This year, for the first time, Canstar has researched and rated 11 providers of comprehensive motorcycle insurance in Australia. So – what could a comprehensive motorcycle insurance policy cost you?
What is the average premium for comprehensive motorbike insurance?
There are different types of cover when it comes to motorcycle insurance, and many factors affect the cost of your premium. When it comes to comprehensive motorcycle insurance, though, let’s take a look at the average costs that we found when researching and rating comprehensive insurance policies, depending on your age and the power (cc) of your bike’s engine:
| Power | Age (years) | Average premium ($) |
|---|---|---|
| 300 cc | 20 | $1,869.34 |
| 24 | $849.78 | |
| 30 | $535.71 | |
| 45 | $395.10 | |
| 600 cc | 20 | $4,309.39 |
| 24 | $2,056.62 | |
| 30 | $1,209.48 | |
| 45 | $858.33 | |
| 1000 cc | 24 | $2,443.85 |
| 30 | $1,474.93 | |
| 45 | $1,103.86 | |
| 1700 cc | 24 | $2,333.04 |
| 30 | $1,443.27 | |
| 45 | $965.02 | |
| Source: www.canstar.com.au
Averages are based on the average premiums in the states and territories we researched and rated. |
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As you can see from this table, it is still true to say that your premiums will get cheaper as you get older and gain more experience as a rider.
It is also clear that higher-powered 600cc engines will attract a higher premium than a 300cc engine.
Across all states and territories, insurers are not willing to insure a 20-year-old rider for an engine above 660cc power. This is so that they comply with Australia’s federal legislation, which is designed to protect younger riders until they have enough experience to handle a higher-powered beast safely.
What does motorcycle insurance cost: State Vs State
Which state gets the cheapest motorcycle insurance? Where should you live if you want to ride your bike more cheaply?
As of mid-2015, the Harley-Davidson Street 500cc has at last overtaken the Kawasaki Ninja 300cc as Australia’s most popular road bike. For that reason, we will be comparing state-by-state comparisons for both 300cc and 600cc engines.
The average premiums listed are based on the average of numerous different locations across the state, to show approximately how much most people in each state are likely to pay for their premium.
Average premiums across state and age: A summary
As you can see from the table below, our star ratings show that NSW and the ACT are still the most expensive places in Australia to insure a motorcycle. All the figures in the tables below are based on the premiums we found when researching and rating insurance policies for our most recent ratings. Please refer to our ratings methodology document for further details.
| 20 years old | 24 years old | 30 years old | 45 years old | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW / ACT | $3,012.66 | $1,986.69 | $1,193.77 | $830.59 |
| QLD | $2,326.03 | $1,657.50 | $945.61 | $678.06 |
| SA | $1,984.28 | $1,560.68 | $1,034.55 | $771.00 |
| TAS | $1,974.55 | $1,343.83 | $818.83 | $675.68 |
| VIC | $2,494.97 | $1,689.35 | $1,025.58 | $707.08 |
| WA | $1,991.54 | $1,422.86 | $923.04 | $616.72 |
Let’s break it down a bit.
New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory
| Age | Engine Capacity | Average Premium | Minimum Premium | Maximum Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 300cc | $2,623.76 | $1,126.65 | $7,534.72 |
| 600cc | $5,566.41 | $2,533.00 | $10,783.01 | |
| 24 | 300cc | $1,147.54 | $697.67 | $2,653.69 |
| 600cc | $2,600.34 | $1,454.88 | $4,009.73 | |
| 30 | 300cc | $684.88 | $266.86 | $1,339.47 |
| 600cc | $1,505.90 | $958.98 | $2,153.28 | |
| 45 | 300cc | $505.53 | $241.09 | $1,087.24 |
| 600cc | $1,067.49 | $704.27 | $1,694.33 |
Queensland
| Age | Engine Capacity | Average Premium | Minimum Premium | Maximum Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 300cc | $1,866.63 | $1,064.26 | $3,586.26 |
| 600cc | $4,367.41 | $2,949.54 | $5,170.71 | |
| 24 | 300cc | $861.57 | $688.21 | $1,287.46 |
| 600cc | $2,112.39 | $1,734.76 | $2,467.25 | |
| 30 | 300cc | $504.25 | $256.98 | $693.54 |
| 600cc | $1,152.20 | $815.28 | $1,660.40 | |
| 45 | 300cc | $382.13 | $219.75 | $554.94 |
| 600cc | $832.56 | $594.41 | $1,125.94 |
South Australia
| Age | Engine Capacity | Average Premium | Minimum Premium | Maximum Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 300cc | $1,571.59 | $615.98 | $3,423.35 |
| 600cc | $3,759.40 | $2,156.04 | $5,189.13 | |
| 24 | 300cc | $727.83 | $352.63 | $1,299.11 |
| 600cc | $1,841.72 | $1,261.51 | $2,476.05 | |
| 30 | 300cc | $497.77 | $263.19 | $727.84 |
| 600cc | $1,159.49 | $857.15 | $1,492.44 | |
| 45 | 300cc | $366.83 | $220.38 | $595.53 |
| 600cc | $841.71 | $611.82 | $1,028.03 |
Tasmania
| Age | Engine Capacity | Average Premium | Minimum Premium | Maximum Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 300cc | $1,599.24 | $576.84 | $3,149.52 |
| 600cc | $3,707.12 | $1,544.49 | $5,505.82 | |
| 24 | 300cc | $734.59 | $402.14 | $1,193.07 |
| 600cc | $1,776.12 | $1,091.00 | $2,627.15 | |
| 30 | 300cc | $453.81 | $250.00 | $666.83 |
| 600cc | $1,024.32 | $679.73 | $1,286.74 | |
| 45 | 300cc | $349.06 | $223.01 | $547.85 |
| 600cc | $745.26 | $499.06 | $935.60 |
Victoria
| Age | Engine Capacity | Average Premium | Minimum Premium | Maximum Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 300cc | $1,992.43 | $1,000.49 | $3,677.56 |
| 600cc | $4,704.79 | $3,254.11 | $5,617.65 | |
| 24 | 300cc | $885.30 | $656.46 | $1,301.27 |
| 600cc | $2,147.16 | $1,832.59 | $2,680.51 | |
| 30 | 300cc | $564.68 | $337.80 | $842.77 |
| 600cc | $1,250.74 | $917.57 | $1,902.59 | |
| 45 | 300cc | $408.51 | $229.60 | $645.44 |
| 600cc | $877.71 | $652.49 | $1,087.69 |
Western Australia
| Age | Engine Capacity | Average Premium | Minimum Premium | Maximum Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 300cc | $1,562.41 | $712.61 | $2,901.54 |
| 600cc | $3,748.19 | $1,873.36 | $6,038.00 | |
| 24 | 300cc | $741.87 | $460.41 | $1,081.86 |
| 600cc | $1,861.97 | $1,224.85 | $2,881.09 | |
| 30 | 300cc | $508.87 | $297.38 | $733.30 |
| 600cc | $1,164.21 | $822.21 | $1,597.32 | |
| 45 | 300cc | $358.52 | $247.23 | $563.67 |
| 600cc | $785.24 | $610.84 | $986.76 |
Why does the cost of motorcycle insurance vary by state?
Just like car insurance, the cost of insurance varies across Australia because of each area’s different state populations and traffic incidence rates.
Tasmania has the cheapest premiums in Australia because its population was only 516,000 in 2015, compared to NSW which has the highest premiums for its population of 7,610,148 in 2015.
Traffic accident statistics generally match population rates. NSW shows the highest rate of fatal motorcyclist crashes by far, with 60 deaths in 2014 alone, according to the government’s Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE).
NSW also has the most fatal car crashes in Australia overall, while Queensland has the most passenger deaths, and Victoria has the most pedestrian deaths.
Whatever state you live in, you can do your part to prevent road accidents. Read the NSW government or Victorian government tips for staying safe on your bike.
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