Trikes VS Bikes: How Are They Covered?

The one problem that most people have with motorcycles is that they are a bit too dangerous. This is especially true for South Africa, where the state of the roads is poor because of big potholes. While maintaining balance on a bike is, in the best of circumstances, dangerous, with potholes on the roads it becomes even more dangerous.

This is possibly why trikes or three wheeled motorcycles are gradually growing in popularity in the country. Trikes are a cross between a two wheeled motorcycle and a roadster. The result is a combination of the adventure and fuel efficiency of a motorcycle and the safety of a car.

However, as trikes are not all that common within South Africa, many people think twice about buying them because they do not know how the insurance works for them. If you are wondering how trike insurance policies work and what their cover is like, here is some information that you will find useful.

The Scope of Cover

The most important thing you should need to look at is how much protection a trike insurance policy would provide. In a nutshell, the scope of coverage of a trike is the same as that of a motorcycle.

In fact, a comprehensive trike insurance policy would protect you from damage to your trike, accessories, and modifications, damage to third party property, fire, and theft. In addition to this, you would also be protected from the financial ramifications of your trike getting hijacked or damaged while in transit.

Furthermore, just as with motorcycles, many trike insurance providers would allow you to nominate up to three separate riders, which means that these types of insurance policies are as flexible as generic motorcycle insurance policies.

It should also be noted that the cost of a trike insurance policy depends entirely on the cost of the model and make of the trike you are purchasing. This is not any different from motorcycle insurance policies either.

Special Requirements

While the scope of cover of a trike insurance policy is the same as that of a bike insurance policy, there are some key differences linked to the inherent value of the vehicle in question. What this means is that, as trikes tend to be usually expensive, some insurance providers have prerequisites before offering a policy.

For instance, you cannot get a trike insurance policy unless you park your trike in a locked garage. Alternatively, some insurance providers may make a tracking device mandatory for trike owners looking to insure their vehicles. The reason for this, as is obvious, is that trikes are prime targets for thieves.

It should also be mentioned that while most trike insurance providers allow up to three riders to be nominated, they need these riders to be at least 28 years of age and with full driving licences.

Track Days

If you plan on using your trike on track days then you would have to be careful about the cover because most insurance providers would require you to notify them well in advance before doing this. If you notify them then they would extend the cover to include track days.

There is not a lot of difference between trike insurance policies and bike insurance policies, whether you consider their cover, cost, or other aspects. The only thing different is that insurance providers would require you to keep your trike much safer than normal motorcycles.