensive motorbike insurance cover?

With a comprehensive motorbike policy, you’ll be covered for any costs incurred by a third party, plus fire & theft, plus coverage for accidents that are your fault. Fully comprehensive cover can pay for damage to you and your bike when nobody else is involved – whether an accident is because of rider error, inclement environmental conditions, or a dangerous road surface.

Your bike may also be covered against other kinds of accidental damage, even if you aren’t riding it – such as vandalism and flooding, but check the T&C’s and wording on your comprehensive motorcycle policy as there may be exclusions or omissions.

What’s not covered under a fully comprehensive motorbike policy?

Although comprehensive policies will give you the maximum level of protection available, no motorbike insurance policy can cover all scenarios.

Comprehensive bike policies are unlikely to provide cover for:

• Track days
• Thefts due to negligence (e.g. leaving your keys in the bike)
• Damage or injury when riding under the influence
• General wear and tear
• Intentional damage
• Someone uninsured riding your motorbike

This list is by no means exhaustive and it's always wise to check your policy wording carefully for any exclusions before buying.

Is comprehensive motorbike insurance more expensive?

Anecdotally, you’ll see some motorbike insurers answering this question with a yes, and others no. Those answering “no” typically assert that TPO/TPFT policies are more likely to be taken out by motorcyclists more inclined to risk taking, with a higher chance of being in an accident and making a claim. Those asserting that comprehensive cover is more expensive will typically state it’s a pricier option due to the higher level of cover.

The fact is that price of your fully comprehensive motorbike insurance policy will depend entirely on your individual risk profile. Some bikers may find that comprehensive policies are cheaper for their unique combination of motorbike and personal circumstances, whereas others will receive quotes where a third party policy costs more.

Fortunately, there’s a really easy way to find out how the price of a comprehensive policy stacks up for you, and if it's cheaper or more expensive than lower cover options:

You can get quotes for all three levels of motorbike insurance at Biker Insure. Simply change the level of cover required after receiving your comprehensive quotes. The prices will update in seconds, according to your selection. You won’t need to re-enter your information, just change the cover to see how the three levels compare.

How much is comprehensive motorcycle insurance?

Costs for every level of motorcycle cover vary according to your unique set of circumstances, and the bike you ride. Factors affecting the cost of a comprehensive motorbike policy include:

• Motorcycle make, model, age & value
• Where you keep the bike, and security measures
• Your age and where you live
• Your occupation
• Your claims and riding history
• How you use the bike
• The amount of voluntary excess applied
• How many years No Claims Bonus you have

Find out how much comprehensive insurance costs for you and your bike by getting a quote at Biker Insure today:

What’s the difference between Comprehensive and FULLY Comprehensive motorbike insurance?

There’s no difference – you’ll see Comprehensive, Fully Comprehensive, and Fully Comp motorbike insurance. They all mean the same thing, and refer to the same insurance product.

Occasionally, customers might refer to Comprehensive cover as “Full Coverage” motorcycle insurance, but it’s a term more typically reserved for the US insurance market.

Is it worth getting comprehensive motorbike insurance?

If fully comprehensive insurance works out cheapest for your individual circumstances, then it’s an easy choice. You’re getting more cover, for less cash.

If fully comprehensive quotes work out more expensive for your individual circumstances, you’ll need to weigh up the costs versus the additional features provided, to ensure you’re getting the best value.

Work out whether you really need fully comprehensive cover or not by thinking about what would happen if you were to make a claim on a comprehensive policy vs a third party policy, taking into account your bike, personal situation, and what payout you would expect if the bike needed to be repaired or replaced.

An example of a situation where comprehensive cover might not be worth paying more for is if you have a low value motorbike and don’t use it much. Weigh up the cost of insuring your bike on a comprehensive basis, against any payouts (minus the excess) that you’ll get if you need to make a claim.

What’s the difference between comprehensive and third party fire & theft?

The main difference between fully comprehensive motorcycle insurance and third party fire and theft insurance is what happens in the event of an accident that’s your fault.

With comprehensive cover, damage to your bike as well as other people/cars/bikes/property will be covered if you are to blame.

You’ll also typically be covered if you have an accident and no-one else is involved - if you drop the bike off the side stand, crash because of a pothole, hit a patch of black ice, or simply make an error of judgement.

Is riding other bikes included with a comprehensive motorbike policy?

Whilst it’s more likely that a fully comprehensive motorbike policy will include riding other bikes as standard, it’s by no means a given - and is less common than it once was. If other bikes are included, the cover will usually be on a third party only basis. Check with your insurer to confirm.

What about pillion cover?

Pillion cover is not typically included with most comprehensive bike policies. If you’re going to be carrying pillions, cover can usually be added as an optional extra on top of the standard policy.

As with any level of motorcycle insurance cover, comprehensive policies do vary from provider to provider. It’s important to read the T&C’s of any policy documents for your comprehensive cover before buying, to ensure it meets your requirements.

Fully comprehensive cover is available from every broker on the panel, subject to your individual circumstances. Get a quote from 25+ brokers today and see how much you could save on a fully comprehensive motorbike insurance policy:

Comprehensive motorbike insurance FAQ:

*51% of consumers who received a quote for Motorbike Insurance through this service provided by Seopa Ltd. in February 2024 were quoted less than £238.63. The price you could achieve is dependent on your individual circumstances.