125 Scooter pillion insurance

[Spok]

Hi All
I am new to the forum, signed up for some friendly advice.

I have recently purchased a 125cc scooter and scooter rack for our camper.

The initial thought was that my wife was going to complete her CBT and use the bike locally and i would be endured as a named rider so that i could carry her as a pillion when we are travelling in the camper. ( I have been a full bike licence holder for 15years. ).

We can't seem to find an insurance company that can provide pillion cover just for me (as my wife will only be CBT and not able to carry passengers).

One reputable bike specific insurer quoted £900 for a ' specialist policy' .

Needless to say i have currently added the scooter as a second bike on my policy until we can hopefully find a solution.

Any advice gratefully received.

 

[fishplug]

Hello and welcome Spok

I'd personally spend the money getting her through her full test, then you don't have to worry about 'bespoke' insurance or renewing her CBT every couple of years. It also avoids having to fit/remove L plates depending on who's riding.

The 'pillion' insurance on bikes really annoys me. I didn't know about it for years until the question was asked at renewal.

The bike has two seats. Of course I want insurance to cover all of the possible people on the vehicle. Same as when I had a sidecar, yes, I want to insure the person in the chair.

You don't have to insure passengers in cars separately - so why do you have to on a bike?

Anyway, I'll pop my soapbox away now....

 

[suavecarve]

I never realized the pillion wasn't insured if I understand this correctly. Or is it a matter of the pillion sueing the riders insurance should an rtc injury occur ?

I have the wife on the insurance of both bikes (110 and 300) she has no license, will never ride them and it gets cheaper insurance !

 

[Richard n Ann]

I can't understand why people take the back seat off some bikes. I don't take the back seats out of my car

 

[fishplug]

I never realized the pillion wasn't insured if I understand this correctly. Or is it a matter of the pillion sueing the riders insurance should an rtc injury occur ?

I have the wife on the insurance of both bikes (110 and 300) she has no license, will never ride them and it gets cheaper insurance !

If you take her (or anyone else) pillion then your are most likely not insured to do so (even if she's insured to ride the bike, she may well not be insured to sit on the back of it)

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[fishplug]

I can't understand why people take the back seat off some bikes. I don't take the back seats out of my car

When I lived in Provençe, I would often take the back seats out of my 2CV and sit on them while I had my lunch...

It got mixed responses from people as you might imagine!

 

[suavecarve]

If you take her (or anyone else) pillion then your are most likely not insured to do so (even if she's insured to ride the bike, she may well not be insured to sit on the back of it)

Just checked. Insured

 

[stevewagner]

Can’t you insure it in your name either her as and additional rider? Also have you sufficient payload for a 125 and a rack?

 

[Raul]

I had in the past insurance to carry a pillion. It was a must as me and wife used to tour in Europe two up. Last one was with MCE. I remember Devit, Footman James, and E sure used who ever was the cheapest at the time.
If you have full A category, and some NCB, I would go on a comparing sites and select the option to carry a pillion.
Never had a policy without pillion cover, except my very first year.

 

[Carpmart]

I have pillion cover on my 300cc scooter!

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[David and Sally]

Pillion cover selected on four bikes.

 

[BikerGraham]

Additional cost to carry a pillion has been a feature of bike insurance for at least the last 20 years that I know of. They have always asked if I carry a pillion.

The issue in this case is you are wanting to have you wife insured to carry a pillion with only a provisional licence. Few will agree to that. Yes years ago it was ok to carry a pillion as long as the pillion had a full licence. Which you do. But from the insurers risk point it’s still very high that there could be an accident and with bikes, generally the pillion come off worst. Too high a risk for many.

Best get her through her test and get a full licence

 

[L' Hobo]

Many years ago, in the days of riding my 650 Thunderbird, It never occurred to me that the girlfriend on the back was NOT insured.
When did that change happen?

Edit. Just seen the above that seems to say the pillion rider should have a FULL licensce, it used to be that the front rider HAD to have a FULL licence to carry a pillion rider.
Has that changed too?

 

[gus-lopez]

You don't have to insure passengers in cars separately - so why do you have to on a bike?

It is called 'scamming'

 

[BikerGraham]

Many years ago, in the days of riding my 650 Thunderbird, It never occurred to me that the girlfriend on the back was NOT insured.
When did that change happen?

Edit. Just seen the above that seems to say the pillion rider should have a FULL licensce, it used to be that the front rider HAD to have a FULL licence to carry a pillion rider.
Has that changed too?

There was always an exception to that rule in that if the pillion had a full licence it was ok.

Seems a weird one but I know it’s true as I got pulled back in 1983 and the copper was ok that my pillion had a full licence. He pulled me over as the bike had a pillion and L plates on.

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[rolosroller]

So passengers in cars are not Insured

 

[The Coops]

Never a problem just tick the box pillion cover required about £10 extra on my policy the fact that it is a CBT Licence means as BikerGraham says that you as a full licence holder can legally sit on the pillion while L plates are displayed, why you would why you have the experience is another matter. I take it you have trawled the comparison sites?