Temporary motorbike insurance

It’s illegal to drive any vehicle without valid insurance on UK roads. But what should you do if you only need cover for one day, week or month? This is where short term insurance comes in. We’ve looked at whether temporary bike insurance is better value than getting an annual policy and what options you have for your cover.

What is temporary motorbike insurance?

Temporary motorbike insurance is motor insurance for a bike that is offered on a temporary basis – usually between 1 day and 30 days.

What options do I have when it comes to motorbike insurance?

Options for motorbike insurance are similar to those on offer with car insurance – you can get an annual policy (which you pay for either in one lump sum or in monthly instalments), or temporary cover, which is usually valid for between one day and one month.

What are the consequences for riding a motorbike without an insurance?

If you are caught by the police for riding a motorbike without a temporary motorbike insurance, you may be fined a fix penalty of £300. If you are taken into court, you could get an unlimited fine and disqualified from driving.

When might temporary motorcycle insurance be the best option?

It’s illegal to keep a vehicle uninsured, unless you declare it as SORN. This means you won’t be able to use temporary insurance for your own bike so you can use it only when you wish to.

However, this type of cover can come in handy in the following circumstances:

• If you’re borrowing a bike from a friend or family member. You could add yourself to their insurance, but taking out your own temporary cover means their no-claims bonus won’t be affected if you have an accident.
• If you’re test riding a bike or need to get it home from the point of purchase.
• If you’re riding a courtesy or replacement motorcycle (though check whether your provider offers cover for this).
• If you’re riding a motorcycle on holiday. If you’re riding abroad, make sure your policy includes cover outside the UK.

What is covered under a temporary motorcycle policy?

In most cases, you’ll be able to choose the same levels of cover on offer for annual policies:

• Third party only. This is the minimum level of cover that all UK drivers are required to have by law. Often the cheapest option, it only protects you if you cause harm to other people or their property, and doesn’t protect your motorcycle against any type of damage.
• Third party, fire and theft. This policy offers all the same benefits as third party cover, as well as protection for your bike against fire and theft. It can be a good option if your motorbike is old and might not be worth repairing if you have an accident.
• Comprehensive. This is the most complete form of insurance you can get, so if you’re looking for top cover, this is the option for you. Specifications vary by provider, but comprehensive motorbike insurance covers you for most eventualities, except for those outlined in your policy exclusions.

Will I save money on a temporary motorcycle policy?

This depends on your circumstances. As short term motorbike insurance is a specialist policy, it can be more expensive when compared to an annual policy.

If you only need to use a bike for one day or one week, there is no point insuring it for the entire year, but it’s still worth checking the price to see if it might actually work out cheaper.

Your quotes will be based on your age and driving experience, as well as the details of your bike and any no-claims bonus you have. You should get prices for both short term cover and an annual policy to see which would be better for you.

Note that if you then cancel the annual policy before it expires, you might have to pay a cancellation fee and you won’t get your no-claims bonus for that year.

Frequently asked questions

• Can I get one-day motorbike insurance?

  Yes. Most temporary motorbike insurance providers offer daily cover as their minimum.

• Can I get motorbike insurance for one week?

  Yes. Most insurers offer cover for between one day and one week.

• Can I get motorcycle insurance for a month?

  Many short term motorbike insurance providers only offer cover up to one week, but you can still get cover for up to a month if you shop around.

• What do I need to do to get a motorbike insurance quote?

  The best way to find the right cover for you is to shop around with different providers. Go to the company’s site and go through the quote process, answering all questions accurately and honestly. Note that most comparison sites don’t offer temporary motorbike insurance.

• Should I choose an annual policy or a short term policy?

  That depends on your circumstances. If you only need cover for a short time, like for a borrowed bike, then there’s no point taking out an annual policy. Temporary cover can also be good if you’re buying a new bike and want to cover yourself for the test ride or the ride home from the point of purchase. You can then get an annual policy at your leisure. Note that you cannot use short term cover for a bike you own, unless you declare it as SORN while it’s not insured (doing this over and over is not recommended).

• Can I buy short term motorbike insurance for work?

  Most providers don’t include cover for business use, but there are specialist providers, like Zego, that offer cover for this purpose (for example, to delivery drivers).

• Will I need to SORN my bike after my temporary policy ends?

  Yes. If you own the bike and it’s staying in your possession, it will need to be SORN whenever it doesn’t have insurance.

Written by

Ronny Lavie

Editor

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Ronny Lavie was a deputy editor at Finder, specialising in insurance content. She has almost a decade of experience writing about financial topics, including five months spent as the interim managing editor for the Fintech Times newspaper. Ronny has a Master of Arts in Creative Writing from London Middlesex University. See full bio