Who can ride a scooter?

Scooters can legally be ridden unsupervised on UK roads from the age of 17 with a CBT certificate and L plates. Because scooter riders only need a valid licence with provisional motorcycle entitlement plus a CBT certificate, a scooter is often the transport of choice for younger people aged 17 or 18 years old looking for freedom and flexibility.

Mopeds are sometimes referred to as scooters, but have a different legal definition. You can ride a "scooter" with a 50cc engine from the age of 16. For more information, visit our moped insurance page.

In addition to meeting the appropriate licencing requirements to ride a scooter, you will also need to ensure that the scooter is taxed, MOT'd, and has a minimum of third party insurance cover.

Types of scooter insurance

Scooter insurance, just like car or motorbike insurance, is available to buy at three levels of cover.

TPO Scooter insurance – The minimum legally required level of insurance. Third party only scooter insurance covers third parties for damage and loss that might occur. Because this level of cover only insures other people and vehicles, your own scooter isn’t covered if an accident is your fault, or if your scooter is stolen.

TPFT Scooter insurance – Third party fire and theft scooter insurance again covers third parties, but also provides protection if your scooter is stolen or damaged by fire.

Fully Comprehensive scooter insurance – The highest level of scooter insurance available. Includes everything under TPFT, but also provides cover if you are involved in an accident or damage your scooter and it's your fault.

Before you buy scooter insurance, it’s important to make sure you are happy with the level of insurance provided. Different brokers can have different terms and conditions for their policies. Be sure to read through the key features and policy terms before you buy, to ensure the level of cover provided meets your needs.

How much is scooter insurance in the UK?

Because of their small engines, modest power outputs, low(ish) maximum speeds and relatively low value, scooters can be inexpensive to insure when compared with cars and motorcycles.

Experienced riders are especially likely to find scooter insurance much cheaper than insurance for their motorcycle.

However, because scooters are often ridden by younger riders with little experience (often on L plates and with zero no claims bonus), scooter insurance can be relatively expensive. It's the rider, rather than the make and model of scooter that will often be the major factor influencing premium prices.

Just like motorbike insurance, the cost of scooter insurance is based on multiple factors including the make and model, your age, where you live, your occupation, plus your license and riding history. Because there are so many factors involved when brokers work out the price of your premium, no two scooter insurance quotes are ever the same.

The best way to find out how much scooter insurance costs is to run a quick comparison at Biker Insure, where the quote will be tailored to your individual circumstances.

We have run some quotes for popular scooter models through the system to get an idea of premium costs. We’ve used the same rider details that are used for sample motorcycle insurance quotes at Biker Insure. Although this rider is older than many scooter riders, it’s useful for a comparison of motorbike vs scooter insurance costs.

How to get cheaper scooter insurance

Although riders have little control over personal circumstances, there are some actions that can be taken to increase the chances of finding the cheapest scooter insurance quotes:

What is a scooter, and how do they differ from motorcycles?

The chassis design of a scooter is one of the biggest differences between scooters and motorcycles. Whereas motorcycles are sat “on” with one leg either side of the machine, scooters are sat “in.” You can literally “step-through” a scooter frame, and sit inboard the machine with your legs more or less together.

This configuration (pioneered by early Vespa and Lambretta designers) means that much of the powertrain has to be located in a different place than a motorbike, so the engine and transmission are typically located toward the rear of the machine, where the engine is often an integral part of the suspension.

Scooters nowadays will almost always have automatic transmissions with a simple twist and go operation, as opposed to 99% of motorcycles which have a manual gear change operated by the riders left foot.

Scooters can have any capacity of engine, although the majority use smaller cc engines, with the 125cc scooter class being the most popular.

Mechanics aside, most scooters are easy to spot because of the way they look. Although there are variations, the general ergonomics – sit in design, smaller wheels, frontal weather protection etc all combine to make a design that is instantly recognisable to most people whether they are fans of two wheels or not.

125cc Scooter insurance

The 125cc scooter is the most popular size of scooter on UK roads. 125cc scooter insurance is typically cheaper on average than 125cc motorbike insurance, however your premium costs will depend on your personal circumstances and your particular make, model, age and value of 125 scooter.

All makes and models of 125cc scooters can be compared at Biker Insure.

Maxi scooter insurance

Perhaps a more common sight on European roads than in the UK, the maxi scooter is a good option for those looking for the convenience, weather protection, and practicality of a scooter - but with added shove, longer distance capability, and relaxed cruising from a bigger motor. Machines like the popular Yamaha Xmax 300 or Honda Forza 350 are prime examples of the maxi-scooter genre.

Maxi-scooter engine sizes sometimes go as large as 800cc, but the majority of the most popular models like the Yamaha T-Max or Suzuki Burgman are around 600cc.

It stands to reason that a scooter with a bigger, more powerful engine and higher speed capability (plus quite high retail costs) will cost more to insure than a small scooter, but the trade-off can be worth it for many.

Electric scooter insurance

Trading the petrol pump for a plug socket is becoming increasingly common in the scooter world, especially so with the advent of cheap scooters from Chinese manufacturers such as Lexmoto and Super Soco. Electric scooters typically have motors with power outputs to match the licencing categories of their petrol-powered stable mates, and with comparable insurance costs.

Classic scooter insurance

You can compare quotes for classic scooter insurance at Biker Insure. Whether you have a classic Lambretta or an old Vespa, compare quotes just as you would for a modern scooter. The comparison and quote process works the same whether your scooter is 6 or 60 years old.

Whether your scooter is powered by a 50cc or 500cc ICE engine, or an electric motor, you can compare scooter insurance quotes. It doesn’t matter if you own a brand new Yamaha scooter or a 50 year old Lambretta, get a quote at Biker Insure today.

Scooter insurance FAQ

Discover cheap scooter insurance at Biker Insure by comparing multiple quotes from expert insurance providers.

Compare scooter insurance quotes today and see how much you could save: