Am I covered by travel insurance if I'm riding a motorbike or scooter?

For information relating to policies purchased prior to 27 June 2024, please check the Policy Wording provided with your purchase. You can contact us if you need this sent to you again. For policies purchased from 27 June 2024 please see below.

Am I covered by travel insurance if I'm riding a motorbike or scooter

Brits have a love affair with two-wheel adventures - there’s nothing quite like the freedom of riding a motorbike with the wind in your hair and the sun on your face. Or zipping around a bustling cityscape, heading from café to café, on a scooter Pure bliss.

If you’re planning to add some motorbiking to your overseas travels, it’s worth considering travel insurance - just in case. World Nomads offers flexible options that cover motorbiking as part of your trip. This way, you can enjoy the thrill of the ride, knowing you’re covered for any unexpected bumps along the way.

Choosing the right coverage level to cover your two-wheel escaped

World Nomads offers two travel insurance plans, the Standard Plan and the Explorer Plan. These plans both offer cover for expenses in connection with hospitalisation, lost luggage, repatriation, and more. However, the Explorer Plan costs more than the Standard Plan as it offers higher policy limits and more benefits.

Both plans require a policy upgrade (Level 2) to be covered for motorbike, moped, and scooter riding. The bike must be ridden on-road and have less than 125cc of power. Additionally, the driver must holds a current, valid UK licence and always be wearing a helmet when using the motorbike / scooter (which should be a no-brainer).

For a full list of covered activities, levels, and exclusions, check out our article that details more than 150 covered sports and activities (including motorbike riding).

Single Trip vs. Annual Multi-Trip for Your Motorbiking Adventures

World Nomads offers the flexibility of both Single Trip and Annual Multi-Trip policies, catering to how often you adventure abroad.

  • Single Trip Policy: this policy is ideal for one-off adventures. It’s perfect if you’re planning a single, epic trip and need some coverage for an incidental motorbike ride while holidaying.
  • Annual Multi-Trip Policy: this policy offers year-round protection across all your trips for true nomads travelling multiple times a year. Whether you’re riding the winding roads of the Alps or taking on the rugged terrain of Southeast Asia, an Annual Multi-Trip policy ensures you’re covered every time you travel, without the hassle of buying your insurance for each trip.

What’s covered

Look, no one gets on a motorbike intending to fall off, but it happens. In case of an accident resulting in injury, our travel insurance provides offers coverage for the following:

  • Evacuation: there’s no two ways about it, evacuations are expensive (especially in foreign countries). If urgent and medically necessary (including helicopter evacuation when available), we arrange transportation to the nearest appropriate medical facility;
  • Air Doctor: need to speak with a doctor, but don’t want the fuss of an E.R. in a foreign country? Connect with local, trusted doctors through our Air Doctor service, so you can get the medical advice you need quickly and get back to your motorbiking adventure;
  • Emergency medical expenses overseas: whether you’re cruising the highways of Southeast Asia or exploring remote European routes, we’ll cover necessary hospital treatment or treatment at a local medical facility should you come off and injure yourself;
  • Repatriation: If you're injured and unable to continue your trip, we may arrange transport back to the UK.

SmartDelay™

What if your flight being delayed was actually a good thing? Say whaaatt? Sure, flight delays can throw off a carefully planned motorbiking adventure, but with SmartDelay, you’re covered.

If your flight is delayed by more than a few hours, you’ll receive complimentary access to airport lounges. This means you can relax in comfort, enjoy refreshments, and stay connected while waiting for your journey to continue—making sure you’re ready for the ride ahead.

What’s not covered

While our travel insurance provides extensive coverage, it's important to be aware of what's not covered. Take the time to read the policy wording, including the terms, conditions, limitations, and exclusions. Here are some key exclusions:

  • Pre-existing medical conditions
  • You aren’t covered if the motorbike, scooter, or moped is being used for touring, or as the main mode of transportation on your holiday
  • Motorbiking over 125cc
  • Motorbiking / Trail biking: off-road
  • Riding/use of quad bikes, ATVs or electronic scooters/bikes as a driver or passenger is not covered at any time.
  • Theft or damage to the motorbike or scooter, whether owned, borrowed, or rented,
  • Personal liability while riding or operating the motorbike;
  • Unattended belongings with the motorbike;
  • Riding a motorbike at a professional level (paid or sponsored);
  • Participating in international motor sports event.

Motorbiking safety precautions and requirements

To be eligible for coverage while riding a motorbike or scooter, you must take the necessary safety precautions, including:

  • Wearing a helmet.
  • Obeying local road rules.
  • Holding a valid motorbike license or a valid BT certificate (DL 196) in both the UK and the local country for the type of bike you'll be operating. Different cc machines may require different licenses and levels of coverage under the policy.

Get your quote today and get ready to ride.


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