Buying a bicycle, such as a racing bike, requires a great financial sacrifice from you. This applies not only to e-bikes (electric bicycles), but also to regular bikes. The greatest danger is the risk of theft, but with bicycle insurance you place the risk with an insurer. You can use the best locks, but they will not completely prevent theft. You can take out an expensive bicycle insurance at the bicycle dealer when you buy the bicycle, but it is advisable to compare and take out insurance online.

Bicycle insurance: Compare and contract online

The bicycle insurance can be used in case of theft of your bicycle, but also in case of damage due to a collision, for example. This insurance is often taken out for new bicycles until they are a few years old. Not all insurance companies offer bicycle insurance. We advise you not to take out bicycle insurance with the seller of the bicycle. It is better to compare online and take out a bicycle insurance with the best conditions and the lowest premium. If you take out bicycle insurance online now, the bicycle is already insured.

Benefits of bicycle insurance

A bicycle insurance is not legally obligatory, but it is certainly advisable. You pay hundreds or even thousands of euros for the bicycle. Theft can cause you to lose the investment all at once. With bicycle insurance, you will not suffer any financial loss as a result of the theft. The insurance often includes a generous compensation. During the first three years, for example, you will receive 100% of the insured amount in the event of theft and not the current value of the bicycle. With most bicycle insurances you do not have to pay an excess. So you get the full amount of the claim back. For a relatively low premium, you can insure your bicycle against theft and accidental damage.

Choose the right coverage for your bike

When you take out bicycle insurance, for example for an electric carrier bicycle, you have various coverages to choose from. You can insure your bicycle against theft, damage or a combination of theft and damage. The difference between these types of insurance is already apparent from the name. Damage includes damage to the bicycle due to a fall, collision or vandalism.

Supplementary coverages

In addition to the bicycle insurance, you can also choose a number of additional covers. These coverages are related to the bicycle insurance and can make your life even easier.
In addition, you can take out legal aid, accident cover and breakdown cover.
The accident insurance has the following insured amounts:
In the event of death due to a cycling accident, your surviving relatives are paid €5,000. In case of permanent disability due to a bike accident, you will receive €10,000.
The breakdown assistance insurance offers you 24/7 ANWB-help with breakdowns of your bicycle on the road within the Netherlands. Can your bicycle not be repaired en route? Then you and your bicycle will be taken to a bicycle specialist or home.

After the theft, you will receive 100% of the insured amount of the bicycle until the bicycle is three years old. After three years, there will be a depreciation. There is also a favourable arrangement for a second-hand bicycle. In case of theft, the insurer assumes the purchase value. With the payment, you can buy a fully-fledged replacement bicycle.

Required by the insurer

Of course, you must do everything to prevent damage to the bicycle and theft. For example, you should contact the insurer as soon as possible after the theft. You must also follow the insurer's instructions. Basically, you have to limit the damage as much as possible. There are also requirements for the locks on the bicycle. The minimum requirements are stated in the policy. In any case, it must be an ART-approved lock with at least two stars. You must be able to hand over both keys in the event of theft. If you lose one of the keys, you must report it to the insurer.

Pay close attention to the insurer's requirements. Failure to meet the requirements may result in you not receiving a payment in the event of damage or theft.

Are your bicycle accessories included in the insurance?

You can tailor your bike even more to your preferences with accessories. For example, you can have a bicycle computer installed. The additions are not insured as standard. You can add up the value of the accessories and insure them separately as accessories. Do not forget this, otherwise you will not be reimbursed for the accessories in the event of theft or damage. You can consider parts of the bike as accessories if the bike did not come out of the factory with these additions as standard. In other words, when determining the new value, the accessories are not included.

Our tips

• With a bicycle insurance, your bicycle is insured, but above all, pay attention to your own safety. Do not use a smartphone on your bike. This often causes accidents.
  - Of course you can also insure your e-bike (electric bicycle) on the bicycle insurance!
  - Do you want the best bicycle insurance for the lowest premium? Compare and take out insurance online.
  - For the bicycle insurance there is no insurance obligation, but not being insured can be expensive in case of theft.

Reporting damage or theft

Report the damage as soon as possible to the insurer. Especially in case of theft, it is important to report the damage as soon as possible, as this increases the chance that the bike will be found. But the first step in case of theft is to report it. Do this especially as a first step if the perpetrator can still be traced. The insurer will give you instructions on how the damage should be further settled. In case of a collision, a damage report form can be requested. In case of theft the insurer will request the keys to the bicycle. They do this to demonstrate that the bicycle was locked at the time of the theft.

Insurance cards

An insurance card is an information document on the insurance product. An insurance card provides a summary of the insurance. The policy conditions state in detail what you are and are not insured for. Below, you will find the insurance cards of a continuous bicycle insurance with Unigarant.

Insurance card Continuous cycle insurance at Unigarant Verzekeringen