Switching motorcycle insurance

1. Ordinary termination when the contract expires

The termination conditions for motorcycle insurance policies vary. Most contracts have a minimum term and automatically renew for one year at a time.

Some insurance companies offer flexible contracts with no minimum term, so you can cancel at any time at short notice.

How to cancel

It’s best to send the termination letter to your current insurance company by registered mail. Most insurers require three months’ notice. Be aware of the cancellation deadlines of the various insurance companies. On Comparis, you can request a cancellation reminder free of charge and receive a reminder email in time.

2. If premiums rise

If the insurance company increases the premiums or changes the general conditions of insurance, you can cancel the contract at the end of the current insurance year.

Make sure that the cancellation letter reaches the insurance company by the last day of the insurance year at the latest.

3. After a claim that the insurer had to pay

After a claim has been settled, the contract may be terminated in Switzerland by both the insurance company and the policyholder.

Once the insurance company has confirmed its coverage of the claim, the policyholder can terminate the contract within 14 days.

4. Change of vehicle or change of ownership

If you sell your old motorcycle and buy a new one, you can change your motorcycle insurance. The premium paid in advance for the previous insurance policy will be refunded to you, as the policyholder, on a pro rata basis.

If, on the other hand, the owner of a motorcycle changes and the licence plate is transferred to another person, the liability insurance is automatically transferred to the new owner. This means that the motorcycle is insured immediately after transfer of ownership. After handover of the vehicle registration document, the new owner can cancel the insurance policy within 14 days and take out a new insurance policy. The previous insurance policy usually expires from the time at which the new insurance policy is entered in the vehicle registration document.

In contrast to liability insurance, casco insurance (partial casco and collision casco) automatically ends on the date of the change of owner and is then no longer valid. The previous owner will receive a pro rata refund of the premium paid.

Should you deposit the licence plate over winter or waive suspension?

A “waiver of suspension” means that the licence plate is not deposited with the authorities during winter. The premium is paid for the whole year – i.e. also in winter when you hardly use your motorcycle. In return, you get a discount of 25–30%.

If you want to refrain from using your motorcycle for the entire duration of winter, you are best opting for the option of depositing your licence plate. You can usually save more on premiums this way.

Lower premium thanks to the deductible

You can choose your own deductible for casco insurance and reduce your premium. However, the reduction in premiums is rather limited.

Current value versus replacement value supplement

Some providers offer reduced premiums if you only insure your motorcycle at the current value. However, bear in mind that a motorcycle loses considerable value over the first few years. In the event of a write-off, only the current value is reimbursed. This sum is much less than what you would need to buy a new motorcycle.

Choose the right add-ons

The more limited your insurance policy is, the cheaper it is. You should therefore carefully consider which add-ons you really need. For example, bonus protection cover prevents the policyholder from being placed in a higher bonus level following 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 may not be worthwhile. Do you want your insurance to pay if you fall and your motorcycle clothing gets damaged or if the clothing is stolen?

Check your general conditions of insurance

Carefully read through the general conditions of insurance before taking out a policy to avoid expensive surprises. In this way, you can identify unnecessary additional costs at an early stage and clarify any ambiguities directly with the insurance company.

Adjust the insurance cover as the motorcycle gets older

Full casco insurance only pays off in the first few years. Afterwards, partial casco insurance is sufficient. You should also check any other add-ons. Expensive cover for damage while parked only makes sense for new motorcycles.

Choose a short contract period

One-year contracts allow you to remain flexible. If this is not an option with your insurer, you can negotiate the right to cancel the contract on a yearly basis. This way, you may still be able to benefit from new, low prices. Any years of accident-free driving will be credited to your new insurance policy.