Insuring your moped should always be of high importance. It is a legal requirement and must be in place before the bike is on the road.
Shopping around for quotes and insuring against theft and causing damage to others is essential, especially when so many mopeds are stolen from outside owner's homes and the accident rate for young bikers is so high. The cost of your policy will depend on various points such as your postcode and age.
Your policy could include free breakdown cover and legal assistance. You could just opt for Third Party Fire and Theft which means that if you are involved in an accident which is your fault, your insurance company will pay for the damage to the other person and not for your moped. If you go for the more expensive option of Fully Comprehensive , then your damages will also be paid for minus the excess quoted.
Once you have started to build up a good history with your insurers you will be pleased to see the cost of the policy, whilst still having the same benefits, begin to decrease as your risk to the insurance company is lowered, you are collecting no claims bonuses. If you are involved in an accident or make a claim, your payments may increase.
Each policy will have an excess attached to it. This is the amount you agree to pay before the insurance company pays off the balance. For instance, if your bike is vandalised you need to decide whether it is worth putting in a claim for £100 when your excess is £75, sometimes it is worth paying the full amount and keeping a years no claims bonus against your name.
Before you even take to the road on a moped you need to have a provisional license. You will need to be over 16 with a Category P entitlement on your license.
A moped has an engine smaller than 50cc and their speed it's restricted to 30mph and of course they are not allowed on motorways. You will be expected to complete CBT or Compulsory Basic Training unless you fall into one of these categories;
- Have passed a full moped test after December 1st 1990
- Have already passed a car test before February 1 st 2001
- Hold a Certificate of Completion (DL196)
On completion of the CBT you will be handed a DL196 which you will need to produce when you take the practical motorcycle test.
The certificate has a 2 year shelf life and must be reapplied for once the time is up if you have failed both the theory and practical tests. The DL196 is valid for a motorcycle once the rider has reached 17. |
