Can i Carry a pillion?

[Hammasterchie...]

Hi guys,
I passed my test today had fun taking off my L-plates, rang the insurance company and told them that I've now passed my test and have a full licence, was wondering whether i can carry a pillion legally, I mean if a copper pulls me over and i show him my pass certificate is this enough, do i need special insurance to avoid a fine, would my insurance be invalid, I'm not sure if it means my friend wouldn't be covered in an accident or it means that im driving without insurance (invalid) or something? Cheers

[ElliotReidMD]

I believe that some insurers make you stipulate you want to be covered for pillion carrying. Check your policy to be sure.
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Current Bike: Kawasaki Versys

[Rogerborg]

You have a license to carry a pillion. It's no different from taking the L plates off.

Insurance, urgh. We've been back and forth on this a lot recently. My personal view is that you are satisfying the requirements of the Road Traffic Act even if your insurer tries to put a "no pillion" condition on your policy, and that they must pay out to your pillion (as a 3rd party) if you bin it.

However, your insurer and Plod will likely disagree with that, and a court may do, so it's your gamble. If you want to be sure, check your certificate of insurance and your policy documents, those are what matter.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[pepperami]

It all depends on how heavy your pillion is and how strong your arms are
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I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[Hammasterchie...]

Cheers for the answers guys just found this on bikesure website who im insured through <https://www.bikesure.co.uk/faqs.php?catid=1&faqid=39> had to pay £44 for change of address and didnt think to ask them about pillion use, does this clearly state that i can carry a pillion no problem it sounds like it does? cheers

[Dean-J]

Im insured with bikesure as of yesterday.
They specifically asked me if i carry a pillion or not when pricing up.

Got my docs through and it says on there that as i have been asked if i will EVER carry a pillion and have answered no, my insurance has been discounted and should i be involved in an accident when found to be carrying a pillion, i will NOT be covered.

I'd suggest reading through your docs carefully, and making your own decision!

[Dean-J]

Worth noting that the page you linked is just a general FAQ and not specific to your policy.
Bikesure are a broker, it will be the underwriter who specifies the terms and conditions of your policy, not bikesure.

[Rogerborg]

Absolutely, ignore anything that's on the website or that you get told by some drongo over the phone, read your actual policy documents.

To clarify, it's very unlikely that they'll be able to avoid paying out to a pillion (as a 3rd party) but they may be able to sue you to get their money back. I don't believe it's been tested in court yet though, this "no pillion" tosh is fairly new.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Hammasterchie...]

Im not really sure how to find out should i get on the phone and ask if my insurance would be invalid if i carry a pillion, i just want to know if id be breaking the law carrying a pillion, and then if i am how i can change my policy so that i can have a passenger on board :/ do you think ill have to pay allot more if it needs to be changed?

[J.M.]

[G]

As far as I know, it's a case of taking away pillion cover to reduce the cost of insurance. Unless otherwise specified, if you're legally allowed to take them, pillions should be covered.

Note that you probably should call them and tell them you've passed your test as this is a chance of circumstance.

[Rogerborg]

[Hammasterchie...]

Thanks for your answers guys, especially roger, checked my insurance documents and no mention of pillion cover or not, so rang them this morning and asked about it, the woman over the phone told me it was free to add pillion cover so she added it to my policy and then said youre now allowed to carry a pillion so that just about solves, thanks again your all really helpfull on here

[weasley]

Which makes you wonder what the point of that was? If "there's no mention of pillion" on your current insurance, since your bike is designed to take a passenger, you can infer that you have cover for carrying a pillion. I don't have to tell the insurers whether or not I will be taking passengers in my car.

Then, if to add pillion cover is free, what is the point? There's clearly no additional perceived risk, and since pillion use was already covered by inference, what has been gained?
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Yamaha XJ600 | Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat | KTM 990 SMT | BMW F900XR TE

[Rogerborg]

[paddlesat16]

This insurance bollocks is utter tosh about carrying pillion passengers. Do they(the ins companies) ask such crap when you insure a car.... No they fuckin don't or ask about the satnav stuck to the windscreen or the fuckin go faster stripe down the side.

It's about time the government got the insurance industry by the scruff of the neck.

Rant over
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I once saw a bloke shagging a donkey.... in Saudi arabia. Theory Test Passed 26/10/09 Mod 1 Passed 26/4/10, Mod 2 Passed 7/6/10 Current Bikes Suzuki GSX1400 K5, Aprillia Pegaso 650, Suzuki DR350T.

[G]

The pillion thing descended from very reasonable roots.

A lot of bike riders don't carry pillions at all.

The insurance companies saw that they were at reduced financial risk if no pillion was carried.
So they offered a discount to those that had reduced risk.

It's a lot more 'expected' for car drivers to carry passengers; to start with you don't require specific safety equipment that fits your passenger. I wouldn't be surprised, however, if at some point we did see something that - especially for young people, where I bet a pretty high proportion of crashes do happen with passengers.

[Im-a-Ridah]

[G]

Oh and just to add to the above - try getting insured on a car at all when young and even when a little older, a car that is considered even a bit 'performance' when compared to a bike.

Ie, I think it was around £700 for my 1996 BMW M3. For my 2006 GSXR 1000 which will get to 100 in around the time the car gets to 60, the insurance was £130, despite the bike arguably being worth more. Similar no claims bonus, etc.

Not sure the bikers have it too badly, actually!

[Rogerborg]

[J.M.]