15 December, 2025
What is Motorcycle Insurance? A Complete Beginner’s Guide
Motorcycle insurance (also known as motorbike insurance) is a policy that protects you financially in case of accidents, theft, fire, natural disasters or third-party liabilities involving your bike. It helps cover repair costs, medical expenses and legal responsibilities if you injure someone or damage their property.
Understanding Motorcycle Insurance in Singapore
Motorcycle insurance is an agreement between you and an insurer in which you pay premiums in return for protection against specified losses and liabilities arising from riding your motorcycle. In Singapore’s dense urban environment, where many motorcycles travel through narrow lanes and busy roads, the number of road accidents has increased in 2025.
Singapore, all motor vehicles must have valid motor insurance coverage before they can be driven on public roads, and operating a vehicle without such protection is considered an offence. Motorcycle insurance is also mandatory for road tax renewal, and your insurance policy must stay valid throughout the entire duration of the renewal period.
Types of Motorcycle Insurance in Singapore
Singapore offers three main types of motorcycle insurance policies, each providing different levels of coverage to match various needs and budgets.
Third Party Only (TPO) Insurance
Third Party Only insurance represents the most fundamental and economical policy that satisfies Singapore's legal obligations. This coverage handles your legal responsibility for injury or death to other individuals and damage to their property when you're responsible for an accident.
- Bodily injury or death to third parties (other riders, drivers, pedestrians)
- Damage to other people's vehicles and property
- Legal costs if you're sued by third parties
- Damage to your own motorcycle
- Your own medical expenses or injuries
- Theft of your motorcycle
- Fire damage to your bike
Third Party, Fire & Theft (TPFT) Insurance
TPFT insurance provides everything included in TPO coverage plus additional protection against fire damage and theft. This middle-tier option offers better security without the full cost of comprehensive coverage.
Additional Coverage Beyond TPO:
- Theft of your motorcycle
- Fire damage to your bike (including engine fires and external fires)
- Loss of your motorcycle due to total write-off from fire or theft
Comprehensive Insurance
Comprehensive insurance offers the most extensive coverage available, protecting your motorcycle and yourself against the widest range of risks.
Complete Coverage Includes:
- Everything covered in TPO and TPFT policies
- Accidental damage to your own motorcycle, regardless of who's at fault
- Single-vehicle accidents (e.g., losing control and falling)
- Natural disasters and weather-related damage
- Vandalism and malicious damage
- Optional add-ons for enhanced protection
Factors That Affect Your Motorcycle Insurance Premium in Singapore
- Engine Capacity (cc) and Bike Model: Large or high power bikes typically cost more to insure due to the higher risk associated with greater power and speed, which increases the likelihood and severity of accidents and thefts.
- Age and Condition of your Motorcycle: Newer motorcycles have higher insurance premiums because they are more expensive to replace or repair.
- Rider Profile: Factors such as a rider’s age, riding experience, and past claims history are strong indicators of their likelihood of being involved in an accident. Insurers typically charge higher premiums for riders who are considered higher risk, such as young or inexperienced riders with previous claims.
- Usage Purpose: Using a motorcycle for commercial activities such as delivery services significantly increases insurance premiums. Delivery riders spend long hours on the road, often during peak traffic times, which creates a much higher risk profile compared to private riders who use their motorcycles only occasionally for leisure.
How to Choose the Right Motorcycle Insurance in Singapore
Here’s a practical checklist for evaluating and choosing a policy:
- Confirm you get at least the minimum Third-Party Only coverage which is mandatory under law.
- Evaluate how often you ride, how far and what you use the bike for (eg. daily commute, leisure, delivery). Frequent riders or those using bike for work may prefer comprehensive coverage.
- Compare offerings from different insurers or brokers — coverage types, add-ons, premium vs protection value. Brokers often help tailor a plan to your needs.
- Ensure your licence is valid, bike is roadworthy, and all riders are properly declared if required by the policy.
- Consider optional add-ons if you have a newer, high-value bike (e.g. coverage for accessories, theft, personal accident).
- Check the terms: excess/deductible, named vs any rider, NCD, repair workshop choices, claim limits.
Conclusion
In Singapore, motorcycle insurance is mandatory for riding on public roads — it’s not optional. Beyond fulfilling legal requirements, the right policy offers financial protection and peace of mind. Whether you ride occasionally or daily, and whether your bike is compact or high-powered, it’s essential to understand the coverage options and select a motor insurance plan that fits your riding habits, bike value, and risk tolerance. Contact us today to find the right policy and get protected on every ride.