Do I Need Road Bike Insurance?

Road bike insurance is not a legal requirement for the average cyclist, though if you participate in competitions then public liability is usually required.

What is Covered?

Insurance for road bikes is much the same as insurance for other bikes. You can find cover as basic as theft and loss right up to personal accident, competition and public liability and anything in between. Just make sure you know what cover levels you want before you purchase. Some insurance companies don’t allow you to change your policy once it’s in place.

Accidental Damage

If your road bike gets damaged, your cycle insurance policy will cover you for repairs needed to get you back on the tarmac as soon as possible. Accidental damage can happen to anyone and road cyclists are often more at risk with busier roads come more chances for unfortunate accidents.

Theft Cover

One of the most common causes of cycle insurance claims is due to stolen bikes, and road bikes are often targeted the most due to their low weight and ease of transport.

So if you’re a road bike user, then theft cover is certainly one to consider especially if you have to leave you bike locked and unattended for any length of time.

Commuting Cover

Road cyclists are often cycle commuters too and commuting cover can be a big bonus on your policy and can provide that extra bit of cover when you’re on your way to and from work.

To find out more info about how commuting cover can benefit you, head to our commuting and competition guide for all the details.

Public Liability

Public liability is commonly bought for people who take part in cycling events, but if you’re a road cyclist then it could be very beneficial to you too especially if you cycle in large towns or cities.

Public liability is essentially cover in case of damage or injury to third parties, which can happen whenever you use your bike, but are obviously more common in urban areas. If you were commuting to work for example, and accidentally hit someone who was getting out of a taxi without looking, public liability would help cover the costs of injuries or damage to personal property that that person suffers.

Personal Accident Cover

With busier roads and potential hazards around every corner, personal accident cover is an important consideration to take when you’re thinking about your road cycle insurance.

If you’re a road commuter cycling at the busiest times of the day, then you’re more at risk than normal to suffer an accident whilst riding your bike.

Personal accident cover provides you with a fixed amount of money that will reimburse you for certain injuries (these will be mentioned in the policy wording) that you suffer when you have an accident whilst using your bike.

Insurance providers often offer a range of different personal accident cover levels and reimbursement amounts for you to choose from, so if you are considering it, you’ve got plenty of options to select from.