Who pays for the recovery?
If the accident wasn’t your fault, the cost of recovering and storing your bike is normally part of your claim against the other driver’s insurer, along with the repair or the bike’s value, damaged kit and other losses. If it was your fault, a comprehensive policy may cover the recovery. Either way, you’ll need the paperwork.
What to keep from the recovery
- The invoice, with the date, the collection address and where the bike was taken.
- Photos of the bike before it was moved, and again when it was unloaded. Ask the driver to wait while you take them.
- The scene: the road surface, the junction, the other vehicle’s position, skid marks and debris. These disappear within hours.
- Storage records, if the bike went to a police yard or a storage compound: the dates it went in and came out and what you paid.
- Where the bike is now. Insurers and engineers often want to inspect it. Don’t start repairs or scrap it until they say so.
Storage costs add up
Police yards and storage compounds charge for every day a bike stays there. An insurer can refuse costs that built up because nobody moved the bike. Once it’s released, get it moved to your home, a dealer or your insurer’s approved repairer. See accident recovery.
Replacement bikes and credit hire
If you weren’t at fault, you may be offered a replacement bike through the other insurer or a credit hire company. That can be very useful if you ride to work. Read the agreement first and check who pays if the claim fails.
Injury claims and time limits
In England and Wales you normally have three years from the date of the accident to start an injury claim. The 2021 whiplash rules that cap small road-traffic injury claims don’t apply to motorcyclists or pillion passengers. If the other driver was uninsured or drove off, a claim may still be possible through the Motor Insurers’ Bureau. For any injury, speak to a solicitor who handles motorcycle cases.
Claims across the North West
We collect crashed bikes across Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Cheshire, Lancashire and Cumbria, from Stockport and Warrington to St Helens, Runcorn, Wigan and Burnley. Every recovery comes with an invoice you can send to your insurer or solicitor.
This is general information, not legal advice. See also what to do after a motorbike accident.
FAQ
Rider questions
Can I claim the recovery cost if the accident wasn’t my fault?
Usually, yes, as part of your claim against the other driver’s insurer. Keep our invoice and any storage receipts.
Do you handle accident claims or compensation?
No. We recover and transport the bike and give you the paperwork. For compensation, speak to your insurer or a solicitor.
Can you move my bike from a police yard to my insurer’s repairer?
Yes, once it’s released. Tell us the yard and the repairer, and you hear the price before we set off.