Frequently Asked Questions
We hope that the FAQs below are helpful. If you cannot find the information you are looking for, please contact us and we would be happy to answer any questions (you can also find links to other useful pages including the Insurance Product Information Documents (IPID), at the bottom footer of this website).
Motorcycle Insurance FAQs
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What is a motorbike insurance excess?
An excess is a contribution you are required to pay towards a claim you make on your motorcycle insurance policy, for example if you have a £250 excess you will pay the first £250 of a claim for fire, theft or accidental damage.
There is typically no excess on a Third Party Only bike insurance policy as you cannot claim for your own motorbike damage.
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What is the difference between a Compulsory and Voluntary Excess?
A compulsory excess is a mandatory amount that an Insurer has specified to underwrite a particular policy. A voluntary excess is your own choice and is always in addition to a compulsory excess. So for example if your compulsory excess is £300 and you have chosen a voluntary excess of £100, your total excess is £400.
Selecting a voluntary excess may help to further reduce your insurance premium, please make sure that you are comfortable with the total excess.
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What is No Claims Discount (NCD)?
A No Claims Discount (NCD), or No Claims Bonus (NCB), is a count of the number of years in which you haven’t made a claim on your motorcycle insurance policy. For each claim free year you will be awarded 1 years NCD. Accumulating NCD may help to reduce your premium as well as opening up an insurer's acceptability to insure you on certain motorcycles.
Your NCD needs to have been earned on a UK motorcycle insurance policy, be no more than 2 years old and be available to use (you can't use it on more than one policy).
When you have 4 or more years NCD you can add NCD Protection for an additional premium.
Please see Section titled ‘No Claims Discount (NCD)’ of your Policy Document for more details.
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What is Protected No Claims Discount (PNCD) cover?
If you have accumulated 4 or more years NCD and have no more than one claim in the past five years, you can protect your NCD by paying an additional premium.
If you have no more than 2 claims in any 5-year period, your NCD entitlement will be unchanged and your NCD will not be reduced. If you make 2 claims in any 5-year period your NCD protection will end, meaning that the third and any further claims will reduce your NCD
Protected NCD does not protect the overall price of your policy. The price of your policy may increase following an accident even if you were not at fault, however it does ensure your no claims discount is not reduced, further impacting your renewal premium.
Please see Section titled ‘No Claims Discount (NCD)’ of your Policy Document for more details.
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Can I use my Car No claims bonus / discount on my motorbike insurance?
In summary no, the NCD needs to be built up on a motorcycle. However in some circumstances we may be able to take NCD not built up on a motorcycle into account, we ask for details of other non motorcycle NCD on our quote journey so please make sure you provide details.
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I have purchased a second motorcycle and want to take out a policy, can I use my NCD?
You can only use one set of NCD on one motorcycle at a time. If you do not have a second set of NCD please call us as we may be able to offer you a multi bike policy or apply a discount to recognise your experience.
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Does my policy cover me for riding other motorcycles?
It is quite common to get cover for Riding Other Bikes (third party cover only within the UK) included in BeMoto motorbike insurance policies, however this can vary depending on factors, for example: your bikes engine size, the type of cover you have chosen or your occupation.
Please check with our insurance representative to see if this cover applies to you. It is best to check this when you get a quote, take out or renew your policy as it may require us to change the insurer we use for your policy to get this cover if it is important to you.
It will show on your Certificate of Insurance if you have this cover and is only valid within the UK - if you want a mate to ride your bike or you ride theirs overseas then you will need to add each other as named riders on the policy.
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Does my motorcycle insurance policy cover me for riding abroad?
BeMoto motorcycle insurance covers you to legally ride in any country which is a member of the European Union and any country which meets Article 8 of EC Directive number 2009/103/EC (insuring civil liabilities arising from using a motor vehicle).
- Third Party Only Cover is included as standard in these countries;
- We also extend your cover for up to 90-days per trip for Fire & Theft (where you have TPFT cover) or Fire, Theft & Accidental Damage (where you have Comprehensive cover).
Post-Brexit you are still able to ride in these countries as standard (take a print out of your insurance certificate with you). However you may need may need other paperwork like an International Drivers Permit (IDP) from the Post Office. Check out our useful Guide to Riding in Europe.
Outside of Europe you may need a Green Card, subject to your insurer covering the countries on your trip - call us on 01733 907001 to find out which countries your insurer will cover and to request a Green Card with plenty of advance notice (don't leave it until the day before you go)!
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Do I need to declare non motorcycle claims or driving convictions?
Yes, you must declare any claims or driving convictions irrespective of the vehicle they relate to. In some circumstances, subject to criteria, we may be able to waive the impact to your motorcycle insurance policy.
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What types of motorcycle can I insure with BeMoto?
BeMoto is owned by bikers with an experienced team and a very wide range of products that cover all types of motorcycles (any type, age or value) - on or off road.
We particularly love modified bikes and multi-bike collections, as well as off-road bikes for track and dirt. Check out our range including:
- Modified bike insurance (we cover declared modifications for reinstatement)
- Custom bike insurance (from kit bikes to bitsa's and full on chopper builds)
- Modern Classic bike insurance (from modern classics to vintage bikes)
- Trike insurance (motorbike or car derived)
- Track bike insurance (including trackday damage)
- Dirt bike insurance (road-legal and off-road)
- Race van insurance (for bike transportation and sleeping at events/races)
To name a few...
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How can I get cheaper motorbike insurance?
Clearly it's not as easy to change some things that affect your motorbike insurance premiums, like your age or where you live, but there are things you can do to cut the cost of your bike insurance policy, such as:
- Choose a broker like BeMoto who don't charge you amendment fees to make policy changes (it's not all about the up-front cost).
- Improve your bike's security, for example installing an approved alarm or tracker.
- Keep your bike in a locked building, even if it's only a wooden shed, outbuilding or in your home conservatory if you don't have a traditional garage (subject to some building security).
- Think about the mileage you really need, e.g. why pay for 10,000 miles when you only use it on sunny Sundays? However at BeMoto as we don't charge you an amendment fee you can increase your mileage later if needed with minimal hassle.
- Pay for cover annually rather than pay instalment interest - however ours is one of the lowest interest rates in the market if you need to pay monthly.
- Combine your bike collection together on a multi-bike policy, afterall you can only use your no claims bonus once and you can only ride one bike at a time...
- Pass an advanced riding qualification such as the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM), Enhanced Rider Scheme (ERS) and RoSPA Advanced Motorcycle Training.
- Choose the right bike for your experience, type of use and where you live, i.e. if you have no prior riding experience maybe aim for a well recognised starter bike like a 600cc naked/commuter vs. a high performance sports bike or hyper-naked, likewise a high value bike will often require a locked building.
- Increasing your voluntary excess often gives better discounts, but you need to be sure you can afford to lose that money in the event of a claim.
Why not check out our article on how bike insurance is calculated for more information.
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Who has the cheapest motorcycle insurance?
It's a subjective question but if you're looking for the cheapest price and not bothered about the quality of cover then a comparison place will answer this question.
However if you care about you and your bike(s) being covered with good quality products and receiving awesome service then BeMoto is widely recognised as offering these benefits... Plus we are competitive, otherwise we wouldn't have thousands of satisfied customers on our books.
- NO amendment fees for policy changes at BeMoto (cheap can come at a cost later on elsewhere)
- Legal Expenses Insurance included with all road policies
- Incredible value Titanium Cover (market leading cover)
- Multi-Bike specialists for all bike types
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Who is best for motorcycle insurance?
That's easy. We think BeMoto are the best for motorbike insurance.
- Privately owned and run by bikers (not some faceless corporation).
- NO amendment fees to make policy changes!
- Legal Expenses Insurance included with all road policies.
- Modifications experts (we actually cover declared modifications too).
- 90-days European cover per trip
- 5-star rated service (the best scores on multiple review sites)
- Multi-bike specialists for any bike type, value, age including modern and classics
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How much does motorbike insurance cost?
Motorbike insurance can start from around £70 for classic bikes, but in reality it can vary significantly based on your personal circumstances, e.g. the value of your bike, your age and riding experience or bike history, modifications, where you keep it and what security is in place… Not to mention things like your claims history or any convictions.
The best way to get a good deal, with the right balance of price and quality, is to speak to a specialist like BeMoto Bike Insurance, who will tailor a quote to your needs and ask all those questions a website can’t to better understand your situation. By calling us directly, you will also ensure you are properly covered for things that some comparison websites might “assume” incorrectly about you or your bike, e.g. they may assume it is not modified when we all know 80%+ of bikes have been personalised…
Multi Bike Insurance FAQs
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Can you insure two or more motorbikes on one policy?
As bike insurance specialists, BeMoto can insure any number of motorbikes as a multibike insurance package, including mixing modern and classics, road use and SORN bikes etc. Typically, you cannot have multiple riders on a multibike insurance policy, so you get significant discounts on any additional bikes - afterall you can only ride one bike at a time - however if you have a household of riders and bikes we can also work with you to create a package that gives you the best of both worlds.
See our feature on how multi-bike insurance is calculated.
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How many bikes can be covered on a Multi-Bike policy?
At BeMoto there is no limit to the number or variety of bikes we can insure on ourmulti-bike insurance packages as they are tailored to meet your requirements. We can also insure collections on our SORN insurance policy too, wether they have a V5 or not (including unregistered dirt and track bikes).
We have customers ranging from two bikes to collections with 40+ either in a private garage or storage lock up. So why not give us a call on 01733 907000 and discuss your multi-bike needs with one of our specialists.
You could also try our multi-bike switching service for larger collections to save you time and hassle as well as saving money...
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How does Multi-Bike Insurance work?
You can only use one No Claims Discount (NCD) on one bike policy at a time, so insuring each bike separately can end up being much more expensive when you have to use zero NCD for additional policies.
At BeMoto we can tailor a multi-bike insurance package to suit your needs using your one lot of NCD, no matter how many bikes you have, what type of bikes are in your garage (we can mix modern and classics) or what the total value of your collection is. We simply work out the main bike premium and add the additional bikes for a fixed cost based on each additional bike value.
Why not read our article to find out more about how multibike insurance is calculated.
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How much does Multi Bike Insurance cost?
BeMoto multi-bike insurance can cost as little as £80 for classic bikes, but clearly will depend on what bikes are in your collection and where you keep them, as well as your experience and riding history.
Each additional bike can cost from as little as £11.20 for classic bikes, but it typically costs around £45-60 per additional modern bike, once the main bike premium is calculated - higher value bikes can be more expensive.
See our article on how multibike insurance is calculated.
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Can you mix modern and classic bikes on a multi-bike policy?
Simple answer... Yes you can with BeMoto.
Mix modern and classic bikes with BeMoto multibike insurance where our policy is designed around your needs for whatever bike collection you have, including modern and classic road bikes, SORN and laid up bikes, even off-road and track bikes that are unregistered.
Classic and custom builds can also have Agreed Value for no additional charge, once we have seen photos we can agree a valuation with you before applying an endorsement.
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Why choose BeMoto for your Multi-Bike Insurance policy?
BeMoto is a multi-bike insurance specialist with flexible packages designed around you and your collection. There is no limit to the number or types of bikes we can cover, we will create a package around your needs. Our policies all include Legal Expenses Insurance as standard, plus there are NO fees to make policy changes and our Titanium Cover provides breakdown for all your bikes on a single policy saving you time, hassle and money.
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How is a Multi Bike Insurance quote calculated?
Our multi-bike insurance experts start by calculating which of your motorbikes is the highest rated by our panel of insurers, using the same No Claims Discount (NCD) for each bike. You then pay the premium to insure the highest rated motorbike, which includes your NCD and we add on the other bikes at a nominal cost based on their value.
As your NCD can't be used on multiple bikes at the same time, the additional bikes are added to your policy at a discounted fixed price on the understanding that only one bike can be ridden at a time, but they could all be stolen together when not in use or a garage fire could destroy them all at the same time - so you are only paying for one lot of road risk whilst still covered for the full value of your collection.
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How much extra does Multibike policies cost?
Multibike insurance can start from around £80 for two classic bikes, but in reality most people have a mix of bike types and values, e.g. mixing modern and classics, some have larger motorbike collections (we don’t have any limits to the number of bikes) and others have high value machines that will clearly cost more.
BeMoto Multibike Insurance is probably the most flexible package in the market, we will mix all sorts of bikes, ages of bikes, bike values and even SORN or unregistered bikes (off-road or track for example).
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Do you save money on multibike policies because you can only ride one bike at a time?
Yes. Once we work out the “main” bike (the highest rated), which covers the main road-risk premium, we then add the others at a nominal charge based on their value. Whilst you can only ride one at a time, they can all be stolen or damaged in a fire at the same time…
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Can you add multiple riders to a multibike insurance policy?
In theory, no. It is multi-bike or multi-rider, so it would require individual policies. However, we can often tailor a package that feels like a multibike insurance product with one renewal date, one Direct Debit and benefiting from Titanium Cover for all bikes, but with separate policies and mirroring your No Claims Discount (or No Claims Bonus to some).
Classic Bike Insurance FAQs
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Is classic bike insurance cheaper?
Generally yes, classic motorbike insurance is cheaper as they are typically used less often and cover less miles, in addition they are often ridden more carefully to avoid damage and often on sunny days only (no icy and salty roads) - classic bikes aren't stolen as frequently either.
For this reason the premiums are often cheaper and the excesses are lower, usually starting at £50 or £100.
However if you want to ride the bike every day and commute to work, doing over 3,000 miles per year for example, then it may not attract the cheapest classic bike insurance premiums as it is being ridden like any "everyday" bike.
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What age is classic bike insurance?
The age a bike must be to qualify forclassic bike insurance can vary but generally they start at 20 years old on some of our schemes, with others not kicking in until the bike is older, for example old enough to not require an MOT and qualify for free road tax (also known as Vintage Bike Insurance).
We also have products designed for modern classics and future classics, for example modern bikes that are iconic or rare and are treated with care or not ridden much (if at all), which will eventually be classed as "classics" in the future.
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Can I get agreed value bike insurance?
BeMoto Classic Motorcycle Insurance offers FREE Agreed Value service for classic, vintage and custom bikes on request. We do not charge a fee for this service and will require some photos of the bike from various angles to assess with the insurer the bikes condition and confirm the value is reasonable. As an added benefit, there are NO Amendment Fees to make changes either.
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How much does motorbike insurance cost?
Motorbike insurance can start from around £70 for classic bikes, but in reality it can vary significantly based on your personal circumstances, e.g. the value of your bike, your age and riding experience or bike history, modifications, where you keep it and what security is in place… Not to mention things like your claims history or any convictions.
The best way to get a good deal, with the right balance of price and quality, is to speak to a specialist like BeMoto Bike Insurance, who will tailor a quote to your needs and ask all those questions a website can’t to better understand your situation. By calling us directly, you will also ensure you are properly covered for things that some comparison websites might “assume” incorrectly about you or your bike, e.g. they may assume it is not modified when we all know 80%+ of bikes have been personalised…
Comparison Site FAQs
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Is it cheaper to buy insurance online or come directly to the provider?
It is usually cheaper to call BeMoto and speak to us. Website quotes can be quick and convenient for very standard “vanilla” risks, but they cannot ask all the questions a human can in order to tailor a quote for your specific circumstances, e.g. understanding your riding experience and bike history, discussing your modifications, or providing more information about your bike storage and security.
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What are the advantages of a price comparison website?
Price Comparison Sites offer convenience and a quick comparison of prices, however they are not as good at comparing product or service quality. Neither are they as useful for non-standard risks, such as modified bikes. Price Comparison Sites make a lot of assumptions to ensure their journey is slick but these assumptions may get a quicker quote but they can also be important information that needs to be accurate.
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What are the disadvantages of a price comparison website?
Price Comparison Sites make a lot of assumptions to keep the quote process quick and convenient, but this is not always the best thing to do, likewise, they are not very good at asking for more detailed information to get a better assessment of your personal situation.
At BeMoto, we have real humans who will tailor a quote for your specific circumstances, e.g. understanding your riding experience and bike history, discussing your modifications to ensure they are covered, or getting more information about your bike storage and security.
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Are BeMoto’s products on price comparison sites different from the ones from its own website?
No. They are the same quality products and customer service, with no amendment fees to make changes and some awesome benefits with our Titanium Cover. However, it is often better to speak to us directly as we can ask all those questions a website doesn’t, e.g. your riding history and bike experience or modifications, to tailor a product that better meets your needs and may actually end up being cheaper.
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How much extra does Multibike policies cost?
Multibike insurance can start from around £80 for two classic bikes, but in reality most people have a mix of bike types and values, e.g. mixing modern and classics, some have larger motorbike collections (we don’t have any limits to the number of bikes) and others have high value machines that will clearly cost more.
BeMoto Multibike Insurance is probably the most flexible package in the market, we will mix all sorts of bikes, ages of bikes, bike values and even SORN or unregistered bikes (off-road or track for example).
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Do you save money on multibike policies because you can only ride one bike at a time?
Yes. Once we work out the “main” bike (the highest rated), which covers the main road-risk premium, we then add the others at a nominal charge based on their value. Whilst you can only ride one at a time, they can all be stolen or damaged in a fire at the same time…
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Can you add multiple riders to a multibike insurance policy?
In theory, no. It is multi-bike or multi-rider, so it would require individual policies. However, we can often tailor a package that feels like a multibike insurance product with one renewal date, one Direct Debit and benefiting from Titanium Cover for all bikes, but with separate policies and mirroring your No Claims Discount (or No Claims Bonus to some).
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How much does motorbike insurance cost?
Motorbike insurance can start from around £70 for classic bikes, but in reality it can vary significantly based on your personal circumstances, e.g. the value of your bike, your age and riding experience or bike history, modifications, where you keep it and what security is in place… Not to mention things like your claims history or any convictions.
The best way to get a good deal, with the right balance of price and quality, is to speak to a specialist like BeMoto Bike Insurance, who will tailor a quote to your needs and ask all those questions a website can’t to better understand your situation. By calling us directly, you will also ensure you are properly covered for things that some comparison websites might “assume” incorrectly about you or your bike, e.g. they may assume it is not modified when we all know 80%+ of bikes have been personalised…
Race Van Insurance FAQs
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Is my motorbike also covered with Race Van Insurance?
No. Race Van Insurance covers the van and its permanent fixtures (fitted cupboards, beds, kitchens, equipment etc), but NOT the goods you are carrying. It does not cover things like your motorcycle, track car or go-kart whilst they are being transported.
Other Options:
- If you're hit by a third party you can most likely claim for damages against their motor insurance policy.
- You can buy "In Transit" insurance with BeMoto as part of a SORN Insurance policy for track or dirt bikes.
- If you have a comprehensive motorbike or car insurance policy for your vehicle being transported, that should also cover it when in transit.
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What does race transporter insurance allow me to use it for?
Our race transporter insurance is like normal car insurance (you can choose TPO, TPFT or Comprehensive cover), but for a van or truck that's primarily used to transport your leisure vehicles to and from race meetings, tracks, workshops, shows and events - rather than an everyday vehicle.
- Social, Domestic and Pleasure use (occasional commuting is acceptable) - it is NOT valid for commercial use in any trades
- The main purpose is for 'carriage of own goods' as it's known - you can use it to carry your own hobby equipment like motorbikes, track/race cars, go-karts or other leisure vehicles
- Of course it's OK to pop to the shops or a mates house etc - however, your race transporter should be a secondary vehicle (not your main or only form of transport)
- Sleeping in your race van or truck at race meetings, shows and events is ideal to save money on hotels and also keep an eye on your vehicle at the same time!
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Does my van qualify for race van insurance?
There are a few things to consider. Firstly if your V5 says 'Motor Caravan' then the answer is no (try a motorhome insurer).
BeMoto race van insurance is intended for private vans or trucks that are used for social and pleasure purposes. Even if they look like a professionally converted camper van, as long as it can carry a motorbike, track car, go kart or other sports vehicle, the GVW is below 17.5 tonnes, has no more than 6 seats, with a maximum value of £40,000 (including fit out costs) and still says its a van on the V5 it should be fine, e.g.
- Box van or luton van
- Goods or light goods
- Insulated van
- Light van
- Livestock carrier
- Minibus
- MPV (multi-purpose vehicle)
- Panel van
- Specially fitted van
- Special mobile unit
- Van with side windows
The van should not be your main or only vehicle, it should be a secondary form of transport and its purpose should be for social use as a race transporter to carry you and your race gear to and from tracks etc (and most likely sleeping in).
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Does race van insurance cover camper conversion costs?
BeMoto can insure race vans up to £40,000* including any permanent fixtures and fittings, e.g.
- Cosmetic interior fittings (wall coverings and insulation)
- Exterior camper or race van styling
- Windows / blinds
- Race truck garage fit outs
- Beds and bunks, including pop-tops
- Kitchens / bathrooms
- Cupboards
- Camper electrics / solar systems
The key thing is that whilst it can look like a camper and have plenty of home comforts, this isn't motorhome insurance. It must still be classed as a van on the V5 log book (not a 'Motor Caravan') and only be used as a secondary vehicle for social and pleasure purposes, i.e. a private van mainly intended for carrying your personal sports/race/leisure vehicle(s) to and from circuits, shows and events (and sleeping at circuits etc).
* Only permanent fixtures and fittings covered as a converted race van, not all the removable personal possessions like bedding, crockery etc (or any vehicles being carried, e.g. motorbikes, race cars, go karts, etc)...
Help and Support
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What is the phone number to get a motorcycle insurance quote?
For a new motorcycle insurance quote, call BeMoto on 01733 907000 to speak to a bike insurance specliast.
Opening hours for phone quotes are 9am to 7pm weekdays and 9am-5pm on Saturdays (closed Sundays).
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What is the phone number to amend my BeMoto motorcycle insurance?
To make a change to your BeMoto insurance policy, call us on 01733 907001.
Opening hours for phone service are 9am to 7pm weekdays and 9am-5pm on Saturdays (closed Sundays).
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What is the phone number to renew my BeMoto motorcycle insurance?
To discuss your BeMoto insurance renewal, call us on 01733 667857 to speak to a bike insurance specliast.
Opening hours for renewals are 9am to 7pm weekdays and 9am-5pm on Saturdays (closed Sundays).