There are many things you will need to think about when you hop on your bike, including ensuring that the cycle is appropriate for its purpose, your personal safety and how secure your bike will be when not in use.
Cycle insurance can help to protect your bike so that you are supported financially in the event of theft and/or damage. So, what are the requirements for this kind of insurance cover, and how will these impact your ability to make a claim on a policy?
In this article, we will cover the requirements of a cycle insurance policy as well as the security requirements you will have to follow for this kind of insurance.
To get the right kind of bike insurance for you from a provider such as ALA, there are certain requirements that you will need to meet. To purchase a policy, you must be at least 18 years of age and a permanent resident of the United Kingdom.
ALA will only agree to an insurance cover for your bike if you can provide proof of ownership, a frame number and a value for the bicycle. The maximum value we can provide cover for is £6,000. You will also need to make sure that the bike is in good working order and in your possession at the time of policy inception.
There are several security requirements that you will need to meet in order to make a cycle insurance claim when it comes to theft or accidental damage. These relate to where you can keep your cycle while it is not in use, and how it should be secured.
When your bicycle is not being used, it must, at all times, be secured with a lock that has been approved by your insurance policy as appropriate for the value of the bike.
When your bike is in its insured, secure location, you must keep it in one of a few named places. Your bicycle should be stored in a self-contained space on your premises where only you and your direct family members are in residence.
The bicycle may also be stored in a self-contained and fully lockable private room if you live in shared accommodation with people who are not your direct family members. Another option is to keep your bicycle in a self-contained garage or outbuilding (such as a shed) which is on the grounds of the insured, secure location.
If you want to secure your bike in a public place or outside of your place of work during the day, the bike must be secured through its frame and quick-release wheels to an immovable object using an appropriate lock. It cannot be left unattended within the boundaries of a train, bus or coach station or your workplace for more than 24 hours.
There are some security requirements that you will need to meet that are specific to your bicycle being in or on a vehicle. If you want to keep your bike secured in a vehicle—at any time of the day, not just overnight—you need to ensure that all doors, windows and openings are properly shut and locked securely. All security devices such as CCTV cameras must be functioning correctly and without damage.
Your cycle will also need to be secured in a part of your vehicle where it is not in clear view, or it will need to be secured using the frame/quick-release wheels using a lock that has been approved for the style and value of the bicycle.
If your bicycle is to be left unattended overnight (specifically between nine in the evening and six in the morning) it must be covered so that it is not visible to anyone from outside the vehicle. During these hours, if your bicycle is being kept on the outside of your vehicle (such as on a bike rack), you will need to remove it and place it inside your vehicle or in another secure location.
When travelling, you must also consider your vehicle itself, as this can have an impact on making a claim should your bicycle be lost, stolen or damaged. Your vehicle will need to be fully insured with valid motor insurance and have current road tax and a valid MOT certificate where applicable. Most importantly, your windows and doors must be secure, with locks that function and are not easily tampered with.
If you ensure that your bicycle is safe within these boundaries while at home and during travel, then you should not have any issues making a claim if your bicycle is stolen or suffers from accidental damage. While your insurance company will appreciate that unfortunate incidents can happen, it is important that you have taken every reasonable step to prevent this in order for your claim to be valid.
As you can see, there are a few requirements and factors that you should bear in mind before you purchase a bicycle insurance policy. However, this cover can be a valuable resource, protecting one of your most precious and useful assets. If you want to find the right cycle insurance policy for you, get in touch with ALA to see how we could help.
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