If you’ve just turned sixteen, or maybe you’re considering a moped or scooter for a more efficient and affordable way to get you from A to B, you might now be asking yourself if you’ll need insurance…So, in this blog, we’ll run you through what you’ll need to know when it comes to insuring your moped or scooter, and also some of the most commonly asked questions.

Without further ado, let’s get into it!

Yes, you need insurance for a moped and scooter. If you’re riding on public roads, you will need at least third-party insurance in place. Riding without it is illegal. You can find out more about the types of insurance in our ‘What motorbike insurance shall I get’ article and the licencing types explained article.

In the UK, mopeds and scooters are motor vehicles, meaning they meet some of the same legal requirements as cars, the differences being that they require a helmet to be worn, as well as having a CBT to be able to ride.

The licence you’ll need depends on the engine size. 

50cc or electric equivalent:

• Minimum age 16
• CBT (Compulsory Basic Training) with L Plates
• Or AM licence 

 125cc Scooter:

• Minimum age 17 
• CBT required with L Plates
• Or A1 Licence

 Full A licence holders: 

• Can ride without L plates 
• May carry passengers 

At a minimum, you need third party to ride legally on UK roads, which covers damage to other people's property and injury to other road users. You can also choose Third-party, fire and theft, or fully comprehensive cover. 

There are plenty of other legal requirements to be mindful of when riding, so let's talk about them…

First of all, the speed at which you can travel is a key factor; on a 50cc, you are limited to 28mph, while 125’s can typically achieve around 60-70mph meaning they could go on motorways, however, legally with only a provisional licence and CBT they must not be ridden on motorways. 

In short, yes, all mopeds and scooters must be taxed to ride on public roads. It's not overly priced, generally around £25-£27 per year. 

Once the bike is 3 years old, it must be renewed annually to ensure its roadworthiness, just the same as a car. 

Yes, insurance is legally required for ALL mopeds and scooters in the UK. 

This applies to:

• 50cc mopeds 
• 125cc scooters 
• Electric mopeds & scooters (if they’re road legal) 
• Any engine size     

Yes, electric mopeds absolutely require insurance in the UK if they are used on public roads. 

If your bike is on the road or registered for use, it must be insured. The only exemption would be if your vehicle has a valid SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) and its kept off public roads you don’t need insurance. 

When transporting your new bike home, it's important to have insurance in place before you ride it away. Riding a new bike home without it is illegal, and can result in a £300 fine, six penalty points and having the bike seized.

A 1-day insurance is worthwhile for getting the bike back home, while annual insurance is ideally more valuable over time, and helps to build a no-claims bonus, which makes your insurance cheaper in the long run and most importantly, continuously covers you against theft and damage.  

Yes, you can insure a moped without a registration plate using the VIN, however this is for temporary use only and must be updated once the bike is registered. 

You can actually get someone else to ride your bike home as long as their insurance allows. You can also temporarily add a named driver to your policy or have a specialised cover for a short term.

There are a few things to have ready when you look to take out insurance for your moped…

To get moped insurance in the UK, you will need to give your:

• Personal details
• Moped details
• Riding history
• Storage & security
• Usage 
• Modifications 

Moped insurance costs will vary depending on all of the factors stated above and the type of coverage you want. 

Things that affect the cost of moped insurance include:

• Rider profile
• Location, where you will be storing it when not in use
• The moped itself, including engine size, value and security features like trackers or immobilisers. 
• Usage and mileage, the more miles you do a year, the more likely you are to need to make a claim. 
• Level of cover and voluntary excess 
• No claims discount 
• Vehicle modifications 

There are multiple factors that will help reduce the cost of your insurance and also deter thieves:

• Secure storage, parking in a locked garage, shed or behind a gate, instead of on a street, as this will reduce the risk of theft. 
• Security upgrades, such as using an insurance-approved motorcycle lock or installing an insurance-approved tracker.
• Accurate mileage, the lower the mileage, the more affordable your insurance will become as you become less of a 'risk'. But be honest, as underestimating mileage to save money can lead to rejected claims if your usage is clearly higher, so make sure it's accurate. 

Choosing the right coverage for you is something you also need to think about when insuring your moped or scooter, so let's talk about it…

As we touched a little on it at the beginning, the legal minimum required insurance is third-party (TPO); however, there are some more preferred options, as this only covers damage or injury caused to other people or their property, it doesn’t cover your own bike if stolen or damaged. The other options include Third Party, Fire and Theft and Comprehensive.

• Third-party, Fire and Theft (TPFT): covers third-party liability, damage you cause to others, as well as damage to your scooter or moped caused by fire, theft or attempted theft.
• Comprehensive (Fully comp): The highest level of coverage, this covers damage to your own scooter or moped as well as medical expenses and damage to others. 

Typically, third-party only is the cheapest level of moped and scooter insurance due to it being the least amount of cover; however, this is not always the case, and quotes for other levels of cover should be sought for comparison.

Lucky for you to answer this question, we’ve written a whole blog, but in short, if you happen to be caught riding without insurance, it obviously comes with its consequences. 

These include a £300 fixed penalty, six points on your licence, and potential seizure or destruction of your vehicle.  

Yes, if you get caught riding without insurance, this will affect your ability to get a policy in future and increase premiums. Some insurers may refuse to cover you altogether. 

Now, for the final part of this blog, it's useful to answer a few commonly asked questions surrounding Scooter and Moped Insurance. 

No, you can’t ride a 50cc moped without a CBT. You’ll also need to be a minimum age of 16.

Yes, a lot of insurers offer a direct debit monthly payment plan, but this often means you’ll be paying interest, making it more expensive than the overall annual price. 

Riding with a pillion on a 50cc moped is illegal if you only hold a CBT licence, however if you’re 16 or over and hold an AM licence or any other restricted full licenses like A1, A2 or A you can carry a pillion on a 50cc if it’s designed for it and if you have pillion insurance. 

As long as you have a provisional or full driver's licence, are able to read a number plate from 20 metres and have completed your one-day CBT training course, you’re good to go, so it isn’t necessarily considered hard, and you can’t technically fail.

That brings us to the end of this blog. We hope you now feel more informed about insuring your scooter or moped. If you’re ready to get covered, make sure to get a moped and scooter insurance quote directly with Lexham!