Do You Need Bicycle Insurance? (2024)

The best home insurance policy will cover certain types of bike-related problems, such as vandalism or theft. But if you don’t own a home, you can find coverage for your bike in other places, like condo insurance, renters insurance, or a standalone bicycle insurance policy.

How Are Bicycles Insured?

Bicycles are typically insured under the personal property section of a homeowners insurance, condo insurance or renters insurance policy.

Here’s a look at how different types of bike problems are covered.

Theft and Vandalism

If your bike is stolen or vandalized, you are covered under your home, renters or condo insurance policy. The claim amount depends on if you chose replacement cost or actual cash value (ACV) coverage. Replacement cost will pay for a new bike of a similar model. ACV pays only for the depreciated value of your bike.

An insurance deductible will apply in cases of theft or vandalism. The deductible is the amount that is deducted from an insurance claim check. For example, if your bike is worth $1,000 and you have a $500 deductible, you will get a $500 claim check ($1,000 – $500 = $500).

Bicycle Damage

If your bike is damaged, how it’s covered by your home, condo insurance or renters insurance depends on the situation. Here’s a look at how a few scenarios might be covered:

• Your bike is damaged in a car accident while you are transporting it. Your home, condo or renters insurance policy will cover you, up to your policy limits and your deductible will apply.
• Another driver crashes into your bike. If another driver crashes into your bike, you can file a claim against their liability car insurance.
• Your bike is destroyed in a house fire. Fire is a problem covered by your home, renters and condo insurance. The cost to replace your bike will be covered, up to your policy limits, and your deductible will apply.
• You crash your bike. If you crash into an object like a tree or car, you typically won’t be covered under a home, renters or condo insurance policy for the bike damage.

Bike-Related Injuries

If you are injured in a bike accident, you may be covered, depending on the scenario:

• A driver crashes into you. Your medical expenses can be covered under the driver’s liability car insurance. If the driver is uninsured, your health insurance can cover your medical bills. You may also have coverage under the personal injury protection (PIP) portion of your car insurance policy, depending on your state.
• You crash into an object. If you hit an object like a tree or car, your health insurance will cover your medical expenses.

Injury to Others

If you accidentally crash into someone and cause injuries, their medical expenses can be covered under the liability portion of your home, condo or renters insurance policy.

Property Damage to Others

If you crash into someone else’s property and cause damage, such as denting a car, the liability portion of your home insurance, condo or renters insurance may cover the property damage.

When Do I Need Separate Bicycle Insurance?

The Insurance Information Institute suggests that if you own an expensive bike, you should ask about an add-on to homeowners or renters insurance, known as an endorsem*nt, that allows you to schedule personal property. This boosts your coverage. You also can explore a standalone bike insurance policy.

Bike insurance policies usually provide broader and deeper coverage than homeowners or renters insurance policies do. For example, Markel says one of its bike insurance policies covers things like crash damage, roadside assistance, spare parts and replacement-bike rentals, whereas a typical homeowners or renters insurance does not.

Trusted Choice, a network of independent insurance agents, suggests looking into standalone bike insurance if:

• You spent a lot of money on your bike. An everyday bike might cost roughly $200 to $700, while a specialty bike can go for more than $1,000.
• You frequently ride off-road, potentially placing your bike at greater risk.
• You compete at cycling events.
• You own a bike that’s been specially designed, upgraded or modified.
• You lack homeowners or renters insurance.

How Much Does Bike Insurance Cost?

You can find a standalone bike insurance policy for about $100 to $300 a year, according to Markel and Veloinsurance, two bike insurance companies.

Markel and another bike insurer, Veloinsurance, say their annual premiums start at $100. Markel’s average bicycle insurance policy costs $250 to $300 a year.

Should You File a Claim if Your Bike Is Stolen or Damaged?

If your bicycle claim is less than or only slightly more than your insurance deductible, you may not want to file a claim. For example, if your bike was worth $600 before it was destroyed but your homeowners policy has a $500 deductible, it doesn’t make financial sense to file an insurance claim. A claim is likely to increase your home insurance premium, and you would only get $100 from your insurance company.

How to Find the Best Bicycle Insurance for You

To find the best bicycle insurance, a good place to start is with a policy you may already have. Your homeowners, renters or condo insurance policy covers your bicycle for certain problems, such as theft and vandalism.

If you own an expensive bike and current insurance policy is insufficient, consider a standalone bicycle insurance policy. These types of policies typically have broader coverage.

Before you buy a standalone policy, compare coverage options and get quotes to find the best bicycle insurance.

Where to Buy Bicycle Insurance

Markel

Markel’s bicycle insurance will pay the full value of your bike if it is stolen or damaged due to a problem covered by the policy. The company also sells coverage types such as replacement bike rental, event fee reimbursem*nt, racing coverage, electric bike coverage and crash damage coverage. You can also get medical payments coverage if you are hurt while riding, with limits ranging from $1,000 to $10,000.

Markel offers liability coverage in amounts that range from $25,000 to $100,000.

Simple Bike Insurance

Simple Bike Insurance covers your bike at full value if it is stolen or damaged due to a problem covered by the policy. You can buy coverage types such as spare parts coverage, racing coverage and replacement bicycle rentals. You can get medical payments coverage up to $10,000.

Simple Bike offers liability coverage up to $100,000.

Spoke

Spoke sells coverage for different types of bikes, including mountain bikes, electric bikes, triathlons, commuter bikes and road bikes. You can buy coverage types such as spare parts and accessories, theft protection and replacement cost coverage which pays the full value of your bike if it’s stolen or damaged due to a problem covered by your policy. You can also buy medical payment coverage in amounts ranging from $1,000 to $10,000.

Spoke bicycle insurance is available in liability coverage amounts ranging from $25,000 to $300,000.

Sundays Insurance

Sundays bicycle insurance is for road bikes, mountain bikes and electronic bikes, up to $21,500 for each bike in your collection. You can buy coverage types such as accidental damage, racing and event coverage, and coverage for customized parts. You can also get up to $1,000 coverage for emergency medical expenses.

Sundays does not offer liability coverage.

Velosurance

Velosurance bicycle insurance will pay the full value of your bike if it is stolen or damaged due to a problem covered by the policy. The company sells additional coverage types like crash and accidental damage coverage, damage or loss in transit and electric bike coverage. You can get medical coverage to pay for the deductible of your personal health insurance.

Velosurance offers liability coverage in amounts of $25,000, $50,000, $100,000 or $300,000 per occurrence.