Cyclists are vulnerable road users becuase they often don’t have dedicated cycle lanes and share with fast-moving traffic. Additionally, thousands of bikes are stolen in the UK each year and many of these thefts occur away from home, so they can’t be covered on home insurance. Cycle insurance is not a legal requirement in the UK but given the risks of a personal accident, damage or theft it should be considered equally as important as car insurance or motorcycle insurance for frequent cyclists.
Choosing to get cycle insurance depends on many factors, including the bike’s value of your bike and also the level of risk to the cyclist/bicycle. This includes the risk of personal injury, damage or theft of your bike. Other factors like how often you use your bike can influence the decision to get cycle insurance.
it is a common misconception that second-hand bikes cannot be insured. As long as certain requirements are met, then second-hand bike insurance is the same as new bike insurance. This guide will help you understand everything you need to know about insuring your second-hand bike.
It can be much more affordable to buy a second-hand or refurbished bike instead of one that’s
brand new. While you can insure second-hand bikes you may want to consider whether you have the right documentation and if it would be worth it.
There are a few requirements before any bicycle can be insured. To get insurance, you will needproof of ownership of your bike, the known bike value of the bike and a frame number. The bike will need to be in your possession and in full working order on the date of policy initiation.
ALA requires that you use an approved lock according to the value of your bike. Check which lock you need in our bike insurance policy documents here. You may also need to provide proof of purchase for Sold Secure Locks, such as a purchase receipt.
Evidence of ownership may be a till receipt, delivery note or invoice issued to you or to a direct family member, or, if the cycle was gifted to you, a gift receipt issued by the retailer. If your purchase or ownership of your bike cannot be proven, then it cannot be insured. You will also need to know the value of the bicycle, and a gift receipt may not contain this information.
ALA cycle insurance requires that cyclists provide a frame number for each bicycle that they wish to cover.
Most bicycles have a frame number stamped into the metal under the bottom bracket. If it’s a carbon frame, the number will be etched into the surface or displayed on a sticker. Occasionally, the frame number will be on the inside of the chain stay or on the down tube or top tube.
If you want to insure a valuable vintage bicycle, provided you have bought it from a recognised retailer and you have proof of purchase, it may be difficult to find a frame number or there may not be one at all. In this case, ALA will not be able to offer bike insurance.
Your second-hand bike must be fully functional for it to be insured by ALA; aesthetic damage will not affect your insurance. If your bike is faulty, you must repair all faults and have the bike back in your possession by the date of your insurance policy initiation. ALA cannot cover a bike that is not yet in your (or a direct family member’s) possession.
It is an offense to purchase a stolen bike knowingly, and should the police discover that your bicycle is stolen they may seize it and you may not be compensated. Check your bike here.
ALA and many other cycle insurance plans do not cover aesthetic damage to bicycles. However, it may help with accidental damage claims to have pictures of your second-hand bike from the date your insurance policy was initiated.
It may also help if you can prove that your bike had been stored in line with security
requirements – such as locking it to an immovable object – should vandalism or theft occur.
Insurance for your second-hand bike will be important if you have a high-value bike or if you are at high risk of personal injury, damage or theft. You may want to consider bike insurance if you use your second-hand bike frequently or if you tour with your bike.
The cost of bike insurance depends on how valuable the bike is that you want to insure, what you choose as excess cover and which add-ons you decide are appropriate for your lifestyle. Whether you decide to pay a lump sum or in monthly instalments will affect the total cost of bike insurance. Get a quote for ALA cycle insurance here.
Standard bike insurance will cover theft or damage to the insured bicycle. ALA offers additional covers including accessory cover, cycle rescue, replacement cycle hire, public liability, personal injury, legal expenses, commuting cover, competing cover and worldwide cover. You may wish to use bicycle insurance in addition to home contents insurance and travel insurance as this covers your bike when you are away from home or abroad.
Cycle insurance, unlike car insurance, is not a legal requirement in the UK. However, cyclists are vulnerable road users and insurance is recommended. If you are a frequent cyclist, or use your bike for commuting, racing, extreme sports or long distances, you should especially consider specialist cycle insurance. Bicycle theft is also common, so valuable and specialist pedals should be insured.
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Cycle Insurance
