Temporary Motorbike Insurance

  • UK temp bike insurance in just 2 minutes
  • One day to one week motorbike insurance
  • Pay only for the bike insurance you need
  • Preserve your annual no claims bonus
  • Fully comprehensive cover as standard

Temporary motorbike insurance policies for UK riders from one day to one week. Flexible short term cover with no lengthy contracts. Instant cover and documentation.

All temporary motorbike policies are fully comprehensive. Occasional rides, borrowing a bike, test rides, collecting a new bike & more.

Maximum insurance cover as standard

All temporary bike policies are fully comprehensive

Temp bike insurance quotes in just 2 minutes

Policy documents emailed to you instantly

Test rides, new bike purchase, borrowing a bike

No restrictions when or where in the UK you can ride

Avoid the hassle of adjusting existing bike policies

Short term motorcycle insurance any time you need it

Short term motorcycle insurance

Motorcycle day insurance with cover from 1 to 7 days.

Biker Insure have partnered with Tempcover to provide short term motorbike insurance solutions for riders looking to cover their bikes on a temporary basis.

If you are looking for temporary motorbike insurance and require cover on a short term, occasional or daily basis, get a quote from Tempcover - a UK based short term motorcycle insurance specialist.

If you require a standard UK annual motorbike policy, compare 25+ quotes from FCA regulated insurers via Biker Insure now:

What is temporary motorbike insurance cover?

Temporary, or short term, motorcycle insurance, is similar to a regular annual bike insurance policy, but the policy will only cover you for a set amount of time. This can vary from just a few hours, to a few days over the weekend, or for a week. Basically, any time period that’s less than the typical 1-year policy could be classified as temporary motorcycle insurance. The term is most often applied to motorbike policies lasting from a few days to a few weeks.

Tempcover offer short term bike policies from 1 day to 7 days. If you need motorbike insurance for longer than one week, there’s the option to re-quote and take out another short-term policy when the initial cover ends. You'll receive a message when your temporary bike insurance is due to expire.

At Tempcover, all policies are offered on a fully comprehensive basis which is the maximum level of insurance protection for UK motorbike insurance. This ensures that both you and your bike are fully covered for complete peace of mind – now matter how infrequent or brief the ride.

temporary motorbike insurance

Why temporary motorbike insurance?

There are many reasons why you might need motorcycle day insurance. Examples of why you might need temporary cover include:

Test rides – If you’re test riding a bike from a dealer, their policy will typically cover customer test rides (although it’s always worth checking the level of insurance, and terms). If you’re test riding a bike from a private seller, you’ll need to make sure you have adequate insurance in place.

Remember: if your existing motorcycle policy includes riding other bikes, then the sellers motorbike must also be insured in its own right – and you’ll usually only be insured third party. Temporary bike insurance gives peace of mind that both you and the bike are fully insured when riding someone else's motorcycle.

New bike – if you’ve bought a bike in a rush or on a whim and have forgotten to arrange insurance, you can take out a temporary policy in minutes and be on your way. Save the hassle of comparing quotes and finding a suitable annual policy until you’re back at home and have the time to sort it out properly.

Borrowing a bike – if you’re borrowing a bike from a friend or family member for a brief spell. Because temporary motorbike insurance is a completely separate, stand-alone product, you won’t risk losing any no claims discounts that may be in place. Everyone is covered should the worst happen.

Group rides - useful on a group weekend ride if you want to swap bikes but also make sure everyone is fully covered.

Learning to ride – if you’re occasionally riding on L plates after passing your CBT and using someone else’s bike, temporary learner motorbike insurance ensures you and the bike are fully covered while you learn.

Emergencies – Any number of unforeseen circumstances could lead to you needing short term insurance on a bike. Make it easy by getting the right cover in minutes.

Key benefits of temporary motorbike insurance

  • Temporary motorbike insurance is a completely separate, stand-alone product which ensures peace of mind for everyone.
  • Avoid the hassle and expense of adjusting existing motorcycle premiums.
  • No claims bonuses are not at risk in the event you need to make a claim on the temporary bike policy.
  • Buy a short term motorbike policy online any time you need it.
  • No restrictions on when or where in the UK you can ride.

How much is temporary motorcycle insurance?

Temporary motorbike policies can start from as little as £20 a week. As with any kind of motorcycle insurance, short term policy prices will vary according to your individual circumstances and the motorbike you need to insure.

1 day motorbike insurance will generally cost less than a 7 day policy, because you're covered for less time. Bear in mind the average daily cost may work out relatively more expensive for shorter policy durations.

How to get temporary motorcycle insurance

It’s easy to get a temporary motorbike insurance quote with Tempcover, and shouldn’t take much longer than about 90 seconds.

  • Provide the registration of the bike you are looking to cover with short term insurance.
  • Choose how long you need temporary bike insurance cover for, from 1 day to 7 days.
  • Select when you’d like to be covered from, either immediately or on a specific date. You can select the hour you want cover to begin from.
  • Enter your licence type, name, occupation, date of birth, motorcycle value, your address and what your use of the bike will be under the temporary policy.
  • Declare who owns the motorbike and where it will be parked overnight while you are temporarily insured.
  • Select if you have or have not ridden on the road in the last two years, and the bike you have been riding.
  • Declare your motorbike licence entitlement (whether provisional or full, and the length of time held)
  • Select the reason for needing short term motorcycle insurance cover

Tempcover will compare the best prices from their leading panel of temporary bike insurance providers, from which you will be shown the cheapest quote for your short term bike insurance, followed by details of the policy.

If you’re happy, make the payment and your temporary motorbike insurance documents will be emailed to you instantly.

What are the conditions to qualify for temporary bike insurance?

In order to buy temporary motorbike insurance, you must*:

  • Be aged between 17 and 70
  • Hold a full UK bike licence or provisional motorcycle entitlement.
  • Have lived in the UK permanently for the last 5 years.
  • Have no more than 6 points on your licence in the last 3 years
  • Not have been disqualified from driving in the last two years.
  • Have no more than one fault claim in the last three years.
  • Have no criminal convictions, ASBOS or CBO's
  • Have not had any previous motor insurance policy cancelled or void.

Exclusions on a temporary motorbike insurance policy:

Although most riders should be able to access temporary insurance, cover is dependent on several factors. There are some exclusions*:

  • Your bike must be valued between £500 and £10,000.
  • You must not use your temporary policy for any commercial use, including business travel, courier & fast food delivery, hire & reward, or in connection with the motor trade.
  • Although the bike doesn't need to be owned by you, it must not be a hire or loan motorbike.
  • It must not be modified from the original manufacturers standard specification.
  • You must not use your temporary insurance policy to carry a pillion.

* For a comprehensive list of exclusions, terms & conditions on your short term bike policy, please visit the Tempcover website.

Can I ride another motorbike on my existing insurance?

If you have an existing annual motorcycle insurance policy then you may be insured to ride other bikes. This is typically only available if you have a fully comprehensive policy, and may come with restrictions. Check with your bike insurance provider.

If you have a fully comprehensive policy and it doesn’t include riding other bikes as standard, you may be able to add it on.

However, there are a few things to bear in mind. Riding other bikes is typically only offered on a third-party basis so if you’re involved in an accident that’s your fault, then you could experience serious financial repercussions.

It’s also worth remembering that if you ride someone else’s bike on your own insurance, then the other bike must also be insured in its own right.

You could also ask to be added as a named rider on someone else’s policy.

If all that sounds like hard work, it could be more straightforward (and possibly cheaper) to take out a temporary motorcycle insurance policy - and know that you have the maximum amount of cover for your occasional ride.

Should I get short term motorbike insurance or an annual policy?

In theory you could take out an annual motorcycle insurance policy, use it for the required time and then cancel. However, you will typically be faced with a cancellation or admin fee (or both), especially if you are outside of the 14-day policy cooling off period.

If you cancel before the full year is up, you won’t qualify for your motorcycle No Claims Discount.

Temporary bike insurance can be a cheaper way to get insured if you only need insuring for a short period, but becomes disproportionately expensive the longer you use it when compared to an annual policy.

It’s worth weighing up the pros and cons of both annual and short-term bike insurance. You’ll be able to compare prices and cover levels and work out which is cheapest for you.

Remember – it is a legal requirement to make sure your motorcycle is insured. Whether you have a one day, one week, or one-year policy; as soon as that policy expires you need to make sure a new one replaces it - or notify the DVLA that your bike is off the road with a SORN. This is called the Continuous Insurance Enforcement scheme.

You can find out more about CIE at the Motor Insurers Bureau, or on the UK Government website.

Temporary moped and scooter insurance

It's not just big bikes! Moped and scooter riders can also cover their machines on a short term policy. You'll need to be over 17 years old to qualify for temporary moped insurance.

1 day motorbike insurance

No matter what your need temporary motorbike insurance for, one day is the minimum policy length available at Tempcover. It's not currently possible to insure your bike in smaller increments (for example 1 hour motorbike insurance). The 24 hour, or 1 day period is the minimum.

Depending on your needs, a short term bike insurance policy lasts from one day to one week. If you need your bike to be insured for longer, there's the option to add on another short term policy using the same increments of one day to one week. You'll need to get a new quote and make a separate payment if you decide to extend the length of your cover in this way.

Whether you need motorcycle day insurance or one week bike cover, get a temp bike insurance quote from Tempcover today:

Is temporary bike insurance the same as pay as you go motorcycle insurance?

It depends how you think of it, but pay as you go motorcycle insurance is perhaps a term more closely associated with pay per mile insurance schemes, where you only pay for your insurance when actually riding the bike. Pay per mile motorbike insurance could involve the use of a tracker or odometer connection.

The short term motorcycle insurance provided by Tempcover is based on buying insurance for your bike in units of time, rather than being pay per mile motorcycle insurance. You're paying to use, rather than paying as you use.

You're still paying as you go with a short term motorbike policy, but not quite in the same way. Think of short term bike insurance as day-as-you-go, rather than pay-as-you-go!

Who are Tempcover?

Tempcover are an award winning provider of temporary insurance solutions to UK riders and drivers. They've been providing flexible, short term cover since 2006.

During this time, Tempcover has helped thousands of customers find the cover they want, for the amount of time they need. They're rated "Excellent" on Trustpilot.

Tempcover are part of the RVU group of companies which includes Confused.com, Money.co.uk, and U-Switch.

Temporary motorbike insurance FAQ's

Is hourly motorbike insurance available?

The shortest period of cover is 24 hours. 1 hour motorbike insurance is not currently an option.

If you need one hour motorbike insurance and can find a broker offering 1 hour increments, it may be best to compare with the cost of getting your bike insured for a full day.

Is there a temporary motorbike insurance app?

Tempcover do have a temporary insurance app, but at the time of writing (November 2024), it's only available for private cars or commercial vehicles.

Although temporary motorbike insurance isn't included in the app, you can still get a quote and buy your temp bike insurance in minutes directly from the website.

Can you insure a motorcycle for one day?

Yes. Tempcover offer short term motorcycle insurance. The minimum policy length is one day motorbike insurance.

Can you insure a motorbike for the weekend?

You can get weekend motorbike insurance by selecting two days of insurance cover, and choosing the appropriate day for your cover to start (presumably a Saturday if you just want to be covered over the weekend!).

Can you insure a motorcycle for a week?

Yes. Temporary motorbike insurance policies are available from one day to a weekend to a full week of cover.

Can I insure my bike for a month?

The maximum length of bike cover available at Tempcover is 7 days. It's possible to insure your bike for longer - you could get covered for a month by stitching four temporary 7 day policies together (a separate new quote and purchase would be required each time).

Be aware that if you need temporary motorbike insurance for several weeks or months, it could be cheaper to take out a standard (annual) motorcycle insurance policy which can either be amended or cancelled according to your needs.

Remember to balance the pro-rata refund on an annual policy with any cancellation fees that may be incurred. Compare this with the cost of purchasing back to back temporary policies when working out whether it's better to opt for temporary or annual cover.

Can you insure a moped for a day?

Yes. Temporary moped insurance is no different to temporary motorbike insurance. You can insure your moped on a short term basis for just one day, or up to one week.

If you need longer term temporary moped insurance, you can opt to take out another 1-7 day moped policy back to back when your current cover expires.

Are there any age restrictions?

Temporary motorbike insurance is available for riders aged 17 to 70.

Can non-UK residents get temporary motorbike insurance?

You'll need to have been a permanent UK resident for a minimum of 5 years, and hold a full or provisional UK motorcycle licence.

Can you get temporary motorbike insurance if you have points on your licence?

You must have no more than 6 penalty points on your licence in the last 6 years to qualify for temporary bike insurance.

Can you get temporary motorbike insurance if you have made an insurance claim?

You must have no more than 1 fault claim in the last 3 years to qualify for temporary motorcycle insurance.

Can I insure myself on someone else's motorbike?

Yes. You can insure yourself to ride a motorbike that is in someone else's name. Your temporary motorcycle policy won't cover the owner - only you as the named rider.

What happens if I ride without insurance?

It is illegal to ride a motorcycle on the road or in a public place without at least 3rd party motorcycle insurance.

It's important to remember that even if the motorbike itself is insured, if you're not correctly insured to ride, you could get penalised.

Penalties for uninsured riders include a fixed fine of £300 and 6 penalty points. If the case goes to court, you could get an unlimited fine and be disqualified from riding.

The police may have the power to seize and in some cases destroy the motorbike that's being ridden uninsured.

Does temporary motorcycle insurance affect an existing bike policy?

A temporary motorbike policy is entirely separate from your annual bike policy. If you need to make a claim, your no claims bonus will be unaffected - but your future bike premiums could increase.

If you're borrowing someone else's motorbike, their NCD won't be reduced either.

Can I carry pillions on a temporary policy?

You must not carry pillions with a policy provided by Tempcover.

Does temp bike insurance show up on MID?

Yes - but due to the short term nature of a temporary bike policy, your cover may have expired before your insurance details appear on the MID.

Because it can take up to 7 days to update MID, it's best to print your certificate of motorbike insurance and keep it with you to provide valid proof of insurance and legal entitlement to ride the motorcycle.

Is a No Claims Bonus provided on a temp bike policy?

No Claims Bonuses are not applicable to short term motorbike policies - but any existing bike NCB's will be unaffected.

I'm over 70. Can I get short term motorcycle insurance?

You'll need to be aged between 17 and 70 for a short term bike policy at Tempcover. If you're an older rider you might need to consider an annual policy.

Can you ride a motorcycle without insurance if you just bought it

Riding a motorbike on the road without insurance is illegal, even if you've just bought it. The minimum level of cover necessary to stay on the right side of the law and ride away with your new machine is Third Party Only.

A temporary bike insurance policy would allow you to legally ride your newly purchased motorcycle. Save the shopping around for annual cover until you have more time and are back at home after your purchase.

With a Tempcover temp bike insurance policy, you'll also have the peace of mind from fully comprehensive policies as standard.

Does anyone offer free 7 day motorcycle insurance?

Not that we know of. As with any other product or service, if it's free then you are the product!

Consider why any motorbike insurance company would give insurance away for free, and not expect anything in return.

Unless the free 7 day motorcycle insurance is part of a wider promotion, marketing campaign or dealer offer then it's very unlikely that any broker would offer a complimentary stand alone short term bike policy.

Can I let my friend ride my motorcycle?

A friend can legally ride your motorcycle if their own bike policy includes "riding other bikes", but remember that this will usually only provide cover on a third party only basis.

For greater peace of mind (it's your bike that's at risk after all!), it could be best to ask them to buy a temporary motorcycle insurance policy to cover the duration of their ride.

Whether they want to borrow it for just a few hours or several days, your bike will then have fully comprehensive cover.

Who underwrites the temporary motorbike insurance policies?

Tempcover works directly with Allianz, Ageas, Eridge Underwriting, and Somerset Bridge Group to provide temporary motorbike insurance cover to best suit your needs.

Who does the best temporary motorbike insurance?

Biker Insure partner with Tempcover, a UK based provider of temporary motorbike insurance. They're rated "Excellent" on Trustpilot, having achieved 4.8 out of five stars from almost 38,000 reviews! (as of December 2024).

Just like other kinds of insurance, the best temporary motorcycle insurance company will be the provider which offers temporary insurance that's the best fit for your personal circumstances, your bike, and your budget.

Need help finding annual motorbike insurance? Compare motorbike insurance today via Biker Insure.

Not sure if you're already covered by an annual bike policy? Visit our motorbike insurance check page to find out.

For fast, fully online temporary motorbike insurance from a leading UK provider of short term motorcycle insurance, get a quote now:

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