Trike Insurance

Cover for a three-wheeler protects motor tricycles on UK roads, from converted motorbikes to car-engined trikes. Insurers need to know how your trike was built and which licence you ride it on.

Which licence covers your trike?

Your licence decides which trikes you can ride, and the insurer will ask for it. The rules below come from GOV.UK.

If you are not disabled and want to learn on a trike, GOV.UK says you need the right provisional entitlement and a CBT certificate first.

Types of trike and what insurers ask

Trikes come in very different shapes, and each raises different questions on a quote.

Motorbike conversions

These start life as a two-wheeled bike with a rear axle added. For motorcycle trike insurance on a conversion, tell the insurer the original bike, who did the conversion and when.

Car-engined trikes

Some trikes use a car engine, often air-cooled, in a custom frame. Expect questions on the engine size, the builder and how the trike is registered.

Reverse trikes

These have two wheels at the front and one at the back. Give the exact model so the insurer can find it.

Whatever the type, list every change from the original build. Our modified bike page explains why undeclared changes can affect a claim.

Vehicle tax and MOT rules for trike owners

GOV.UK taxes tricycles up to 450kg unladen in their own class. Trikes up to 150cc and zero emission trikes pay £27 a year, and all other trikes pay £125.

If your trike was built more than 40 years ago and has had no substantial changes, it may not need an MOT, according to the GOV.UK historic vehicle rules. A trike built from a modern conversion is unlikely to qualify.

Cover options trike owners ask about

Beyond the standard cover levels, a few extras matter more on a trike than on a two-wheeler. Policies vary, so check each quote.

• Agreed value for a custom or self-built trike, so the payout reflects the build
• Passenger cover, if you plan to ride two-up
• Cover for luggage, panniers and accessories
• European cover for touring trips
• Breakdown cover that can recover a three-wheeler, as a trike is wider than a bike

A trike with a car engine may need a specialist insurer. Comparing quotes shows which insurers will take on your build, and which leave it out.

Trike riders in different situations

Checklist before you get a trike quote

• Your licence type and the date you got it
• The registration, make and model of the trike
• How it was built: a factory trike, a conversion or a self-build
• Engine size and power output
• Its value, with photos if it is custom
• Where you keep it and how it is secured

Tiger.co.uk compares quotes from 20+ providers with one short form, and every insurer on the panel is FCA authorised. Enter the trike details carefully so each quote reflects the right build.

Can I ride a trike on a car licence?

Yes, if you are over 21 and hold a full car licence. GOV.UK says you can then ride a motor tricycle of any power. Under 21, you need a full A1 licence for trikes up to 15kW.

Is trike insurance different from motorbike insurance?

The cover levels are the same: third party, third party fire and theft, or comprehensive. The difference is in the questions, because insurers need to know how the trike was built and which licence you ride on.

Other three and four-wheeled cover

Back on the main bike insurance page you can compare two-wheeled cover. If you ride off-road on four wheels, see quad insurance, and add breakdown cover for longer trips.

Ready to see prices? Fill in one form on Tiger.co.uk and compare trike insurance quotes from 20+ providers. Policies vary, so read the cover details and excess before you buy.