If you’re looking for short term motorbike insurance cover, unfortunately so few brokers offer it. However, there are some alternatives to short term cover to consider! With this in mind, we wanted to go through some of the other options that might be more suitable for you…
The alternatives to short term cover
Depending on your specific situation, it may actually be cheaper for you to look for a standard bike insurance policy that covers you for a full 12 months, instead of opting for short term cover. If your borrowing a bike, then it might also be more cost effective for you to be a named driver on the owner’s insurance policy.
When you get a motorbike insurance quote with Carole Nash, you’ll be asked to specify your expected mileage. If you only use your motorbike on the odd weekend or week off, then your mileage is likely to be low, which could help to keep your premiums down.
Sometimes you might end up not requiring your policy for the whole period of insurance. If this is the case then you could consider cancelling it early. As long as you haven’t made any claims, cancelling it could entitle you to a partial refund.
Things to consider when cancelling
Remember, there will probably be cancellations fees involved for stopping your policy mid-term, and any refund you are entitled to will likely be pro-rata. Essentially, the longer you have a policy in place, the lower your potential refund percentage will be. Also, cancelling a policy before the full 12 months is up, will mean that you won’t be entitled to a no-claims bonus.
Keep in mind that when you pay your insurance premium via direct debit, simply cancelling your direct debit won’t mean your insurance is cancelled. Assuming so may make you liable for any costs, and could impact your credit rating. So, always check your policy documents to work out how much it will cost you to cancel. This way you can really decide whether short term motorbike insurance, or a standard policy will be more beneficial for you.
Declaring your motorbike SORN
If you plan on taking your motorbike off the road, and therefore no longer need insurance on it, then legally you’ll need to inform the DVLA with a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification).
When you don’t have insurance on your bike and you haven’t SORN it, you could end up with a fine, have your vehicle impounded, or even be prosecuted. Also, you’ll need to be able to keep your motorbike somewhere while it’s off the road; either your drive, garden or garage for example. It’s worth investing in a quality cover as well, as motorcycles tend to be more vulnerable to corrosion and damage from bad weather.
So, when it comes to short term motorbike insurance cover, it’s always worth considering your options carefully before taking out a policy. It may turn out that a standard bike insurance policy is the best bet for you. And it’s essential that you know what you’re legally required to do.
There are also other types of cover available if you’re not riding your motorcycle and have declared it as being off the road, such as laid-up fire and theft insurance, or SORN insurance.