Compare the UK's best bicycle insurance policies to find the right cover for your needs. Our Comparison is based on bicycles worth £1,000. Your quote may vary depending on your age and location.
Use this table to compare bicycle insurance from 5 bicycle insurance policies ordered by cheapest yearly cost first.
Legally you are not required to buy bicycle insurance and sometimes your bike is covered by your house contents insurance.
However, house insurers don't always cover the whole amount of a bicycle and only cover you for items that have been stolen at home which is rarely the case with bicycles.
You should consider specialist policies depending on how much you've spent on your bicycle and where you usually keep it.
Another reason you might consider getting bicycle insurance is for public liability cover and personal accident.
In this case, if you accidentally damage someone's property or another person while riding your bike you are typically covered to up to 2m from your insurance.
Also, if you have an accident while on your bike then your insurer will cover hospital fees via your personal accident cover.
Before you begin your search of a bicycle cover it's good to know what you need to look for in an insurance policy.
Bicycle Insurance Checklist
Is pedal insurance included?
Where is my bicycle insured?
How long can I leave my bicycle on its own (e.g. is overnight covered)?
What lock is required for me to purchase?
Does it cover my bike in case of theft and vandalism?
Does it provide me with public liability and personal accident cover?
What is the policy's excess?
Does it cover accessories?
Does it provide new for old cover if my bicycle can't be repaired?
We have researched the best bicycle insurance providers and created a comparison table that highlights all the important factors you need to look for before buying. So you don't have to do all the heavy lifting!
Types of bikes covered
Mountain bikes
Road bikes
Folding bikes
Electric bikes
Chainless bikes
What does bicycle insurance typically cover?
Theft
Damage and vandalism of your bike
Replacement while your bike is getting fixed
Cycling accident
Third party liability
Legal expenses
The following cover tends to come as standard or an additional fee with mid-range/premium policies:
Damage while in an official race
Refund for race fees if you can't compete
Accessories that are not part of the bike (eg, lights that clip on and off)
Bike clothing
Bicycle breakdown cover
Taking the bike abroad
What does it not covered?
Using a bicycle for an income (e.g if you are a courrier)
If you can't provide receipts
Damage in the exterior like scratches
Accessories
Getting into an accident due to neglect (e.g cycling drunk)
Excess
Most bicycle insurers require you to pay excess. This means that, when you make a claim you are required to pay some money towards it.
There are different ways to charge excess:
Some insurers charge you a percentage of your claim. For example 5% of the total claim.
A set a fee based on the value of your bicycle. So the more your bicycle worth the more you have to pay towards the claim.
A lot of insurers set a standard fee for all claims for around £100.
Considering the different types of excess is very important. For instance, if your bike worth less than £300 and you have to pay a fee of £100 in every claim then you might be better off not having a specialist insurance or getting a policy with excess calculated as a percentage.
Locks
Most insurers require you to have locks in order to be able to make a valid claim.
They typically use the bicycle lock system known as Sold Secure that rates the strength of bicycle locks.
You will need one of the following locks depending on the value of your bicycle:
Bronze Approved Lock: Required for bicycles up to £250 and it costs from £25.
Silver Approved Lock: Required for bicycles from £251 to £1,500 and prices start from £40
Gold Approved Lock: Required for bicycles over £1,500 and prices start from £50
Some last pointers about bicycle insurance!
You need to keep the bicycle safe or might be refused insurance. This means, you need to securely lock it when left unattended.
Read carefully your insurance policy details as they might be limits to how long can be left outside. Typically up to 24 hours.
If you break the law while riding your bike (e.g. cycling drunk then it is very likely that your insurer will refuse to pay you.
It might be a good idea to register your bike in case it gets recovered. Some companies provide free registration.
Read carefully the wear and tear and excess policy details. There is a deprecation clause where the value of your bike gets reduced over the years. For example, after 2 years might worth a 20% less than you originally insured it for.
Q
Do you need bicycle insurance?
A
You do not legally need insurance, but it can cover the cost of damage to your bike, or any damage you cause while cycling.
Q
Will I be covered if I crash my bike?
A
Yes, it can cover the cost of any damage to your bike, and you can make a claim if you suffer a serious injury, or if you damage someone else's property.
Q
Does bicycle insurance cover my bike abroad?
A
Most insurers do up to 60 days but you need to check the policy details before purchasing.
Q
Will my bicycle accessories and clothes be covered?
A
This depends on the policy. Sometimes you need to added in but typically you are covered.
Q
Do I need to use a specific lock for my bike?
A
Yes, most insurers only accept a claim for theft if your bike has been secured using an approved lock.
About our bicycle insurance comparison
Q
Who do we include in this comparison?
A
We include bicycle insurance policies available from our panel of insurers and brokers. They are all regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Q
How do we make money from our comparison?
A
We have commercial agreements with some of the companies in this comparison and get paid commission if we help you take out one of their products or services.
Q
Do we offer the comparison service for free?
A
Yes, it's completely free for you to use, whether or not you take out a policy. You also do not pay any extra to our panel, the deal you get is not affected.
