Young rider insurance: Companies with cheap motorbike insurance for young riders

It’s especially important to shop around for motorcycle insurance if you're a new rider, because prices are 2X to 3X what you'll pay when you're a few years older. While no single insurance provider is the best or the cheapest for everyone, we've analyzed dozens of motorcycle insurance plans to find some of the cheapest for those 17, 19 and 21 years old. Read our research to help you pick the best plan for your individual needs.

• Young rider insurance
• Cheap Motorcycle Insurance Companies for a 17-Year-Old Rider
• Cheap Motorcycle Insurance Companies for a 19-Year-Old Rider
• Cheap Motorcycle Insurance Companies for a 21-Year-Old Rider
• Cost of Cheap Motorcycle insurance for Young Riders
  
  

Young Rider Insurance

Young rider insurance is for those from age 16 riding mopeds (with a maximum engine capacity of 50cc), from age 17 riding light motorcycles (up to 11kW/125cc) or from age 19 riding standard motorcycles up to 35 kW. As younger riders have less road experience, risks are higher so prices tend to be more expensive and fewer companies may offer cover. To find a good deal, it's important to compare quotes before you buy a policy.

Cheap Motorcycle Insurance Companies for 17 Year Olds

As the youngest, least experienced riders, 17 year olds typically pay the highest rates for motorcycle insurance. After gathering sample quotes, we found that Lexham was the cheapest overall motorcycle insurance company for 17-year-old riders. However, Lexham wasn't the cheapest bike insurance company in every case.

While it remains a top-tier provider for learners, young riders should also compare quotes from Bikesure and Devitt, who often offer competitive rates for those on a CBT (Compulsory Basic Training). Note: MCE Insurance is no longer an option as the company entered liquidation in 2025.

It's critical to shop around to find the best deal for your own profile. If you're not sure where to start, check out prices at our bike insurance partner QuoteZone.

Cheap Car Insurance Companies for 19 Year Olds

Our analysis of dozens of plans showed the cheapest motorcycle insurance company overall for a 19 year old was also Lexham. Lexham won’t be the cheapest for everyone, however, as prices depend on factors like your address and the bike you ride. Each insurance company sets a price based on their claims experience for a certain profile. As a result, your profile might result in a cheaper price elsewhere, for instance from Bikesure, Motorcycle Action Group or others.

Cheap Car Insurance Companies for 21 Year Olds

Twenty-one year olds should pay quite a bit less for bike insurance than they paid for motorcycle insurance when they were younger. With years of riding experience under their belts, insurance companies perceive less risk of a crash and, consequently, charge less for coverage.

Following the exit of MCE from the market, our 2026 analysis shows that Lexham and Bikesure have moved into the top spots for 21-year-olds. While the 'ultra-low' outlier quotes previously seen from MCE are gone, these providers offer stable rates and better customer service ratings for riders transitioning from their A2 to a full A license.

Average Cost of Bike Insurance for Young Riders

A typical 17 year old can find motorcycle insurance starting from around £1,400 for Third Party, Fire & Theft cover or £1,800 for Comprehensive cover—more than 2X the cost for a 21 year old. Prices continue to drop steadily as you age, as you can read about in our article Average Cost of Motorcycle Insurance .

For all age groups, you may find cheaper plans for Third Party (liability only) insurance, but this basic type of motorcycle insurance won't cover your injuries or damage to/theft of your bike. Comprehensive plans cost the most but will offer the most protection.

Riders under 21 typically pay nearly 2X the premium of a 30-year-old (£405) due to their higher statistical risk profile.

Methodology

We gathered dozens of quotes from our bike insurance partner QuoteZone for 17-year-old, 19-year-old and 21-year-old young motorcycle rider in Birmingham.

Please note: We also gathered quotes for Manchester and London and found that Manchester prices were around 35% cheaper than Birmingham and London prices were around 60% more expensive than Birmingham. So where you live has a significant bearing on the cost you'll pay.

Our sample driver rides a Honda PCX, parks on a private drive and logs under 3,000 miles per year. Riders have been riding continuously since 17 years of age, with no claims or accidents. Policies were quoted with a start date 3 weeks later. To get a picture of how prices change according to the type of motorcycle insurance coverage, we gathered prices for Third Party Only, Third Party Fire & Theft and Comprehensive plans from the following UK bike insurance companies:

To get started shopping for motorbike insurance for a young rider, click the button below to get quick quotes for cheap bike insurance companies in your area.

Read up on: cheap moped insurance here.