Motorcycle Insurance In Winter

Everything you need to know about insuring your motorcycle for winter storage. There are a lot of questions about insuring your motorcycle during the offseason. Questions like "Can I Cancel My Motorcycle Insurance In The Winter?" (Yes, but it's not a good idea) and "Does home owners insurance cover a stolen motorycle from my garage?" (homeowners insurance doesn't cover your motorcycle)

 

As Seen in Thunder Road Magazine

Authored by Jason, The Motorcycle Lawyer

 

There are a lot of questions about insuring your motorcycle during the offseason. Questions like "Can I Cancel My Motorcycle Insurance In The Winter?" (Yes, but it's not a good idea) and "Does home owners insurance cover a stolen motorycle from my garage?" (homeowners insurance doesn't cover your motorcycle)

 

Let me clear up a major misconception about storing your motorcycle in your garage for the winter.  If it is stolen or damaged, IT IS NOT COVERED BY YOUR HOMEOWNER’S INSURANCE POLICY!

Storing Your Motorcycle for Winter

Some folks try to save a few bucks by completely cancelling their motorcycle insurance during the colder months.  If you do this and your bike is wrecked (damaged or totaled), YOU ARE STUCK with the bill; you can’t make anyone or any insurance company pay for it.  And yes, S**t happens; I hear all kinds of bad stories.  Here are a few examples of unfortunate events that won’t be covered if you cancel your motorcycle insurance policy completely:

 

 - Your garage floods, damaging cycle: motorcycle not covered.

 

 - Garage catches fire (can you say propane-fried-turkey?, portable heater, etc.): motorcycle not covered.

 

 - Your bike is stolen: motorcycle not covered.

 

 - Your roof leaks and roof falls in on motorcycle: motorcycle not covered.

 

 - A tree blows over during a storm, hitting garage & causing damage to bike: motorcycle not covered.

 

 - Rodents chew seat and wiring: motorcycle not covered.

 

 - Fire that started in kitchen spreads to garage, totaling bike: motorcycle not covered.

 

You just take a short ride down the street that one beautiful day in March and another driver runs a stop sign: motorcycle not covered (you are also excluded from No-Fault Benefits; for example, all medical bills paid for life, wage loss, etc.).  Further, you can’t sue the guy that hit you or his insurance company for damages.*

 

Comprehensive Coverage pays for damage to your motorcycle not caused by a collision. This can include damage or loss from theft, vandalism, falling objects, fire, storms, flood and certain other natural disasters.  So, if you want your bike fixed or replaced because of any of these types of losses, maintain your Comprehensive Coverage when it is in storage. 

 

Beware: If you only keep Comprehensive Coverage on your motorcycle and you take that short ride in March like that last example, you still won’t be covered because you did not have Collision Coverage (not legally required, but needed if you want your bike fixed in a crash) or Bodily Injury Coverage (legally required).

 

What if I store my bike at the dealership?  When you pay a motorcycle shop that has a winter storage program, I guarantee you’ll sign an agreement beforehand.  That agreement most certainly will say that you promise to keep insurance on your bike and that they are not liable for any damage.

 

Therefore, no matter where you store your motorcycle, if you want it covered for damage or theft, make sure you at least keep Comprehensive Coverage on it. Finally, do not drive your motorcycle at all unless you have the legally required insurance and Collision Coverage or you will not be covered after a wreck.

 

Insurance law for stored motorcycles can be confusing and there are many misconceptions and misinformation out there.  Feel free to call me with any questions on this or any issue—Jason Waechter.

 

Attorney Jason A. Waechter is a Michigan attorney specializing in the areas of motorcycle and motor vehicle injury litigation as well as Michigan’s Motor Vehicle No- Fault Law. Mr. Waechter has collected millions of dollars in settlements, awards and verdicts for his motorcycle clients over the past 20 years.  A portion of each case settled goes to educational resources for bikers, funds to help bikers while their cases are being litigated and our motorcycle accident prevention campaign.  Call Attorney Jason Waechter toll free at 1-877-BIKER LAW. Or visit

 

* There are exceptions—if the guy was uninsured.  Further, the law is very fact dependent and there are many nuances and exceptions depending on your particular circumstances. Therefore, given the limited space, it is impossible to cover everything. Do not rely on this short article to protect your rights.