If you're a motorcyclist who carries passengers on the back of your bike, they're your responsibility, and you need to insure them. For this, you should have pillion cover in place on your motorbike insurance. Without it, your cover could be invalid, and you could be liable if they're injured in a collision. Here's what you need to sort out.
What is pillion cover in motorcycle insurance?
A pillion is a secondary seat behind the main rider on a motorcycle. For this reason, motorbike, scooter or moped passengers are said to be 'riding pillion'.
If you take passengers with you when you ride, it's super important to make sure they're covered by your motorbike insurance. This protects you if they're injured during a collision.
If you regularly take passengers, or are just taking one on a single trip, you need to have pillion cover in place. If not, your motorbike insurance will be invalid if you carry a passenger, and you could be personally liable if they're injured or killed.
Why is pillion cover important?
While most rides will be incident-free, carrying a passenger can increase the risk of an accident.
The weight distribution and handling are different from riding alone, which can affect your acceleration, braking and cornering. As such, this can be more risky - especially for those with less experience of riding with passengers.
Getting pillion cover means you're financially protected if your passenger is injured in a collision. It can cover any surgery required, for example, or potential ongoing treatment. It's also a legal requirement.
Can you carry a passenger without pillion cover?
No. It's crucial to have pillion cover in place if you're riding with a passenger. As a rider, you're legally responsible for your passenger - meaning you could be personally liable if they're injured or killed.
Also be aware that unlawful pillion riding can result in a driving conviction. If you're caught, you could get endorsement MS20 on your licence - meaning a potential fine, and 3 points which stay on your licence for 4 years.
How pillion cover works for riders and passengers
If you have pillion cover in place, your passenger will have the same right to claim for personal injury as the rider, up to the same limits.
This means they tend not to be treated as third parties in claims, although they cannot make a claim in relation to the vehicle. As such, your passenger could claim if they're injured, but not for damage to your bike.
It's worth noting that passengers may be treated as third parties if you don't have pillion cover in place. This means the insurance company could pay out if your passenger is injured in an accident, then recover the costs from you.
Find out what to do if you're involved in a motorbike accident, and how to claim.
What do I need to do to carry a passenger?
If you want to carry a passenger, you'll need a dedicated second seat and rear footrests. It'll also help if your bike has handles or grab rails.
You should also check your bike manual and adjust the tyre pressure and rear suspension accordingly. Plus you're likely to need to adjust your headlights and mirrors, allowing for the extra weight.
It's a good idea to check online or refer to the manual to see if your motorcycle, scooter or moped has a maximum carrying capacity.
If you ride a low-powered motorbike without adjustable suspension, carrying a passenger probably isn't for you.
The law regarding riding pillion
The rules regarding riding pillion are laid out in The Highway Code. Rule 85 states that you "MUST NOT carry a pillion passenger unless your motorcycle is designed to do so" (note that 'MUST' or 'MUST NOT' denote a legal requirement). This means that the bike must have:
- A pillion seat
- Footrests
This rule also states that you can only carry one pillion passenger. They must sit astride the bike facing forward, with both feet on the footrests.
You also cannot carry a passenger if you're riding with a provisional licence - you need a full motorbike licence.
In addition, rule 83 states that your passenger must wear a helmet. This must be fastened properly, and meet UK safety standards. There's an exemption for followers of the Sikh religion who are wearing a turban.
Benefits of adding pillion cover to a policy
Can a child ride pillion?
Yes, but they need to meet the same legal requirements stated above. In particular, they need to be able to sit astride the bike with their feet on the footrests. This means that those who cannot reach the footrests, especially younger children, will not be able to ride pillion.
It's worth noting that the Road Safety (Pillion Passengers) Bill - which amends the Road Traffic Act 1988 - states: "The supports or rests... shall be constructed so as to enable them to be reached by the feet of a person aged 10 of average height for that age". This means that, generally speaking, riding pillion is likely to be unsuitable for children younger than 10.
The child will also need parental consent to ride.
Benefits of adding pillion cover to a policy
There are several advantages to adding pillion cover to your policy. Not least the financial security which comes from knowing that - if something goes wrong - it won't all come out of your pocket:
- Passenger protection. You're covered for medical expenses in the event that your passenger sustains an injury and needs treatment.
- Protection from liability. You'll also be covered for any legal proceedings or compensation claims resulting from a collision involving your passenger.
- Reassurance. You know you're covered in case you need to take passengers on your bike - which is especially useful if you need to make an unexpected journey.
What should I consider when purchasing insurance?
As always, when considering levels of insurance cover, there are certain things to weigh up:
- How often will you be carrying passengers? While pillion cover is sometimes included as standard, with a lot of policies you'll need to pay an additional fee to add it. So it's worth considering whether you'll ever carry passengers before you buy.
- Can your bike take passengers? If your motorbike, scooter or moped isn't pillion-ready considering the requirements above, then you could save money by making sure pillion cover isn't included in your bike insurance.
- How much does it cost? If you're on a budget, make sure the cover is worth it. If you never take passengers, you could save money by dropping it. But it's essential if you take passengers frequently.
How to add pillion cover to your policy
Sometimes pillion cover is included in motorcycle insurance policies as standard, but not always. This is why it's always worth checking the T&Cs before you commit to a policy.
As luck will have it, if you compare motorbike insurance quotes with Confused.com, we make it very clear what you're getting and how much it'll cost. You can add it as an optional extra to see how much it impacts the price. And you can compare a range of policies with pillion cover included to see which is right for your circumstances, at the right price.
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