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Moped & Scooter Insurance
Whatever you ride, and for whatever reason, we're here to help you find our best moped or scooter insurance quote.
0330 024 0087
The MOPED & SCOOTER Insurance Specialists
Moped & Scooter Insurance
Time to scoot? Get your moped or scooter insurance quote now!
They might be lower on the CCs than a superbike, but scooters and mopeds are also lower on running costs – and nippier around town than a British winter’s day!
If you’re among those turning to these two wheelers to negotiate Britain’s increasingly congested roads, then you’ll also be looking for a good value moped or scooter insurance quote.
As one of the UK’s motorcycle insurance specialists, we can offer a wide range of options through our panel of leading insurers.*
These include insurance for young riders (including 16-year-olds riding 28 mph limited mopeds), commuting cover and limited mileage policies.**
Knowing many scooter owners are enthusiasts who customise their ride, we can also arrange cover for custom scooters, mopeds and motorcycles, with no limit on the number of road-legal modifications.
Discounts
As ever you’ll also find we offer discounts for membership of recognised owners clubs and the use of insurance approved security.***
Multi-bike insurance
We also offer cost-saving multi-bike insurance**** and specialist schemes for rare and high-value scooters, mopeds and motorcycles.
* Please ask for details of the insurers on our panel we use to compare moped and scooter insurance. **Subject to meeting underwriting criteria. *** The value and availability of owners club, approved security and limited mileage discounts varies between insurers on our panel. Terms and conditions will apply. **** The cost per bike can be lower when taking out multi-bike insurance than when insuring motorcycles separately.
Modern, classic and custom scooters and mopeds.Young riders insurance (incl. for 16 year-olds on mopeds restricted to 28mph).**Discounts for recognised owners club membership and insurance approved security.***Commuter cover.Unlimited road-legal modifications for custom scooters and mopeds.Knowledgeable service from one of the UK’s fastest-growing moped and scooter insurance brokers.
For the best quote chat to our friendly and informed UK based call centre team
MOPED & SCOOTER INSURANCE QUOTES: YOUR GUIDE TO GETTING THE BEST DEAL
Relatively cheap to buy and run, easy to ride and a brilliant at conquering congestion, it’s little wonder that mopeds and scooters are so popular.
You can pick up a brand new 50cc moped for not much more than a grand, whilst the secondhand market is rich in bargains.
Chinese brands – which are now enjoying a much better reputation for performance and build quality – tend to lead the way on price.
Something from Direct Bikes, Kymco or Lexmoto may be a good choice for a first-time buyer testing the water.
Be prepared to pay a little or a lot more for a more established or prestige brand such as Vespa, Piaggio, Honda – whose 50cc Cub is the world’s most manufactured motorcycle – Peugeot or Yamaha.
But we may have got a little ahead of ourselves. Let’s start at the beginning.
What’s the difference between a scooter and a moped?
The first mopeds were pedal bikes fitted with motors to help out when the cycling got tough, a bit like today’s ebikes. You can see where the name came from!
Now, though, mopeds come without pedals, but with engines that do not just the hard work, but all the work.
Typically that engine is 50cc or less and delivers a maximum speed of up to 28 mph (45 kmh), usually via an automatic transmission – you simply twist and go.
There are no such engine limitations for scooters.
Quite the opposite. If it falls below 50cc then, legally at least, it’s a moped.
For scooters, 50cc is the starting point, with some models – maxi scooters – going all the way up to 750cc.
Top speeds vary accordingly. A 125cc scooter can easily hit 65mph (105 kmh) or more, a 750cc 110 mph (177 kmh).
Scooters differ from motorcycles in that they tend to have an open “step through” frame, smaller wheels and a central floorboard for your feet.
This is less true for higher powered scooters which carry more of a resemblance to a motorcycle.
You can also buy a scooter with a twist and go automatic transmission, or a manual drive.
How old do I need be to ride a moped or scooter?
It’s complicated.
The minimum age you can ride a moped is 16 years old.
Before riding you will need pass a Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) test.
When riding with just a CBT under your belt, you must display L plates (L or D plates in wales)
To ride a scooter with a power output of 11 kw (14.75 bhp), a power-to-weight ratio of not more than 0.1 kW per kg and up to 125cc, you must be at least 17 years old. The same rules regarding training, testing and L plates apply as for scooters.
For higher capacity scooters – up to 35kw (47 bhp) with a power-to-weight ratio not more than 0.2 kW per kg), you’ll need be at least 19 years old.
You can find more details of scooter and moped age and licensing requirements here. Different rules apply in Northern Ireland. Please click here for details.
Comparing moped and scooter insurance
To get the right deal, you should carefully compare moped and scooter insurance quotes.
And when we say the right deal, we’re not simply talking about the pounds and pennies. Cheap scooter insurance may not be the best for you.
Start by thinking about the cover you need.
For example, if you plan to us your machine to go to and from work, make sure you’ll be covered.
Many scooter insurance policies don’t include commuting cover as standard.
Cover options
You’ll also need decide whether you want Third Party Only (TPO), Third Party Fire & Theft (TPFT) or Comprehensive cover (you can read more about levels of cover in our FAQS)
It may seem strange but you may find TPO is not the cheapest scooter insurance or moped cover option.
Some underwriters may offer a comprehensive policy at a lower price.
Insurance excess
You should also think about how much you would be willing and able to pay towards the cost of any claim you may make.
This sum is called the policy excess.
Often you will be able to get cheap moped or scooter insurance – or at least cheaper – by agreeing to pay a higher policy excess.
If you’re liable to pay more towards a claim then not only will an insurer’s own bill be reduced, but they may think you will take greater care of your machine.
How can I get cheap scooter insurance?
As we said before, the focus should not necessarily be on getting the cheapest scooter or moped insurance quote.
However, none of us want to pay more than we need.
The key is to get the best value scooter insurance you can.
There are things that you can do, or have, which can reduce the size of your insurance bill.
Insurance approved security
Because mopeds and scooters are relatively small, light and portable, theft is one of the biggest risks.
Making your machine less attractive or more difficult to steal can cut your premium. Moped and scooter insurance discounts of up to 10% may be offered if you make use of additional, insurance-approved security. ***
When considering your options, look for Thatcham certified devices.
These include alarms, mobilisers, forensic marking security systems and more rudimentary products such as ground anchors, heavy duty chains and locks.
Regardless of your insurance, the Metropolitan Police’s advice for scooter owners to “Lock, Chain , Cover” is good practice.
Keeping your moped or scooter securely garaged overnight is always going to be welcomed.
Sometimes insurers may insist on this as a condition of insurance.
The definition of what a garage is can vary between insurers.
Many will go with the standard brick construction, concrete floor roof and lockable door combo. Others will be happy if your machine is kept in a lockable, solid-floored shed, container or, of course, a specialist motorcycle storage pod or shed.
Owners Club Discounts
Some insurers offer discounts to members of official recognised clubs. ***
There are a number of these in the scooter world, often linked to specific marques such as Lambretta and Vespa.
Others may be more generic motorcycling campaign and social groups whose membership embraces scooterists and moped enthusiasts.
When getting a moped or scooter insurance quote from Principal, make sure you let us know if you’re a member of a scooter or motorcycle club.
If your club is recognised by one of the specialist insurers on our panel it could earn you a discount of up to 10%.
Limited mileage scooter policies
If you’re willing to limit your annual mileage, you’ll be cutting your road risk – and that will translate into cheaper scooter or moped insurance. ***
Restricted mileage policies are usually offered in bands, starting from 1,000 miles per year.
If you agree to a limited mileage policy make sure you keep to the limit.
If you are going to breach it during your policy term, you must advise your broker or insurer. You may then be required to pay an additional premium.
No claims discounts
Of course one of the best ways to get cheap scooter insurance is to have racked up a few years of claims-free experience.
The discounts on offer vary. The insurers on our panel* offer a maximum no claims bonus of up to 65%.
Discounts usually start to kick in after one claim free year and hit the ceiling after 10 years or more. ***
Classic scooter insurance
If your machine is over 15 years old, you may be eligible for classic scooter or moped insurance.
Typically this is cheaper than modern scooter insurance.
It may also offer benefits of particular use or interest to classic scooterists.
Agreed value
Most classic scooter insurers will offer agreed value.
This is designed to ensure you receive a settlement that reflects the true value of your machine should it be written off (damaged beyond economic repair) or stolen and not recovered.
When you take out your policy you will be asked to provide evidence of its worth. This may include historic documents, photographs, receipts for repairs, parts and restoration work.
This evidence is used to determine and agree with you the true value of your beloved classic scooter.
Salvage retention rights
Should your moped or scooter be written off, salvage retention rights give you the option to buy it back.
This can be a popular benefit for classic and vintage scooter and moped enthusiasts who may wish to restore their original machine or use its parts for another restoration project.
Business and scooter courier insurance
A standard scooter or moped insurance policy will offer cover only for social, domestic or pleasure use. If you want to use your machine for business purposes, you will need add the relevant class of business insurance cover.
Commuting
If you will be using your machine to get to work, make sure you have moped or scooter commuter bike insurance.
Business class 1
This will cover you if you use your moped or scooter to travel to various places of work or visit customers.
Business class 2
This offers the same cover as class one but will also insure an additional named co-worker to ride in connection with your business.
Business class 3
This is designed for heavy mileage business users. It will not include goods in transit insurance or the use of your moped or scooter for hire or reward purposes, such as courier or delivery services.
Moped or scooter courier insurance
If you use your moped or scooter to provide a courier service you will need hire and reward insurance. This is a legal requirement.
Hire and reward insurance will ensure your moped or scooter is properly insured. However, it will not cover any goods you carry. For this you should get a goods in transit policy.
If you use your moped or scooter only for transporting goods you own (not for couriering others property), then you can protect them with carriage of own goods insurance.
Want to compare scooter insurance?
As a specialist broker, Principal Insurance arrange a variety of modern and classic scooter insurance policies.
If you’d like to see how our quotes stack up, you can get a quote online by clicking here.
Alternatively, you can chat to our friendly and knowledgeable staff by calling 0330 024 0087.
* Please ask for details of the insurers on our panel we use to compare moped and scooter insurance. **Subject to meeting underwriting criteria. *** The value and availability of owners club, approved security, limited mileage and no claims discounts varies between insurers on our panel. Terms and conditions will apply.
OTHER PRODUCTS YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN
WE PREFER TO TALK
WHY CHOOSE PRINCIPAL INSURANCE?
Because we put our policyholders first, we now serve around 40,000 motorcyclists, motorists, classic car enthusiasts, van drivers, couriers, motorhome owners, homeowners and motor trade professionals nationally.
Whilst we embrace the latest quote and administration technologies, you might say we’re a bit old school.
That’s because we’d prefer to talk to you in order to get the best possible understanding of your needs. That then means we are properly equipped to seek out the best deal for you from our extensive panel of leading UK insurers.*
What’s more we are able to give motorbike insurance, car, van, motorhome, multi-vehicle, home and commercial insurance quotes.
Our impressive growth has been achieved not through multi-million pound marketing campaigns but by delivering old fashioned service.
That can mean finding you the lowest possible insurance quote from our panel of insurers or, if you need make a claim, ensuring that you have access to specialist assistance so that the process is as prompt and painless as possible.We’re a company with personality, one that instead of demanding staff always follow stringent call scripts and call length targets, encourages them to chat so they can provide you with the highest quality of service.
An independent broker, we source the best quotes from the UK’s leading specialist insurers.With no call length targets, our experts take the time to find you the best deal.We’re here to help – with dedicated claims and customer service support.Our quotes hotline open weekdays 9.00am-6.00pm and Saturdays 9am-1pm.
For the best quote chat to our friendly and informed UK based call centre team