What Is The Best Moutain Bike Insurance?

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Alexandre Desoutter updated on July 21, 2020

According to market researchers Mintel, consumers are now spending an average £233 on their bicycle. Consumers are becoming more selective - using grandma's old Raleigh to cycle to work or buying a cheap bike from Halford's won't cut the mustard.

And many keen cyclists have moutain bike worth considerably more - up to £9,000 for a top of the range road bike or tourer.

But is your moutain bike properly insured? Are you covered if your bike is nicked, or if you have an accident?

We've put together this guide to cycling insurance for moutain bikes specifically so you can get the right cover - whether you use your moutain bikes in UK or abroad, wether you compete in time trials, or just use your moutain bikes during the week end for pleasure.

What are the best moutain bike insurance quotes?

We selected a few providers that propose the best moutain bike insurance, here are their must-have features:

Insurance TheftAccidental damagesReviewGet a quote
logo assetsureYesYesAssetsure has a comprehensive package that should suit all cyclists from weekend tourers to serious amateur road racers.Get a quote
logo cycleplanYesYesCyclePlan has nearly two decades' experience to call on. It's part of a sports specialist brokerage so it understands all levels of sport from the occasional leisure biker to the committed amateur competitor. Get a quote
logo pedalsureYesYesPedalsure is a relatively new company that focuses on insuring the cyclist as well as the bike - an area where specific moutain bike insurance really scores above home contents cover.Get a quote
logo insurance emporiumYesYesInsurance Emporium has a "pick'n'mix" approach to insurance. Only loss, theft and accidental damage comes as standard on their moutain bike policies, but you can pick from a wide range of optionsGo to website
Best moutain bikeinsurance

Do I need moutain bike insurance?

Repairing your moutain bike is much more expensive than just insure it for a few pounds per month. Here is a quick summary of main repair types and cost for your moutain bike:

Repair TypesRepair Cost
Suspension fork£135
Tubeless disc brake £719
speed cassette£60
new derailleur£30-175
New pedals£20-150
New cassette£30-200
Main claim types and cost

Moutain Bike insurance per model

Model Bike average priceInsurance price
Carrera moutain bikes£300-£1,400£12.02
Merida bikes£5,000£12.65
Evans Cycle moutain bikes£5,000£11.78
Boardman Bikes moutain bikes£1,000£11.02
Cubes Bikes moutain bikes£1800£11.05
Main claim types and cost

Is my home insurance enough to cover my moutain bike?

Seems that taking out a moutain bikes insurance for few pounds per month can be really useful if something were to happen to your moutain bikes. Taking out a specialized moutain bike insurance is a good idea, you will be covered for things that will not be covered by your standard home insurance coverage. For example:

  • limits are higher than cycle insurance under Home insurance
  • you will covered for much specific things, for example your could be covered in case you want to take your moutain bike abroad, you could be covered for accidental damages
  • you will also be covered for accessories, which is quite important; as it can be really expensive items, such as GPS, or lights.
  • home insurance might also not cover you for lending your moutain bike to a friend or even another member of your family (unless you put their name on the insurance)
  • you're almost certainly not going to be covered for racing, sportives, and charity events
  • if your bike is worth more than £1,000 or so, most home insurers won't want to insure it at all.

Many home insurance policies won't cover you when you're actually riding your moutain bikes.

What is covered by moutain bike insurance?

moutain bike insurance should at the very least cover your moutain bike against theft and damage whether it's at home, on the road, or safely locked up outside the office or the pub. (Cover against theft is very important - insurer Velosure says the value of bikes pinched from railway stations amounts to more than £1.5 million a year.)

Many policies offer enhanced cover which can include:

  • hiring a moutain bike while you're waiting for yours to be repaired or replaced.
  • cover for any claims made against you by a third party (for instance if you knocked someone over or scratched their car with your handlebars).
  • legal expenses, if you have to take a third party to court after they damage yourmoutain bike in an accident.
  • personal accident, giving you a lump sum if you die or are severely disabled following a bike crash.

Other types of cover may be included, often as paid-for extras;

  • for riding your moutain bike abroad.
  • accessories and cycling gear,
  • loss of earnings if you can't work following a moutain bike accident,
  • cover for competitions and races
  • moutain bike breakdown cover.

How long can I get moutain bike cover for?

Most specialist insurers will offer you cycle insurance for a month at a time. However, some of the best deals are reserved to those who take out annual cover.

What is not covered by moutain bike insurance?

Bicycle insurance won't cover everything. You'll need to check your policy's small print for the detailed exclusions, but most insurers exclude the following:

  • Accidents when you were under the influence of drink and drugs.
  • Accidents that happened when you were breaking the law, for instance going through a red light or cycling the wrong way in a one way street.
  • Business use. Cycle couriers and delivery services need a business policy, not a regular moutain bike policy. However, if you're just commuting to your usual place of work, that's covered.
  • Cosmetic damage. If your paint gets scratched, tough.
  • Theft if you did not secure your moutain bike properly.
  • 'Abandoned' bikes. If you leave a moutain bike locked up outside for more than 12 hours (other than at home or at work, or at a railway station when commuting) it is most unlikely to be covered.
  • Some insurers won't pay out for injury claims if you weren't wearing your helmet.

Securing your moutain bike is very important, even at home. Your moutain bike must either be in a locked and secure place (like your own home, but not the common areas of a block of flats), or locked up securely.

Watch out!

Insurers will usually specify the type of lock that they expect you to use, and you should check the policy to see their precise requirements. For instance, you may need to use a moutain bike lock with a Sold Secure Gold rating, if your moutain bike's worth £1,500 or more.

How much does moutain bike insurance cost?

The biggest factor affecting the cost of cycle insurance is the value of your moutain bike. For instance, it could cost £70 a year if your bike is worth £1,000, and that might rise to £130 a year for a £2,000 bike.

The cost will also be affected by the type and amount of cover that you want. For instance you might add on another 10-20% if you want a high level of personal accident and personal liability cover.

It's worth reminding yourself just how much bikes actually cost. Though the average cost of a moutain bike in the UK is £233, this includes cheapies and kids' bikes. If you look for a reasonably serious moutain bike, you're soon looking at over £1,000, and if you really get into the sport, you could be spending more on your racer than some of your friends do on a car. Cannondale's best road bike costs more than a Fiat Panda. (It's probably more fun, too.)

How to claim on your moutain bike insurance?

You'll need to contact your insurer as soon as possible. If you're at home, you should check your policy booklet first to make sure you're covered - but if you're on the road, particularly if you're touring, make the call as soon as you can. Even if you're not covered for everything, specialist insurers can often give you good advice.

Your insurer will then either send you a claims form, or ask you to fill in a claims form online. They'll also ask you for supporting documents.

If you have been involved in an accident, or if your moutain bike has been stolen or vandalised , make sure you contact the police, and obtain a Crime Reference Number (CRN) or incident number.

It's also a good idea to take photos of the scene of the accident or theft. If your lock has been smashed in order to steal your moutain bike, keep the parts in case the insurer wants to see the evidence. Your insurer might also want to see the keys for your lock, so don't throw them away.

To process your claim you'll need to be able to show your insurer proof of ownership - for instance, the receipt for your bike, or failing that, photographs, the serial number on the frame, or even the instruction booklets that came with the bike or components. Your insurer may then ask you to obtain estimates for repairing your moutain bike.

You'll have to pay an excess, which might be set at a given amount (for instance, £100) or at a percentage of the claim. Some insurers consider moutain bike's value when setting the excess, so a cheaper bike would have a lower excess, and a bike that's worth more would have a higher excess to pay.

Good to know

If your claim is rejected but you think the insurer is wrong, you can make an official complaint by letter. If you don't get a response or they don't change their mind, you can then go to the Financial Ombudsman to ask for your case to be considered.

By the way, one insurer published its top three reasons for rejecting claims. They give you a pretty good guide to what not to do. In reverse order, the three reasons were:

  • no proof of purchase or photos of the moutain bike.
  • accessories and components hadn't been listed on the policy.
  • and with an amazing 3/4 of all rejections - not using the right lock to secure the moutain bike!
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Alexandre Desoutter
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Alexandre Desoutter has been working as editor-in-chief and head of press relations at HelloSafe since June 2020. A graduate of Sciences Po Grenoble, he worked as a journalist for several years in French media, and continues to collaborate as a as a contributor to several publications.

In this sense, his role leads him to carry out steering and support work with all HelloSafe editors and contributors so that the editorial line defined by the company is fully respected. and declined through the texts published daily on our platforms.

As such, Alexandre is responsible for implementing and maintaining the strictest journalistic standards within the HelloSafe editorial staff, in order to guarantee the most accurate, up-to-date information on our platforms. and expert as possible. Alexandre has in particular undertaken for two years now the implementation of a system of systematic double-checking of all the articles published within the HelloSafe ecosystem, able to guarantee the highest quality of information.