This is What Happens When You Buy Seasonal Motorcycle Insurance!

Seasonal motorcycle insurance is sometimes called the “winter layup.” Instead of carrying motorcycle insurance for only six months, this option allows coverage levels to change when the bike is in storage.

Although you’re not required to carry motorcycle insurance when you’re not using the bike on the road, that doesn’t mean canceling a policy is a good idea.

Some insurers allow bikers to drop coverages or change limits while the weather is too cold to ride.

What Can I Do to Protect My Motorcycle in the Winter?

Seasonal motorcycle insurance protects your motorcycle during winter, but how it’s handled depends on the policy provider.

States that see plenty of snow and ice during the cold season typically offer a winter layup policy. That means all coverage except comprehensive gets suspended during those colder months. It protects you if something happens to the storage location while avoiding cancelation or the need to maintain full coverage.

Some providers don’t offer a specific winter layup policy but could provide those reductions if asked. A customized plan might be needed in this example.

After purchasing a seasonal motorcycle policy, you can use the bike under the policy’s protection during the times stated in the paperwork. That’s usually spring, summer, and autumn, but it could differ in a state like Alaska.

If you choose seasonal motorcycle insurance, you should refrain from riding during the designated time since you won’t have full coverage. The insurance company might stipulate that the motorcycle be stored in the garage.

Financial Benefits of Seasonal Motorbike Insurance

There are notable benefits to having affordable seasonal motorcycle insurance, particularly if you only ride your bikes during certain times of the year.

Less Expensive

The most obvious advantage is that your rates are lower than those with constant motorcycle insurance policies. Your premium rates are based on the risk factors of your bike being damaged in an accident. If your bike is being stored in a protected garage, the only risk will be if it is stolen or if something happens to the place where it is being kept, such as fire or flood damage.

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If you choose comprehensive coverage, your bike will be protected from damage when not on the road. However, if you choose, you can have collision, liability, and uninsured motorists, saving you considerable money as they are inactive when your bike is in storage.

You should know that…

The main advantage of this insurance is that it can be tailored to fit your lifestyle. For many motorcycle riders, keeping their bikes in storage during the cold winter months and keeping more money in their pocket by paying lower insurance rates is a definite advantage.

Read here for more pros and cons about this type of insurance before purchasing it.

Is There Seasonal Motorcycle Insurance Where I Live?

Temporary motorcycle insurance protections, including seasonal policies, are more common in the northern states. The weather in North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and similar locations is more likely to prevent bikers from being on the road than in places like Florida, Texas, or California.

If you plan to store your motorcycle over the winter, seasonal coverage can maintain your protection while reducing costs. That’s a better idea than carrying motorcycle insurance for six months only.

Another option would be to carry one plan for the riding months and temporary motorcycle insurance for the winter. You’ll receive the short-term coverage you need to stay protected while complying with lender or leasing rules.

Do Winter Layup Policies Count as Full Insurance?

Winter layup policies are typically offered in the northern states. The driving conditions from November to March are often too hazardous for riding motorcycles on the road.

If you live somewhere with a long cold season, winterizing the motorcycle for storage makes more sense. That’s when a layup policy is ideal.

Most insurers will let you maintain some liability coverage upon request if you want to ride when there’s a warm day during the winter. You can ask about the sunny day clause that gives you one day of this protection during the layup time.

Motorcycle owners who qualify for a winter layup policy typically comply with their lease or financial terms, but please read through the stipulations to ensure your situation is covered.

Can I Cancel My Motorcycle Insurance in the Winter?

You can choose to cancel your motorcycle insurance in the winter. If you’re leasing or financing the bike, it’s often required to maintain coverage always.

That means you could inadvertently void your agreement by canceling your insurance policy.

Your insurance company might contact the lienholder of your motorcycle to alert them of the coverage change. That’s because the bank, not you, is the bike’s owner until you pay off the loan.

The DMV can also contact the lienholder to alert them of this initiated change. Your lender can request full loan payment, cancel the contract, and potentially repossess the bike when that happens.

Some lenders contact you to reinstate the coverage. If force-placed insurance is allowed where you live, the lienholder can buy it and add the cost to the loan.

Is Motorcycle Insurance Paid Monthly or Yearly?

Every rider benefits from active insurance coverage, even in states that don’t require it. You can pay for it in 12 monthly installments or one annual payment.

It’s usually more expensive to pay the premium monthly than buy a year’s motorcycle insurance coverage.

You might be able to pay for six months of motorcycle coverage at a time for a slightly smaller discount.

Raise Deductibles to Lower Rates in the Winter

If you don’t live where winter layup policies are available, you can still lower your insurance costs by changing your deductible.

Increasing the deductible for your comprehensive coverage lowers the premium cost during the months when you use the motorcycle less or not.

It’s a simple way to keep insurance rates affordable during the months when you’re less likely to be involved in an accident.

Does My Insurance Rate Increase if I Drop Motorcycle Insurance in the Winter?

Although you can buy a motorcycle insurance policy for the summer and cancel it in the winter if you own the bike outright, it’s still recommended to maintain coverage throughout the year.

You’ll likely face penalties and fees if you cancel during winter instead of looking for seasonal motorcycle insurance. Some companies recognize a cyclical canceling habit and might choose not to continue insuring the motorcycle.

Should that happen, you’d need to find coverage from another carrier. The risk is that the premiums could be much higher. Depending on how long you own the bike, you could end up paying more than what you save by not insuring the motorcycle during the winter.

Other factors could cause your insurance rates to rise, such as an at-fault accident while operating another vehicle.

Motorcycle owners who aren’t riding their bikes frequently in the winter, by choice or due to weather, should consider increasing their deductible to keep costs lower. If a layup option is available, you’ll maintain the protection to comply with your lease or financing agreement.