Motorcycle insurance in Singapore comes in three kinds: comprehensive, third party, fire and theft, and third party only. Third party only is the legal minimum and covers other people, not your own bike. Third party, fire and theft adds your bike if it is stolen or catches fire. Comprehensive also pays for accident damage to your own bike. Which one fits depends on what you would be able to absorb if the bike were lost, and the bike's age and value are the usual starting point. This guide sets the three side by side. It describes the trade-offs and does not tell you which to choose.
The three kinds of cover at a glance
The three kinds differ in one main way: whether your own bike is protected, and from what.
- Comprehensive pays for damage to your own bike from accidents, fire and theft. It also pays for injury to other people and damage to their property.
- Third party, fire and theft covers what you do to others. It adds your bike if it is stolen or catches fire.
- Third party only covers injury to others and damage to their property. It never covers your own bike.
The other benefits in a motorcycle plan, such as personal accident cover for the rider, helmet and gear cover, and towing, vary between plans. Check each plan's benefits rather than assuming they come with a given type of cover.
What comprehensive pays for
Comprehensive is the widest of the three. If you fall or are hit and your bike is damaged, it can pay towards the repair. If the bike is stolen or burns, it responds to that too. It also covers the harm you cause to other people.
Some comprehensive plans add personal accident cover for the rider. Some cover your helmet and riding gear, and some include towing and roadside help after a breakdown or accident. A helmet and jacket can cost more than a year's premium, so it is worth seeing which plans include gear.
Comprehensive claims on your own bike usually come with an excess. This is what you pay towards each claim. Young or new riders often pay a higher one. Workshops also differ. Some plans send you to the insurer's panel workshops, while others let you choose.
What third party, fire and theft adds
This middle option covers what you do to others, as third party cover does. It also protects your bike in two situations: theft and fire. Theft is the most common motorcycle claim, so many riders of older bikes choose this type.
The gap is accident damage. If you cause a crash or are knocked off, this type does not pay for your own bike's repair. It is the cover to look at if theft worries you more than a fall, and you would rather not pay for the full comprehensive range.
What third party only covers
Third party only is the legal minimum. It pays for injury to other people and damage to their property when you are at fault. It does not pay for anything on your own bike, whether the cause is an accident, fire or theft.
This is the plainest cover and usually the lightest on cost. It suits an older bike that is worth little, because there is less of your own bike to protect. The trade-off is that a stolen or wrecked bike is your loss.
What none of the three covers
Some limits apply whichever type you pick. Motorcycle plans do not cover these:
- Riding under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Riders not named on the policy, riding outside its terms, or riding without the right licence class.
- Racing, track days and stunts.
- Wear and tear, and mechanical breakdown.
The licence class point matters more than it looks. A Class 2B licence covers bikes up to 200cc, 2A up to 400cc and Class 2 any capacity. A claim on a bike your licence class does not allow is not paid, under any of the three kinds of cover.
How the bike's age and value bear on the choice
The choice often comes down to what the bike is worth and what you could replace it with.
- Comprehensive is better for a newer or bigger bike, where a repair or a total loss would cost a lot.
- Third party only is better for an older bike worth little, where cover on the bike itself adds cost for little in return.
- Third party, fire and theft is better for a bike in between, or an older bike where theft is the main worry.
Value is not the only factor. Think about the excess you would pay on a comprehensive claim, and whether you could cover a repair bill from your own savings. Engine capacity also sets the price. A Class 2B bike up to 200cc costs least to insure, and a big bike above 750cc costs most. Your No Claim Discount stops at 20%: 10% after one claim-free year, 15% after two and 20% after three or more. It belongs to you, not the bike, and one at-fault claim takes it down a step or two, or back to 0%.
How to see each cover's prices on the results page
Start on the motorcycle insurance page. Answer the questions about your bike, your riding record and yourself, all on one page. You then see prices from the insurers on the panel, from the lowest up, with any insurer that cannot cover you named and the reason given.
The prices shown first are for comprehensive cover. To see the other two, change the cover on the results page. Then you can set comprehensive, third party, fire and theft, and third party only side by side for the same bike and rider.
For a sense of the spread, today's example for a Class 2B bike with a rider aged 30 and 20% NCD has 5 insurers pricing it, from about S$369 to about S$519 a year. The Class 2B rider aged 30 price page shows that example. You can also look at the same rider on third party, fire and theft or on third party only. For a bigger bike, see the big bike, rider aged 45 page, where 5 insurers price it from about S$665 to about S$951. To weigh two insurers directly, use the comparison page.
Motorcycle prices here are estimates, worked out for the bike and rider described. Each insurer prices the exact bike, rider and riding record when you press Buy Now, so the final premium can differ. The prices shown are available only through the Buy Now links.
Frequently asked questions
Which kind of motorcycle cover does the law require?
Third party only is the legal minimum. It covers injury to others and damage to their property, and never your own bike.
Does comprehensive cover cost more than third party?
Comprehensive also pays for damage to your own bike, so it covers more. Prices differ by insurer, bike and rider. Compare all three on the results page to see the gap for your own details.
Do I need comprehensive for an older bike?
Third party only suits an older bike that is worth little, since there is less of the bike to protect. Third party, fire and theft adds the bike if it is stolen or burns. The choice depends on what the bike is worth and what a loss would cost you.
Does my licence class affect a claim?
Yes. A claim on a bike your licence class does not allow is not paid. Class 2B covers up to 200cc, 2A up to 400cc and Class 2 any capacity.
Where do I find out how claims work?
The claims page explains what happens after an accident or theft. Check the plan's excess and workshop terms before you choose.