Home Insurance vs. Specialist Bicycle Insurance: What Every Cyclist Needs to Know

“Why would I get specialist bike insurance when I’m already covered by my home insurance?!”

That’s what we often hear when chatting about insurance on group rides and at the cafe. When you add your bike to your home and contents insurance policy it’s easy to think that you’re secured and protected. But as is often the case with insurance, it’s all in the details.

From hidden costs to funky fine print and exclusions, relying on your home insurance bike cover can turn into a gamble. Whilst you might get some protection, if you love your bike and use it more than just for riding to the pub, you may want to review your options.

In this guide we’re going to walk you through whether your bike is covered under your home contents insurance policy and the specific areas of your policy documents you should check.

Is My Bike Covered Under Home Insurance?

You’ll likely get some level of cover for your bicycle on your home and contents insurance policy. Although there are a couple of caveats:

• You need to make sure bikes are mentioned under the contents included (this comes with a few restrictions that we’ll unpack later too).
• For additional bike cover (such as an add-on beyond the contents of your home) you need to make sure you’ve specifically added and listed bikes when taking out a policy.

The first step to finding out if you have bike cover on your existing home insurance policy is to check the policy wording. To find the policy wording check your email inbox or login to your account on the insurer’s website.

If you’ve got bike cover included, check what’s included and what’s excluded. The level of cover is likely to be very basic.

Common problems with home insurance is often things like:

• Expensive renewal costs
• High excess (Excess is the amount it ‘costs’ to make a claim, insurers normally deduct this from any payouts)
• Only being covered for bike thefts from home
• Less-than-ideal customer service
• Depreciation (where an insurance company reduces the value of your gear over time)
• Poor or no cover for racing, events, travel

Plus your bikes will be lumped in with washing machines, watches, and mobile phones which don't have the same insurance needs.

Here are 11 issues to check with your home insurance policy, and why it might be the time to opt for specialist bicycle insurance:

1. Do Home Insurance Claims Increase Your Premium If You Claim for a Bike?

Adding your bike to your home insurance policy could work out more expensive than specialist bike insurance.

This is because claiming on your home contents policy can hike the price of your home insurance premiums when it comes up for renewal. Home insurers often view claims as a sign of increased risk, meaning that even a single claim for a stolen or damaged bike could result in higher premiums in future years. In some cases, the cost increase may outweigh the value of the claim itself, particularly if the bike is of lower value. For this reason, it’s worth considering whether claiming on your home policy is financially sensible, especially if you want to avoid higher premiums or potential difficulties when switching insurers later.

How much will my home insurance premium increase if I make a claim?

Your home insurance can increase by more than 50% if you make a claim, this is according to research from Which? and reported in The Independent.

They also found that if you make more than one claim, your premium will increase again by the same amount. While some premiums will rise by just £30-£100, your premium could be significantly more depending on your claims history, the type of claim, and your insurer.

With Laka, our customers only pay the true cost of claims and any claims won’t impact your premium.

You’ll also get a flexible monthly policy where you see where your money goes each month - a big plus over an annual policy with a nasty surprise when you renew.

2. Excess: How Much Will It Cost To Claim?

Home insurance policies often have an excess of up to £500, meaning when you come to make a claim, you'll need to pay a fee.

Say your kit gets damaged in transit, your shifters and rear derailleur are damaged, and perhaps your helmet is written off too. Here’s where you might decide not to claim on your home insurance - as the pound-for-pound damage vs. excess trade off could be quite close.

Often with home insurance, the smaller everyday claims are uneconomical. Those buckled wheels, lost lights, and ripped bibs. Laka’s model works differently, with no excess on bike claims, and no nasty surprises when making a claim.

Some specific bicycle insurance policies can have an excess though. Remember to read the policy wording when taking out your cover.

3. New For Old (Depreciation): Will You Get A Like-For-Like Replacement?

Your home insurers are much more likely to apply depreciation to the value of your bike. This means that when you come to make a claim, you may not get a full replacement (and could be left out of pocket).

Check your policy wording for ‘Zero Depreciation’. This can be a lifesaver, especially for higher-end bikes, where parts and repair costs can quickly increase.

You don’t have to worry about depreciation with Laka (hello peace of mind!). All your bikes and gear won’t lose their value, so you’ll be kept safe when things go wrong. With Laka, if you need to claim, you'll get the same parts back, but new!

4. Claims Experience: Who Are You Dealing With?

If you've hit the deck on your road bike, crashed your mountain bike or had a mishap on your commute, an insurance agent from a home insurer may not fully understand your situation.

With every Laka policy, you're backed by a team of cyclists that knows their bottom bracket from their headset spacer.

Our bike-obsessed claims handlers spend all day, every day, getting cycling gear repaired or replaced to get you back on the road. It helped us bag the ‘Best Cycle Insurance Provider’ Award for 8 years on the trot.

Don't take our word for it. Check out our reviews:

Callum ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Couldn't Have asked for a better insurance experience! Only switched to Laka in May but recently had to make a claim after suffering a fall while riding at Glentress. Really great experience, Lauren was super helpful and got everything sorted quickly and easily! I was a bit unsure about switching to a cycle only cover (mainly due to cost) but glad I did as not sure I'd have had the same experience through my home insurance!

Highly recommend not only Laka but have bespoke bike insurance!

Pat ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Great insurance company for cyclists. I was unlucky to have an accident with a car. The process was fantastic and smooth. I did a damage assessment, Laka swiftly approved the costs and reimbursed costs related to travel while without a bike.

I had experiences with my home insurance where it’s hard to make a claim if you experience a leak etc... It gives me some faith to see a genuinely amazing insurance company for us, the community of cyclists having to deal with thefts, and accidents with cars. Thank you!

5. Custom and Vintage Bikes: Are Your Bikes Understood?

Unique bikes like custom builds and vintage bikes need special care when it comes to insurance too - requiring specialised valuations and the knowledge to source unique parts.

It’s important that you have a team of cycling experts behind you to help when things go wrong. Laka won’t jump to transferring you the cash, we’ll help source authentic parts from our network of bike shops and partners to get your bike back on the road.

If that’s not possible or practical, we’ll provide the full agreed value - without depreciation (more on this later).

With Laka, our claims team knows the difference between a classic Colnago and a custom titanium machine - and how to value and restore each one.

6. Max Value Restrictions: How Much Can You Insure?

With most home contents insurance policies you will have a max value limit for all bikes, often only a few thousand pounds.

This becomes tricky when you start adding your daily commuter, any electric bikes, your road bike or your kids' bikes to your policy.

With a Laka policy you can insure any bike (new, custom, or vintage) between £300 and £15,000 and collections of up to £30,000 with £2,000 worth of accessories.

You’ll also get a multi-bike discount if you add more than one bike to your policy which will bring down the price of your insurance cover

7. Riding Related Accidents: Are You Covered For Accidental Damage?

A good insurance policy will cover your bike against theft and damage. Bike theft isn't the only thing that might make you claim.

Accidental damage will cover you for when you hit that unseen pot hole or get caught up in an unexpected traffic accident. Any damage to your bike can then be covered by your insurance policy.

Damage claims are much more likely than theft claims, so you'll want to make sure you have damage cover available. If you have your bikes on your home contents insurance then you'll likely just have theft cover.

8. Insurance for Cycling Kit and Accessories: Are the Extras Covered Too?

Your bike might be the star of the show, but it’s rarely the most expensive part of your setup. Cycling kit and accessories can easily cost hundreds (sometimes thousands) of pounds, so it’s worth knowing whether your insurance protects more than just the bike. Cycling clothing and accessories can cost from around £200 to £1,000+ - whether that’s:

• Helmets
• Cycling Computers
• Shoes
• Glasses and Goggles
• Lights
• Locks
• Bike Boxes
• Bike Trailers
• Technical Clothing, and more.

These are often the items we put at most risk too. They’re often less robust, and are often the first to go when you experience a mishap. A crash is more than likely to put your helmet out of order and a cycling computer can be tempting for thieves too.

Whilst sometimes overlooked by home insurance providers, insuring your bike with Laka means being able to take care of the whole package. You can list your clothing and accessories to add them to your bike cover when you sign up - just like your bike.

9. Third Party Cycling Liability and Personal Accident

It's great if the value of your bike is covered by your home insurance. But what about public liability cover and personal accident insurance?

Third party liability insurance helps protect other people, vehicles and property when an accident is deemed to be your fault. A third party policy would cover the costs of the other person's property and medical expenses. You might find that your home insurer doesn't include this in your cover.

Personal accident insurance covers your body if you were injured after a crash or fall. We know that injuries can't always be solved by a lump sum. That's why our optional recovery insurance add-on includes access to specialist advice and treatments from world-class experts to help get you back to your best.

It's worth double checking the policy wording of your home insurance to see what's actually covered. If you want top-notch third party and recovery cover, why not move your cover to Laka?

10. Worldwide Cycling Insurance: Are You Covered Around the Globe?

Some household policies will only cover your bike whilst it's at your home. With lots of conditions buried into the small print of the policy wording.

A household policy might not cover you outside of the UK, whilst you're riding in the Alps, Mallorca, or even bike packing in New Zealand.

With a flexible worldwide travel add-on, Laka covers you worldwide for up to 120 consecutive days and we settle claims fast to get you back on the road, wherever you are. We've replaced Garmins in France and sorted out bike replacements in Spain.

11. Racing, Sportives, and Events: Are You Insured In Competition?

Racing, events, and sportives are a huge part of cycling. They're also where you need to be on top of your game with equipment that's in the best condition. Lots of home contents insurers won't include events in your bicycle cover because they occur outside the home and are considered an extra risk.

Laka's bicycle insurance includes all sportives and casual cycling events in your cover - if you’re racing more seriously, simply add our flexible licensed racing add-on. Our only racing exception is for professional athletes. Learn more about Laka’s racing cover.

Bike Insurance vs. Home Contents Insurance: Quick Comparison

*Comparison based on publicly available policy information and documentation retrieved from websites of 4 home and contents insurance providers in the UK. Date of comparison: January 2026

Home Insurance vs. Bike Insurance FAQs

What is the difference between bike insurance and home insurance?

Home insurance may cover bicycles as part of contents insurance, usually with limits and conditions. Specialist bike insurance is designed specifically for cycling and typically covers theft, accidental damage, crashes, racing, travel, and accessories more comprehensively.

How does Laka differ from home insurance and other specialist bike insurance?

Traditional insurance companies (like most home insurance providers) charge you upfront in case something bad happens.

Laka works completely differently. At the end of each month, the total cost of claims made within The Collective is shared fairly among all members.

This community-driven model helps keep costs transparent and aligned with members’ real-world experience. In months with fewer or lower-value claims, members pay less, while still benefiting from comprehensive bike insurance and peace of mind. It’s a fairer, smarter way to insure your bike, designed specifically for cyclists.

Is my bike covered away from home?

Sometimes. Many home insurance policies only cover theft away from home if the bike is listed as a named item and secured with an approved lock. Time limits and location restrictions often apply.

Does home insurance cover bike damage?

Home insurance usually does not cover accidental damage or crashes while riding, unless you have specific accidental damage cover, and even then, cycling incidents can often be excluded.

Is bike insurance cheaper than home insurance?

Bike insurance is usually more expensive as a standalone policy but provides much broader cover. Home insurance may be cheaper but offers limited protection for cyclists.

Check Your Cover Today…

For peace of mind make sure you check your home insurance quote to see exactly what you’re covered for. To recap, here’s a checklist of policy features and dedicated cycle insurance benefits to check:

1. Renewal costs
2. Excess
3. Depreciation
4. Customer service
5. Custom and vintage bikes
6. Max value limits
7. Accidental damage
8. Third party cycling liability and personal accident
9. Cover for clothing and accessories
10. Worldwide cover
11. Racing, sportives, and events