Please Note - If you are cruising around Australia you need to select Pacific.
With Regions, variances can apply for Bali, Indonesia, Japan and Middle East.
You are not required to enter stop-over countries if your stop-over is less than 48 hours.
Scooter, motorbike, moped, vespa – the choices are endless when choosing a two-wheeled ride for your overseas holiday.
Riding any sized motorcycle can be a thrilling way to travel. These chariots of the people offer the ultimate feeling of freedom, independence and affordability. The compact nature makes parking a breeze, allows flexibility in how long you stay and you can zoom off with very little fuss. You're not tied to a schedule of rushing from A to B, squeezing onto uncomfortable public transport or stressing about the holes in your pocket from paying for expensive cabs. You can make your own path and go at your own pace...with the added bonus of looking pretty cool.
In short, it depends upon your licence and the engine capacity of your ride.
Lucky for you, it's a road well travelled and one that we know well. We've done the miles to ensure that you're in the know when it comes to cover while exploring the world on two wheels. Whether you're planning to leisurely hire a scooter for a day here and there, or you're planning to saddle up on a fully kitted BMW GS for a ride on the wild side, there’s cover out there for you.
**Click on the plus icon to see more detail**
Insurer | Underwriter | Maximum engine size | Buy Now |
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Allianz Australia Insurance Limited |
250cc For riding a moped/scooter under 50cc, you must hold a current Australian drivers license and a license valid for the country you are riding in. For motorcycles greater than 50cc, you must hold a current Australian motorcycle license valid for the same class of motorcycle and a license valid for the country you are riding in. You must be wearing a helmet. |
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Certain underwriters at LLoyd's |
No limit For riding a moped/scooter under 50cc, you must hold a current Australian drivers license and a license valid for the country you are riding in. For motorcycles greater than 50cc, you must hold a current Australian motorcycle license valid for the same class of motorcycle and a license valid for the country you are riding in. You must be wearing a helmet.
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AAI Limited |
200cc You must be wearing a helmet. |
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Allianz Australia Insurance Limited |
No limit You must have a current Australian motorcycle license or motorcycle license valid for the country you are riding in. You must be wearing a helmet. |
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Allianz Australia Insurance |
No limit (with premium added) You must have a current Australian motorcycle license or motorcycle license valid for the country you are riding in. You must be wearing a helmet. |
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Chubb Insurance Australia Limited |
200cc You must hold a current Australian motorcycle license. |
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Zurich Australian Insurance Limited |
200cc If you wish to be covered for motorcycling or moped riding as the driver or pillion passenger, you must pay an extra premium. You must hold a valid Australian motorcycle license or Australian motor vehicle driver license, and you hold a license valid in the relevant country. You must be wearing a helmet. |
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Hollard Insurance Company Pty Ltd |
No limit (with premium added) For riding a moped/scooter under 50cc, you must hold a current Australian drivers license and a license valid for the country you are riding in. For motorcycles greater than 50cc, you must hold a current Australian motorcycle license valid for the same class of motorcycle and a license valid for the country you are riding in. You must be wearing a helmet.All motorcycle riders and passengers must purchase the Motorcycle Pack add-on to be covered. |
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Allianz Australia Insurance Limited |
No limit (with premium added) You must hold a current Australian drivers license or drivers license valid for the country you are riding in. And you must hold a current Australian motorcycle license or motorcycle license valid for the country you are riding in. You must be wearing a helmet. |
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Auto & General Services Pty Ltd |
No limit You must hold a driving license appropriate for the country you are in and if using a motorcycle rated 125cc or higher, you hold a current and valid license required for driving an equivalent rated motorcycle in Australia. You must be wearing a helmet. |
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IAG (Insurance Australia Limited) |
No limit The driver must have a current Australian motorcycle license. You must be wearing a helmet and be following the local safety laws. |
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Certain underwriters at LLoyd's |
No limit (with Sports & Adventure Pack) The driver must have a valid license for operating that class of vehicle in the driver’s country of residence, and you must be wearing a safety crash helmet. |
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Zurich Australian Insurance Limited |
200cc If you wish to be covered for motorcycling or moped riding as the driver or pillion passenger, you must pay an extra premium. Whilst in control of a motorcycle or moped, you hold a valid Australian motorcycle license or Australian motor vehicle driver license, and you hold a license valid in the relevant country. You must be wearing a helmet. |
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Certain underwriters at LLoyd's |
No Limit For riding a moped/scooter under 50cc, you must hold a current Australian drivers license or Australian motorcycle license. For motorcycles greater than 50cc, you must hold a current Australian motorcycle license. You must be wearing a helmet. |
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Hollard Insurance Company Pty Ltd |
No limit (with premium added) For riding a moped/scooter under 50cc, you must hold a current Australian drivers license and a license valid for the country you are riding in. For motorcycles greater than 50cc, you must hold a current Australian motorcycle license valid for the same class of motorcycle and a license valid for the country you are riding in. You must be wearing a helmet.All motorcycle riders and passengers must purchase the Motorcycle Pack add-on to be covered. |
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Certain underwriters at LLoyd's |
200cc You must hold a driving license appropriate for the country you are in and if using a motorcycle with an engine capacity of 125cc or higher, you must hold a current and valid unrestricted license required for driving an equivalent rated motorcycle in Australia up to a maximum 1200cc. You must be wearing a helmet. |
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Chase Underwriting |
No limit You must hold a current Australian motorcycle or drivers license for riding a moped or scooter. You must hold a current Australian motorcycle license if riding a motorcycle. |
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Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company Limited |
No limit You must hold a driving license appropriate for the country you are in and if using a motorcycle rated 125cc or higher, you must hold a current and valid license required for driving an equivalent rated motorcycle in Australia. You must be wearing a helmet. |
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AIG Australia Limited |
No Limit You must hold a valid license for the country/region/territory the motorcycle is being operated in. |
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Zurich Australian Insurance Limited |
200cc (with premium added) You must hold a valid Australian motorcycle license or Australian motor vehicle driver license, and you hold a license valid in the relevant country. You must be wearing helmet. |
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Southern Cross |
200cc You must have a valid driver’s license as required in the country you are in and must be wearing a helmet. |
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Certain underwriters at LLoyd's |
No limit If riding a motorcycle over 50cc, you must have a current Australian motorcycle license. If you are riding a moped/scooter under 50cc, you must have a current Australian motorcycle or drivers license. You must be wearing a helmet. |
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Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company Limited |
No limit You must hold a driving license appropriate for the country you are in and if using a motorcycle 125cc or higher, you must hold a current and valid license required for riding an equivalent rated motorcycle in Australia. You must be wearing a helmet. |
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Pacific International Insurance |
No limit You must have a valid license as required in Australia and in the country of travel for the same class of motorcycle you are operating. You must be wearing a helmet. |
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Pacific International Insurance |
250cc You must wear a helmet and have a full motorcycle licence that is valid both in the country of travel and in their country of residence. Consider the PDS and TMD from TIS and if the policy is right for you. See licensing requirements in PDS |
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Chase Underwriting |
No limit You must have a current Australian motorcycle license |
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Allianz Australia Insurance Limited |
No limit (with Adventure Pack) For riding a motorcycle, you must have a current Australian motorcycle license or motorcycle license valid for the country you are riding in. For riding a moped/scooter, you must have a current Australian drivers license or drivers license valid for the country you are riding in. You must be wearing a helmet. |
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Allianz Australia Insurance Limited |
No limit (with Adventure Pack) For riding a motorcycle, you must have a current Australian motorcycle license or motorcycle license valid for the country you are riding in. For riding a moped/scooter, you must have a current Australian drivers license or drivers license valid for the country you are riding in. You must be wearing a helmet. |
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Hollard Insurance Company Pty Ltd |
No limit For riding a motorcycle, you must have a current Australian motorcycle license and a motorcycle license valid for the country you are riding in. For riding a moped/scooter, you must have a current Australian drivers license and a drivers license valid for the country you are riding in. You must be wearing a helmet. |
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Pacific International Insurance |
No limit (with sports adventure pack) For riding a motorcycle, you must have a current Australian motorcycle license or motorcycle license valid for the country you are riding in. For riding a moped/scooter, you must have a current Australian drivers license or drivers license valid for the country you are riding in. You must be wearing a helmet. |
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Allianz Australia Insurance Limited |
250cc For riding a motorcycle, you must have a current Australian motorcycle license or motorcycle license valid for the country you are riding in. For riding a moped/scooter, you must have a current Australian drivers license or drivers license valid for the country you are riding in. You must be wearing a helmet. |
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Certain underwriters at LLoyd's |
No limit For engines under 50 cc you are covered with a valid drivers license. There is no restriction on engine displacement if you hold a current Australian motorcycle licence or motorcycle licence valid for the country you are riding in. |
General Advice Warning: The contents of this article were accurate at the time of writing. Insurers change their policies from time to time, so some information may have changed. You should always read the Product Disclosure Statement of your chosen insurer to understand what is covered and what isn't. The information provided is of a general nature only and does not take into account any personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making a decision you should consider the appropriateness of the information having regard to your personal circumstances.
If you're travelling to a foreign country make sure you get your International Drivers Permit (IDP) - preferably before you leave! This allows you to drive or ride the same class of vehicle you are permitted to ride in your home country. So, if you are NOT covered to ride a motorcycle or scooter in Australia, you are not permitted overseas. It's strange how we tend to throw caution to the wind when on holiday. With absolutely no training or experience riding a motorbike or scooter at home, many of us seem to think we'll master the skills on the spot in a foreign country.
You can apply for an IDP overseas, but make sure you're ticking the right boxes. You may be able to fool the traffic cop in Thailand that you have a motorcycle licence, by 'ticking-the-box' when you got your IDP, but it won't cut the mustard with your travel insurance company. If you DO have a valid motorcycle license, be thrilled! Your licence will be accepted in over 150 countries including Bali, Indonesia, Laos, and Thailand.
If you will be riding a motorcycle in Vietnam over 50cc, then you must obtain a temporary Vietnamese drivers license.
To convert an Australian driving license into a temporary Vietnamese driver's license, you must hold a valid Vietnamese residence permit of at least three month's validity. Visit the website of the Australian Embassy for full details on how to apply for a Vietnamese drivers license.
Be aware that only IDPs under the 1968 Convention are accepted in Vietnam. The Australian Government signed the 1949 UN Convention so if you hold an Australian issued IDP, you must obtain a temporary Vietnamese drivers license. Learn more about Vietnam motorbike licenses here.
Even with the cover offered, exclusions still apply. You are not covered:
Finally, contact your travel insurance provider before you purchase travel insurance for your motorbike holiday if you're uncertain about the policy details. Some insurers will automatically provide cover for riding a motorbike, whereas others will require you to add it to your policy and pay an additional premium to be covered. When riding motorbikes or scooters overseas you are taking risks with both your health and your money so it pays to take a few minutes to make that short phone call to clarify any concerns. Don't just settle for the first or the cheapest policy you find, do your research and compare quotes and cover levels for your next holiday.
Perhaps all that muscle power is too much for you. Taking out cycling travel insurance for your pushbike shouldn't give you whiplash either. Ride easy with our cycling travel insurance essential guide.
Quad biking & recreational all-terrain vehicles (ATV) are popular activities or modes of transport for certain holiday destinations. For example, quad biking over sand dunes in Australia, touring rice fields in Bali, getting around a large resort or even as road transport on an island in Greece. If you're planning on getting in the saddle of an all-terrain vehicle, be sure to check your policy before purchasing as many insurers exclude quad bikes. A few insurers will provide cover if you pay an additional premium for an adventure pack add-on.
Yes, most travel insurance policies will cover you to ride a motorbike or be a pillion passenger. However, each insurer has different conditions about engine classes and licence requirements - so check the summary table above and your policy documents to make sure that your policy works for you and your circumstances. Some insurers require you to pay an additional premium for scooter cover and others automatically include it. Be sure to wear a helmet.
Generally speaking, to be covered for riding a motorbike, most insurers will require you to have either an Australian motorbike licence, or a local motorbike licence - but check your insurer's policy documents, as some insurers require you to have both. If you only have a car licence, some insurers will cover you to ride scooters of 50cc or less.
Many travel insurers automatically cover you to ride a motorcycle overseas, provided that you're wearing a helmet and have the correct licence and engine class according to their policy terms. Check out our table above to find motorcycle travel insurance that might work for you and your circumstances.
While most travel insurance policies will cover you while riding a motorcycle (provided that you meet their conditions), they generally don't cover any damage to a rental motorbike or a motorcycle that you own. So if that's something you're looking for cover for, check your policy terms before you buy.
Some travel insurers will allow you to ride a scooter of less than 50cc or so if you have an Australian car licence. Check the above table and your policy documents or call your insurer to ask about their scooter or motorbike coverage.
Most travel insurance policies do not offer personal liability coverage while you're operating a vehicle.
Yes, absolutely. Whether it's a cute Vespa or a classic Harley, virtually all travel insurance policies require you to be wearing a helmet to be covered. Just as it is in Australia, it is compulsory to wear a helmet while riding a motorbike in Cambodia, Thailand and Bali
Originally from the UK, Hayley took a gap ‘year’ in 2011… and it’s still going! She’s travelled all over the world, volunteering in a Ugandan orphanage, skydiving in Australia, shark diving in South Africa, and skiing in the Alps (and snapping in a ligament in the process!). Certified in Tier 2 General Insurance General Advice and working in travel insurance for over two years, Hayley is a thrillseeker and a storyteller who loves hearing about customers’ holiday plans and sharing her own tips and must-see spots to help get them inspired.
Need some help? Use the search box below to find answers to all those tricky questions. We’ve got heaps of travel insurance tips to help you get the best policy for your upcoming holiday!
Are you a self-confessed adrenaline junkie? If you’re planning on doing some risky activities on your trip make sure you know if they’re covered, as not all of them are!
Having pre-existing medical conditions doesn't mean you can't get cover or that it has to be expensive. It simply means that you need to dig a little deeper when doing your research.
Not all insurers will cover you automatically if you’re over 22 weeks gestation or have had pregnancy complications. See which companies offer cover for pregnant women.
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