Motorcycle insurance: Is it better to choose annual coverage or winter coverage?
There are motorcycle insurance policies with a so-called winter break, but is it wise? After all, there are also costs involved. What is cheaper? And what should you pay attention to when going on vacation by motorcycle?
Why keep your motorcycle insured during the winter if you're not going to ride it anyway? With this in mind, insurers have developed motorcycle insurance policies with a built-in winter break. During the winter months, you can suspend the license plate and the motorcycle insurance temporarily offers no coverage against liability damage. Yet the premium savings are disappointing. And you pay fees to suspend the license plate. You have motorcycle insurance policies with a winter break and policies with so-called summer time coverage.
What does winter break in motorcycle insurance mean?
Motorcycling is mainly done in the months with nice weather. In a motorcycle insurance with winter break, the motorcycle insurance does not provide coverage in the period from December 1 to March 1, for example. The period may vary from one insurer to another. Do remember to suspend the license plate with the National Office for Road Traffic, otherwise the obligation to insure remains. Even if you don't drive it. Risks such as theft of the motorcycle and damage by fire do remain. These coverages do continue if your motorcycle is more broadly insured than just the WA coverage.
What is the financial benefit?
Motor insurance policies that do not offer coverage in winter can be divided into:
- Winter break coverage - Motorbike not insured between December 1 and March 1, for example
- Summertime coverage - Motor not insured from the last Sunday in October to the last Sunday in March
With summer time coverage, the motorcycle is not used for a longer period of time compared to motorcycle insurance with a winter break. This will provide a lower premium.
The difference from annual coverage can run into the tens of percent. Of course, the benefit varies by insurer. Keep in mind that suspending also incurs costs. The cost is €24.
A big disadvantage of motorcycle insurance with a winter break is that you can't use your motorcycle for a while during the winter period in case of an emergency. Your car has defects, for example, but you really need to go to an appointment. In practice, the premium advantage is small and the inconvenience is great.
On vacation by motorcycle
Dutch motorcycle insurance also provides coverage abroad. As long as you stay within Europe, you are insured. Outside Europe also in most countries. In case of an accident, you can also contact the insurer's emergency number while abroad. In case of breakdown on the road, the motorcycle insurance is of no use to you. For this you can, for example, choose a travel insurance in which help with breakdown abroad is also insured. The coverage in your motorcycle insurance also applies abroad. To insure your luggage and health risks you can take out travel insurance.
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