Insuring company registered bike in your name?

**Ducati Kip** · 16 Apr 08, 05:55 PM

Hi everyone, has anyone managed to insure in your own name a bike that is registered to a (your) company?

Collecting a 998s FE I buying at the weekend and was planning to register to in my company name (for obvious reasons!) but the first few companies I have tried won't insure it unless it's registered to me.
Tried- Bennett's and Motorcycle Direct so far, both said no!

Bugger!!

Help!

**Sorted** · 16 Apr 08, 06:31 PM

I did but that was back in 1998 on a 996SPS (don't know if that can be done now).

Also, let the company buy the bike and was able to claim back the Vat!!
My accountant said that anything with 3 wheels or less (but also our vans) were able to have the Vat claimed back, as long as I could demonstrate that it was used for company business.

I could of course

cuz used it to go to some surveys and meetings etc in London, to avoid the traffic hassles of taking the car.
The company also supplied Crash Helmet, Leathers etc etc for the safety of the Director using the bike and even a couple of track days (well they went down as Training Days)!
Road Tax, a few extras, servicing...................

After 3 years I bought it off the company (well voted it to myself as a dividend actually) at a VERY reasonable price! Cuz my friendly dealer gave me a valuation which reflected its poor condition (Not)!

**998gsb** · 16 Apr 08, 07:00 PM

There is no reason why it should not be straight forward - all contract hire vehicles are registered to the lender funding the contract hire agreement, but it is the individual who insures it.

**Ducati Kip** · 16 Apr 08, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sorted

I did but that was back in 1998 on a 996SPS (don't know if that can be done now).

Also, let the company buy the bike and was able to claim back the Vat!!
My accountant said that anything with 3 wheels or less (but also our vans) were able to have the Vat claimed back, as long as I could demonstrate that it was used for company business.

I could of course

cuz used it to go to some surveys and meetings etc in London, to avoid the traffic hassles of taking the car.
The company also supplied Crash Helmet, Leathers etc etc for the safety of the Director using the bike and even a couple of track days (well they went down as Training Days)!
Road Tax, a few extras, servicing...................

After 3 years I bought it off the company (well voted it to myself as a dividend actually) at a VERY reasonable price! Cuz my friendly dealer gave me a valuation which reflected its poor condition (Not)!

Just the kind of thing I had in mind

But finding an insurance company is the problem that will cover me with the bike registered to the company

**Sorted** · 16 Apr 08, 07:59 PM

Was a while back but I was with Norwich Union then.

**hughdg** · 16 Apr 08, 10:03 PM

So far as I can see the problem lies in who has purchased the bike.If it is ordered and paid for by a company then it would I think be difficult to prove ownership otherwise and if successful it would surely defeat the object of the excercise.It might be better to just have it as a company vehicle on which you pay the fuel costs for private mileage and pay the taxman accordingly as it is unlikely to be a vast amount of money each month,the company can claim depreciation as on any other vehicle and you can buy it off the company in the future at a suitable price.If you factor in the saving on insurance,servicing etc. which the company would presumably cover the cost of I think it may still work out quite well.Just an idea but a good accountant should be able to advise you on the best way to go about it and how the money side of it would work out.

**RodH** · 16 Apr 08, 10:07 PM

My last few bikes have been company bikes, but registered in my name with my accountants blessing. I think you'll find that registered name and ownership are not the same, so as long as you can prove the company bought the bike and own it, then it doesn't matter whos name its actually registered in.

**Ducati Kip** · 17 Apr 08, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RodH

My last few bikes have been company bikes, but registered in my name with my accountants blessing. I think you'll find that registered name and ownership are not the same, so as long as you can prove the company bought the bike and own it, then it doesn't matter whos name its actually registered in.

Oh that's interesting, I'll run that by the accountant this morning it would take a load of hassle out of sorting the insurance.

Thanks mate.

**gordonp** · 17 Apr 08, 11:07 AM

The log book is for registered KEEPER, not owner as it says on the log book, you should be OK