New rules mean keeping your bike off the road for winter may be more trouble than it’s worth.
As bad weather sets in, most people will be locking their bikes away until next spring.
However, since continual insurance enforcement (CIE) rules were introduced earlier this year, you now need to have valid insurance for any vehicle that is not declared off the road.
Research suggests that motorbike insurance cancellations typically rise by up to 60 per cent in autumn and winter compared to the spring and summer, according to insurance company Groupama.
But if you cancel your cover for winter, you'll now have to declare your bike as officially off the road and then reverse the process again when fairer weather returns.
If you fail to declare your bike off the road, you risk being fined or even having it seized by the authorities.
How statutory off road notification (SORN) works
A spokesman for the Association of British Insurers (ABI) says: "Motorbike owners can make a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN), which will mean they aren't targeted for enforcement action."
The spokesman added that the owner will have to bear in mind the loss of cover for theft if they don't have insurance.
You also need to send back your tax discs and repeat the form every 12 months if your bike is not going to be used for a long period.
So apart from being time consuming, it also means that you won’t be able to go for that one-off spin you’ll be itching for throughout the winter months. With this in mind, you may want to consider keeping your policy running instead.
Go annual
By keeping the policy running, you benefit from the peace of mind in knowing your two-wheeled companion is fully protected against fire and theft wherever it is, whereas if it was off-road or uninsured, you’d have no such reassurance.
Being insured also means, unsurprisingly, that you can ride your bike whenever you want. That means being able to go out if it’s an emergency or just a crisp winter’s day, perfect for a ride.
The alternative, driving uninsured will get you a fixed penalty of £200 and six points on your licence. The offence also carries a maximum fine of £5,000 and six to eight points.
Being prosecuted for riding without insurance will also make your future motorbike insurance premiums rocket, if you can find an insurer that will cover you at all.
Keeping costs down
If you do opt for the annual policy, you’ll want to make sure you’re getting the best possible deal.
One common way motorists try to keep costs down, is to opt for third party, fire and theft (TPFT) rather than fully comprehensive cover, however don’t be fooled by this myth as comprehensive can sometimes work out cheaper. So shop around and compare different types of policies.
Annual mileage is also something you need to think about carefully as it can have a substantial affect on your premium.
Alex Higgs, Confused.com’s head of motorbike insurance says: “Many people over-estimate their annual mileage, often comparing it to what they might do in their car.
"The average annual mileage for a motorbike is around 4,000 miles, so a more accurate estimation on your insurance application could mean savings on the premium.”
The trick is to make sure the policy you buy is fit for purpose.
If you’ll be locking the bike away for seven or eight months you might want a more stripped-down policy, but if you think it’s likely you will be out on your bike over the winter months, you might want to opt for a little more protection.
