Bought a motorcycle: WA, limited casco or all-risk and what to do in the winter months

Quick answer

If you want the bottom line: for every motorcycle with a Dutch registration, WA insurance is legally required. It covers damage you cause to others with your bike, but not damage to your own motorcycle. Depending on the day value, age and your personal buffer, you then choose WA+ (also called limited casco) or all-risk. For a motorcycle older than 8 years with a day value below roughly €3,000, all-risk is generally no longer worth it and WA+ is a practical middle ground. In winter, you can opt to suspend your motorcycle; the insurance obligation then lapses as long as you do not use the vehicle on public roads. This can save you several tens of euros per month, but you must store the motorcycle safely and securely.

When taking out motorcycle insurance, matters like accessories cover (helmet, riding gear, navigation) and the transfer of no-claim years from your car insurance also come into play. Many insurers offer separate modules or higher cover for accessories, but standard compensation is often limited to a few hundred euros. No-claim years built up with your car are accepted by a significant portion of motorcycle insurers, allowing you to start immediately at a lower premium step. In the following sections, we dive deeper into each part.

WA, limited casco or all-risk: which cover suits your motorcycle?

For a motorcycle with a valid registration, you are required in the Netherlands to take out at least WA insurance. This applies even if you store the bike or only ride occasionally. WA covers bodily injury and property damage you cause to third parties with your motorcycle, including damage to any passengers you carry. Damage to your own bike, as well as theft and other risks, are excluded. That is why many motorcycle owners extend their cover to WA+ or all-risk.

*Note: exact cover differs per insurer and policy. Always check your own policy terms and schedule. The amounts and age limits are indicative based on common market practice.

Motorcycle insurance premiums are generally lower than car insurance because motorcycles cause less frequent damage and the third-party risks differ. For WA you pay on average between €4 and €8 per month, for WA+ between €8 and €18, and for all-risk easily between €18 and €40, depending on engine power, region, no-claim years and chosen excess. Newer motorcycles in large cities with higher theft risk can be at the upper end of these ranges.

Day value, accessories and riding gear: what’s covered?

Payout for damage to your own motorcycle strongly depends on the day value (current market value at the time of loss) or, with an all-risk policy including new-for-old cover, the new value during the first two to three years. For an older motorcycle, the insurer almost always pays the day value in a total loss, even if you have all-risk. That’s why it’s essential to know whether that day value still justifies the all-risk premium. Most riders switch to WA+ after year 4–6.

• Most policies offer basic cover of €500 to €1,000 for accessories; anything above that is generally not insured unless you take out an extra module or higher cover.
• Riding gear is usually only compensated if damaged during an accident; wear and tear or theft of clothing is typically excluded.
• Valuable accessories like an expensive navigation system or custom exhaust can be separately noted on the policy; do this in writing, as a verbal promise is hard to prove.
• For a stolen motorcycle, you typically receive only the value of the bike itself plus the standard covered accessories, not the full purchase price of all attached parts.

Want to know more about how day value and new-for-old are calculated? Then read our article on day value vs new value in insurance. If you have damage to your motorcycle or accessories, it’s important to report it on time. Read about when to report damage to your insurer to avoid your claim being rejected due to late reporting.

Suspending your motorcycle or seasonal cover in winter

Many riders put their motorcycle away during the winter months because of slippery roads and cold. Under Dutch law, you can suspend a motor vehicle through the RDW, temporarily freezing the registration. This means you no longer need to pay motor vehicle tax or WA insurance as long as the bike is not placed on public roads. You may then keep the vehicle only on private property or in a locked garage. Suspension is possible per quarter and offers an average saving of €15–€40 per month on premium and tax, depending on the insurance type and motorcycle taxation.

Some insurers offer seasonal cover, where the premium is automatically lower in winter because the reduced usage lowers the risk, but your motorcycle remains continuously WA-insured. This is an alternative to suspension, but the premium discount is generally more limited (often around 10–20%). Compare this with the saving from full suspension before deciding.

No-claim years and premium: what counts?

No-claim years are one of the most important factors determining what you pay for motorcycle insurance. Every insurer uses a bonus-malus ladder, with your premium discount increasing as you accumulate more claim-free years. Many motorcycle insurers also recognise no-claim years built up on a car policy. This is not a legal requirement, but in practice it is common. Conversely, you can often reuse your motorcycle no-claim years later when you insure a car. The transfer process is similar to what you go through when taking out new car insurance; read more in our guide on commission-free car insurance comparison.

How the transfer works: you usually need to provide a Roy-data overview or a claim-free statement from your car insurer to the motorcycle insurer. Some insurers transfer the years one-to-one, others reduce the number or impose a maximum of, say, 8 or 10 years. It pays to shop around, because a difference of 2–3 claim-free years can increase the premium difference between step 3 and step 6 by as much as 30%.

• Motorcycle insurers often use their own bonus-malus ladder; ask in advance about the starting point without no-claim years and the maximum discount.
• Your motorcycle no-claim years are registered separately; if you later buy a car, these years can be carried over if the new insurer accepts them.
• A claim on your motorcycle insurance can set back your no-claim years, even if you have all-risk; only protect your bonus if the premium discount outweighs the extra cost of a bonus protector.
• Use our no-claim years and premium impact checklist to calculate what each claim-free step yields and what a claim costs you.

When is advice on your motorcycle insurance useful?

Motorcycle insurance is straightforward, but there are situations where an objective second opinion reveals unexpected premium benefits or coverage gaps. Think of a recent move to a different area (which changes the theft risk), a substantial drop in your bike’s day value making all-risk expensive, or choosing to suspend your motorcycle in winter without fully understanding how it affects your casco cover. Also if you have just separated or are moving in together, your motorcycle insurance may need to switch to another policy, or package discounts may come into play. Learn more about splitting shared non-life insurance after separation.

Not sure if your current motorcycle insurance is still the best, or have you just bought a bike and want to start straight away with suitable cover? At PolisMoment you can get a non-binding content review of all your non-life insurances. One independent advisory office then looks together with you at premiums, cover, excess and possible overlaps. You receive a concrete overview, without any obligation to switch. Read about how the free non-life insurance check works and what you can expect from it in our process explanation.