Cycling Insurance

The insured value of your bike is used to calculate your premium. The best way to find out how much to insure it for is to have a chat with a member of the Cycling Insurance Team via email, phone or LiveChat. In just a few minutes you’ll have a clear idea of the amount you should insure your bike for.

You should lock your bicycle securely through the frame and all quick release wheels, and then to an immovable object (such as metal railings or purpose-built bike rack), using an approved lock. A combination of a D-lock and a keyed, armour-padded cable is particularly effective.

If you bought your bike brand new, the correct value to insure your bicycle for would be the recommended retail price of your bike, should you replace it in today's terms. The cost of repair or replacement of a new bicycle is on a new for old basis, provided the bicycle was purchased new by you and the sum insured is sufficient to replace your bicycle on a new for old basis.

If you bought your bike second hand, you should insure it for its current market value – that is, the amount someone would typically pay for it in its current condition. The cost of repair or replacement on a second-hand bike is up to the highest value of either an objectively determined market value or the depreciated value calculated using the recommended retail price of an equivalent replacement bicycle when purchased new, and applying the following scale:

After the first year; the bicycle reduces in value by 20% of the recommended retail price.

After the second year; the bicycle reduces in value by a further 10%.

Each year thereafter (of part thereof); the bicycle reduces by a further 5% per year

The approved lock you need will vary depending on the insured value of the bike:

• Bikes insured for less than £1,000 – a Sold Secure Silver rated lock.
• Bikes insured for £1,000 or more – a Sold Secure Gold rated lock.

For more information, check out the Sold Secure website.

Sold Secure is a company that rates locks on how they perform under rigorous security tests. For the latest information on rated locks, check out the Sold Secure website.

Yes, all our cycling insurance policies can be paid by monthly payment at no extra cost. To make sure that there are no gaps in coverage and that you never ride without insurance cover, your policy will renew automatically after 12 months. But don’t worry, you’ll receive an email at least three weeks before renewal is due. You’ll then have a further 14-day cooling off period during which you’ll incur no administrative fees if you change your mind.

If you decide you don’t want your policy to renew automatically, just let the cycling team know by emailing hello@cycling.directline.com or give them a call on 0330 460 0277 .

Yes. £250 worth of cover is included as standard for cycling accessories. If you need a higher cover limit, you’ll need to specify the amount you wish to insure when you apply for cover online. You can add all kinds of cycling gear to your policy including panniers, a GPS, racing wheels, helmets, clothing and lights – up to a combined total value of £5,000. Or, just give the cycling team a call on 0330 460 0277 and they can add them to your policy for you.

Yes. You don’t need to specify custom parts, however, you do need to be able to prove ownership and the value of your custom parts or wheelsets should be included in your bicycle sum insured. Wheelsets are covered under the accessories, personal gear and additional wheelsets cover limit. If you need to do this, give the cycling team a call on 0330 460 0277 or email them at hello@cycling.directline.com.

No. Your cycling accessories are only covered when they are used with the insured bicycle listed on your policy. The only way a friend could use your equipment and for it to retain its cover is if you hold a policy for their bike, too.

Direct Line Cycling Insurance can cover an insured bicycle that is damaged while fastened to a bike rack, but the rack itself won’t be covered. It’s worth checking your car insurance policy though, as this sort of cover tends to fall under motor insurance.

If you decide that the cycling insurance policy isn’t for you, you can cancel within 14 days of the start date (provided you haven’t made a claim). This also applies to each renewal period.

If you cancel within the cooling-off period, any premiums you have paid for the policy will be refunded, less any government levies, taxes or duties and fees that cannot be recovered. Even after this cooling-off period ends, you still have cancellation rights.

When your 12-month policy reaches its anniversary, it will automatically renew for another year unless you (the policy holder) request otherwise. You’ll receive notification by email 3 weeks in advance of the renewal date as a reminder, attaching the relevant information and documentation for the new term.

If you want to continue to cover your bike, simply do nothing and the policy will renew with no gaps in cover. Alternatively, you may decide to cancel your insurance policy by calling 0330 460 0277 or sending an email to hello@cycling.directline.com.

No. Our cycling insurance only covers bikes that are used for recreation. If you commute to work on your bike, or take part in organised events for fun, that’s fine, but we don’t offer insurance to cyclists who race professionally.