How to get cheap motorbike insurance in Ireland

Motorcycle insurance provides financial protection when things go wrong but it can be pricey. Here’s how to find the best value cover in Ireland and keep costs down.

What does motorbike insurance cover?

Motorbike insurance policies usually cover riding for social, domestic and pleasure purposes. It works like other types of insurance; you pay a monthly or annual premium in return for financial cover if things go wrong.

You may need a different type of cover if you use your bike for business purposes, for example, as a courier or for fast food delivery. You must disclose any business use with your insurer so you don’t void your policy in case of a claim.

What level of cover can you buy for motorbikes?

You can usually choose from three levels of motorbike cover, offering different levels of protection and price.

Third party

This cover is the minimum required by the law. It insures you for damage to others or their property. It won’t cover theft, motorbike repairs or any medical expenses.

Third party fire and theft

This offers the same protection as third party with added cover for fire or theft of your motorbike.

Comprehensive

As well as cover for third party, fire and theft, you are insured for repairs to your motorbike in the event of an accident. Comprehensive sometimes covers personal injury, but not always.

What’s covered as standard?

Your standard features will depend on the level of cover you choose. When you’re comparing insurance quotes examine the policy benefits, but also check any exclusions that may apply.

Most motorcycle insurers in Ireland also offer extra benefits with their standard cover. Some examples of extra benefits are:

Breakdown assistance
Short term UK & EU travel cover
Multi-products discounts
Legal expenses cover
Motorcycle replacement

Is motorbike insurance compulsory?

If you ride a motorcycle, it’s a legal requirement to have insurance. You must have motorbike cover before you can ride your bike on a public road in Ireland. You also need a valid certificate of insurance to pay motor tax.

Once you have bought your motorbike cover, you’ll receive an insurance disc and a certificate of insurance which has to be clearly displayed on your bike at all times.

The type of motorbikes that need insurance are:

Mopeds & scooters
Classic or vintage bikes
Sports bikes
Supermoto bikes
Off-road bikes
Choppers
Touring bikes and cruisers

You don’t need motorbike cover if you’ve declared your bike off the road.

Do you need a licence to get insurance?

Yes, if you hold a learner permit insurers won’t provide cover until you’ve completed the Initial Basic Training Course (IBT). You must hold a current driving licence or learner permit to drive a motorcycle or moped.

Do you have to attend a Skills Assessment programme to get motorbike insurance?

Yes, for certain types of motorbike you may have to complete a skills assessment, which you can get from an accredited trainer.

Even if it is not compulsory for your cover, you’ll get a discount on your premium if you complete the assessment. It’s a graded assessment and the higher your grade, the better the discounts.

Types of motorbike insurance

If you don’t have a standard motorcycle, you could benefit from specialist insurance tailored to the type of bike you ride.

Here are some of the main types of specialist bike insurance:

Moped & scooter insurance This type of insurance may be cheaper, especially if you are over 25 and have limited mileage.
Classic motorcycle insurance This specialised cover takes into account the likelihood you’ll have low mileage and look after your bike well.
Trike or custom bike insurance This cover often provides free agreed value and no limit to road-legal modifications. This means the insurer has agreed the value and set it in the policy, but won’t charge you.
Multi-bike insurance If you have more than one bike, it’s often cheaper and easier to get multi-bike insurance instead of insuring all your bikes separately.

If you have a non-standard motorcycle, it’s worth using an insurance broker to help you find the cheapest insurance policy to suit your specific needs.

Do you need a different type of cover if you use your motorcycle for work?

Yes, you may. It’s vital that you let your insurers know what you intend to use your bike for. Undisclosed use could void your policy, so when you make a claim you could find that you’re not covered at all.

The ‘use’ categories are usually:

Personal use - using for social and domestic, but not travelling to work
Commuting - travelling to work regularly as well as personal use
Business use - travelling to me than one place of work, for instance as part of a sales job or call out an engineer
Delivery and courier use - using to deliver or pick up goods, food or parcels

How much is motorbike insurance?

You can expect to pay anywhere between €150 and €1000 depending on your age, experience and claims history. Insurance quotes vary considerably, so always shop around to find the best price.

Motorbike insurance can be very expensive if you’re under 25 years, and you could pay up to 35% more than an experienced, older rider.

Some insurers may not insure you at all if you’re under 25 with a high powered bike, or cover could be prohibitively expensive. If you’re in this age bracket, collect some quotes or speak to a broker before you buy your dream machine.

What affects the cost of motorbike insurance?

The cost of insurance is based on risk. The higher the risk to the insurer, the greater the cost of your premium.

Therefore, insurance companies assess several factors to set the price of your policy, such as:

Your age: Your age is a major factor because it indicates your level of experience on the road
Your driving record: Your driving and claims history indicates the likelihood of future accidents
Where you live: Your postcode will indicate the risk level of theft or damage to your bike
Your bike: The bike’s make and model, its mileage and any modifications that have taken place
The policy: The level of cover you choose, the policy excess and any discounts added like ‘no claims discount’ or ‘multi-vehicle discount’

What is a no claims discount?

It’s a discount based on the number of years you’ve held a policy without making a claim. How much you’ll save is based on the number of years you go without making a claim on your policy. For example

No.of years with no claims	% discount
1 year	20%
3 years	40%
5 years	60%

Find out more about the no claims bonus and how it works in our dedicated guide.

Where to find motorbike insurance in Ireland

These are four companies offering motorbike insurance in Ireland:

Carole Nash Insurance
AXA
Liberty Insurance
Principal Insurance

You can go directly to an insurance provider or use a broker who will get quotes from a panel of insurers.

Principal Insurance is a specialist broker and works with a range of insurers to find the best value policy for you and your bike.

How to get the cheapest motorbike insurance

Motorcycle insurance can be costly, especially if you have a high powered bike or are a young, inexperienced rider.

Here’s some tips to keep insurance costs down:

Search for discounts: If you have at least five years no claims bonus, you can get sizeable discounts on your policy. You’ll also be eligible for a discount if you already have car insurance - this can be up to 40%.
Check with your existing providers: Some insurers offer discounts if you already have an insurance policy with them e.g. car insurance. A discount won’t necessarily make the cover cheaper than elsewhere, so still shop around.
Take the Motorbike Skills Assessment programme: AXA provide a Motorbike Skills Assessment Programme to, not only improve your skills but reward you with discounts on your motorcycle insurance.
Use a broker to compare quotes: It could save you time and money, but they may not cover the whole of the market and there are only a couple of insurance brokers dealing with motorcycle insurance in Ireland.
Set the excess as high as you can afford: This will bring down the cost of the policy, but remember, if you need to claim you’ll have to pay more towards the costs.
Pay the premium upfront: Cover may cost more if you pay the premium in monthly instalments, so if the annual premium is cheaper, pay the lump sum if you can afford to.