MotorCycle Direct motorbike insurance review

Do you enjoy touring Europe on your motorbike? MotorCycle Direct offers the standard levels of motorbike cover and says it includes three, 30-day European trips a year with no extra charge. It also claims to cover the 16 most common modifications as standard and up to five riders on one policy. We’ve checked out this insurance broker and here’s what else you should know.

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Who is MotorCycle Direct?

Since 1997, MotorCycle Direct has been sourcing specialist motorbike insurance for riders and a range of bikes such modified, imported or classic bikes.

The insurance broker can also source policies based on the motorbike manufacturer and model type, from a Honda to a Harley.

• Who underwrites the motorcycle insurance from MotorCycle Direct?

  MotorCycle Direct works with a limited panel of insurers to source motorbike insurance. These include Zenith, Ageas, AXA, Aviva, Highway (Part of LV=), Canopius and Markerstudy.

  MotorCycle Direct is a trading style of Europe Group Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

What are MotorCycle Direct’s levels of cover?

MotorCycle Direct offers the three standard types of motorbike cover but these policies can be customised to suit you.

• Third party
• Third party, fire and theft
• Comprehensive

What types of motorbike insurance are available?

MotorCycle Direct offers specialist cover, including:

• Multi-bike insurance
• SORN cover (a Statutory Off Road Notification is your declaration to the DVLA that you aren’t using your bike)
• Young rider insurance

MotorCycle Direct also courses cover for a range of different bikes, such as:

• Modified bike insurance
• Classic bike insurance
• Scooter insurance
• Moped insurance
• Trail bike insurance
• Sports tourer insurance
• Superbike insurance
• Touring bike insurance

What is covered under my motorbike policy with MotorCycle Direct?

Beyond the standard cover benefits above, any other benefits to your insurance policy will vary depending on the insurer that is able to provide the cover through MotorCycle Direct.

Check your policy details carefully to ensure you have the right cover for your needs.

Optional extras

MotorCycle Direct offers a range of optional extras to provide increased protection in certain areas. Some of the additional cover options to bolt onto a MotorCycle Direct policy are:

• Legal expenses cover
• UK breakdown cover
• UK and Europe breakdown cover
• Bike hire plus
• Personal accident cover
• Key cover
• Helmet and leathers cover
• Excess protection

General exclusions

Any motorbike cover offered by MotorCycle Direct is likely to become invalid if any of the following arises:

How to save on your motorbike insurance policy through MotorCycle Direct

• Increasing security. If your motorbike is not currently fitted with an alarm, think about adding one to reduce your premium.
• Having a secure location to park your motorbike. Motorbikes kept in a garage or on a secure driveway are usually cheaper to insure.
• Reduce mileage. If you start working part-time or your long commute becomes much shorter, letting your insurer know about a reduction in your mileage could result in cheaper insurance.
• Fewer riders. Only add riders to your policy that regularly ride your motorbike.
• Ride safely. Safer drivers spend less on motorbike insurance – a history of speeding tickets or claims against your insurance will increase the cost.
• Larger excess. Agreeing to pay a bigger voluntary excess could make your overall premium cheaper. But remember that your insurer won’t pay out for a claim that costs less than your excess. So be careful about making it too high, as it could leave you out of pocket if damage occurs.

What is my excess?

Your insurance excess is the amount of money you have agreed to pay towards a claim. Your insurer won’t pay out for a claim that costs less than your excess. A compulsory excess amount might vary depending on the age of your motorbike and your riding experience.

A voluntary excess is on top and is normally set by you when taking out a policy. You’ll have the option of adding or increasing a voluntary excess – which should lower your premium.

You’ll find details about any compulsory or voluntary excesses in your policy document.

What is the claims process for MotorCycle Direct?

You can call MotorCycle Direct on 0344 800 09888 to register a claim. This 24-hour claims line is open 7 days a week.

Along with your policy and personal details, MotorCycle Direct recommends you have the following information to hand before calling:

• The location, date and time of the incident
• Names and contact details for all third parties and passengers involved
• Registration numbers for all vehicles involved
• Details about the damage to your motorbike and any other vehicles or property involved
• Details about any pillion passengers
• Names and contact details of any witnesses, if available
• Police information/crime reference number, if applicable
• Any photographic evidence, if available

It’s vital that you let your insurer know about an incident within 24 hours, even if it’s not your fault. Failure to do this could result in a rejected claim later on.

Frequently asked questions

• Can I get motorbike insurance that starts immediately?

  Yes. If you wish, cover can start instantly.

• Can I pay for my motorbike insurance in monthly instalments?

  Yes, MotorCycle Direct offers policies that can be paid in full or by monthly direct debit payments.

• How do I notify you about using my EU cover?

  Your EU cover is automatically active when you take out the policy so you won’t need to do anything further. You are covered for trips of up to a month, with a maximum of 90 days in total throughout the duration of your policy term.