Quick summary for busy readers:
- Some insurers include motorbike cover automatically, while others require you to add it and pay an additional premium.
- Cover will vary depending on your licence and your bike’s engine capacity. See our table below.
- You’ll generally need a valid motorcycle licence and an International Driving Permit (IDP) that covers motorcycles specifically to be covered.
- Common exclusions include damage to the bike itself, competitive riding and any incident where you weren’t wearing a helmet or were riding under the influence.
A vespa in Italy, a scooter in Bali, a moped in Thailand… Sometimes there’s nothing better than riding a motorbike while on holiday. But whether your travel insurance will actually cover you should something go wrong depends on a few specific things – mainly your licence and the size of the engine you’re riding.
Read on to learn all about motorbike travel insurance, from typical license and engine requirements to where you can buy it.
What is motorbike travel insurance?
Some insurers include motorbike cover automatically with a standard, comprehensive policy, while others require you to add it on and pay an additional premium. But most (if not all) insurers will only cover you to ride a motorbike if you meet specific licence and engine capacity requirements. That’s where things get tricky as those requirements vary a lot between insurers.
Some don’t require a motorcycle licence if you’re riding something low-powered, generally somewhere in the 50cc to 125cc range. Others set a maximum engine size they’ll cover you for, regardless of what your actual licence permits back home. And a few will cover you for any engine size, as long as you’re properly licensed to ride it in Australia (take a look at our comparison table further down for more details).
If you are heading overseas and planning to ride a motorbike, we recommend sorting out an International Driving Permit (IDP) before you leave, rather than trying to arrange one once you’re already there. An IDP lets you ride the same class of vehicle you’re licensed for at home, and if you hold a valid motorcycle licence in Australia, that permit is recognised in well over 150 countries.
However, some countries have their own specific licensing quirks that go beyond a standard IDP. Vietnam is a well-known example, so if that’s where you’re heading, check out our Vietnam Motorbike Travel Insurance guide instead.
Where can I buy motorbike travel insurance?
These are the Australian insurers who cover motorbike riding, along with their licence requirements and engine capacity limits:
| Provider | Maximum engine size | Action | |
|---|---|---|---|
 1Cover | No limit. For riding a moped/scooter under 125cc, you must hold a current Australian drivers licence and a licence valid for the country you are riding in. For motorcycles greater than 125cc, you must hold a current Australian motorcycle licence valid for the same class of motorcycle and a licence valid for the country you are riding in. You must be wearing a helmet. | Quote | |
 FastCover | No limit. With purchase of Morotbike Pack you are covered for riding a moped/scooter under 125cc, you must hold a current Australian drivers licence and a licence valid for the country you are riding in. For motorcycles greater than 125cc, you must hold a current Australian motorcycle licence valid for the same class of motorcycle and a licence valid for the country you are riding in. You must be wearing a helmet. You must be under 74 to purchase the Motorbike pack. | Quote | |
 Insure n Go | Automatically covered for engine sizes up to 500cc. You must hold a driving licence appropriate for the country you are in and you must hold a current and valid licence required for driving an equivalent rated motorcycle in Australia. You must be wearing a helmet. | Quote | |
 Tick Travel Insurance | No limit. You must hold a driving licence appropriate for the country you are in and if using a motorcycle 125cc or higher, you must hold a current and valid licence required for riding an equivalent rated motorcycle in Australia. You must be wearing a helmet. | Quote | |
 Travel Insurance Saver | No limit. You must hold a hold a current Australian motorcycle licence or drivers licence valid for the cpountry you are riding in. | Quote | |
 Zoom | No limit. For riding a moped/scooter under 125cc, you must hold a current Australian drivers licence and a licence valid for the country you are riding in. For motorcycles greater than 125cc, you must hold a current Australian motorcycle licence valid for the same class of motorcycle and a licence valid for the country you are riding in. You must be wearing a helmet. | Quote | |
 Allianz | No limit (with premium added). You must have a current Australian motorcycle licence or motorcycle licence valid for the country you are riding in. You must be wearing a helmet. | ||
 Australian Seniors | No limit (with premium added). You must have a current Australian motorcycle licence or motorcycle licence valid for the country you are riding in. You must be wearing a helmet. | ||
 Boomers | No limit (with premium added) You must hold a current Australian drivers licence or drivers licence valid for the country you are riding in. And you must hold a current Australian motorcycle licence or motorcycle licence valid for the country you are riding in. You must be wearing a helmet. | ||
 Budget Direct | No limit. Two optional levels of cover to choose from, one with engine size limit at 250cc or less, or unlimited. You must hold a Australian driving or motorbike licence valid for the country you are in. You must be wearing a helmet. You must not be competing, racing, motocross. | ||
 Cover more | No limit. Two optional levels of cover to choose from, one with engine size limit at 250cc or less, or unlimited. You must hold a Australian driving or motorbike licence valid for the country you are in. You must be wearing a helmet. You must not be competing, racing, motocross. | ||
 Easy Travel Insurance | No limit. Two optional levels of cover to choose from, one with engine size limit at 250cc or less, or unlimited. You must hold a Australian driving or motorbike licence valid for the country you are in. You must be wearing a helmet. You must not be competing, racing, motocross. | ||
 Freely | No limit. Must pay motorcycle add on. Under 250cc must hold a valid Australian motorcycle rider’s licence or Australian motor vehicle driver’s licence. Over 250cc must hold a Australian motorcycle rider’s licence for the last 5 years and you are the registered owner of a motorcycle in Australia that has an engine capacity greater than or equal to the engine capacity of the motorcycle/moped you are hiring. | ||
 Go Insurance | 250cc. You must hold a driving licence and motorcycle licence appropriate for the country you are in. No cover if the engine capacity does not exceed 250cc for Motorcycles and 200cc for Scooters or Mopeds. | ||
 Insure 4 Less | No limit. You must hold a current Australian motorcycle or drivers licence for riding a moped or scooter. You must hold a current Australian motorcycle licence if riding a motorcycle. No cover for accidental death or disability from a motorcycle accident. | ||
 Medibank | 250cc (with premium added). You must hold a valid Australian motorcycle licence or Australian motor vehicle driver licence, and you hold a licence valid in the relevant country. You must be wearing helmet. You must not be competing, racing, motocross. | ||
 PassportCard | No limit. For riding a moped/scooter over 125cc, you must hold a current Australian motorcycle licence valid for the country you are riding in. You must be wearing a helmet. You must not be competing, racing, motocross. | ||
 Southern Cross | 200cc. You must have a valid driver’s licence as required in the country you are in and must be wearing a helmet. You must not be racing or competing. | ||
 Travel Insurance Direct | 250cc. You must have a full motorcycle licence that is valid both in the country of travel and in their country of residence | ||
 Travel Insuranz | No limit. You must hold a current Australian motorcycle or drivers licence for riding a moped or scooter. You must hold a current Australian motorcycle licence if riding a motorcycle. No cover for accidental death or disability from a motorcycle accident. | ||
 World Nomads | No limit. If you’re intending to rent a car or motorbike or participate in some adventure sports, you must check the licensing and local laws for the country you’re going to. You must also have a valid licence at home for the class of motorised vehicle you may be renting. | ||
 WorldCare | No limit. With purchase of adventure pack. You must hold a valid Australian motorcycle licence or Australian motor vehicle driver licence, and you hold a licence valid in the relevant country. You must be wearing helmet. You must not be competing, racing. |
What’s typically excluded from motorbike travel insurance?
Even with the right cover in place, a few things generally are excluded:
- Racing or intentionally risky riding. If you use the bike for stunts or jumps, or deliberately put yourself at risk and you’re then injured, you’re unlikely to be covered.
- Damage to the motorbike itself. Whether it’s your own bike, a borrowed one or a rental, most travel insurance policies won’t cover damage to the bike (even if you’ve got a policy with rental car excess cover as that typically doesn’t extend to bikes). Motorbike rental companies typically build their own cover into the daily hire cost or charge extra for it.
- Competitive or professional riding. Standard travel insurance generally doesn’t extend to organised racing or competitive riding of any kind.
- Breaking road rules. Ignoring traffic signals, signs or right-of-way rules can jeopardise a claim if something goes wrong as a result.
- Riding under the influence. An accident caused while under the influence of alcohol or drugs won’t be covered.
- Not wearing a helmet. This is one of the most consistent exclusions across insurers: if you’re injured while not wearing a helmet, you’re unlikely to be covered. Plus, it’s the law in several popular riding destinations, including Bali, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam.
Get Answers
Frequently Asked Questions
Does travel insurance cover riding scooters and motorbikes overseas?
Yes, most travel insurance policies will cover you to ride a motorbike or be a pillion passenger. But some include it automatically while others require you to pay an additional premium. Plus, each insurer has different conditions about engine classes and licence requirements, so check out our comparison table above and the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) of any policy you’re considering to ensure it works for your circumstances.
Can I ride a scooter or motorbike in Bali without an Australian motorbike licence?
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 (some require you to have both though). With that being said, if you only have a car licence, a few insurers will cover you to ride scooters/motorbikes of 50cc or less.
Am I covered medically if I ride a motorcycle while overseas?
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.
Will my travel insurance cover damage to my motorcycle overseas?
While most travel insurance policies will cover you while riding a motorcycle, provided you meet their conditions, they generally don’t cover damage to a rental motorbike or one you own yourself.
I don't have a motorbike licence - can I still ride a scooter or motorbike overseas?
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.
Am I covered for personal liability while riding a motorbike overseas?
Most travel insurance policies don’t offer personal liability cover while you’re operating a vehicle, including a motorbike. Something to be mindful of.
Do I need to wear a helmet when riding a motorbike?
Yes, absolutely. Whether it’s a scooter or a full-sized motorcycle, virtually all travel insurance policies require you to be wearing a helmet to be covered. It’s also compulsory by law in several popular destinations, including Bali, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam.
