Compare Scooter Insurance

Types of scooter insurance

Scooter insurance, just like car or motorbike insurance, is available with 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.

What are the scooter usage options?

There are four options to choose from when insuring your scooter:

Social only

Day to day scooter riding, but doesn't include commuting to and from work.

Social & commuting

Day to day riding, plus commuting to and from a single place of work. This doesn't usually include any journeys you might make whilst at work (e.g. riding to a client meeting).

Business use

Includes commuting, plus any journeys you might make whilst at work and for work purposes

Delivery use

If you use your scooter for courier or delivery work (e.g. delivering fast food for Uber Eats or Deliveroo).

This is the most intensive form of scooter insurance usage; we have a dedicated page about scooter food delivery insurance where you can find further information.

How to compare scooter insurance

To compare scooter insurance quotes, you'll need to enter some information about your scooter or moped, plus some personal information. This information will include:

About the scooter

• Make & model of scooter
• Value of the scooter
• When you purchased it
• Security devices fitted and used
• Any scooter modifications
• Where you keep it overnight

About you

• Name, address, DOB
• Relationship status
• What you do for a living
• The kind of licence you have
• Your riding experience
• Accidents & claims history
• Convictions/penalties/bans

You scooter cover

• When the scooter cover should start
• Type of scooter cover required
• If you want additional riders on the policy
• What you will use the scooter for
• Your annual scooter mileage
• No claims bonus details
• Voluntary excess required

Once you have filled in the details, the comparison system will provide and rank quotes based on the information you have provided. The cheapest scooter insurance quote will be listed first.

How much is scooter insurance in the UK?

Because of their small engines, modest power outputs, low(ish) maximum speeds and relatively low cost, 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 bike 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 via 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 you could get cheaper scooter insurance

Although riders can't often change their personal circumstances, there are some actions worth considering that may improve the odds of finding cheap scooter insurance quotes

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.

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.

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.

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 frame, 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 towards 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 most 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 as a scooter to most people whether fans of two wheels or not.

What is the best selling scooter in the UK?

According to press statistics from the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA), the best selling scooter in the UK for the whole of 2024 was the Yamaha NMAX 125, which sold a total of 2080 units.

This was closely followed by the Honda PCX 125, with 1885 registrations.

Monthly scooter sales were consistently led by either the Yamaha NMAX or the Honda PCX, with a perfect six month split between the two.

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.

You can compare insurance for most makes and models of 125cc scooters via Biker Insure.

Maxi scooter insurance

Perhaps a more common sight on European roads than 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, long 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 relatively 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.

Find out more on our electric motorbike and scooter insurance page.

Classic scooter insurance

You can compare quotes for classic scooter insurance via 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 via Biker Insure today.

Scooter insurance FAQ

Compare scooter insurance quotes from expert UK providers today and see how much you could save on your scooter insurance: