Electric bicycle insurance

What is an E-bike?

An electric bike (or E-bike) is essentially a normal push bike with a battery-powered “assist” that comes via pedalling. This means that when you push the pedals on your E-bike the motor engages and gives you a boost.

Why do I need electric bike insurance?

E-bikes aren’t cheap and can cost a lost more than regular bikes. Many brand-new electric bikes start from around £1,000 and can go up to £8,000, so it’s important to get your E-bike insured.

Bike theft is a common problem in the UK. If your bike’s properly secured, a bicycle insurance policy will normally cover you for theft and damage caused by vandals. 

Unfortunately, theft isn’t the only risk that comes along with cycling. Thousands of cyclists are reported killed or injured in road accidents each year in the UK. You may want to get personal injury cover with your electric bicycle insurance, which will give you a pay out if you’re hurt while cycling. Not all policies cover every injury though, so check the terms before you buy.

Is electric bicycle insurance mandatory in the UK?

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

It might be worth checking your home contents policy or considering specialist insurance to see if you’re covered through any other means.

What insurance can I get for my E-bike?

E-bike insurance can provide cover for:

• Theft: If your electric two-wheeler were stolen
• Accident or malicious damage: The policy would cover the cost of repairing any damage caused by vandalism or replace the bike if the damage is too much
• Third party liability: If you accidentally injure or cause an accident while riding your E-bike, this part of the policy would cover you for those associated costs
• Personal accident: The policy will pay a lump sum if you suffer a serious accident or injury while riding your E-bike

What extras can I get?

You can also add additional cover to your E-bike insurance such as:

• Cycling abroad: The policy would cover you for cycling on roads in countries other than the UK
• Accessories: This part of the policy would cover you for any equipment that may get lost, stolen, damaged or vandalised on your E-bike (e.g. GPS or lights)
• Breakdown: Some policies also offer to cover for breakdowns to your E-bike

Is my electric bike covered by my home insurance content policy?

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

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.

Are there any policy exclusions?

If you’ve taken out E-bike insurance, make sure you know the policy exclusions to prevent voiding your cover or the rejection of a claim. The most common exclusions are:

• If you use your bike for monetary gain, such as being a cycle courier
• Any loss where you cannot prove you own the bike, so keep the receipt of sale
• Any cosmetic damage won’t be covered – scratches and dents that don’t affect how the bike actually rides are not covered, for example
• Any damage to accessories, like tyres or mud guards, unless the bike itself is damaged at the same time
• Theft of your bike when you have not secured your bike properly
• Any accidents that may happen under the influence of drugs or alcohol will void your claim

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. This states that they must have:

• Pedals capable of propelling the bike 
• A max power that doesn’t exceed 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 pay tax on 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.

Where can you ride an electric bike?

If a bike meets the EAPC requirements, it’s classed as a normal pedal bike. This means you can ride it on cycle paths and anywhere else pedal bikes are allowed.

Can friends and family ride my bike?

Most policies cover you using your bicycle and either include or have the option for you to add family members. This is defined as your partner and any other relative 14 years old and above that permanently live with you.

Check your policy as some insurers exclude personal accident or third-party liability.

How is my premium calculated?

Currently E-bike insurance is rated on the value of the bike and your postcode (this is because theft is more common in some postcodes than others).

How can I get a cheaper premium?

There are a few things you can do to reduce the cost of your electric bike insurance policy:

• Shop around: Make sure you shop around to compare deals and find the best one for you
• Store your E-bike securely: There is no discount for special locks or security however, some policies will state that claims may not be paid if the bicycle is stolen from a vehicle or left unattended away from the insured location. Secure your bike with a sturdy lock and preferably in a locked garage or shed
• Pay a higher excess: If you can afford to, paying a higher excess can reduce the price of your premium

Which companies provide specialist bike cover?

We want to show you as many insurers as possible, so that you can choose what suits you best. But we can’t promise to show you every single insurer, because some insurers don’t want to be included on comparison websites.

How does our site work?

Moneysupermarket have teamed up with protectyourfamily.com who offer an external bicycle insurance comparison service. Protectyourfamily.com is a trading name of Comparison Creator Limited, a company registered in England and Wales (Registration Number 07336373). Comparison Creator Limited is an Appointed Representative of Moneyshake.com Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Firm Reference Number 522581).