Bicycles are frequently stolen, and statistically, only 10% of all bicycle thefts are solved.
What is bicycle insurance?
For the sake of the environment, to avoid crowded public transport, for fitness, to get around town faster, or to save money. There are many good reasons to travel by bicycle.
So, if you've just bought a good bike, it's all the more frustrating when it gets stolen. Suddenly you're without a bike and have to figure out how to manage. One way to at least offset the financial loss is with bicycle insurance. With this, you can insure your bike according to its value. In the event of theft, the insurance company will reimburse you for the damage, allowing you to get a new bike quickly.
A cost-effective way to protect your bicycle is often to include it in your home contents insurance. Home contents insurance covers all your belongings against theft or damage caused by the following risks:
- Burglary
- Vandalism following a burglary
- Water damage
- Fire damage
- Hail and storm damage
Additionally, coverage for bicycle theft is possible. If your bicycle is insured and stolen, you should first call the police and file a report. Here is some information you will need to provide:
- When and where was the bicycle stolen?
- How was it connected?
- Which model is it?
- How much was the bicycle worth?
Next, you should contact your home contents insurance company with the police report. To ensure the claim is processed quickly, it's helpful to also submit an invoice or photos of the bicycle to the insurer. If you don't have an invoice because you didn't keep it or bought the bicycle used, photos can prove that it is the model described.
You will be reimbursed for the new or replacement value of your bicycle. However, this will not exceed the agreed insurance sum.
Does bicycle insurance also work with e-bikes?
E-bikes are enjoying ever-increasing popularity. They combine all the aforementioned advantages with speed and ease of use. A good e-bike can easily cost several thousand euros. With such an investment, you naturally want to know your bike is well protected while you're out and about. Therefore, an e-bike should definitely be equipped with a good lock. Bicycle insurance, often included in home contents insurance, also covers your e-bike. This way, you don't have to worry about the costs in case of theft. However, you must ensure that the insurance coverage (the so-called sum insured) is sufficient for such an expensive bike.
What can you generally do to make it harder for bicycle thieves?
bicycle lock
First, it's advisable to purchase a high-quality bicycle with a secure, difficult-to-pick lock. There are numerous designs, qualities, and price ranges available. Besides security, you should also consider the size and ease of use of the bicycle lock. You can also decide whether you prefer a key lock or a combination lock. As is often the case, both have their advantages and disadvantages. For someone who tends to lose or misplace keys, a combination lock is definitely recommended.
Furthermore, locks can be divided into the following types:
- U-lock with a rigid U-profile
- Cable lock - consisting of a flexible, spiral cable
- Folding lock - several links connected by a joint
- Chain lock - made of individual chain links
We like the new so-called smart locks, which can be operated via a smartphone app. These are locks that are permanently attached to the bicycle and connected to the app via Bluetooth. The bicycle lock is equipped with a powerful battery and informs you when it needs to be replaced, which is typically necessary every five years for good locks. The app recognizes you as the bicycle's user and unlocks automatically when you approach. When you move away from the bicycle, it locks itself.
Your bike's location can be tracked via GPS. This means your bike can not only be found at any time, but also shared with other users you select. This makes the app special and enables private bike sharing.
If your bike is stolen or someone tries to break the lock with freeze spray, a deafening alarm at 110 decibels will sound, which should scare the thief away. At the same time, you'll receive a text message on your smartphone so you can react as quickly as possible. If you've set it up, the police will be notified simultaneously. Smart locks are available from companies like I Lock IT and start at €149 on Amazon .
Connection object
The best lock in the world is useless if the bike is locked incorrectly. It's crucial that the bike frame is secured to a fixed object, such as a bike rack, lamppost, or similar. This applies even if your bike is equipped with a smart lock.
Tree guards, which are found around many trees in the city, are often mistaken for bicycle racks. The difference is that tree guards are only buried and not set in concrete. They can often be easily pulled out of the ground. As a result, bicycles attached to tree guards are frequently stolen. Leaving your bicycle to a rain gutter is also not a good idea if you value your bike.
Coding at the police
The police regularly offer so-called bicycle identification appointments or bicycle identification campaigns.
The bicycle is marked with a personal code using a special sticker or engraving. This code is generated specifically for you and uniquely identifies you as the owner in case of theft. The code consists of your vehicle registration number and the municipality code of your place of residence, a five-digit number for your street, three digits for your house number, your initials, and the two-digit year of registration. A coded bicycle is difficult to resell, which leads to a decrease in bicycle thefts.
In conclusion, if you carefully lock your bicycle to a fixed object with a good lock, you've already done everything right. If you want better theft protection, have your bicycle coded or choose a smart lock.
It is certainly unfortunate if your bicycle is stolen, but with bicycle insurance you can at least compensate for the financial loss and quickly buy a new bicycle.
Here you can choose the right coverage for you from a variety of tariffs.
Are you already informed?
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