How To Bike Insurance

We explain everything you need to know to make sure your bike is well protected

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3 minute read2019-05-13
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After a tiring day at work, you’re looking forward to getting home and putting your feet up. You make your way outside to ride home on your bike, and then you see it. Where your beloved bike once was, you find only your broken lock.

Scenarios like this aren’t a one-off. In Germany, a bike is stolen every two minutes. Additionally, only around one out of ten bike thefts is solved. Bike insurance covers you financially if your bike is stolen.

But does bike insurance also pay if only the seat is taken? And what will actually happen if your valuable bike is stolen? We will explain these and all other questions surrounding bike insurance here.

Your ultimate guide to bike insurance

Many insurance companies require you to take out full contents insurance in order for you to insure your bike. Perhaps you don’t have many particularly valuable items at home but have an expensive bike that you want to insure. In this instance, a bike insurance policy that is independent of any contents insurance policy might just be the perfect option for you.

There are a few things you should consider to ensure making a claim and receiving compensation is as quick and simple as possible:

What risks does my bike insurance cover me against?

Maybe you’re just leaving university for the day and you find your broken bike lock where your bike once was. Or perhaps thieves forcibly take your bike from you while you’re waiting at a traffic light at night. Bike insurance protects you against risks like theft, burglary, and robbery.

Where and when is my bike insured?

Your bike is insured 24/7 with us. This doesn’t just apply in Germany, but also while travelling throughout the world. And it’s not just the bicycle itself that’s covered, accessories are too. Imagine you’re on a bike tour with your family for a camping weekend. You find somewhere to stay, but realise thieves have tampered with your bikes as well as your tents, trailers, and helmets. With Getsafe Bike insurance, you’re covered for up to €1,000 in this situation.

However, under the standard policy you are not covered for damage that occurs as a result of racing or at bike parks.

Can I insure every type of bike?

In addition to standard bicycles, you can also cover tricycles or e-bikes with Getsafe Bike insurance. This also protects your e-bike battery if it is stolen. However, two-wheeled vehicles that require a driving licence or are subject to compulsory insurance are not covered. This typically applies to mopeds or motorcycles, for example. However some e-bikes also fall under this category.

You can only take out insurance for new bicycles. This means bikes that you bought from a retailer within the last 36 months at the time you insure them. You can prove the age of a bike with a receipt. For this reason, self-built bicycles cannot be covered.

Can I insure more than one bike?

Yes, you can insure several bicycles. It is important that the bikes belong to you, though. You can, however, insure bicycles that belong to family members – provided that they share a household with you. When you sign your insurance contract, you must provide details of the bikes, including frame numbers.

How is the amount I’m insured for calculated?

The total you’re insured for relates to the value of your bike. If you have an expensive seat, high-value lights, or other valuable parts that are fixed to your bike, you should add their value to your coverage. This also includes your bike lock and its value at the time of purchase (RRP). It’s also worth noting that if you insure several bikes, the amount you’re insured for increases accordingly.

What action do I need to take so that the insurance pays out?

When you purchase bike insurance, you must provide some information about your bike. We ask you about what type of bike you have, the model, and the frame number. Additionally, we need to know the value of your bike as well as its accessories and the number of bikes you wish to insure. Here are five tips to keep in mind so that your insurer pays out in the event of a claim:

Keep your receipt of purchase

The amount you’re insured for relates to the value of your bike. You can confirm this with its receipt. In the event of a claim, your receipt is important again, as you must provide it to your insurer.

Always lock your bike securely

It’s always better when your bike isn’t stolen. You can reduce the likelihood of this happening by locking your bike to a fixed object like a lamppost and not leaving it unlocked – even in a storage room. It’s also important that your lock is robust. Your insurance only covers you if your lock is a folding, shackle, chain, or textile lock with an original purchase price of at least €50. Alternatively, you’re covered if you choose a lock from one of the following manufacturers:

  • Abus
  • Axa
  • Hiplok
  • Kryptonite
  • LINKA (with a chain)
  • Master Lock
  • Tex-Lock
  • Trelock
  • Nean (security level A and B)

Remember your bike’s frame number

We need this when you make a claim. You can usually find the frame number on the bike. It consists of letters and/or numbers and is typically located on the frame. If it isn’t on the frame, you can normally find it on the handlebars, under the seat, or close to the pedals. If your bike or e-bike doesn’t have a frame number, you can get one from the police, a specialist retailer, or the Allgemeiner Deutscher Fahrrad-Club (ADFC), who will code it for you. If you are unable to provide this information, your payment will be limited to a percentage of the amount you’re insured for.

Report theft

The best course of action once you realise you’ve been the victim of theft is to report it to the police. You must be able to prove you’ve done this to receive a payout.

Keep the key

If you lose your bike, be sure to keep the key for the lock. Our claims department may need this.

Do I have to register my bike with the police for bike insurance to pay out?

No, your bike insurance will pay even if you haven’t registered your bike with the police in advance. We recommend that you register your bike with a local police station, however. A certificate from the police can accelerate and simplify the claims process. This is also how the police return your bike to you if it is stolen and they catch the thieves.

What should I know when taking out bike insurance?

To properly protect your bike against theft, you should lock it with a particularly secure lock to a stable, fixed object, such as a lamppost or bike stand. Make sure that both the bike and the object cannot be easily removed, carried away, or lifted.

Do you often store your bike in a shared basement or another room that other people have access to? If so, you should also make sure that your bike is always secured with a lock that complies with the previously mentioned standards. In your own bike cellar, which you can lock, you don’t have to secure your bike with a lock. However, if you have this storage option, you’re obliged to use it. If your bike is stored in your home, you’re covered against burglary.

What benefits does the Comprehensive Cover extension offer?

The Comprehensive Cover extension means you’re covered if your bike, or part of it, breaks. Maybe you have a nasty fall, someone punctures your tyres, your brakes wear out on a long ride, or, more commonly, your bike falls over and becomes damaged. In these situations, which go beyond aesthetic damage, you don’t have to worry. Your Comprehensive Cover extension has got your back.

The extension is also a great option for those with e-bikes. It comes in handy in situations like your battery becoming damaged as a result of moisture or electronic damage.

Have you still got questions about this topic? The Getsafe team is always there to offer advice. Write to us at [email protected].

Stay safe!

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Carina
Author: Carina