Temporary Motorbike Insurance

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

Temporary motorbike insurance cover from one day to one week. Flexible short term policies 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

Temporary bike policies are all fully comprehensive

Temp bike insurance cover 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

Temp bike insurance

Biker Insure are merely advertising Tempcover Ltd t/a Tempcover. Tempcover own and operate the temporary insurance service. They are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 746985). You can check this via the financial services register on the FCA website

Short term motorcycle insurance

Motorcycle day insurance. Temporary cover from 1 to 7 days.

If you are looking for temporary motorbike insurance and require cover on a short term, occasional or daily basis, it is possible to get quotes from a UK based temporary motorcycle insurance specialist (see above advert).

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?

Temporary motorcycle insurance cover is similar to a regular annual bike insurance policy, but the insurance will only cover you for a set amount of time. The term is most often applied to motorbike policies with a short term duration and lasting from one day to a few weeks, but cover can vary from a single hour right up to an entire month.

Many temporary motorbike insurance providers offer cover from 1 day to 7 days. If you need to insure your bike for longer than one week, it's usually possible to take out another short-term policy when the initial policy ends.

Temporary bike insurance is typically offered with fully comprehensive cover, which is the maximum level of insurance protection for motorbike insurance in the UK. 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 to buy 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 temporary motorbike insurance cover 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.

Temporary motorbike insurance key benefits:

  • 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.
  • Short term motorbike policies can be bought online at any time.
  • No restrictions on when or where in the UK you can ride.

How much is temporary motorcycle insurance cover?

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 cover will generally cost less than a 7 day policy, because you're covered for less time. Bear in mind that the pro rata daily cost may work out relatively more expensive with shorter policy durations.

How to get temporary motorcycle insurance

It’s easy to get a temporary motorbike insurance quote, and shouldn’t take much longer than a couple of minutes to get covered. The information needed to get your quote will usually follow steps similar to these:

  • 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

The temporary bike insurance provider will compare the best prices from their panel of underwriters, 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 with the price and level of cover, your temporary motorbike insurance documents will usually be available instantly via email once you have paid.

What are the conditions to qualify for temporary bike insurance?

In order to buy temporary motorbike insurance, providers will often need riders to meet certain conditions such as:

  • 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.

Cover exclusions on a temporary motorbike insurance policy:

Although most riders should be able to access temporary insurance, cover is dependent on several factors and can be more restrictive than an annual policy. Exclusions may be as follows:

  • 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.

Am I covered to ride another motorbike on my existing insurance?

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

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

There are however a few things to bear in mind. Riding other bikes is typically only offered on a third-party basis (TPO). 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 a brief period of time and then cancel. However, you will typically be faced with cancellation fees, admin fees (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 motorbike insurance cover can be a cheaper way to get insured if you only need insuring in the short term, 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. 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 usually need to be over 17 years old to qualify for temporary moped insurance.

1 day motorbike insurance

Unlike short term car or van insurance which is widely available by the hour, temporary motorbike insurance is usually only available by the day, or a full 24 hour period.

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.

Short term motorcycle insurance is usually 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!

Temporary motorbike insurance cover FAQ's

Is hourly motorbike insurance available?

The shortest period of cover will usually be 24 hours. 1 hour motorbike insurance is not typically an option.

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

Can you insure a motorcycle for one day?

Yes. The minimum policy length offered by temporary motorcycle insurance providers in the UK 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?

Many providers have a maximum length of motorbike cover set at 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 or scooter for a day?

Yes. Temporary moped and scooter 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 on temporary bike insurance?

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

Can non-UK residents get temporary motorbike insurance?

You'll usually 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?

In most instances 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?

In most instances you must have made 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?

Many temporary motorbike policies don't allow pillions - always check the documents carefully if this is something you need.

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 usually need to be aged between 17 and 70 to buy a short term bike policy. 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 straight away.

Save the shopping around for annual cover until you have more time and are back at home after your purchase.

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 temporary motorbike insurance policies?

Allianz, Ageas, Eridge Underwriting, and Somerset Bridge Group are some of the underwriters who provide temporary motorbike insurance cover.

Who does the best temporary motorbike insurance?

The best temporary motorcycle insurance company will be the provider which offers temporary insurance that's best suited to 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.

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