Bike Going into Winter Storage? Check Your Insurance Before You Lock Up
For many riders, autumn means fewer journeys and the prospect of putting the motorcycle away until the warmer weather returns.
You might already have a winter routine: give the bike a thorough clean, connect a battery maintainer, check the tyres and protect it from moisture.
But there's another job worth adding to that list.
Check your motorcycle insurance.
Even when your bike isn't being ridden, it can still be stolen or damaged. Changes to where it's kept, how it's secured or the modifications you've made could also affect your existing insurance arrangements.
The problem is that an issue with your cover might not become apparent until you need to make a claim.
Before parking your motorcycle for winter, here are seven important checks worth making.
1. Has your motorcycle's storage location changed?
When arranging motorcycle insurance, you'll usually be asked where your bike is normally kept overnight.
This could be a garage, driveway, communal car park or the road outside your home.
However, your winter storage arrangements might be different.
Perhaps you're moving your motorcycle to a relative's garage, using a specialist storage facility or keeping it somewhere else while it's off the road.
Even if the new location appears more secure, don't assume your insurer doesn't need to know.
Your storage address can form part of the information used to assess the risk, and changing it may affect your policy.
The same applies if your garage is no longer available and your motorcycle will be kept outside instead.
What to do: Contact your insurer or broker before moving the bike. They can confirm whether the new storage location needs to be recorded and whether any additional conditions apply.
2. Are you using the security devices your policy requires?
Motorcycle insurance policies can include specific security conditions.
Depending on the bike, its value and where it's kept, your insurer might require:
An approved motorcycle lock.
An immobiliser or alarm.
A tracking device.
A ground anchor.
A particular type of locked storage.
But simply owning the required equipment might not be enough.
Your policy could specify that certain devices must be fitted, operational and used whenever the motorcycle is unattended.
For example, a bike stored in a locked garage might still need to be secured to a ground anchor.
A tracker may need an active subscription, while an alarm must remain operational.
Could failing to use a required security device affect a claim?
Potentially.
If a motorcycle is stolen and a relevant security condition hasn't been met, the insurer may consider this when assessing the claim.
However, this doesn't mean that every failure automatically results in a rejected claim.
The Financial Ombudsman Service considers factors such as whether security conditions were clearly communicated, whether they were met and whether any failure made a difference to the theft when reviewing relevant disputes.
The outcome will depend on the individual circumstances and policy terms.
What to do: Read your policy schedule and endorsements carefully. Check exactly which security measures are required and when they must be used.
If you're uncertain, contact your insurer or broker before putting your bike away.
3. Does your garage meet your insurer's requirements?
A locked garage can offer useful protection, but not every garage or storage structure will necessarily meet an insurer's requirements.
A purpose-built, lockable garage may be treated differently from a wooden shed, temporary structure or shared underground car park.
If your policy specifies that the motorcycle must be garaged, check how the insurer defines acceptable storage.
You should also establish when the requirement applies.
Some policies may require the bike to be kept in a garage overnight at the insured address, while others impose conditions whenever the motorcycle is at that location and not being used.
It's also worth checking the security of the garage itself.
Are the doors and locks working correctly? Who has access? Are any additional security devices required?
Don't assume that locking the garage door automatically means every condition has been satisfied.
What to do: Check the garaging requirements in your insurance documents. If your storage arrangements don't match the description recorded on your policy, contact your insurer or broker.
4. Thinking about cancelling your insurance for winter?
If your motorcycle won't be used for several months, cancelling your policy might seem like a way to save money.
However, a bike doesn't have to be on the road to be exposed to risk.
Even while stationary, it could be:
Stolen or damaged during an attempted theft.
Vandalised.
Damaged by fire.
Affected by flooding or storm damage.
Struck by another vehicle.
Damaged by falling objects.
Whether these events are insured will depend on the cover provided by your particular policy, including any conditions and exclusions.
Cancelling your insurance removes the protection provided by that policy.
It may also affect your no-claims discount or other policy benefits, depending on the insurer's arrangements.
Before cancelling or changing your cover, contact your insurer or broker to understand the implications.
What about declaring your motorcycle SORN?
If you decide to stop insuring and taxing your motorcycle while keeping it off public roads, you'll generally need to make a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN).
In Great Britain, a vehicle with a valid SORN that is kept off public roads doesn't need insurance under the continuous insurance enforcement rules. Northern Ireland has different arrangements.
A SORN motorcycle must remain off public roads, apart from limited permitted journeys, such as travelling to or from a pre-booked vehicle test.
A SORN cannot be backdated and remains in place until it ends under the applicable DVLA rules, such as when the vehicle is taxed again.
You can find the full requirements in the official Government SORN guidance.
Remember, a SORN is a declaration to the DVLA, not insurance.
It doesn't provide financial protection if your motorcycle is stolen or damaged while in storage.
5. Made changes to your bike? Check your insurance.
Winter is a popular time for motorcycle projects.
Whether you're fitting a new exhaust, upgrading the suspension, adding heated grips or changing the appearance of your bike, it's important to check whether your insurer needs to know.
Don't assume a modification is irrelevant simply because it doesn't improve performance.
Cosmetic changes can affect a motorcycle's value, desirability or repair costs, while mechanical alterations can change its specification or risk.
Before carrying out modifications, review your policy requirements and contact your insurer or broker about changes that need to be disclosed.
They can confirm whether the changes are acceptable and whether your existing cover remains appropriate.
Don't forget accessories
Additional equipment can also be subject to insurance conditions or limits.
Items such as panniers, luggage systems and intercoms might not automatically be covered for their full replacement value.
Some policies may distinguish between permanently fitted accessories and removable equipment.
What to do: Check your policy's accessory cover and any applicable limits. Keep receipts and take photographs showing your motorcycle's condition, specification and equipment.
These records could be useful if you subsequently need to make a claim.
6. Where are your keys and documents?
Locks, alarms and trackers are important, but keeping your motorcycle keys secure matters too.
Avoid leaving the main key or spare keys near external doors, windows or other easily accessible locations.
If your motorcycle has keyless ignition, follow the manufacturer's security guidance and consider suitable protection against relay theft where relevant.
Check your insurance documents for any specific conditions concerning key security.
Your paperwork should also be kept somewhere safe.
Store your V5C registration document, purchase receipts and security certificates securely rather than leaving them with the motorcycle.
These documents may contain information that could be misused if stolen.
What to do: Keep keys and important paperwork away from the motorcycle and check that your arrangements meet any relevant policy conditions.
7. Don't forget about your motorcycle once it's stored
It's tempting to lock the garage, put the keys away and forget about your motorcycle until spring.
However, problems can develop during prolonged storage.
For example:
Water could enter the garage or storage area.
A protective cover might become loose or damaged.
A battery maintainer could stop working.
Rodents might damage electrical wiring.
A slow puncture could leave the motorcycle resting on a flat tyre.
Signs of attempted entry could remain unnoticed.
Checking on your bike periodically can help you identify these issues before they become more serious.
It's also worth making sure that security equipment remains operational throughout winter.
If your motorcycle is stored at another address, agree who will check it and how often.
What to do: Arrange regular inspections of your bike and its storage area, particularly following severe weather.
Bike Going into Storage? Check Your Cover.
Whether your motorcycle is heading into winter storage or staying on the road all year, having suitable insurance matters. Explore Motor-Vision's motorcycle insurance options and get a quote online today.
