Laid up policy/SORN

[er-minio]

Simple question for the UKGSer hive-mind.

I have three bikes, currently on a multipolicy. They've been on a multipolicy for about a decade (bar 2024).
One of the bikes (HP - main bike on the policy) is used only during summer, GS used regularly, DRZ sparse greenlaning use.

I never SORNed any of the bikes because the insurer scared me off that if I sorned the HP, the policy would be void for the other two bikes, etc. etc.
Given that the savings would have been minimal (less than ~100 quid a year) I never bothered, and I am still of that idea.

Scenario is changing now.
Due to various personal circumstances my use of the bikes dropped dramatically (I hope this will revert in the future).
When I was battling to get an insurance coverage last January at some point I asked myself if I should have bothered.
We are now in June and I did a grand-total of 300km all year on my GS.

I am trying to understand what lies ahead for me, but considering about 1.3k insurance a year (+ lock up rental)... if I'm gonna be in the same conditions for the next 12 months... I might consider not insuring (and not using) the bikes at all for a while. This also strongly depends on what happens with my lock-up rental as the contract is up and I'm being suspicious about potential big changes there as well.

My question is: are laid up insurance covers a viable option?
Would I be able to insure the bikes for theft only while stored off the road?
Is it a stupid thing to do: for example, the savings are not worth the faff, etc.
I don't know anyone that did it, so no idea how it works.

In really hope I won't have to do this, as it is depressing, but I'm looking at all the options currently.

 

[SPL]

I got a laid up policy via BeMoto.

Premium not significantly lower than TPF&T but, significantly for me, I am holding on to a bike that I am undecided about selling until I’m happy with the replacement, so not having it vying for my NCD was useful.

 

[Wapping]

Yes, but you need a cooperative insurer.

I have a multi-vehicle policy. For the outright sports cars. I have them in storage over the winter, declared as SORN. The insurer simply removes the road risk (the compulsory section) making it very clear to me that the vehicle cannot go on a public road. It doesn’t save a fortune but hey. A lot of insurers might well be reluctant to do this, for fear that their client ‘forgets’.

What they would dislike is a bod who chops and changes SORN, more often than a whore drops her drawers.

 

[er-minio]

Thanks both.

Yes, another reason I never sorned was to genuinely forget. Again, saving 100 quid is not worth the risk.

What I’m talking in this case is literally have to put the bikes in “storage mode” as I will not have time/possibility to use them.
Especially if I loose the lock up.

I’ll speak with the insurer, see if they have it as an option.

 

[Wapping]

There used to be an insurer, trading with the public, who offered a policy with a ‘laid up’ option. I forget who it was, simply as I didn’t need to consider it.

I guess it might be easier if the vehicles are ‘laid up’ at home? If they are away from your home location you might, I guess, not realise they are gone / damaged for a while, which might bother some insurers?

Have you thought about putting them into ‘professional’ storage, where the obligation to insure falls on the storage company? This might be more expensive, though you might (I guess again) lose the option of returning to your existing storage garage. If that’s true, say to your landlord, I want to come back in X months.

 

[er-minio]

Nope at home. (Until I buy something new, that was in the cards).

Professional storage might be an option (and getting rid of the drz in case).

I might be overly paranoid. Lock up might end up just being a price increase (I am fearing they might sell the lot of garages) and I might come back to a normal life/schedule soon-ish.