Insurance against 'incident' whilst transporting bicycles

frankiesowner

Recently acquired an expensive bike and a rack to attach to a tow hitch to transport it. I understand the bike is covered against theft / damage etc on my house and contents but I'm trying to find out the best way, or even if I have to, insure against an incident whilst carrying the bikes. For example if a bike fell off the rack and a following car collided with it. I spoke to my car insurance and they thought this was outside the scope of my car insurance policy. Has anyone considered this issue and found a solution?

QrizB

Are you asking about third-party liabilities (what you might need to pay to the unfortunate soul driving the car that's been struck by your insecure load) or about insurance for the bike itself?

XRS200

Should be your car insurance, ask them again

TELLIT01

Not answering your question, but some motor insurers seem to class bike carriers as a modification to the vehicle. Check that out too.

Brie

double check your house insurance will cover the bike for it's full price if it is expensive. it may need to be listed specifically to be properly covered.

I did see some bikes come off their rack a couple of years back when we were on the M20 on the way to the chunnel. fortunately I wasn't in the same lane but don't know how easy it was to resolve the issue but it was obvious that it was going to close at least 2 lanes while the mess was cleared up. I hope no one was hurt in the follow up.

My 2 thoughts at the time were that the bikes couldn't have been properly secured and that someone's holiday was severely disrupted.

frankiesowner

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82134982#Comment_82134982

Yes I did that and they include the bike rack, but no the bikes on it..

frankiesowner

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82134950#Comment_82134950

I am asking about the 3rd party liability - damage that might be done by the bikes and / or the bike rack coming off the car.

Aretnap

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82135062#Comment_82135062

That would be covered by car insurance - the law explicitly requires car insurance to cover any liabilities arising out if your use of the vehicle, which includes anything that the vehicle is towing or carrying.

Possibly the person you spoke to at your car insurance company thought you were asking about damage to the bikes themselves (that's for your home insurance, or for standalone bike insurance if you have it). Or possibly he was just mistaken - the first person to answer the phone when you call your insurer probably isn't the most highly trained or experienced person in the company.

It's not really any different to some luggage falling off your roof-rack or out of the boot that you forgot to close - third party liabilities for those shirt of things will also be covered by your car insurance.

amcc1

For third party cover while you’re actually riding the bike see:

https://www.cyclinguk.org/member-benefits/10m-third-party-insurance-cover

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6683129/insurance-against-incident-whilst-transporting-bicycles

Make sure you understand the requirements for theft cover of the bike away from the home, some can be very specific about what its attached to and how and not convinced that a bike rack would be considered an immovable object given the whole idea of putting it on the car is to move it.

Car insurance will cover any damage they do whilst youre driving the car, though wouldnt cover the damage to the bikes. Decent home insurance will cover third party liability whilst riding a bike as long as it isnt motorised though there may be an exception if you are involved in a race/competition.