Do I need electric bike insurance to ride my e-bike?

There are no legal requirements to get insurance for your e-bike as long as it’s classified as an electrically assisted pedal cycle (EAPC). All EAPC e-bikes are treated the same as regular cycles, which means that insurance isn’t a legal requirement.

An EAPC e-bike is defined as having pedals that can be used to propel it, shows either the power output or manufacturer on the motor, displays the battery’s voltage or maximum speed of the bike, doesn’t have an output of more than 250 watts and doesn’t propel the bike when it’s travelling at more than 15.5 mph.

If your e-bike isn’t an EAPC and exceeds more than 250 watts, then you’ll need to get it insured the same way you would a car or motorcycle. You'll also need to register your e-bike with the DVLA. However, most e-bikes in the UK and EU meet the EAPC requirements.

Should I still get insurance even if my e-bike doesn’t need it legally?

You should still insure your e-bike, even if you’re not legally required to do so. Most cyclists get insurance for their regular bikes, and e-bikes tend to be more expensive, often costing anywhere between £1,000 and £10,000. That’s quite the investment, and protecting it is the smart move.

Bike theft increased by 66 per cent between March 2020 and February 2021 as an increasing number of people took up cycling as a hobby, meaning there were more bikes left locked up out on the streets. Eek. With more thieves currently operating, it makes even more sense to protect your e-bike against theft.

You'll also want to protect it against any potential damage that could occur, as well as possible loss. Doing so means you won't be left out of pocket should something unfortunate happen to your e-bike. It just makes sense.

Does home insurance cover e bikes?

This is somewhat of a grey area. Some home contents insurance policies will insure bicycles as standard, whether they’re regular bikes or e-bikes that meet EAPC requirements. Others will allow you to add bicycle cover to your policy for an extra fee.

You should always double-check the policy when it comes to bicycle cover for your home contents insurance. There's often a low "single item limit", which is the maximum amount you can claim for a singular item, such as an e-bike.

If, for example, your cover for a single item has a limit of £1,500 but your e-bike is worth £2,500, it wouldn’t be fully covered if it's stolen, lost or damaged and needs replacing. Therefore, standalone e-bike insurance might be the better option, as it’ll cover the bike for its full market value.

What do I get with e-bike insurance?

Coverage specifics vary depending on who you insure your e-bike with. However, there are some standard practices:

• Theft – compensation for the value of your e-bike if it’s stolen
• Damage and vandalism – your e-bike will be covered, whether it’s damaged from a traffic accident or vandalised.

Some providers may also include other policy features as standard in your e-bike cover. For example, at Laka we cover the following:

• Third-party loss – you’re covered if something like an airline or courier loses your bike
• In or on your car – it’s covered if the e-bike is locked to the car but is still stolen from the vehicle
• Races or triathlons – you will be covered should an accident happen while competing on your e-bike
• Travel for 120 days – you’re covered for up to 120 days when you travel with your e-bike.

How much does it cost?

E-bike insurance costs vary depending on different factors. These include where you’re located, the crime rate in the local area, the type of e-bike you own and its current market value.

If you live in a high-crime area with an e-bike worth £5,000, you can expect to pay more than if you’re in a relatively low-level area for crime with an e-bike worth £1,000. Therefore, it’s difficult to say how much you’ll pay for insurance.

With Laka we provide you with an instant quote for how much you can expect to pay each month. All we ask is for the value of your bike and we'll provide you with a cap price and an expected share. Claims are split amongst the collective and divided equally amongst fellow Laka customers. It's a fairer way of doing things.

Where should I insure my e-bike?

There are plenty of insurers where you can get coverage for your e-bike. And you may want to consider us here at Laka, as we do insurance a little bit different from the rest. When you insure your e-bike with us, you take out collective insurance.

This way, we don't charge you upfront for what might happen to your bike. Instead, you form part of the collective – a community of cyclists who just love cycling. The result is a fairer system that removes the guesswork, especially as costs never go above the initial cap.

Find out more about joining the collective and insuring your e-bike with Laka

Making sure your e-bike is protected

An EAPC e-bike might not require you to insure it legally, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't get the appropriate cover. E-bikes are lots of fun, but they're also expensive, and the last thing you want is to be out of pocket should it get stolen, damaged or lost. Therefore, you should insure your e-bike at the first opportunity and give yourself that added peace of mind knowing your e-bike is covered.