Need help. Can people test ride my bike?... It's not insured

[0l0dom0l0]

The time has come to sell my Fazer.

I transferred the existing policy (well what's left) on the new FZ6 I bought, so as it stands the Fazer isn't insured.

The bikes got MOT, and Tax which brings me to my first question... Am I breaking the law by having the bike taxed and not insured?

Its garaged, off the road if that helps anyone.

Now with regards to test riding, people will want to test ride the bike.... fine. On my insurance policy, I'm allowed to ride other bikes 3rd party and the exact wording of this is as follows:

The Policyholder may also drive a motorcycle not belonging to him/her and not
hired to him/her under a hire purchase or leasing agreement, as long as the
Policyholder has the owner's permission to drive it and provided that the
Policyholder is not in the motor trade of car hire business.

Which says nothing about the bike being insured.

So my question is, if someone has wording on their policy the same as this can they test ride the bike legally?

Or do bikes HAVE to have a valid insurance policy when on the road at all?

Help is much appreciated.
____________________
CBT Passed: 30/08/2009, Theory Passed: 31/08/2010, Mod 1 Passed: 6/9/2010, Mod 2 Passed: 13/09/2010. Restriction ended 13/09/2012.

Bikes: 2007 Derbi GPR 50, 1998 Yamaha Fazer 600 (written off), 2002 Yamaha Fazer 600, 1994 CBR 600F, 2003 Triumph Daytona 600, Kawasaki ZX6R J1.....Current: 2006 Yamaha FZ6, 1998 Suzuki TL1000R and a Honda VFR 400 NC30.

[Shaane]

I had my old G2 ninja tax and MOT'd in my garage with no insurance and have just received a £100 fine off the DVLA 5 months later. If the bike isn't insured then other peoples insurance won't cover them I don't think. My insurance says I can ride other vehicles providing that vehicle is insured by the other aswell.

HTH
____________________
EMRA Roadstock #92 - Paperwork Permitted.
Previous: 1992 DT125R
Current: ~ 2005 ZX6R C1H

[rtho782]

If that is their wording they are doing nothing wrong by riding it.

However, as it is not insured, you should legally have it SORN'd as part of the new continuous insurance regime, or you are liable for a fine.

If it is SORN'd, it is not allowed on the road.

Another reason the continuous insurance rubbish is stupid, it prevents a perfectly reasonable situation.

[GREENI3]

In theory, if it's not insured, it has to be SORN or risk a fine.

Since you haven't got insurance on the bike, nobody could be insured to test ride it if they were planning to use a special condition on their own insurance (eg. able to drive other vehicles on TPO)

They could only test ride it if they took out an individual policy on your bike, unless the dvla catch on that the bike has been uninsured even for just a few days.

[UnspeedySam]

I read somewhere that the continuous insurance rubbish might get phased out at the beginning of next year. No idea if there is any truth in it though...
____________________
Riding: BMW R1150RT `02 bought mildly crashed
Fixing: Also the BMW as I get less broken bits
Gone: ZZR600 '00, TRX850 '97, RXS100 '93, JS125-6B '07, BMW R1100RS '93, Kawasaki ZX-6R-J2 '01, Honda Bros NT400 NC25 '88

[junglejim]

[J.M.]

[Rogerborg]

You've got loads of grace. Workmate got about 3 months before the first reminder letter, and I had two bikes taxed and not insured last year, for about 6 months. I just ignored the flurry of "Now you will pay" threats from Capita Group Plc DVLA Collections, and they seem to have got bored and sodded off.

As noted, whether riders are insured on your bike is entirely down to what it says on their certificate of insurance.

From your point of view, you shall not be convicted of allowing them to ride your bike without insurance if "[you] neither knew nor had reason to believe that there was not in force in relation to the vehicle such a policy of insurance or security as is mentioned in subsection (1) above."

A chap's word is his bond, as far as I'm concerned. If it bothers you, ask test pilots to sign a declaration that they have 3rd party insurance, and to leave some ID with you (and take a copy while they're out so that you can shop them later if necessary).

If you're really worried, sell the bike with a 30 minute money back guarantee. Cash in your hand, sign a bill of sale, and come back in 30 minutes to either get the money back, or pick up the V5C.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[Shaane]

Because the vehicle was still taxed and MOT'd but had no insurance on it. It's part of the new scheme to stop uninsured vehicles on the road. It was in my garage for 5 months with no insurance.
____________________
EMRA Roadstock #92 - Paperwork Permitted.
Previous: 1992 DT125R
Current: ~ 2005 ZX6R C1H

[multijoy]

[0l0dom0l0]

I've had a thorough read through my policy documents. It doesn't mention anywhere that for me to ride a bike TPO it MUST be insured.

So hypothetically, I'm looking at buying a bike. I want a rest ride but its not insured by the seller. It's got MOT and Tax etc.

Under my policy my understanding is I am covered to do that.

In my dads policy however, it says that he must not be the owner blah blah and the bike MUST BE INSURED.

I just wanted to cover my arse, incase someone did get stopped. Didn't fancy the £130 recovery charge or whatever.
____________________
CBT Passed: 30/08/2009, Theory Passed: 31/08/2010, Mod 1 Passed: 6/9/2010, Mod 2 Passed: 13/09/2010. Restriction ended 13/09/2012.

Bikes: 2007 Derbi GPR 50, 1998 Yamaha Fazer 600 (written off), 2002 Yamaha Fazer 600, 1994 CBR 600F, 2003 Triumph Daytona 600, Kawasaki ZX6R J1.....Current: 2006 Yamaha FZ6, 1998 Suzuki TL1000R and a Honda VFR 400 NC30.

[Rogerborg]

Unfortunately since the bike isn't on the MID it's liable to be stopped. However, their certificate of insurance (if it covers other bikes and doesn't mention them having to be insured) is completely sufficient to allow them to proceed. There was a Court of Appeals case about this recently, where Their Lordships noted that there is literally nothing else that a driver/rider can produce in order to satisfy the relevant legislation, either at the time or afterwards.

However to the however, Plod might not know that and will go by Computer Says No - in the case in question, they called the insurer and were told by a phone mong (flatly contradicting the certificate that the underwriter had issued) "Oh, no, there needs to be a policy covering the vehicle", so Plod seized it.

However to the however to the however, they'll be bang in the wrong to do so if they're shown a valid certificate, and you should be able to recover all of your costs eventually based on the existing case law.

All of which would be a huge ball ache though, which is why I suggest selling it with a money back guarantee, then it's not your problem what happens while the new owner is out riding their bike.