Cycling insurance. Worthwhile?

1404

I cycle most days.  10 minute cycle each way to work.  Cycle at the weekends for a few hours.

I own no lycra and am not a hardcore cyclist.  I ride a Pashley, if you're familiar with the hand-made, British brand.

I recently read someone on Facebook write "most cyclists have insurance".  Do they?  I've never heard a person I know ever talk about cycling insurance.  Although I guess it would come in handy if I scratched a car or someone stepped out in front of me and they/we got injured.

Any recommendations?

The_Unready

Are you referring 3rd party cover or theft cover? I get the former as one of my British Cycling membership benefits; I  get the latter through my home insurance. 

I therefore don't specifically pay for either product and, as an aside, I have not needed to use either yet! 

1404

The_Unready said:

Are you referring 3rd party cover or theft cover? I get the former as one of my British Cycling membership benefits; I  get the latter through my home insurance. 

I therefore don't specifically pay for either product and, as an aside, I  have added to use either yet! 

It's not so much the theft of my bike which bothers me.I'm not even sure making a claim for £500 (or thereabouts) would be worth it.  My excess on my home insurance is probably about that anyway.

It's more about being sued for damaging a car, injuring someone, or injuring myself.


I'm not a member currently of any cycling organisations.  And I will be calling my home insurance and car insurance providers tomorrow to ask what, if any, cover I have regarding being a cyclist.

user1977

1404 said:

The_Unready said:

Are you referring 3rd party cover or theft cover? I get the former as one of my British Cycling membership benefits; I  get the latter through my home insurance. 

I therefore don't specifically pay for either product and, as an aside, I  have added to use either yet! 

I will be calling my home insurance and car insurance providers tomorrow to ask what, if any, cover I have regarding being a cyclist.

Or you could just read your policies, which would probably give you a more accurate answer.

baser999

Would taking insurance require you to cycle in accordance with the rules of the road, stopping at red lights, zebra crossings, road junctions 😏 
Sorry, couldn’t resist being a little flippant . . I’ll get my coat

Aretnap

Contents insurance comes as standard with a personal liability section which covers your liabilities for damage you accidentally cause in the course of your day to day activities - with a few exceptions like driving a motor vehicle, and work or business related activities. You will almost certainly find that it covers you for any damage or injuries you cause while riding a bike, possibly with the exception of competitive cycling.

As for the bike itself, some policies will cover bikes up to a certain value as standard, others will require you to add them to the policy for an extra (usually small) fee.

You can get a standalone cycle policy, but it only really makes financial sense if you have a seriously expensive bike which is above the limit if what your home insurance policy will cover.

Veteransaver

baser999 said:

Would taking insurance require you to cycle in accordance with the rules of the road, stopping at red lights, zebra crossings, road junctions 😏 
Sorry, couldn’t resist being a little flippant . . I’ll get my coat

Does it apply to car drivers too when they take insurance?

Aretnap

user1977 said:

1404 said:

The_Unready said:

Are you referring 3rd party cover or theft cover? I get the former as one of my British Cycling membership benefits; I  get the latter through my home insurance. 

I therefore don't specifically pay for either product and, as an aside, I  have added to use either yet! 

I will be calling my home insurance and car insurance providers tomorrow to ask what, if any, cover I have regarding being a cyclist.

Or you could just read your policies, which would probably give you a more accurate answer.

Indeed. If you cll an insurer there's a non-zero chance that you end up talking to a well-meaning but undertrained and underpaid teenager who doesn't quite understand the question, and answers based on something he misremembered from his one week training course, or heard in the canteen. Much better to read your actual policy documents.

Spoiler: car insurance won't provide any cover for you as a cyclist. Home insurance will.

1404

Just checked my home and car insurance policies.

My car insurance policy document makes no mention of bikes.

My home insurance policy says "no bikes" because that's what I selected when taking out the policy.  Even though I do have a (10 year old) bike which I paid £300 for.  I also have a Raleigh folding bike from 1968 which I paid £30 for.

My home insurance makes no other mentions of bikes other than to say that I have said I don't have one.  I don't know where it would make mention of any "personal liability" cover which would protect me from scratching someone's car or running over someone's dog.  I can't see anything there which indicates that.  I have Post Office Silver cover.

baser999

Veteransaver said:

baser999 said:

Would taking insurance require you to cycle in accordance with the rules of the road, stopping at red lights, zebra crossings, road junctions 😏 
Sorry, couldn’t resist being a little flippant . . I’ll get my coat

Does it apply to car drivers too when they take insurance?

Supposedly, allegedly 😏

1404

baser999 said:

Would taking insurance require you to cycle in accordance with the rules of the road, stopping at red lights, zebra crossings, road junctions 😏 
Sorry, couldn’t resist being a little flippant . . I’ll get my coat

The hate cyclists get is off the charts.  I've only been one for the past year (obviously had a bike as a kid).  But when cars are banned you'll be one of us!