Motorcycle insurance: Understand the bonus-malus and its impact on your contributions

The bonus-malus system, or ‘reduction-majoration coefficient’ (RMC), plays a decisive role in calculating your motorcycle insurance premium. It rewards prudent drivers and penalises those responsible for accidents. Understanding this mechanism helps you anticipate your contributions and optimise your insurance contracts.

How does the bonus-malus for motorcycle insurance work?

Every year, without any responsible loss, you receive a reduction in your premium thanks to a bonus. Conversely, a responsible accident increases your malus and the amount of your contribution.

Examples of insurance premium calculation based on bonus-malus

Example figures not related to actual insurance premium amounts.

1. Example 1: Driver with several years without loss

   • Situation : A biker has a coefficient of 0.85 after 3 years without an accident.
   • Initial premium : 600 €.
   • Calculation of premium : 600 € x 0.85 = 510 €.
   • Premium payable : €510 for the following year.

2. Example 2: Driver who suffered a responsible accident

   • Situation : A motorcyclist with a coefficient of 0.90 and suffers a responsible accident.
   • Initial premium : 500 €.
   • New post-disaster coefficient : 1.10 (increase of 25 %).
   • Calculation of premium : 500 € x 1.10 = 550 €.
   • Premium payable : EUR 550 for the following year.

To find out which offers are right for you and to calculate the amount of your insurance premium, check out theMotorcycle Insurance Direct Insurance.

Bonus-malus and your two permits: Car and Motorcycle

If you have both a motorcycle and a car licence, be aware that your two insurance contracts are independent. Your car insurance bonus does not affect your motorcycle bonus, and vice versa. Each vehicle is associated with its own reduction-increase coefficient (CRM), as the bonus-malus is linked to the insurance contract and the vehicle, not to the driver. But despite this, talk to your insurer, because in some cases (low-power motorcycle, experienced driver, etc.) they will be able to apply all or part of the bonus from your car insurance contract to your motorcycle insurance contract.

How to know your bonus-malus 2 wheels?

To find out your bonus-malus coefficient, consult your statement of information, a document provided by your insurer each year. This statement contains your driving history, including any claims, and shows you your current coefficient. If you change insurer, this statement is sent to the new insurer, ensuring that your history is taken into account.

Bonus-malus and young drivers

Young drivers usually start with a coefficient of 1.00, which is the norm for any new insured. However, due to their lack of experience, their insurance premiums are often higher. It is therefore crucial for them to accumulate years without accidents in order to gradually benefit from discounts thanks to the bonus. This can represent a substantial saving after a few years of careful driving.

Accidents not responsible or partially responsible

It is important to know that an accident for which you are not responsible does not affect your bonus-malus. However, in the case of shared responsibility, the malus is applied proportionally. For example, if you are found to be responsible for 50 % in the event of a claim, your coefficient will increase by 12.5 %, instead of 25 %. It is therefore essential to understand how liability is attributed after an accident.

Bonus-malus and other guarantees

The bonus-malus mainly concerns civil liability, which is the compulsory insurance for any vehicle. On the other hand, this coefficient does not generally affect other guarantees such as theft, fire or damage caused by third parties. However, reckless driving, even without a responsible accident, can sometimes prompt some insurers to reassess your entire policy, including these warranties.

Secondary drivers and bonus-malus

When adding a secondary driver to your motorcycle insurance policy, it is important to note that the bonus-malus does not apply to him, but only to the main driver. However, if the secondary driver is responsible for an accident, it is the contract of the main driver that will be penalised by an increase in malus. So make sure that the person to whom you will lend your motorcycle vehicle is well informed about this.

Bonus-malus and claims abroad

If you travel abroad with your motorcycle and you are involved in an accident, the consequences on your bonus-malus will depend on the agreement between the countries concerned and your type of insurance contract. As a general rule, accidents occurring abroad will affect your CRM in the same way as if they had occurred in France, but it is important to check this with your insurer before leaving.

Changing motorcycles: what impact on your bonus-malus?

When you change bikes, your bonus-malus follows you. The reduction-majoration coefficient attached to your old motorcycle will be transferred to the new contract. However, the amount of your bonus may change, as it depends not only on your bonus-malus, but also on the characteristics of the new vehicle (cylinder, power, type of motorcycle).

• More powerful motorcycle : Expect a premium increase even with a good bonus coefficient.
• Less powerful motorcycle : A bonus reduction is possible, especially if you get a maximum bonus.

Add an extra motorcycle to your insurance

If you buy an additional motorcycle, each motorcycle will have its own insurance policy, with a separate bonus-malus coefficient. In the rules, you should probably start from scratch with the new bike (CRM 1.00). In practice, if this second motorcycle is quite similar to the first, your insurer should agree to grant you special conditions on this second insurance contract or discounts for multi-vehicles.

What happens if you change insurer?

Changing insurance does not erase your history. When you sign up for new insurance, your bonus-malus is automatically transferred to your new policy. Your former insurer sends a statement of information to your new insurer, setting out your reduction-majoration coefficient. Be careful, if you have had claims, your new contract can take into account your malus and adjust the amount of the premium accordingly.

Mistakes to avoid so as not to aggravate your malus

To prevent your malus from weighing on your contributions, here are some tips:

• Casualties in series : Each claim exposes you to an increase from 25 to 50 % of your premium.
• Not reporting an accident : Even a minor claim must be reported. If the other party does so, you will be penalised by your malus.
• Change insurer to hide a malus : Your history will follow. Changing insurers will not make your malus disappear.

How to improve your bonus?

• Take Careful Behaviour. The more claim-free years you accumulate, the more your bonus increases and your contributions decrease.
• Regularly compare offers to find insurance that actually rewards your bonus and offers biker-specific benefits.

If you are a young driver or simply curious about current motorcycle insurance rates, take a look at this article on theTwo Wheel Insurance to discover useful information.