An interesting case turned up last year where an owner of a classic motorcycle unfortunately died, leaving his motorbike to his wife who didn’t have a bike licence. Not wanting to sell the motorbike immediately, she attempted to get the bike insured from fire and theft but found it impossible to get a motorbike insurance company to offer the cover, many of them citing her lack of a motorbike licence.
The motorbike in question was a Harley Davidson, valued at £7,000, was regularly used by husband and wife (as pillion) to tour the UK and Europe, meaning the bike had obvious sentimental value and getting rid of it immediately was not really an option.
A laid-up motorbike insurance policy, where a bike can be insured for little money as long as it is stored in a safe and secure place and is not ridden, would be ideal in this situation. However, most insurance companies were unable to provide this level of cover due to underwriters requiring the policy holder to have a full motorbike licence.
Fortunately a bike insurance company was eventually found that would provide the required laid-up policy.
