Electric Bike Insurance

wildebus

wildebus

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My contents insurance is up for renewal (ends midnight!).
I was checking the policy details and noticed two things ...
1) It didn't cover 'Pedal Cycles with Motors' . So no electric bikes. These can be covered for an extra £57 but cover value still aa bit low
2) It didn't cover Bikes (at all) that are on a bike rack on a vehicle - as they must be secured to an immovable object.

Any recommendations for insurance policies for Electric Bikes against general theft both from home and out and about, INCLUDING when padlocked to a motorhome bike rack?

I am covered by Comfort for the motorhome insurance BTW. I don't know if MH Policies would have any cover, but would need to be cover for the bikes away from the MH as well.
 
Checked specialist Cycle policies ... start from around £85.

Ended up going with AXA (had very good experience with them a few years ago) for a full home contents insurance policy this evening.
Added Bike cover, covering bikes up to £1,500 and total of £3,000 (so easily enough in both areas) and also when secured on a vehicle rack. Extra cost of £11.99/annum so well pleased with that :)
 
Send you insurance company the purchase receipt, then they can't argue about the value.
Insure as " All risk " on your home policy. ( Van insurance almost certainly won't cover the value, they will claim that you already have a substantial value of clothes, cooking bit etc and so will only pay out a %. )
Store them inside your vehicle.
I met two people who had their bikes, locked on the back of their van taken in stationary traffic. No payout as not locked securely. They were cut off.
 
Glass man said:
Send you insurance company the purchase receipt, then they can't argue about the value.
Insure as " All risk " on your home policy. ( Van insurance almost certainly won't cover the value, they will claim that you already have a substantial value of clothes, cooking bit etc and so will only pay out a %. )
Store them inside your vehicle.
I met two people who had their bikes, locked on the back of their van taken in stationary traffic. No payout as not locked securely. They were cut off.
Click to expand...
Sounds like they maybe didn't check their policy carefully enough?
cover is: "theft when the bicycle is unattended unless in a locked building or secured by a suitable locking device to a permanent structure or a motor vehicle"
breaking this down .... 'secured by a suitable locking device' (https://amzn.to/2HCoeQR) 'to a (note "to a" and not "IN a") a motor vehicle'

This is why I chose not the cheapest quote, but one that has the cover I want and from an insurer I have experience of previous claiming from (paid out thousands of pounds for stolen tools after a break-in without having to provide receipts and easy to deal with for a stolen car payout within a couple of weeks).

Let's hope you or I will never have the opportunity to post a "told ya" post ;)

Oh, also good to have this bit of cover as well ....
"Liability to domestic staff: Up to:£10,000,000" :LOL:
 
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Our van insurance is due for renewal though AIB, and this thread prompted me to also ask them for a quote on house & contents.
They quoted me £20 cheaper than the renewal from the current insurer, including our electric bikes covered anywhere, as long as they are secured with locks - and specified that this includes locked on the bike rack which is secured to the van.
 
Phantom said:
Suitable? Just a couple of strips of drinks can would release that in seconds! At least get a lock that needs cutting! 😉
Click to expand...
a couple of strips of drinks can? what the hell does that mean?

you post a link to one then if you have a better suggestion.
 
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Insurance companies normally ask for Sold Secure Gold rating for electric bike locks so its fine, there are other locks that will take longer to "crack" but for an insurance claim, Secure Gold is the premium standard. Worth checking the type of lock though, some companies want a D lock, others prefer covered chains or cables.
 
Val54 said:
Insurance companies normally ask for Sold Secure Gold rating for electric bike locks so its fine, there are other locks that will take longer to "crack" but for an insurance claim, Secure Gold is the premium standard. Worth checking the type of lock though, some companies want a D lock, others prefer covered chains or cables.
Click to expand...
nah, just need a "strip of drinks can" to bypass it. (maybe he is drinking the cans?)
 
Val54 said:
Insurance companies normally ask for Sold Secure Gold rating for electric bike locks so its fine, there are other locks that will take longer to "crack" but for an insurance claim, Secure Gold is the premium standard. Worth checking the type of lock though, some companies want a D lock, others prefer covered chains or cables.
Click to expand...
When on the rack, as well as that Sold Secure D-Lock, I will also be using a covered Chain (this one - https://amzn.to/3l8s6Xq) and a 'normal' bike lock (this one - https://amzn.to/33pIbSF)
Seconds to add the extra ones but definately will hinder and delay any theft attempts (y)
 
wildebus said:
You post a link to one then if you have a better suggestion?
Click to expand...
All locks can easily be picked or opened without a key by just applying the right method.
So maybe best to also add a cable alarm?
When we get electric bikes they'll be out of sight in our alarmed moho garage so not such of an issue. But anything is just a deterrent, so best to make it real difficult for them. We once had a camper with a safe bolted to the floor and just enough room to get the key in on the blind side. So maybe some similar principle could be applied with say hinged solid 1"sq bar if you're that concerned? 🤔
 
The problem will always be that it is easier to cut the rack than the locks and then take the whole lot. Best advice is to always take a pic of how you've locked them up so you have evidence for the insurance if the worst happens. As far as delaying things, these locks get good ratings ...... https://www.litelok.com/
 
Phantom said:
All locks can easily be picked or opened without a key by just applying the right method.
So maybe best to also add a cable alarm?
When we get electric bikes they'll be out of sight in our alarmed moho garage so not such of an issue. But anything is just a deterrent, so best to make it real difficult for them. We once had a camper with a safe bolted to the floor and just enough room to get the key in on the blind side. So maybe some similar principle could be applied with say hinged solid 1"sq bar if you're that concerned? 🤔
Click to expand...
Obviously all locks can be defeated by some method or other. That goes without saying. It is just a matter of putting off the casual thief with a visual deterrent, and delaying the more determined ones so they move onto a softer target.

Am I that concerned? Well I am not paranoid but having multiple locks is a good idea for the reasons I give above and using an approved lock (such as the one you were so dismissive over) means that if it is broken into, I have done what I can and I utilize the suitable insurance I have taken out (which is what this thread was about).

I know I should really put the bikes into the alarmed motorhome garage as well for security, but there was a reason I can't do that? :unsure:
Oh yes, I remember.... I don't have one. Good suggestion though (y)
 
wildebus said:
My contents insurance is up for renewal (ends midnight!).
I was checking the policy details and noticed two things ...
1) It didn't cover 'Pedal Cycles with Motors' . So no electric bikes. These can be covered for an extra £57 but cover value still aa bit low
2) It didn't cover Bikes (at all) that are on a bike rack on a vehicle - as they must be secured to an immovable object.

Any recommendations for insurance policies for Electric Bikes against general theft both from home and out and about, INCLUDING when padlocked to a motorhome bike rack?

I am covered by Comfort for the motorhome insurance BTW. I don't know if MH Policies would have any cover, but would need to be cover for the bikes away from the MH as well.
Click to expand...
I’ with The NFU for home contents insurance & discussed this issue with them. Their view was that if the bikes were chained to the bike rack & that this was secured to the motorhome then they would consider them fixed to an immovable object.
 
aviva covers are ebikes at home and away. subject to being secured to the motorhome when away, they dont specify the locks
 
Last time I took insurance out for bikes (I take the risk nowadays), they said OK if locked to the van,but if the van was pinched they wouldn't pay out. I got them to put it in writing.Sorry,can't remember who that was with as some time ago.
If anything is an add-on and not standard,nail them down and get it in writing.
 
Phantom said:
Suitable? Just a couple of strips of drinks can would release that in seconds! At least get a lock that needs cutting! 😉
Click to expand...
Lock that needs cutting ....
this will be easy-peasy ...



maybe not ;)
 
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