Why Compare CBT Bike Insurance?
Learner Quotes Need Precision
CBT riders are not one simple group. Compare providers that account for your bike size, licence stage, age, postcode and riding experience.
Bike Choice Moves The Price
A 50cc moped, 125cc scooter and 125cc geared bike can price differently. Compare quotes for the machine you actually ride on CBT.
Security Details Matter Early
First bikes often live in higher-theft areas. Clean Green Cars introduces you to UK insurance providers offering CBT rider cover so you can compare panel quotes in one short form.
CBT Bike Insurance At A Glance
- Insurance Is A Legal Requirement - any bike ridden on UK roads needs at least third party motor cover under the Road Traffic Act 1988, even on a CBT certificate.
- CBT Plus Provisional Licence Needed - CBT alone isn't enough. Riders typically need a valid CBT certificate and a provisional moped or motorcycle licence before insurance can be set up for road use.
- L Plates And Restrictions Apply - L plates front and rear are required, with no motorway use and no pillion passenger under CBT entitlement.
- CBT Lasts 2 Years - the certificate is valid for 2 years. After that a rider either passes a practical test for a full A1, A2 or A licence or retakes the CBT to keep riding on a provisional.
- Compare Quotes - see UK insurance providers priced for your bike, postcode and CBT stage. Start with the motorbike insurance hub for cluster-wide guidance.
Is Insurance Required When Riding On A Cbt?
Skip cover and a single ride to college on a CBT could mean an IN10 conviction, a fixed penalty and a seized bike before lunch. Insurance is a legal requirement for any moped or motorcycle ridden on a UK road under the Road Traffic Act 1988, s.143, and a CBT certificate doesn't change that.
- Public Road Use Needs Insurance - at minimum third party motor cover is required before riding on a road or other public place, on any bike size your CBT permits
- CBT Is A Training Pass, Not A Policy - the certificate confirms you've completed Compulsory Basic Training, but it doesn't provide any insurance cover on its own
- Licence Is Separate From Insurance - holding a valid CBT plus a provisional moped or motorcycle licence is a separate legal requirement from the insurance policy itself
- Provider Conditions Matter - some providers may require Thatcham-approved security or off-street storage for learner-stage bikes in higher-theft postcodes (compare panel quotes via the motorbike insurance hub)
CBT And Licence Requirements
Cover Levels Explained
Pick third party only on a CBT bike and a single theft from outside college could be an uninsured total loss. Here's what each level typically includes.
| Feature | Comprehensive | Third Party, Fire & Theft | Third Party Only |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liability to third parties (legal minimum) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fire and theft of your bike | Yes | Yes | No |
| Accidental damage to your own bike | Yes | No | No |
| Helmet and leathers cover | Often included | Provider-dependent | No |
| Personal accident benefit for rider | Typically yes | Provider-dependent | No |
| Bike accessories and luggage | Often included up to a limit | Provider-dependent | No |
| New-for-old replacement on a recent bike | Often included within 1-2 years | Provider-dependent | No |
| EU riding (third-party level) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Breakdown and motorcycle recovery | Often add-on | Add-on | Add-on |
| Uninsured rider promise (no excess if not at fault) | Often included | Provider-dependent | No |
Please note that policy features, benefits, terms and conditions vary among insurance providers, so always check the policy wording.
Cover Tip: For a low-value used 50cc or 125cc on a CBT, third party fire and theft often gives the best balance of protection and price, because the bike value is modest but the theft risk is real for learner-stage bikes. For a newer 125cc, comprehensive may be worth the extra. Always check the helmet, leathers and L-plate clauses before buying.
What May Not Be Covered
A single unchecked exclusion can turn a stolen CBT bike into an unpaid claim. Here's what a standard learner motor policy typically doesn't cover.
Standard Exclusions
- Riding Without A Valid CBT Or Provisional Licence - Cover may be declined if you ride a moped or 125cc without a valid CBT certificate, without a provisional moped or motorcycle licence, or after the CBT has expired. Always renew before the 2-year cut-off.
- Motorway Use Under CBT - Riding on a motorway while on CBT and a provisional licence is outside the licence entitlement and may invalidate the policy, even if the journey is short and unintended.
- Pillion Passenger Under CBT - Carrying a pillion passenger on a 50cc or 125cc while on CBT and a provisional licence is outside the licence entitlement and may invalidate the policy in the event of a claim.
Important Limitations
- Riding A Bike Outside CBT Entitlement - Riding a 125cc at age 16 (CBT covers 50cc only at that age) or riding anything above 125cc and 11 kW on CBT entitlement falls outside the licence and is generally not covered by a learner policy.
- Undeclared Modifications - Aftermarket exhausts, removed power restrictions or non-standard parts that haven't been declared may invalidate cover. Removing the 11 kW restriction on a 125cc breaches the licence entitlement entirely.
- Theft Without Stated Security - Some providers require a Thatcham-approved chain, ground anchor, disc lock or off-street storage for learner-stage bikes in higher-theft postcodes. Failing to meet a stated security condition may invalidate a theft claim.
Extras Worth Considering
Skip helmet and leathers cover and a single learner fall could cost £400-£800 in kit. These optional extras may be worth adding to a CBT-stage policy.
Replacement helmet, jacket, gloves and boots after an insured incident. A full leathers and helmet set may run £400-£800, and a learner-stage policy doesn't always include this cover by default.
Roadside assistance and recovery built around motorcycles specifically, including bike-suitable transport. A standard car-style breakdown service may not have the right equipment for a 50cc moped or 125cc.
A lump-sum benefit if you suffer specified injuries while riding. Useful at CBT stage, where on-road exposure on a new licence in busy UK traffic is typically higher than for a more experienced rider.
Motor legal expenses may help with the cost of recovering uninsured losses, such as excess or personal injury, after a non-fault incident while riding on CBT.
What Affects The Cost?
Rider age, postcode and how the bike is stored overnight push CBT-stage premiums sharply up or down. Here are the factors that shape a quote.
| Key Factor | Impact on Your Price |
|---|---|
| Rider age and experience | 16-year-old 50cc CBT riders and 17-year-old 125cc CBT riders typically price highest in the motorbike segment. Quotes drop sharply once a full A1, A2 or A licence is in hand and no-claims years start to build. |
| Home postcode | Higher-theft urban postcodes typically price above quieter suburban or rural postcodes nearby, with motorcycle theft data feeding directly into the rating engine for learner bikes. |
| Bike value and specification | A 50cc moped, a Honda PCX125 scooter and a sports-styled 125cc like a Suzuki GSX-S125 may price quite differently, even at similar engine size, due to theft and repair profile. |
| Overnight storage | A locked garage typically prices lowest, a locked driveway shed or off-street parking sits in the middle, and on-street public parking often prices highest in theft-prone postcodes. |
| Security devices fitted | A Thatcham-approved chain, ground anchor, disc lock or tracker may help reduce the quote, and some providers require specific approved security for learner-stage bikes in higher-theft postcodes. |
| Annual mileage | Lower declared mileage typically prices lower than higher mileage, although accuracy matters because under-declaring the actual miles ridden on CBT may affect a claim. |
| CBT date and remaining validity | A fresh CBT with close to 2 years left tends to price more straightforwardly than a CBT with only weeks remaining, where some providers may want evidence of a booked practical test or refresher. |
| Engine size on the bike | A 50cc moped, a 125cc commuter and a 125cc naked sports bike each sit in different rating bands, even though all three can be ridden on CBT under the right age and licence stage. |
| Cover tier chosen | For a low-value used learner bike, third party fire and theft and comprehensive may price closer together than expected, so it's worth comparing all three tiers. |
| Compulsory and voluntary excess | Younger or CBT-stage riders may face a higher compulsory excess (the first part of any claim you are liable for), and adding a voluntary excess on top may further reduce the headline premium. |
The quotes you get will depend on your own details.
Price Insight: Typical comprehensive quotes for a 17-year-old on a 125cc with a fresh CBT can range from roughly £600 to £1,200 a year depending on bike model, postcode and storage (UK motorcycle insurance market data, as at March 2026). A 50cc moped on a CBT for a 16-year-old may price lower in absolute pounds but often shows a similar panel spread, so it's worth comparing the full panel rather than taking the first quote.
Ways To Help Reduce Your Premium
Renew on a CBT policy without checking and the premium can drift £80-£200 above a fresh comparison. Here are practical ways to cut what you pay.
Use Locked Off-Street Storage Where True
Declaring a locked garage or a secured off-street parking position, accurately and where genuinely available, tends to be the single largest saving lever on a CBT-stage quote in many UK postcodes.
Fit Thatcham-Approved Security
A Thatcham-approved chain, ground anchor and disc lock may help reduce the quote, and some providers in higher-theft postcodes require approved security as a policy condition for learner bikes.
Declare Mileage Accurately
Realistic annual mileage matters on a learner policy. Under-declaring miles may affect a claim, while accurately declared low mileage on a 50cc commuter or weekend 125cc usually prices lower than a default high estimate.
Plan The Practical Test Early
Booking the A1, A2 or full A practical test well inside the 2-year CBT window may help ainvalidate a forced retake, and quotes typically improve once L plates come off and a full motorcycle licence is in hand.
Compare TPFT Against Comprehensive
For a low-value used 50cc or 125cc on CBT, third party fire and theft and comprehensive sometimes price closer than expected. Quote both tiers before assuming TPO or TPFT is the lowest-cost route.
Pay Annually If You Can Afford It
Paying for the year upfront avoids the APR (the credit interest added when monthly instalments are arranged), which can quietly add a meaningful amount to a CBT-stage policy.
Saving Tip: Fitting a Thatcham-approved chain, ground anchor and disc lock, then declaring locked off-street storage, tends to be the single largest saving lever on a CBT-stage quote. Combine that with accurate mileage and a telematics-style policy where offered and the panel spread can narrow meaningfully for a learner rider.
How To Compare Quotes
Comparing CBT bike insurance from UK insurance providers takes only a few minutes. Get started above.
Share Your Details
Enter your moped or motorcycle, riding history, annual mileage and postcode. The form takes a few minutes.
Declare CBT And Licence Status
Confirm your CBT certificate date, your provisional moped or motorcycle licence stage, and the L-plate status on the bike.
Compare Cover Levels
Check third party only, third party fire and theft and comprehensive side by side, then read the helmet, leathers and theft clauses for learner-stage bikes.
Weigh Add-Ons
Decide on helmet and leathers cover, motorcycle breakdown recovery, personal accident and legal expenses based on how you use the bike under CBT.
Set Inception Date
Choose the date you want the policy to start. The provider issues your certificate and documents once payment is complete.
What Our Expert Says
CBT riders sit at the widest end of the UK motorbike pricing spread. A 16-year-old on a 50cc moped or a 17-year-old on a 125cc, both fresh out of a one-day CBT, may see panel quotes vary by hundreds of pounds, often shaped more by postcode and overnight storage than by the bike itself (UK motorcycle insurance market data, as at March 2026).
A common scenario is a new CBT rider assuming the certificate is a kind of licence and trying to carry a friend home from college on the back. CBT doesn't allow that. Provisional entitlement on a 50cc or 125cc rules out motorway use and pillion passengers until a full A1, A2 or A practical test is passed, and riding outside that entitlement may invalidate the policy as well as breaking the licence rules.
The other one is renewal timing. CBT lasts 2 years. A rider who lets it lapse without passing a practical test is no longer entitled to ride on the road, and any cover in force at that point may not respond to a claim. The safer route is booking a CBT refresher, an A1 test or a Mod 1 and Mod 2 well before the certificate runs out, and keeping the bike fully road-legal with declared security in the meantime.
Insurance Expert & Co-founder of Clean Green Cars
Common Questions
Do I Need Insurance As Well As A CBT To Ride On The Road?
Yes. CBT is a training pass, not an insurance policy. Any moped or motorcycle ridden on a UK road or other public place needs at least third party motor insurance under the Road Traffic Act 1988, s.143, alongside a valid CBT certificate and a provisional moped or motorcycle licence.
What Can I Ride On A Cbt?
A valid CBT plus a provisional licence lets a 16-year-old ride a 50cc moped on the road, and lets a 17-year-old ride a 125cc motorcycle up to 11 kW under provisional entitlement. L plates front and rear are required at all times, and the bike size must match the licence age.
Can I Use The Motorway Or Carry A Pillion On Cbt?
No. CBT-only riders may not use motorways and may not carry a pillion passenger, regardless of age. Both restrictions stay in place until a full A1, A2 or A practical test is passed, and riding outside them may invalidate the insurance policy as well as breaching the licence rules.
How Long Does A CBT Last?
The CBT certificate is valid for 2 years from the date of issue. To keep riding after that, a rider either passes the A1 (up to 125cc), A2 (restricted-power) or full A practical test, or retakes the CBT. Letting it lapse without a test means the road entitlement stops at the expiry date.
Does Storage And Security Affect A CBT-Stage Quote?
Yes, often by a meaningful amount. A locked garage typically prices lowest, off-street parking sits in the middle, and on-street public parking often prices highest in theft-prone postcodes. Fitting a Thatcham-approved chain, ground anchor and disc lock may help further, and some providers require approved security as a learner policy condition.
What's The Difference Between Cbt, A1, A2 And A?
CBT is a 1-day training pass that lets a rider use a moped or 125cc on a provisional licence with L plates. A1 is a full licence up to 125cc and 11 kW, available from age 17. A2 is a full licence up to 35 kW, available from age 19. A is the unrestricted motorcycle licence, available from age 24 direct or from 21 via A2.
Is Helmet And Leathers Cover Included On A Standard CBT Policy?
Not always. Some comprehensive learner policies include limited helmet and leathers cover, while others offer it as an add-on. A full helmet, jacket, gloves and boots set may run £400-£800, so it's worth reading the policy wording or adding the extra at quote stage if the kit value is significant.
What Happens After I Submit My Details?
Clean Green Cars introduces you to UK insurance providers or regulated brokers that offer CBT and learner cover for your licence stage, postcode and storage type. You'll see quotes within minutes and can compare cover, premium and add-ons before choosing a policy that suits your bike and your riding plans.
Search & Compare Quotes From UK CBT Insurance Providers
Useful Resources
- GOV.UK - Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) - what CBT covers, who needs it and how long the certificate lasts.
- GOV.UK - Motorcycle Licence Categories And Ages - the official table of UK motorcycle and moped licence categories, ages and power limits.
- GOV.UK - Book A Motorcycle Practical Test - DVSA service to book the A1, A2 or full A motorcycle practical test after CBT.
- Police.uk - Crime In Your Area - look up reported vehicle and motorcycle theft in your neighbourhood and postcode.
- ABI - Motor Insurance Guidance - independent guidance on how UK motor insurance, including learner motorcycle policies, is rated.
