Do you need insurance to drive a scooter?

Getting a new vehicle on the road, regardless of whether it’s a scooter or a car, can be a costly business. After you’ve paid for your scooter (even if you got it at a great price), you’ll probably have shelled out about a grand for it. You need insurance to drive a scooter. Then there are the other bits to think about, such as tax and insurance. It can be tempting to think you can get away without these bits in order to save money.

Well the short answer is you can’t. Every vehicle on the road is required to have valid tax and insurance, regardless of its size or power. You might think that a small 50cc scooter can slip under the radar, but the opposite is true. The police, along with traffic enforcement officers, pay close attention to scooters and motorbikes, especially those ridden by young drivers. We also offer delivery rider insurance and electric moped insurance.

Scooter insurance might seem like a financial burden, but it’s best to think about it as a service you’ll hopefully never need. Plus, it’ll be an even bigger financial burden to pay out of your own pocket for someone else’s insurance claim (a small collision can easily move into the thousands of pounds before you even realise). It’s also important to remember that insurance to drive a scooter isn’t necessarily just for you, it’s for everyone else on the road. For example, if you unfortunately crash into someone, not only are you covered from paying out of pocket, but also they’re able to get their vehicle repaired.

How to lower your cost?

If you don’t want to be paying through the nose for insurance, consider the following tips:

  • Engine size makes a difference. 50cc scooter insurance will be cheaper to insure than 125cc scooter insurance.
  • The type of cover. There are three main levels of cover available, with the cheapest being Third Party only. Bare in mind though, this is the most basic cover and doesn’t allow you to claim for damage to your vehicle.
  • Your age. There’s not much you can do about this one, but the older you are, the cheaper your insurance. This works on the predicate that you’ll have more experience, and once you leave the “young driver” bracket (16-25), your premium will drop considerably.
  • Your road experience. New drivers will cost more than experienced drivers. However, for every year you don’t make a claim, most insurers will give you a No Claims Bonus. This entitles you to discounts on your premium, and can usually be protected after 4 years.
  • Shop around. The insurance market has changed drastically over the last decade, mainly thanks that you can compare scooter insurance. This allow you to always get the cheapest deal, so consider swapping insurance providers every year.

It’s important to have insurance to drive a scooter, especially if you’re a young rider. Young riders are considered a greater risk, mainly due to inexperience. The best piece of advice is to get on the road as early as you can (ideally 16) and start gaining experience. It might take a few years, but you’ll eventually get a premium you’re happy with.

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