Is my motorcycle covered if I store it for winter?

Yes, in most cases your motorcycle stays covered while it is stored for the winter, as long as you keep the policy active. Even when you are not riding, your bike can still be damaged by fire, theft, falling objects, or storm damage, and that is exactly what your coverage is for during the off-season.

The protection that matters most in storage is comprehensive coverage. Comprehensive pays for losses that happen while the motorcycle is parked, such as theft from a garage, a tree limb falling on it, or fire. Liability coverage, on the other hand, mainly applies when you are riding, since it covers injuries or damage you cause to others.

Here is a common Georgia example. You store your motorcycle in a backyard shed from December through February. A winter storm collapses part of the shed onto the bike. If you carried comprehensive coverage through the storage period, that damage can be covered, subject to your deductible.

This is why many riders are tempted to cancel coverage for the winter to save money, but doing so leaves the bike exposed to theft and damage during the very months it sits unattended. A better option is often a reduced storage or lay-up policy that keeps comprehensive in force while trimming the coverages you do not need while parked.

Want help right-sizing your off-season coverage so you save money without taking on risk? Request a free coverage review today.