Switching motorcycle insurance: everything you need to know
Do you want to change your motorcycle insurance? It doesn’t have to be complicated. Comparis explains when you can cancel your motorcycle insurance and how to save money when switching.
New motorcycle insurance in two simple steps
With the motorcycle insurance comparison tool from Comparis, you can find the right motorcycle insurance for you – quickly and easily.
1. Compare premiums
The amount of premiums you have to pay for motorcycle insurance can vary greatly from one provider to another. It is therefore worth comparing different offers. You can obtain several quotes free of charge.
2. Cancel your existing motorcycle insurance
The cancellation conditions for motorcycle insurance vary. Most contracts have a minimum term and are then automatically extended for one year at a time. The period of notice is usually three months. It is best to send the cancellation letter to your current insurer by registered post.
Comparis tip
Don't want to miss the cancellation deadline for your motorcycle insurance? With the cancellation reminder from MyComparis, you will receive a reminder email in good time before the notice period expires – you can also set this up for other insurance policies.
When can I switch motorcycle insurance?
In addition to ordinary termination upon expiry of the contract, you can also terminate your motorcycle insurance extraordinarily for the following reasons:
If the insurance company increases the premiums, you can terminate the contract with effect from the end of the current insurance year. Depending on the contract, this also applies in the event of a change to the general conditions of insurance. Make sure that the cancellation letter is received by the insurance company by the last day of the insurance year at the latest.
Important: extraordinary right of termination only applies in the event of unilateral changes being made by the insurance company. You cannot cancel your insurance if the premium changes due to your own behaviour (e.g. after an accident or in the event of a change in coverage).
After a claim has been processed, both the policyholder and the insurance company may cancel the contract.
After the insurance company has confirmed that it will pay out the claim, you can terminate the contract within 14 days.
If you are buying a new motorcycle or selling your current one, then you can change your motorcycle insurance. The premium already paid for the previous insurance will be refunded on a pro rata basis.
If, on the other hand, there is a change in the owner of the motorcycle, the liability insurance will automatically be transferred to the new owner. This means that the motorcycle will be insured immediately after changing owners. After the vehicle registration document has been transferred, the new owner can cancel the insurance within 14 days and take out a new policy. The previous insurance policy normally expires from the time the new insurance policy is entered in the vehicle registration document.
In contrast to liability insurance, casco insurance (partial and collision casco) automatically ends on the date of the change of owner and is then no longer valid. The previous owner receives a pro rata refund of the premium already paid.
Types of motorcycle insurance
When changing motorcycle insurance, it makes sense to think about the level of coverage you would like. You can find important information about third-party liability, partial casco and full casco insurance here
Seven tips for saving money on motorcycle insurance
With casco insurance, you can choose the coinsurance. In general, the higher the coinsurance, the lower the insurance premiums.
You should carefully consider which add-ons you really need, as more add-ons lead to higher premiums.
For example, bonus protection insurance prevents your bonus level from being raised after an accident. Check by how much your premium would increase in the event of a claim. If the increase is only small, this add-on is not worth it.
With one-year contracts, you remain flexible. If such terms are not possible with your insurance, negotiate an annual right to terminate. This is another way you can benefit from new, lower prices.
Good to know: after three years at the latest, you have the right to terminate your motorcycle insurance every year (Art. 35a Insurance Policies Act).
You can avoid expensive surprises by carefully reading the general conditions of insurance before taking out a policy. This will ensure that you can identify any unnecessary additional costs at an early stage and clear up any ambiguities directly with the insurance company.
Some insurers allow you to save on premiums by motorcycle at its fair value. Please note, however, that a motorcycle's value drops considerably in the first few years. If you are only reimbursed the fair value in the event of a total loss, this is usually a lot less than the cost of a new motorcycle.
The fair value add-on covers the difference between the purchase price and the payout after a total loss. If you write off your motorcycle but have this cover in place, your insurer will pay you more than your vehicle is worth at the time of the accident.
Do you not ride your motorcycle in winter? If not, you can deposit your number plates at the road traffic office. During this time, you will not pay any insurance premiums or you will only pay a greatly reduced insurance premium. Please note that your motorcycle is not permitted on the road during this time and that a fee may be charged for the deposit, depending on the canton.
Good to know: some insurance companies offer you a discounted annual premium if you do not deposit your number plates.
Full casco insurance is usually only worthwhile in the first few years, after which partial casco is usually all you need. As your motorcycle gets older, you should also check the other add-ons. For example, stationary damage insurance is often only worthwhile for new motorcycles. Further tips on choosing the right cover are available here.
