What qualifies as a shed for insurers?

[PistonRings]

Ahoy, I've been looking at alternate bikes, pretty ready to pull the trigger and thought I better check insurance.

In a shed, £171 for the year. On private property, £806. Balls.

Currently I lock and cover my bike out of sight on private property. I do have a brick built shed/workshop however it would take about 20 minutes to get it in or out due to distance and physical restrictions. Not practical. It's also full of car parts and machinery I would need to rehome.

I've been looking for alternatives, and where I keep the bike I could build something like below. This would be perfect as it wouldn't block the window above where the bike is (house is built into a slight hill so inside is much higher than outside, bottom of the window is about 5ft tall).



If the above is acceptable then great. I asked my broker what would qualify as a shed and the lady said "a wood, metal or brick structure". Great. She then says "but it changes all the time so you might need to provide photos and each insurer will make their own decision so call on the day and make sure what you have is suitable". I described the above and she just said it'd be at policy inception to send the photo, but it could be liable to change.

What I don't want to do is build something like above, only to the be told its not suitable. Does anyone else have similar and no issues with insurance?

I don't want to buy a steel shed as it'll likely foul the window above where I keep it.

[Onelastattempt]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Armadillo-Motorcycle-Fold...

What about something like this ?

[PistonRings]

I asked and she did confirm that the insurers typically don't like plastic sheds, so I doubt that would class as a "shed" but very happy to be told otherwise.

[Alex Z]

That looks every bit as sturdy as a typical wooden garden shed or workshop. I had bikes in a 14x8 shed and insures were fine with it.

[Pica-Pica]

The only way to find out is ask, giving details of your proposals. The insurers may be considering theft risk, or fire risk, who knows the risks for any area/insurer.

[Drawweight]

My bike is in a wooden shed but I’ve never been asked to provide photos.

I think that the only specific was that it had to be on a solid surface e.g concrete or slabs.

[Hugo Stiglitz]

Drawweight said:

My bike is in a wooden shed but I’ve never been asked to provide photos.

I think that the only specific was that it had to be on a solid surface e.g concrete or slabs.

The issue is if you claimed for theft or damage 200miles from home would the insurance company ask for any proof then?

[Drawweight]

Hugo Stiglitz said:

Drawweight said:

My bike is in a wooden shed but I’ve never been asked to provide photos.

I think that the only specific was that it had to be on a solid surface e.g concrete or slabs.

The issue is if you claimed for theft or damage 200miles from home would the insurance company ask for any proof then?

My insurance company is aware it’s a wooden shed, I had to phone to confirm this and it’s on the insurance documents. No different from claiming it’s garaged when it’s not. I would imagine if they were in any way suspicious then they would request a copy of the police report which would identify the circumstances of the theft.

I’m not sure about theft away from home. I can’t imagine an insurance company querying it if for instance it’s nicked from the back of a hotel. Again the police report would probably be asked for.

(All speculation as I’ve never had a bike nicked)

[markst]

lovely bike - a 1998 R1 .....i had a blue one


don't ever sell it !

[Condi]

Enquire with the insurers, from memory it was anything with a solid base, so wooden shed on top of concrete pad was fine, but wooden shed places on the ground was not. Or something like that.

[KTMsm]

She's right that it varies

Over the years my insurers have insisted on :

brick built
wood ok but must have concrete floor
wood ok

Just build what suits you and then call around, I think the main reason for a shed is that it's assumed it's at the back and the bike is essentially kept out of sight