Pausing Motorcycle Insurance Coverage During the Off-Season

For motorcycle enthusiasts, the end of riding season means it’s time to start thinking about storing your bike and reducing costs until the warm weather returns. A common money-saving strategy is to pause your motorcycle insurance coverage temporarily during the months you won’t be riding.

But is voluntarily canceling your policy allowed? Can you restart the same coverage when spring arrives? Below we’ll explore the ins and outs of pausing motorcycle insurance in the off-season.

Overview of Motorcycle Insurance

Before diving into policy pauses, let’s review some motorcycle insurance basics:

• Liability – Covers injury or property damage you cause to others. Required by law.

• Comprehensive – Protects against damage from theft, vandalism, weather, fire, animal collisions, etc.

• Collision – Pays to repair/replace your bike after an at-fault accident.

• Uninsured motorist – Covers medical bills and damage caused by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver.

• Accessories – Add-on protection for aftermarket parts, saddlebags, chrome, audio equipment, etc.

• Roadside assistance – Pays for towing, tire changes, gas delivery, locksmith services, etc.

Now let’s look at whether motorcycle policies can be paused.

Is It Possible to Temporarily Cancel Motorcycle Insurance?

The short answer is yes – motorcycle insurance policies can be voluntarily canceled for a period of time under certain conditions:

• You must formally request cancellation in writing as required by the insurer.

• The policy must be paid up through the requested cancellation date. No refunds are issued mid-term.

• You’ll need to officially restart coverage when ready to ride again in the spring.

• Gap in coverage impacts claims for pre-existing damage and continuous loyalty discounts.

Let’s take a closer look at how cancellation works and what to expect.

How to Temporarily Cancel Your Motorcycle Policy

The process for pausing your motorcycle insurance entails formal policy cancellation through your insurance provider:

1. Pick a cancellation date – Select the date you want your coverage to end. This is usually sometime in fall or early winter. Avoid canceling mid-month since you will still owe that full month’s premium.

2. Notify your insurer – Contact your insurance provider via phone, email, or writing to cancel coverage through the chosen date. In most states, this notification is required 10-30 days beforehand.

3. Provide proper documentation – You may need to submit a signed cancellation request form. Return any insurance cards or decals requested by the insurer.

4. Remove license plates – In most states, you must return your license plates to the DMV when canceling vehicle insurance to avoid registration suspension.

5. Save all records – Keep cancellation notices, bills, and motorcycle ownership documents for future reference.

Follow all cancellation steps your insurer requires to properly pause your motorcycle policy.

What to Expect When Canceling Temporarily

Here are some consequences to expect when voluntarily pausing motorcycle insurance for the season:

• No mid-term refunds – Canceling after initially purchasing the annual policy does not entitle you to premium refunds for unused months.

• Coverage lapse – Your motorcycle will be uninsured after the requested cancellation date until you restart coverage.

• Pre-existing damage excluded – Any damage that occurs after cancellation but before reinstating insurance in the spring may be excluded as pre-existing.

• Re-enrollment required – You will have to formally restart your insurance policy when ready to ride again in subsequent seasons.

• Potential rate increases – Some insurers increase premiums if there is a gap in continuous coverage.

• Inapplicable discounts – Cancellation can make you ineligible for multi-policy, renewal, and loyalty discounts when re-enrolling.

• New waiting periods – You may need to re-serve accident, theft, and medical payments waiting periods when you restart coverage later.

While pausing coverage seems simple up front, understand the lasting impacts cancellation can have beyond the off-season.

Storage Tips to Protect Your Motorcycle

If you do decide to temporarily cancel your motorcycle insurance, proper storage steps are crucial to keep your bike protected:

• Store it indoors in a garage or shed to avoid weather damage.

• Drain the carburetor, fuel lines, and fuel tank completely.

• Disconnect the battery and remove it to recharge monthly.

• Place the motorcycle on a rear stand to lift wheels off the ground.

• Cover it with a motorcycle-specific cover to prevent dust buildup. Avoid using plastic sheets that trap moisture.

• Stuff rags in the exhaust pipes to prevent critters from crawling inside.

• Lubricate the drive chain and moving parts to prevent rust formation.

• Tie down your motorcycle securely if stored where winds are common.

Proper precautions during storage will pay off when it comes time to restart your motorcycle in the spring.

How Motorcycle Policies are Rated

Before canceling your insurance for several months, it helps to understand what goes into calculating your motorcycle premiums:

• Bike value – The more expensive the motorcycle, the higher the premiums.

• Displacement – Engine size matters, with larger motors typically costing more to insure.

• Driver history – Riders with accidents, claims, violations, and poor credit pay more for coverage.

• Coverage levels – Higher liability limits and add-ons like accessory coverage increase rates.

• Usage – Bikes used for pleasure rather than business commuting often have lower premiums.

• Experience – New riders pay more than those with years of riding under their belt.

• Storage – Bikes parked indoors generally have lower rates than those stored outside.

• Model – High-performance sport bikes are more costly to insure than cruisers or touring cycles.

If some factors that increase your rates, like bike value and driving history, are here to stay, canceling coverage for several months may not make financial sense long term. However, adjustments like where your store your motorcycle and your coverage limits can help control costs when restarting insurance in the spring.

Alternative Options to Temporary Cancellation

Before pulling the plug on your motorcycle policy for the winter, also consider these money-saving alternatives:

Lower coverage limits – Reduce comprehensive and collision limits to liability-only coverage during months you won’t ride. Then raise limits again when restarting the policy.

Raise deductibles – Increasing your deductibles for comprehensive and collision coverage can reduce premiums substantially.

Comparison shop – Get quotes from multiple providers when restarting coverage in the spring to find the best rate.

Ask for discounts – Inquire about multi-policy, paid-in-full, and other discounts not factored into your original policy.

Drop add-ons – Eliminate roadside assistance, accessory coverage, and other add-ons to pare back your policy.

Use winter storage insurance – Specialty storage policies only cover damage during storage months at a low cost.

Sell your motorcycle – If you are not riding much, you may want to sell the bike and avoid insurance payments altogether.

Key Considerations Before Canceling Coverage

Before pulling the plug on your motorcycle policy for the winter, think through:

• Will premium savings outweigh the long-term costs of restarting coverage?

• Can you prevent pre-existing damage without insurance through diligent storage?

• How will a gap in coverage affect your rates when restarting your policy?

• Are cheaper alternatives like lowering coverage available instead of fully canceling?

• Do you have the discipline to restart insurance promptly when taking your motorcycle out of storage?

• Are you willing to accept the risks of operating without insurance between seasons?

Canceling your motorcycle insurance for winter can provide short-term savings. But weigh the lasting impacts on your coverage and costs before making the decision. With proper preventative storage steps, reducing coverage instead of fully canceling may be a better financial option for many riders.

Frequently Asked Questions about Pausing Motorcycle Insurance

Can I cancel just collision and comprehensive and keep liability?

Yes, a common money-saving move is to cancel collision and comprehensive coverage in winter while maintaining minimum liability insurance year-round. Liability is mandatory when riding but optional while stored.

How soon before winter should I cancel my motorcycle policy?

Provide written notice to your insurer 10-30 days before your requested cancellation date depending on your state laws. This is usually sometime in fall before you plan to stop riding for the season.

Do I need to turn in my license plate when canceling motorcycle insurance?

In most states, you must return your license plates and registration to the DMV when canceling insurance to prevent registration suspension. Requirements vary by state, so verify rules with the DMV.

**Can pausing motorcycle coverage impact my car insurance