Comprehensive motorbike insurance can cover your bike against a whole range of events including accidental damage, collision, fire, storm, theft and much more. Our comparison table can help you find a policy — it lets you compare up to 4 policies side by side. That way, you can see what features some offer and others don't.
Comprehensive motorcycle insurance
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Generally, price is the only difference. The information in this guide is good for both scooters and motorbikes, except scooter insurance typically costs significantly less than motorcycle cover.
What does comprehensive motorcycle insurance cover?
Comprehensive motorcycle insurance can cover you from a wide range of hazards, as well as cover the cost of riding gear damaged in accidents, third party property damage and more. Comprehensive cover will generally pay out for damage resulting from insurable events such as:
Collision or crash damage
Accidental damage
Theft or attempted theft
Vandalism
Storm, hail, flood, fire, earthquakes and more
Damage caused to third party property
Other insurable events include:
Damage to riding gear
Damage to trailers you may be towing
Damage caused by uninsured drivers
Personal property other than riding gear which was lost or damaged by an insurable event
Locks and keys
Emergency travel, accommodation and repair costs
Towing and storage costs
For example, you are generally able to claim for the loss of riding gear like helmets, whether it was damaged in an accident or stolen from a secure compartment.
What extras are available?
Some policy features may take the form of automatic inclusions, or optional extras. These may include:
Hire car cover. Covers the cost of a hire car. Depending on the policy this might be specifically in the event of theft, or if you are unable to ride your motorcycle as a result of any kind of insured damage or loss. This option will generally provide a hire car, and not a hire motorcycle.
No excess windscreen or glass replacement. No excess is payable for broken glass or windscreen claims.
New replacement. If a relatively new motorcycle, usually up to two years since purchase, is written off or stolen and not recovered, you can get a new replacement of the same make and model, instead of simply being paid the value of it.
Agreed value. Some insurers and policies can let you insure your motorcycle at a set agreed value, which does not diminish over time, instead of the market value, which is subject to depreciation.
Uninsured motorist extension. Additional cover for damage caused to your vehicle by an uninsured driver.
It’s important to note that you are generally required to maintain your motorcycle in good, safe working condition. You may not be insured for accidents or damage that were caused by poor maintenance. Similarly, you need to take appropriate precautions such as by securing belongings in a locked compartment in order for them to be covered.
In the event of something happening you need to take all reasonable precautions to prevent further damage and make sure the vehicle is secure.
Common exclusions applied to policies include:
Losses that occur outside of Australia
If the driver at this time didn’t have a valid motorcycle license or had been disqualified from driving
While under the influence of drugs or alcohol
If your vehicle was being used for illegal purposes
In races, rallies, trials or events like track days
Intentional damage to the motorcycle, or damage resulting from faulty repair attempts by you or someone else
Wear and tear, as well as rust or any kind or corrosion
Any loss of profits resulting from being unable to ride, such as if you can’t get to work
Finder survey: What is the most important feature when choosing motorcycle insurance?
Response
Price
48.72%
Features
43.59%
Customer service
7.69%
Source: Finder survey by Pure Profile of 1006 Australians, December 2023
What else should I look out for in policies?
There are some particularly useful benefits to look out for.
Riding gear cover. This includes cover for road leathers, helmets and similar. Ensure that the limits of your cover are high enough, and check whether it’s insured separately to other personal possessions that may be damaged or lost in an accident. Some policies might only offer this as an optional extra.
Roadside assistance. This can be an exceptionally helpful feature in the event of a breakdown or accident.
Cover for pillion riders. It’s worth checking how any pillion riders are covered.
Other drivers. Whether people other than yourself are covered when riding your motorcycle.
What excess will I pay on comprehensive cover?
One or more excesses can apply to your cover. This is a cost that you’ll need to pay in the event of a claim. Not all claims will require you to pay an excess, or some types of excess might not apply to certain claims.
These can vary between policies and insurers. The basic, age and license excess are relatively common, and are found with many policies:
Basic excess. You are often able to choose your basic excess, and can opt for higher amounts for lower premiums, or lower amounts for higher premiums.
Age excess. An additional excess may be applied depending on your age. Typically this applies to drivers under 25.
License excess. Sometimes referred to as an inexperienced rider excess. If you hold a learner or provisional license, an additional excess may apply.
Undisclosed rider excess. An additional excess if the driver of your motorcycle at the time was not listed on the insurance policy.
What will impact how much I pay?
The excess is only payable in the event of claims, while the premiums are the ongoing payments you need to make to maintain your cover. Your premiums are determined by factors such as:
The price of your bike. More valuable motorcycles cost more to insure. Similarly, it is often more expensive to insure a vehicle at agreed value than market value.
Your age and gender. Younger riders, and males in particular, are statistically more accident prone and will often have higher premiums.
The engine capacity. More powerful engines may be more likely to lead to accidents, and higher speeds mean accidents are often more severe. As such, more powerful engines will often carry higher premiums.
Additional modifications and features. Modifications and features can raise the cost of your bike, which in turn raises premiums.
How you store your bike. Keeping your motorcycle in a secure garage overnight will often get you lower premiums than if parking it in the open.
Your chosen excess. A higher basic excess means lower premiums.
Your policy options. Adding additional options to your comprehensive motorcycle insurance will typically raise premiums.
Your location. Living in a high crime area, or an area with a statistically higher rate of vehicle accidents, can raise your premiums.
What to think about when comparing policies
There are some specific things to look for in a policy. It can be worth paying attention to:
The cover and exclusions. These will typically be quite similar across comprehensive motorcycle insurance policies, but it’s worth checking to be sure. Be aware of missing or excluded cover.
The limits. Maximum amounts only may be payable for certain things, like riding gear or the loss of personal belongings. It can be a good idea to make sure the limits are high enough for your needs.
Replacement, repair and reimbursement conditions. Insurers might agree to replace, repair or reimburse you for damage or loss in different situations. It’s worth being aware of these.
The options. If there are certain must-have features for you, like pillion rider cover, it’s important to find a policy which includes it.
It can, but might not. The sidecar itself may be covered as an accessory or modification, but it can also be worth specifically checking how any sidecar passengers may be covered.
Yes. Motorcycle and scooter insurance policies are typically the same, with the key difference being that scooter insurance may have significantly lower premiums.
Andrew Munro was the global cryptocurrency editor at Finder. During his time he covered all aspects of cryptocurrency and the blockchain. Before he became cryptocurrency editor, he was a content writer for Finder covering various topics over his nearly 5 years in the role. Prior to joining Finder he was a web copywriter. Andrew has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of New South Wales. See full profile
VIC riders have plenty of motorcycle insurance options to fit their riding style and to protect them from theft, property damage, natural disasters and more.
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