Motorbike breakdown cover
A broken-down bike is a different problem from a broken-down car. You have no shelter, you may be carrying a pillion, and most recovery trucks are not set up to carry a motorcycle safely. Not every provider covers bikes, and those that do vary widely.
| Provider | Cover basis | Network | Roadside | Recovery | Home start | Onward travel | European | Motorbike | EV | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The AA | Vehicle or personal | Own patrols | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Get a quote |
| RAC | Vehicle or personal | Own patrols | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Get a quote |
| Green Flag | Vehicle or personal | Contractor network | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Get a quote |
| GEM Motoring Assist | Personal | Contractor network | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Get a quote |
| RescueMyCar.com | Vehicle | Contractor network | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Get a quote |
Bike or rider?
Breakdown cover for motorcycles is sold the same way as car cover: attached to a registration (vehicle cover) or to you (personal cover). Personal cover is particularly useful for riders because it usually extends to any car you drive as well, replacing a separate car policy. If you ride more than one bike, or ride borrowed or hired machines, personal cover is the better buy.
Levels of cover for motorcycles
- Roadside: a mechanic attends and attempts a repair, with a tow to a local garage if needed. Roadside repairs on bikes are less common than on cars — a puncture or electrical fault is more likely to mean a tow.
- Recovery: the bike and rider (and pillion) are taken to a single UK destination. Check that the provider uses vans or trailers with proper motorcycle restraints.
- Home start: attendance at home. Useful for bikes that sit over winter and refuse to start in spring.
- Onward travel and European: available from the larger providers; essential for touring.
What matters more for riders
Response time. Providers quote similar average attendance times (around 40 to 60 minutes) but a rider waiting on a verge in rain feels every minute. Ask about priority for exposed or vulnerable locations.
Pillion cover. Confirm that recovery includes your passenger. Most do, some limit it.
Trikes, sidecars and scooters. Many policies cover scooters and mopeds; trikes and sidecar outfits are often excluded or need specialist cover.
Track days and off-road. Breakdown cover applies on public roads only.
Which providers cover motorbikes
The AA, RAC, Green Flag and GEM all offer cover for motorcycles, either as a standalone product or through personal cover. Several online budget brands exclude two-wheelers entirely. The comparison table above shows who does and does not cover bikes; our guide to comparing motorbike breakdown cover goes through the policy wordings in more detail, and we cover European motorbike cover separately.
Provider summaries
The AA
The UK's largest breakdown organisation, with its own fleet of patrols and the widest range of add-ons.
- Best for
- drivers who want a patrol rather than a contractor and are happy to pay for it
- Cover basis
- Vehicle or personal
- Network
- Own patrols
RAC
Founded 1897. Own patrols, strong EV capability and a long-running rivalry with the AA on price and extras.
- Best for
- EV owners and families wanting a well-equipped patrol network
- Cover basis
- Vehicle or personal
- Network
- Own patrols
Green Flag
Part of Direct Line Group. Uses a nationwide network of local recovery operators rather than its own vans, which keeps prices keen.
- Best for
- value-focused drivers who are not fussed about a branded van
- Cover basis
- Vehicle or personal
- Network
- Contractor network
GEM Motoring Assist
A road-safety organisation first, breakdown provider second. Personal cover that follows you into any car, with a pay-and-reclaim option.
- Best for
- households with more than one vehicle, and older drivers
- Cover basis
- Personal
- Network
- Contractor network
RescueMyCar.com
Low-premium online brand that historically charged a call-out excess instead of a higher annual fee. Covers cars, vans and bikes.
- Best for
- low-mileage drivers who rarely break down
- Cover basis
- Vehicle
- Network
- Contractor network
Common questions
Does car breakdown cover include my motorbike?
Vehicle-based car cover does not. Personal cover from most major providers covers you on any vehicle you are driving or riding, including a motorbike, but check the policy wording for exclusions by engine size or vehicle type.
Is motorbike breakdown cover more expensive than car cover?
Standalone motorcycle cover is usually priced similarly to equivalent car cover. Personal cover that includes bikes costs more than vehicle cover but replaces multiple policies.