Electric bicycle insurance

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Why do I need electric bike insurance? 

Electric bikes can cost a lot more than regular bikes, but if you use yours as day-to-day transport, then locking it up outside a shop or train station is probably a necessary part of your routine. 

But even locked bicycles are at huge risk of theft - according to the Office of National Statistics, there were 271,000 incidents of bicycle theft between April 2019 and March 2020. More than 80% of those thefts took place away from home. 

If your bike’s properly secured, a bicycle insurance policy will cover you for theft and damage caused by vandals.      

Unfortunately, theft isn’t the only risk that comes along with cycling. In 2021, the Department for Transport reported 16,479 cyclists were killed or injured in reported road accidents. 

You can get personal injury cover with your electric bicycle insurance, which will give you a pay out if you’re hurt while cycling. 

Electric bicycle insurance

Electric bicycle insurance isn’t compulsory, but could you afford to repair or replace your bike?

It might be worth checking your home contents policy or considering specialist insurance to see what cover you can get

Electric bikes and home insurance 

Before you take out a specialist electric bike insurance policy, check your home insurance to see what cover you have for pedal cycles. 

Most contents insurance policies that include bikes have a low cover limit, which is likely to be below the value of your electric bike, and unlikely to cover bicycle theft away from the home. 

You might be able to add cover for bicycles away from home for less than a specialist bicycle insurance policy, so check with your insurer. 

Getting the right electric bicycle insurance for you

When you’re comparing specialist electric bicycle insurance, check you’re covered for:

  1. Theft at home or away

  2. Replacement cycle hire

  3. Malicious or accidental damage

  4. Personal accident

  5. Third party liability

  6. Cover for helmets, clothing and accessories

  7. Policy extras - cover for family members, competition use, bicycle breakdowns and riding your bike abroad

When does an electric bicycle become a moped? 

If your electric bike can reach 15.5mph, it could be classed as a moped. 

Electric bikes must comply with the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles - EAPC - (Amendment) Regulations 2015. 

They must have:

  • Pedals capable of propelling the bike 
  • A max power of no more than 250W 
  • A max speed, with power assistance, of 15.5mph: you can go faster, but only under your own pedal power

If your bike is classed as a moped, then you’ll have to tax it and take a Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) course.  

Mopeds are required to have insurance by law, so you’d have to pay for that too.

Electric bicycles might also be called:

  1. e-bikes

  2. eBikes

  3. powerbikes

  4. booster bikes 

  5. Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles (EAPCs)

Top tips for cheaper electric bike insurance 

As well as shopping around to find the right deal for you, make sure you store your bicycle securely, with a sturdy lock and preferably in a locked garage or shed as well. 

Don’t leave it parked in public for too long either - some insurers won’t pay out on claims for bikes left unattended for longer than 12 hours.  

Cycling under the influence of drink or drugs is illegal and will invalidate your insurance.  

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[1]Gocompare.com introduces customers to i-Wonder, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Gocompare.coms relationship with i-Wonder is limited to that of a business partnership, no common ownership or control rights exist between us.†

Page last reviewed: 23 June 2022