Motorbike Insurance Ireland: Cost, Cover and Insurers

How much is motorbike insurance in Ireland?

There is no single figure, because every insurer sets its own prices. The Central Bank of Ireland says it has no role in setting or capping premiums, and that the price of a policy is a commercial decision for each company.

We have not found an official average price for motorbikes, so we do not quote one. The Central Bank's National Claims Information Database (NCID) published its eighth Private Motor Insurance Report on 20 October 2026, but it covers private motor insurance as a class and gives no separate motorbike figures. What the official guides do give is a list of the things that move a quote, and that list explains why two riders on the same bike can be quoted very differently.

Is motorbike insurance compulsory in Ireland?

Yes. Third-party insurance is the minimum legal cover for any vehicle used on a public road in Ireland, under section 56 of the Road Traffic Act 1961. The Department of Transport says third-party liability is the compulsory minimum here and across the EU, and that fire, theft and comprehensive cover are extras sold for a higher premium.

When you buy a policy you get a certificate and an insurance disc, and Citizens Information says you must clearly display a current disc on the vehicle whenever it is on the road. Its page (edited 30 March 2026) lists the penalties for riding without insurance:

A fine of up to €5,000 and 5 penalty points.
At the discretion of the court, up to 6 months in prison.
The court can disqualify you instead of giving points: 2 years or more for a first offence, 4 years or more for a second offence within 3 years.
The Gardaí can impound a vehicle they believe is being used without insurance.

If an uninsured or untraced driver causes an accident, the Motor Insurers' Bureau of Ireland (MIBI) compensates the victims, funded by a levy on every motor insurer.

What do third party, fire and theft, and comprehensive mean?

Third-party insurance is cover that pays the other people involved if you cause an accident, and nothing for you or your bike. Citizens Information says it compensates other parties for damage to their vehicle and for injuries, including injuries to your passengers, and gives no cover for your own bike, even for fire or theft.

Third-party fire and theft adds cover if your bike is stolen or damaged by fire. It still pays nothing for damage to your bike in an accident you cause.

Comprehensive adds accidental damage to your own bike, whoever is at fault. Citizens Information says it is usually the most expensive cover, and that cover for your own injuries may be included or sold as an extra, such as personal accident cover. The Department of Transport adds that comprehensive normally covers the vehicle, not the rider.

Why does first-time motorbike insurance cost more?

Because you have no track record yet. Citizens Information says the less experience you have, the higher your premium is likely to be, and that holding only a learner permit makes a big difference. Its guide says you can expect to pay hundreds of euro extra on a learner permit (page last edited 30 March 2026).

Other rider factors on the same list:

Your age. Citizens Information says insurers treat younger and older drivers as higher risk.
Your claims history. Insurers ask if you have held insurance in your own name before and, if not, whether you drove under someone else's policy without a claim.
Penalty points. The Central Bank lists them among the questions you will be asked.
Your no-claims discount. Citizens Information says it builds up for each claim-free year, usually up to five years, and can move between insurers and vehicles. A new rider starts with none, and Howden says a car no-claims bonus cannot be moved to a motorbike policy.

Does the bike you choose change the price?

Yes. When you ask for a quote, the Central Bank says you will be asked for the registration number, the estimated value, and the make, model, engine size and age of the vehicle.

Citizens Information says a larger engine costs more to insure, because faster and more powerful vehicles are statistically more likely to be involved in an accident. It also says older vehicles can be harder to insure, and that a vehicle's value affects the price of theft and comprehensive cover. A 125cc therefore starts from a better place than a larger bike, though age, licence, address and claims history still apply.

Get quotes on the actual bikes you are considering. Our guide to beginner motorbikes for A1 and A2 licences explains how the licence categories limit your choice.

Where you live and where the bike sleeps

Both can add a loading, which is an extra charge for higher risk. Citizens Information says people in a major city, particularly Dublin, normally have a loading imposed. Some companies also add one if the vehicle is not kept in a garage or driveway at night. So the address you give and the place you park overnight are worth getting right.

How you use the bike

Standard cover is for social, domestic and pleasure use, according to Citizens Information. Using the bike for business adds a loading, and commercial use adds a higher one. A standard policy does not cover carrying goods. The Central Bank says insurers ask about the main purpose of the vehicle and how much you expect to use it. Answer both honestly: the CCPC warns that incomplete or wrong answers can mean the policy is not valid and a claim is refused.

Cover level, excess, security and extras

The cover level changes the price: Citizens Information says third-party is usually cheapest and comprehensive the most expensive, and optional extras such as no-claims bonus protection add to the cost. The excess is the amount you pay yourself on each claim. Choosing a higher excess usually lowers the premium; only pick one you could pay on the day. RedClick, for example, says its standard motorcycle excess is €300 and that you can raise it to cut the premium.

Security can count too. Carole Nash lists up to 10% off for insurance-approved security on its scooter and moped page, and Howden says approved alarms, chains, trackers or immobilisers can help lower a premium. Ask the insurer which products it approves before you buy one from the motorcycle gear shops in our directory. AXA and RedClick also run rider skills assessments with approved instructors, and both say a good result earns a discount.

What do I need when I ask for a quote?

Have these ready. The Central Bank lists them as the questions a motor insurer asks:

The bike's registration number, estimated value, make, model, engine size and age.
The type of licence you hold, how long you have held it, any no-claims evidence and any previous claims.
Any penalty points, your address, your age and your previous insurance details.

Since 31 March 2025 you must also give your driver number, and the number of anyone named on the policy. It is in Section 4(d) of an Irish driving licence or learner permit; without it you cannot get insured.

How do I compare motorbike insurance quotes?

Compare the same cover, not just the same bike. The Central Bank says to look at what a policy covers as well as what it costs. The CCPC has a motor insurance checklist you can use to record each quote side by side.

Ask for the same level of cover and the same excess on every quote.
Ask each company what loadings apply to you and whether you qualify for any discounts.
Check how long each quote is valid.
If you pay by instalments, check the annual percentage rate (APR). The CCPC says to compare it.
Try different routes. The CCPC says brokers may offer special deals or access to specialist insurers, and that online quotes may be cheaper because of lower costs.

At renewal, your insurer must send a notice at least 20 working days before the policy ends, and Citizens Information warns that premiums often change at that point. Under the voluntary Motor Insurance Transparency Code (Department of Finance, 2 March 2026), insurers that adopt it give a Premium Summary Statement at quotation and renewal showing last year's premium, the new premium and the key pricing factors. Ask whether yours uses it.

Which companies insure motorbikes in Ireland?

Four companies published a motorbike product on their Irish websites on 10 November 2026: two insurers, which write the policy themselves, and two intermediaries, which arrange it with an insurer for you. Alphabetical order, with what each site says. It is not a ranking: no single "best" or cheapest exists, because the price depends on your age, licence, address and bike.

AXA Insurance dac (insurer, Dublin; axa.ie). Two plans, Bikecare for mopeds and smaller engines and Easirider for group 2 and above bikes with a full clean class A licence and two or more years of no-claims discount. Three cover levels. The site says it insures riders from beginners to the experienced.
Carole Nash Insurance Consultants (Ireland) DAC (intermediary, Dublin 15; carolenash.ie). Policies for standard, classic, custom, performance and multiple bikes, and for scooters and mopeds, which its scooter page says includes small learner-legal commuter mopeds. Each insurer it works with has its own criteria.
Howden Insurance (Ireland) Limited, trading as Principal Insurance (intermediary, Dublin 4; howdeninsurance.ie and principalinsurance.ie). Cover is arranged through Principal, now part of Howden. Three cover levels. Its FAQ says most insurers will cover learner riders once IBT is completed, and its scooter page says most insurers cover 50cc and 125cc scooters.
RedClick (insurer; Generali España de Seguros y Reaseguros, Ireland Branch, Cavan; redclick.ie). Three cover levels, a €300 standard excess, optional breakdown cover and a rider skills discount. RedClick is the former Liberty Insurance, rebranded by Generali on 26 August 2024. In March 2026 Zurich Ireland agreed to buy RedClick's Irish property and motor business, subject to regulatory approval; RedClick's FAQ says the transfer is expected on or around 30 December 2026 with no change to cover, excess, terms or policy number.

Allianz, Aviva and Zurich write motor insurance in Ireland, but their Irish websites listed car, home, van and other products with no motorbike product on 10 November 2026, so we do not list them. Chill Insurance's products page had no motorbike product either. The MIBI publishes the full list of motor insurers in Ireland; not all of them write bike policies. Brokers are regulated by the Central Bank, and Citizens Information links to a database of registered brokers.

Quick questions about motorbike insurance in Ireland

Do I need insurance on a learner permit?

Yes. The RSA says a motorcycle ridden on a learner permit must be insured and taxed, and that you can only ride on a learner permit after completing IBT. Howden's FAQ says most insurers will cover a learner rider once IBT is complete, so have your certificate ready. Our IBT centres by county page lists where to do it.

Does motorbike insurance cover a pillion passenger?

Third-party cover pays for injuries to other people, and Citizens Information says that includes your passengers. Whether a policy lets you carry a pillion at all is a policy condition, so ask before you take anyone on the back.

What happens to my policy if the bike is stored for the winter?

It keeps running until you tell the insurer otherwise. A declaration of non-use covers motor tax, not insurance, and a stored bike can still be stolen or damaged. Our guide to motorbike winter storage in Ireland covers the tax declaration and what to ask your insurer first.

What if an insurer refuses to quote?

You can ask them for the reason. Citizens Information says insurers can refuse cover but must give a reason if you ask. If you are refused, you can go to the Declined Cases Committee of Insurance Ireland, which will get a quotation for you.

The Declined Cases Agreement is followed by every motor insurer in Ireland; the MIBI says the Central Bank requires insurers to join it. Insurance Ireland's page sets out how it works:

You must have approached at least three insurers and been refused by all of them in writing. Each refusal letter is valid for 6 months.
In general, the first insurer you approached has to quote, so keep a note of the order in which you contacted them.
Cases go to declined@insuranceireland.eu.

Sources

Information checked on 10 November 2026. Rules, company ownership and insurer practice change, so confirm the details with your insurer or broker before you buy.