Bicycle theft is an issue that lurks in the back of every cyclist’s mind.
There are 439,000 bikes reported as stolen across Britain every year, which amounts to one every 71 seconds. Many of these are through no fault of the cyclist either. Police recommend that all cyclists use D-locks to deter thieves, but have also admitted that even these may not be enough to deter the most determined of them.
Top-of-the-range mountain bikes regularly can cost north of £1,000, especially with all the attachments. With bikes getting more expensive to repair and replace in general, it is certainly worth shelling out on bicycle insurance.
Bicycle Insurance
A lot of cyclists will look to get bicycle insurance included as part of their home and contents insurance package. It’s certainly worth double-checking exactly what is included with these packages though. Some will only cover theft of a bicycle and not damage. Some will only cover theft from within the home. Nearly all of them will want proof that the cyclist took reasonable care to prevent a theft before paying out.
If your home insurance doesn’t cover your bicycle to the extent that you would expect, it might be worth looking at getting separate insurance from another provider.
How to reduce your bicycle insurance premiums
There are plenty of bicycle insurance companies that will only charge a few pounds a month in order to protect against the possibility of theft or damage, but there are plenty of ways to reduce this premium.
Insurers will almost definitely want to hear what a bicycle is stored whilst it’s not being used. If it’s locked outside in a garden or, even worse, in the street, this is likely to push the premiums up. If it’s kept in the house, that will greatly reduce the chances of theft or damage in the eyes of insurers. Alternatively, locking it in a secure, strong metal shed is another great way to protect it from being stolen. This will reduce the odds of theft and reduce premiums too.
The amount of time you spend riding your bike will affect your premium, as will the safety equipment you use. Investing in a set of bike lights, reflective clothing and a strong D-lock could all help push the price of your bicycle insurance down.
Other ways to reduce theft
It’s worth taking the extra time to lock your bike in a safe place. It might not reduce your premiums but it should limit the opportunities for thieves to try and take your bike undetected. These days, there are plenty of designated stations for cyclists to lock their bikes on the high street or around workplaces. If you’re locking it in a residential area, it’s better off in pure sight rather than in down some back alley.
It’s all about reducing the chances of thieves going undetected. Ideally, it would be best not to leave your bike locked outside at nightfall. Nevertheless, it appears that even the police have accepted that some bicycle thefts are inevitable, so bicycle insurance looks the best bet for ensuring that you’re not out of pocket.
