After a motorbike accident that wasn’t your fault, you can get a replacement motorbike equivalent to your own if you need one, for as long as yours is being repaired or the write-off is settled, with the hire charges claimed from the at-fault driver’s insurer. National Accident Support Line arranges the bike and handles the claim for the hire.
The usual story is that a car pulls out of a junction, the bike goes down, and by the time the rider is home with a sore wrist and a bent fork, they find out their own policy doesn’t include a replacement bike at all, or only a small one for a short time. For anyone who rides to work, delivers for a living, or simply doesn’t own a car, a bike off the road for six weeks is a real problem. A replacement bike is a recoverable cost of a non-fault accident, the same way a hire car is for a driver.
No excess to pay if the accident wasn’t your fault. Fill in our form and we’ll call you back within 2 minutes.
Who can get a replacement motorbike
A replacement bike is available where the accident was caused by another road user who is insured, and your bike is off the road because of it, either being repaired or written off. The rider has to have been riding legally, with a valid licence for the category of bike and their own insurance in place. An injury isn’t required; a damaged bike is enough. What is required is need: the hire has to be justified, so if there’s a car at home you could use, tell us on the call, and we’ll say whether a bike makes sense before one is delivered rather than after.
The claim is made against the at-fault driver’s insurer, not your own, so your excess isn’t paid and your own policy isn’t used to fix the bike. You still need to tell your own insurer that the accident happened. If the accident was your fault, a replacement bike through this route isn’t available, and your own policy decides what you get.
What like-for-like means for a motorbike
A replacement should be equivalent to the bike you’ve lost the use of. For a motorbike that means more than the engine size.
| What you ride | What like-for-like means |
|---|---|
| A large-capacity sports or naked bike | A bike of similar size and performance, not a 125 |
| An adventure or touring bike | Something you can tour on, with luggage if yours had it |
| A commuter or a 125cc learner bike | A bike you’re licensed to ride, matched to the type you use |
| A scooter or bike used for deliveries | One suitable for the same work, with a top box or panniers if yours has them |
| A bike with a sidecar, or adapted for a disability | The same capability, which may take longer to source |
Your licence matters too. A rider on an A2 licence can’t legally ride an unrestricted big bike, so the replacement has to fit the licence as well as the bike. If you’re too injured to ride for a while, tell us: depending on your licence and your needs, a car may be the right replacement in the meantime.
How long you keep the replacement bike
You keep it for as long as your own bike is off the road because of the accident: while it is being assessed, while parts are ordered and while it is repaired, until it’s ready to collect. If it’s written off, the hire runs until the write-off settlement is paid. Bikes often wait longer than cars for parts, especially imported or older models, which is one reason a courtesy bike that has to go back after a week or two often isn’t enough. If you’re weighing that up, our guide to courtesy bikes from your own insurer compares the two.
Who pays for the replacement bike
The hire charges are claimed from the at-fault driver’s insurer. The replacement is arranged through credit hire: the hire company provides the bike, and the charges are recovered from the at-fault insurer at the end of the claim rather than charged to you up front. Credit hire is a credit agreement, so read it before you sign, and ask what you would owe if liability were disputed or the bike turned out not to be needed for the whole period. It works when liability is clear and the bike is needed, which is why we confirm the accident wasn’t your fault before a bike is delivered. If the other side then disputes it, our in-house recovery team argues it with their insurer on the evidence. The details of what’s recovered and how are on our full motorbike claims service page. Our guide to the credit hire agreement and what you could owe covers the same points for cars and bikes.
Your repairs, your kit and the rest of the claim
The replacement bike is one part of a non-fault claim. The repair or the write-off value of your own bike, your damaged kit (helmet, jacket, trousers, gloves, boots), and recovery and storage can all be claimed from the at-fault insurer. Replace a helmet after any impact, even if it looks fine, and keep the old one and the receipt for the new one. If you were hurt, we can refer the injury claim to a specialist solicitor.
Three situations riders bring to us
“The other driver’s insurer phoned me offering their own bike”
You don’t have to accept it, but tell us about the offer on the call, because turning down a suitable bike can affect what can be recovered for hire. If the bike offered isn’t equivalent to yours, or comes with a short time limit, that matters too, so note what was offered.
“I need the bike for work”
If you commute by bike or ride for a living, say so on the call. Being without a bike for weeks can cost you income, and lost earnings are part of the claim. For couriers and delivery riders, the replacement needs to be suitable for the same work. Our page on delivery rider accident claims explains how lost earnings are evidenced when you’re paid through an app.
“My bike is a write-off”
You still get a replacement while the write-off is settled. The insurer’s valuation should reflect what a bike like yours would cost to buy now, including genuine extras. If the offer looks low, don’t accept it until you’ve checked comparable bikes for sale. For the write-off categories and your options on the valuation, see motorbike written off and not your fault.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a replacement motorbike if the accident wasn’t my fault?
Yes, if you need one. If another insured road user caused the accident, a replacement bike equivalent to yours can be provided while your own is off the road, with the hire charges claimed from their insurer.
Will the replacement be the same size as my bike?
It should be equivalent: similar size, type and performance, and a bike you’re licensed to ride. A 125 is not a fair replacement for a 1000cc bike.
How quickly can I get a replacement bike?
Once the accident is confirmed as not your fault, we arrange the bike as quickly as the claim allows. Tell us on the call when you need it and how you use it, so the right bike goes out first time.
Do I have to pay anything for the replacement bike?
No excess to pay if the accident wasn’t your fault, and the hire charges are claimed from the at-fault driver’s insurer. You sign a credit hire agreement, so ask what you would owe if liability were disputed, check whether there’s an excess on the hire bike if it’s damaged, and expect to pay for your own fuel.
What if I’m too injured to ride?
Tell us on the call. Depending on your licence and what you need, a different vehicle may be arranged while you recover, and the injury itself is referred to a specialist solicitor.
What if the other driver says it was my fault?
Send us what you have: photos, dashcam or helmet camera footage, witness details. If the evidence supports you, our recovery team argues liability with the other insurer directly. If it doesn’t, we’ll tell you straight and point you to your own insurer.
No excess to pay if the accident wasn’t your fault. Fill in our form and we’ll call you back within 2 minutes.