Insurance Question
 

If you have insurance that does not include pillion cover, can you legally take a pillion?

If so, what are you paying for when you get pillion cover (if it even costs anything)

I ask, because you do not have "passenger" insurance in a car. I know it is slightly different in that a pillion can affect the handling of the bike.

Re: Insurance Question
 

I would assume that riding with a pillion without the proper insurance would invalidate your insurance while the pillion was on the bike, so technically you would be riding without insurance

Re: Insurance Question
 

I would say no

I've never got any intention of taking a pillion so I always exclude it, probably saves bugger all but you never know

I've known people to not be able to take passengers in their car for a discount as well

Re: Insurance Question
 

The answers I can find online (from other forums and not from any reliable source) is:

You can still take a pillion, and it is not against the law.
However, should you crash, the insurance would most likely still pay out, however they may try and claim it back from you.

This is from bikechatforums... "It would probably be worth asking the insurance company what the extra pillion cover actually gives you over not taking it up as an option. When I took out my last 4 policies I was told that by not taking the option, I wouldn't invalidate my insurance in the event of a crash and that my pillion could still claim from my policy as they are a third party so am fine to take pillions still. None of them really managed to explain the point of taking the extra cover out to me tbh."


And taken from carole nash website (obviously biased but more of a professional opinion?)

"Your motorcycle insurance policy will also dictate whether you can be accompanied on your bike. Many bike insurance policies consider pillion passenger cover as an optional extra, so consult your insurance documents or contact your insurer before you start the engine to check that you are covered. Remember, it is illegal to take to the road without sufficient insurance cover."

Re: Insurance Question
 

your not covered, from my bro who used to do insurance as a job, next stop or friendly plod

Re: Insurance Question
 

It's down to the policy wording as usual - there's no universal standard. Here's a policy endorsement wording I've seen that's pretty clear;






Ideally, your policy should contain a clear endorsement like the above.

Sadly, some policies I've seen are pretty vague on what is, and is not, covered so it's difficult to see what the underwriters intention is. That can be useful, as any grey areas can often be argued in the policyholders favour, but it's by no means straightforward.

Re: Insurance Question
 

I use Bennetts for my insurance and adding a pillion made no difference. I doubt I ever will but you never know.

Re: Insurance Question
 

It's more that I'm now with Aviva and they will not offer cover for pillions. Mostly because they believe you are much more likely to have an accident with a pillion.

Re: Insurance Question
 

It didn't make any difference to my policy, but my wife goes pillion so I need it.
Seems another way the slimy barstewards can get out of a claim.
My interpretation of it, you're still covered but your pillion wouldn't be.

Re: Insurance Question
 

i understood it as if i crashed on my own, i could claim personal injury but if carrying pillion they could not claim off my own insurance policy and would have to either claim off the other vehicles insurance if there was fault or just feck off and deal with it if it was my fault haha