Insurance requirements for e-bikes

The type of insurance required for your e-bike depends on its power and speed. E-bikes are generally categorized into two types:

– **Standard e-bikes:** These bikes can reach speeds up to 25 km/h and have a power output of up to 500 watts. If you’re between 14 and 16 years old, you need a category moped licence to ride one of these. For riders 16 and older, no licence is required.

– **High-speed e-bikes:** These can reach speeds up to 45 km/h and have power outputs of up to 1,000 watts. For these, you must have a licence plate, vehicle registration, a rear-view mirror, and fixed moped lighting. Helmets are mandatory, and you need a moped licence to ride these e-bikes.

Liability insurance for e-bike riders

For less powerful e-bikes, it is crucial to have personal liability insurance. This type of insurance covers damages you might cause, such as scratching a car or accidentally colliding with a pedestrian. For more powerful e-bikes, you are required to have motorcycle liability insurance, which is mandatory for these types of vehicles.

Road tax sticker requirements for e-bikes

If your e-bike exceeds 25 km/h or has a power output greater than 500 watts, you need a yellow licence plate, similar to those used for mopeds. Additionally, you must obtain and display an insurance sticker, which needs to be renewed annually.

How to insure your e-bike against theft

Insuring your e-bike against theft varies depending on the electric bicycle insurance provider and the bike’s power level.

For less powerful e-bikes, which are often covered under household contents insurance, theft from your home is generally considered “simple theft.” In this case, your household contents insurance should cover the replacement cost of your e-bike or the policy’s insured amount for simple theft. If you are worried about theft occurring outside your home, such as at a train station or during a night out, you will need to add a “simple theft outside the home” endorsement to your policy. This endorsement ensures coverage for theft that occurs outside your residence, paying up to the insured amount for such incidents.

Be cautious: given the high value of e-bikes, it’s important to verify and adjust the sum insured for theft outside the home if needed. Additionally, some insurers may require that your e-bike be specifically listed in your household contents policy. If it’s not already listed, you should contact your insurer to update your policy accordingly.

For more powerful e-bikes, some insurers treat them as motorbikes, requiring comprehensive motorbike insurance for theft coverage. However, in certain cases, these high-power e-bikes might still be covered under household contents insurance. It’s advisable to consult with your insurance advisor to confirm the appropriate coverage for your e-bike.

How to insure your e-bike against damage you cause

If your e-bike is covered under your household contents insurance, this policy typically only protects against theft and common risks like fire, water damage, and natural hazards. To cover damage that occurs through accidents or falls, you’ll need to add an endorsement to your policy. Insurance providers offer various options such as all-risk coverage, valuables insurance, and comprehensive protection for sports equipment. If your e-bike is not included under household contents insurance, you will generally require a separate comprehensive insurance policy to cover it against damage.

Conclusion

For less powerful e-bikes with a top speed of up to 25 km/h, personal liability insurance usually provides adequate coverage. However, more powerful e-bikes require additional liability insurance, vehicle registration, a road tax sticker, and a license plate.To cover theft of a less powerful e-bike outside the home, you should add a “simple theft outside the home” endorsement. Make sure the insured amount is sufficient to cover potential theft at locations like train stations. For more powerful e-bikes, comprehensive insurance might be necessary to protect against theft. To ensure you have the right coverage, consult with your insurance provider to determine the best policy for your e-bike.