Insurance Companies that sell Bicycle Insurance

Please note that insurance offerings can vary by region and country. Here is a list of well-known insurance companies that may offer bicycle insurance coverage, along with some brief details about each:

1. Velosurance: Velosurance is a specialized insurance provider focused solely on bicycle insurance. They offer comprehensive coverage options, including theft, damage, liability, and roadside assistance.

2. Markel Insurance: Markel Insurance offers bicycle insurance coverage for theft, damage, and liability. They provide customizable policies tailored to individual needs and offer options for accessories and racing bikes.

3. Spoke Insurance: Spoke Insurance specializes in bicycle insurance and offers coverage for theft, accidental damage, vandalism, and liability. They provide flexible plans with options for different bike types and accessories.

4. Nationwide (USA): Nationwide offers bicycle coverage as part of their homeowners or renters insurance policies. Their coverage typically includes theft and damage, and it can be customized to fit specific needs.

5. Progressive (USA): Progressive offers bicycle coverage as an add-on to their homeowners, condo, or renters insurance policies. They provide protection against theft, damage, and liability, with options to add accessories coverage.

6. Allstate (USA): Allstate offers bicycle coverage as part of their homeowners or renters insurance policies. They provide protection for theft, damage, and liability, and additional coverage options for accessories and high-value bikes.

7. State Farm (USA): State Farm offers bicycle coverage as an endorsement to their homeowners or renters insurance policies. Their coverage typically includes theft, damage, and liability, with options for accessories and customized coverage limits.

8. Farmers Insurance (USA): Farmers Insurance provides coverage for bicycles through their homeowners, renters, or condo insurance policies. They offer protection against theft, damage, and liability, with options to add coverage for accessories.

9. Esurance (USA): Esurance offers bicycle coverage as part of their homeowners or renters insurance policies. They provide protection for theft, damage, and liability, with customizable coverage limits.

10. Lemonade (USA): Lemonade is a digital insurance company that offers renters insurance, including coverage for bicycles. They provide theft and damage coverage, with straightforward and transparent policies.

11. Aviva (UK): Aviva offers bicycle insurance coverage in the UK. They provide protection against theft, accidental damage, and liability. Aviva allows customization of coverage based on individual needs.

12. ETA Cycle Insurance (UK): ETA Cycle Insurance is a specialist bicycle insurance provider in the UK. They offer comprehensive coverage for theft, accidental damage, personal accident, and third-party liability.

13. Cycleguard (UK): Cycleguard is a UK-based insurance provider offering coverage for bicycles against theft, accidental damage, and personal accident. They provide options for various types of bicycles and accessories.

14. Bikmo (UK): Bikmo offers bicycle insurance coverage in the UK. They provide comprehensive protection for theft, damage, liability, and personal accident. Bikmo also offers coverage for racing and professional use bikes.

15. Pedalsure (UK): Pedalsure is a specialized bicycle insurance provider in the UK. They offer coverage for theft, accidental damage, personal accident, and liability. Pedalsure also provides coverage for racing and triathlon events.

16. Eversure (UK): Eversure offers bicycle insurance coverage in the UK. They provide protection against theft, accidental damage, personal accident, and liability. Eversure offers flexible policies with optional cover for accessories and competition use.

17. Yellow Jersey (UK): Yellow Jersey is a UK-based bicycle insurance specialist. They offer comprehensive coverage for theft, damage, liability, personal accident, and racing events. Yellow Jersey also provides options for custom bikes and accessories.

18. Swann Insurance (Australia): Swann Insurance offers bicycle insurance coverage in Australia. They provide protection against theft, accidental damage, and liability. Swann Insurance offers customizable coverage options.

19. Velosure (Australia): Velosure is an Australian bicycle insurance provider. They offer comprehensive coverage for theft, damage, liability, personal accident, and racing events. Velosure also provides options for accessories and customized policies.

20. BikeSure (Australia): BikeSure offers bicycle insurance coverage in Australia. They provide protection against theft, accidental damage, and liability. BikeSure offers customizable policies for various types of bicycles.

Remember to review the coverage details, terms, and conditions of each insurance provider to ensure their policies meet your specific requirements.

14 Tips and Tricks for Preventing Bicycle Theft

Here are some tips and tricks to help prevent your bicycle from being stolen:

1. Invest in a high-quality lock: Purchase a sturdy, durable lock designed specifically for bicycles. U-locks and heavy-duty chain locks are considered more secure than cable locks. Don't get a cheap lock from Canadian Tire (like the one on the right).
   

2. Lock both the frame and wheels: When securing your bike, pass the lock through the frame, front wheel, and rear wheel. This prevents thieves from easily removing parts of your bicycle.

3. Lock your bike in a well-lit area: Choose well-populated, well-lit locations with high foot traffic to park and lock your bicycle. Thieves are less likely to target bikes in busy areas.

4. Use designated bike racks: Look for designated bike racks or secure structures designed for locking bicycles. Avoid random poles or fences that can be easily cut or removed.

5. Avoid leaving your bike overnight: If possible, bring your bicycle indoors at night or store it in a secure, locked area. Overnight thefts are more common, so minimizing the time your bike spends unattended reduces the risk.

6. Consider multiple locks: Using more than one lock can deter thieves. Use a combination of different lock types (e.g., U-lock and a chain lock) to make it more challenging for them to break through all the locks.

7. Lock your bike to an immovable object: Secure your bicycle to a sturdy structure that cannot be easily dismantled or moved. Make sure the object you're locking your bike to is firmly anchored.

8. Remove accessories and valuables: Take off any detachable accessories, such as lights or a bike computer, and store them separately. Additionally, don't leave any valuables or bags on your bike that could attract thieves.

9. Register your bike: Register your bicycle with your local police department or a bicycle registration service. This can aid in recovery and identification if your bike is stolen.

10. Use GPS tracking devices: Consider using a GPS tracking device specifically designed for bicycles. These devices can help locate your stolen bike and increase the chances of recovery.

11. Take a photo and record details: Take a clear photograph of your bicycle, noting any unique features or markings. Keep a record of the serial number, make, and model. This information can be valuable if you need to report a theft.

12. Be cautious with quick-release mechanisms: If your bike has quick-release mechanisms for wheels or seat posts, consider replacing them with theft-resistant alternatives. Thieves can quickly remove these parts if they are not secured.

13. Be aware of your surroundings: Stay vigilant and observant when parking or locking your bike. If you notice any suspicious activity or individuals around, it's best to find an alternative location.

14. Consider bicycle insurance: Explore bicycle insurance options that provide coverage in case of theft. This can offer financial protection and peace of mind.

Remember, while these tips can significantly reduce the chances of your bike being stolen, determined thieves may still find ways to bypass security measures. So, it's important to stay vigilant and take precautions to protect your bicycle at all times.

What To Do When Hit By A Car - Legal Steps to Protect Your Rights

So you are riding on your bicycle and wham, you get hit by a car. What do you do next?

Oddly most of us don't know what we should and should not be doing. Pay attention and read closely so you remember this should it ever happen to you.

DOs

If the driver asks if you are okay say "I don't know. I think I need to see a doctor." You might feel unhurt, because of the shock of being struck, so you don't always know when you are injured. You might notice until hours later that you have a cracked rib, an injured ankle, a torn ligament, etc.

Do get the driver's phone number.

Do get the driver's insurance info.

Do write down the driver's license plate.

Do call the police and report the accident.

Do document the scene, photograph your bicycle, the car, any injuries, the driver's face, your face, etc. Take photos of everything you can think of.

Do locate witnesses who saw the accident and get their contact info / phone numbers if possible. Or alert the police to which witnesses saw the accident.

Do go see a doctor as soon as you are able. You might have an injury you didn't notice at the time. If you do have an injury get copies of all medical reports relating to the injury.

Do report any injuries, no matter how minor, to the insurance company. Insurance companies take that stuff seriously, even if it is only a minor injury. If you only claim property damage and no injuries, insurance companies take it less seriously and are less likely to pay anything at all. You don't want to fake any injuries obviously, but you shouldn't be pretending not to be injured just because you don't want to cause extra trouble. As long as you record any injuries and see a doctor ASAP, you are preserving your rights. Let your doctor decide what is worth noting on your insurance claim.

Do follow through on protecting your rights.

DON'Ts

Do not accept the driver's word when they say they will pay for any damages. They can easily change their mind later, and change their story to claim that the accident was your fault: "He just came out of nowhere! He was going ridiculously fast and it was impossible to stop on time!" After all, why should they risk paying higher insurance rates if they can get away with paying nothing and pretending the accident never happened?

Never admit to being "okay". Just keep saying that you don't know and that you need to see a doctor.

Do not refuse to go see a doctor. See one ASAP.

Do not let the driver leave before the police arrive. If they attempt to do so record their license plate and report it to police as a hit and run, as they clearly didn't stick around at the scene of the crime. If a driver gets out of their car, asks if you are okay, and then immediately leaves that still counts as a hit and run.

Do not get your bicycle repaired immediately. Preserve the evidence and record all the damage. Get a bicycle mechanic to give you an estimate for the repairs, but don't have them fix it yet.

Do not assume that everything will be taken care of properly. Insurance companies and deadbeat drivers would much rather not have to pay anything if they think they can get away with it.

Do not mention the value of your bicycle. The price of the repairs will be determined by your bicycle mechanic. Just say "It depends on the repair bill."

If it is a friend, a family member, or even a random stranger that you see get hit stop and help them and then follow the above advice. It could happen to any of us. See the video below of strangers stopping to help a little girl after she gets rammed into by a car.

Bicycle Insurance Rehashed

I've decided to revisit the bicycle insurance topic (previously covered in Bicycle Insurance + Other Goodies) because I have found a number of businesses that do offer bicycle insurance, and I've also come up with an innovative way that bicycle shops could offer insurance.

First my innovation...

What if bicycle shops (large retail chains) offered Bicycle Insurance when people bought new bicycles or came in for a tune-up? To make it easier they might team up with an insurance company to handle some of the financial aspects of such a deal. The insurance would be two fold:

Theft Insurance

Vandalism Insurance (this happens more often than you'd think)

Some market research would have to be done to determine what rate to charge customers, but presumably the rate would be equal to that being charged by some of the companies below or other major insurers.

Canadian Banks have been offering insurance for years now, part of their effort to control more of Canada's financial industry. I can't speak for other countries, but I imagine there's other industries trying to get into the insurance industry there as well.

My idea draws inspiration from the above idea, except that it has one major benefit for bicycle shops: It guarantees return business. If someone's bicycle is stolen or vandalized (which can only be proven by submitting a police report), then the customer comes back to the bicycle shop where they purchased the insurance to have the vandalism repaired or the bicycle replaced (thus allowing the bike shop more profits).

Teaming up with a larger insurance company to handle claims would make this process easier. The bicycle shop would get a commission for every customer who signs up for insurance.

In the meantime here is a list of companies which offer bicycle insurance:

Cycleguard (UK)

Cyclecover (Australia)

Velosure (Australia)

And there is also a number of general insurance companies offering bicycle insurance in addition to home insurance, car insurance, life insurance, etc. I recommend searching for local companies when comparing rates.

Bicycle Insurance + Other Goodies

TECHNOLOGY - There are lots of companies out there offering car insurance quotes, but where are the companies offering bicycle insurance quotes? (Seriously, you can get pet health insurance these days, so it should not be too hard to get bicycle insurance.)

I did a Google search for "bicycle insurance" and there are 146,000 hits on the topic.

The top listing was a fellow who apparently does have bicycle insurance (listed under his tenants insurance) and he asked about insuring a bicycle for replacement cost. The insurance agent told him it would be $9.35 per year for every $100 value of bicycle.

Thus insuring a $2,000 bicycle for a year would cost him $187. Some other people have found cheaper rates. (See the full discussion on the TBN forum.)

Some insurance companies even offer advice for cyclists:
How to foil a bicycle thief
A stolen bike - to claim or not to claim

Obviously for theft purposes its best to just have the best quality lock(s) you can afford and always pay attention when locking your bike up so that its in a location that won't be easy to break / remove your bicycle. (I regularly see people's bicycles locked to poles that any reasonably tall person could just lift the bike up and off the pole and then ride away with it.)

If the lock is really good the insurance company should in theory lower their rates... but of course, if you have a really spectacular lock, doesn't that make insurance obsolete? You would hope so, but thieves will also see really expensive bikes as a bigger prize and try harder.

The whole thing got me thinking about niche markets for products/services cyclists would likely want or could use.

In theory there are a variety of things that cyclists should have... #1 accident insurance, #2. life insurance, #3. health/dental insurance... to say nothing of the niche markets available for cellphone, BlackBerry and laptop users. ie. A laptop holder for your bicycle, a place to put your BlackBerry, iPod, iPhone, etc... because talking on your cellphone whilst cycling is just plain dangerous.

For example here's a service some cyclists might like: ShrinkRay Mobile, its a mobile application developer for iPhones. Or for those organic food / ultra clean / botanical medicine people out there is companies like the Wellpath Clinic, a natural medicine clinic... which no doubt has products we could all use.

One of things I'd like to get is a video camera I can stick on the front of my bicycle. I found this website for Building your own Bicycle Camera Mount, but I'd much rather have something professionally made and pointed in the right direction (as opposed to limply hanging on with duct tape).

To paraphrase a fellow blogger "I want to see roads and faces, not the butts of bikers."

(If only Lenzr had video contests instead of photo contests.)

There are a LOT of Bicycle Gadgets out there, you just have to do a Google search for them.