Suzuki Owners Club

There is no question of the need for all motorbike owners to invest in the appropriate bike insurance; not only is it necessary to secure yourself financially against loss of, or damage to, the vehicle – it is also something all riders are legally obligated to do. Riding without a licence carries a punishment of driving licence penalty points, a fine or possibly even the loss of the licence. However, there are three different types of bike insurance, offering different degrees of coverage – making it necessary for motorcycle enthusiasts to find out as much information about each as they can, before deciding.

Firstly, there is ‘third party only’ bike insurance, which is generally the cheapest insurance option available and the minimum required by the law, but which also provides the least degree of cover. With this, the policyholder is protected against damage to the property or person of a third party. What this means is that, where you to be involved in a collision with another vehicle, that you were the cause of, your insurance policy would cover the costs of repairing the other vehicle and any medical costs of the occupant. This means that you would not be covered for injuries you received in the accident or any damages accrued to your bike. Furthermore, if your bike were to be stolen or damaged by fire, these events would not be covered by the terms of your policy.

The next level up is ‘third party fire and theft’ insurance which, as the name indicates, is broadly similar to that offered by ‘third party only’ insurance. The difference is in the scale of cover provided, as this will protect the policyholder in the event of the motorbike being stolen or set on fire. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this level of coverage carries more expensive premiums, but with the greater degree of protection offered, it is more likely to repay these costs in the future. In addition, with vehicle insurance being such a competitive market, it is possible to secure a good deal.

The final type of bike insurance policy available is ‘fully comprehensive’ insurance, which, as the name indicates, provides the policyholder with complete protection. Many ‘fully comprehensive’ policy packages also include legal expense and breakdown coverage as extras.

When deciding which type of bike insurance to go for, you should always try to get quotes for all three, as many companies – such as Carole Nash – offer telephone quotations. Choose based on your financial circumstances, but look at the long-term benefits as well as short-term savings.