Bicycle insurance

 As fun and environmentally friendly as cycling is, there are also risks to taking your bike out and about. For example, there may be times where you have to leave your bike secured in a public place, putting it at risk of theft or damage.

Bicycle insurance is designed to protect your bike against unexpected loss or physical damage, such as theft or accidental damage caused by the owner.

Read our tips for staying safe while cycling.

Do I need bicycle insurance? 

When it comes to insurance, the general rule of thumb is: If you couldn’t afford to replace it, then you might want to consider insuring it. And when you factor in all of the additional items that come with a bike – perhaps you have a GPS or a particularly expensive helmet – then you might be surprised by the total cost to replace your bike and its accessories should they get damaged or stolen.

The ‘replacement cost’ is how much it would cost to replace your belongings should you need to make a claim.

With an Everywhere Student Pack, your gadgets and belongings will only be covered if the replacement cost is less than the limit shown on your policy documents, as follows:

• £1,000 pack = Cover for items that cost less than than £500
• £1,500 pack = Cover for items that cost less than than £750
• £2,500 pack = Cover for items that cost less than than £1,250

Here’s an example to show you how it works:

You have a mobile phone worth £450, a laptop worth £300 and a tablet worth £150 – because all of these items are each worth less than £500, they can be covered with a £1,000 Everywhere Student Pack. With this £1,000 Pack, you will be provided with up to £1,000 cover throughout the year for your items, as long as the total cost of your claims isn’t more than £1,000. 

What happens when I make a claim?

Say you bought a new laptop that cost £300, and purchased an Everywhere Student Pack that provides £1,000 cover for items with a replacement value of up to £500.

A few months later, you (sadly) drop and damage your laptop. Because the replacement cost on your policy is £500 and your laptop only costs £300 to replace, this will be covered under your Everywhere Student Pack policy. Had your laptop cost more than £500, it wouldn't be covered and you would be unable to make a claim.

Remember: It's always worth checking that your items don't cost more than the replacement cost when taking out our Everywhere Student Packs. If any of your items do cost more than the highest replacement cost (£1,250), you can choose to build your own cover.

What about Endsleigh’s laptop/tablet theft policy?

Our laptop/tablet theft policy provides cover for devices with a replacement cost up to £1,250.

Yes. If you will be leaving your bike in a public place, it must be secured to a permanent structure via an approved security device through its frame. Security devices and locks must meet ‘Sold Secure Gold’ standards, or have a security rating of eight or above.

Please note that bikes must not be left outside of a locked building for more than 24 hours unless it is stored in a designated cycle storage facility. Bikes must also not be left in communal corridors in order for your claim to be valid.

Read more of our tips about how to keep you bike safe at university.

What counts as a ‘permanent structure’?

A permanent structure is any fixed or solid object not capable of being undone, removed with or lifted under/over the bicycle.

Here at Endsleigh we can provide bicycle insurance for all makes and models of mountain bike and push bike, as well as:

• BMX bikes
• Children’s bikes
• Classic bikes
• Cruiser bikes
• Dutch style bikes
• Fixed gear bikes
• Folding bikes
• Hybrid bikes
• Recumbent bikes
• Road and track bikes
• Tandem bikes
• Unicycles
• Urban bikes
• Vintage bikes and more

Sometimes your home insurance policy will provide a level of cover for bicycles while they’re being stored at the property – for example, in a locked garage. However, this will depend on your insurance provider, so you should check your policy documents to find out whether your bike is covered. You can then decide whether you require additional cover to protect your bike while it’s away from home or if you want to go cycling abroad.

If you’re a student heading to university, some of your belongings might be covered under your parents’ home insurance.

While your car won’t provide cover for theft or accidental damage caused to your bike, some insurers will provide cover under your car insurance for injuries and medical expenses if you’re involved in a collision with another car while cycling. Speak to your insurance provider to find out what’s covered.

If you’re a student with a TOTUM card, don’t forget that Endsleigh offers up to 10% discount on your bicycle insurance!

Find out more about our TOTUM discounts here.