Cycle Insurance FAQs

If you are confused by e-bike laws, don't worry as they can seem complicated. In a nutshell, if your cycle has pedals and an electric motor of no more than 250 watts that cuts out once you’re travelling more than 15.5mph (25 km/h), then in the eyes of UK law it’s an EAPC (electrically assisted pedal cycle) sometimes referred to as an e-bike, or pedelec. It's important to remember that the 250W figure refers to the power of the motor and not the battery. If you're unsure about the power output of the motor (it's not always visibly marked), then make certain that motorised assistance cuts out at 15.5mph. If the e-bike conforms to these requirements, you can ride it on the road or any cycle paths – anywhere a conventional bicycle can be used. It also means you won't find it any trouble to insure. Read more

We believe e-bikes have the potential to revolutionise personal transport – more so than electric cars. Not only can e-bikes get more people riding, and over greater distances, but they open up a world of possibilities for those with mobility issues. We like to help where we can so we offer a lower price on every e-bike insurance policy.

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Whether you carry your e-bike on a roof rack or rear carrier, ETA cycle insurance protects against accidental damage to your bike, provided accidental damage is selected. If you use the appropriate approved lock, it will be covered against theft, if the theft option is selected, for up to 18 hours.

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Yes. We provide insurance for lots of people who travel by caravan, RV and motorhome with one or more e-bikes. Just make sure you use the appropriate lock to secure your e-bike while it’s attached to your bike carrier. See our policy wording for time limits. If you store your e-bike inside your locked motorhome or caravan, it does not need any further security. However, if it can be seen through a window, our policy requires that you cover it with something to keep it from view.

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Yes. If you have selected accidental damage cover and, if traveling outside the EU, the worldwide cover extension, your bike will be covered for accidental damage whilst travelling.

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We launched the UK's first Cycle Rescue service 35 years ago and it can be added to any cycle insurance policy as an option. If your e-bike or electric cargo bike suffers a puncture, mechanical issue, or even a flat battery, we can send a recovery vehicle to rescue you.

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Yes, subject to certain conditions. E-bikes sold before 1 January 2016 may have a full-speed throttle (you don't need to pedal at all to reach the 15.5mph limit) but are considered legal due to having been sold before the law changed. E-bikes sold after that need to be pedalled in order for the motor to work although they are permitted to have a throttle to engage a low-speed 'walk mode'. This feature helps when wheeling a heavy e-bike or e-cargo cycle. For those wanting to ride a full-throttle e-bike legally in the UK today, there’s a process to follow. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) must test and approve your e-bike as an L1e category 250W Low Powered Moped. This approval process ensures the bike meets safety and compliance standards set out in the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle (EAPC) regulations. Read more

We will provide cover for full-throttle e-bikes that have been issued a British National Type Approval certificate.

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Yes, we cover electrically assisted bicycles with an output not exceeding 250 w/15.5 mph. We will even include a 30% discount for e-bikes.

No, we cannot provide cover for commercial use, other than commuting to and from your place of work.

Cover for racing is provided if you have selected our Racing and Events cover extension.

We are unable to provide cover for bicycles that have been hired by a company for personal use. Usually, the business you are hiring the bike from will provide adequate cover.

You have the right to cancel this policy within 14 days of the start date of the policy without giving any reasons and you will receive a full refund unless a claim has been made. Should you cancel after 14 days we will refund you with an amount proportionate to the unexpired period remaining on the policy, unless a claim has been made. You can cancel your cycle insurance using your online account, by calling us on 0333 000 1234 or send us an email on customercare@eta.co.uk.

You have 30 days from the date of a claim event happening in which to submit your claim. In cases where you are in hospital we ask that you make it as soon as physically possible.

If you choose to pay monthly for your cycle insurance, you will have an annual policy, whereby payments are collected each month until renewal. The agreement you have with us is not a credit agreement, and you are free to cancel and stop the payments at any time.

We can process a claim very quickly – often in under 10 working days – if you provide all the correct details and supporting documentation. Failure to provide all the supporting receipts, documents or information, or having to wait for a police report, could significantly delay your claim. Don’t forget, if you have selected the Replacement Cycle Hire cover extension, you can claim up to £500 towards the costs of hiring a bicycle if your own bike is off the road following a claim.

We always try to replace your bike for a like-for-like model. If we cannot find an exact replacement we will reimburse you up to the insured value for the nearest like-for-like replacement.

Please email to, claims@eta.co.uk. However, if our claims team need any more information from you, they will contact you.

If you have been involved in an incident, you need to report it to the police as a road traffic collision and obtain a reference number. Once you have obtained a road traffic collision reference number, you can then submit your claim form online.

To ensure your claim is processed as quickly as possible, we urge you to keep original receipts for cycles insured with us as proof of ownership. If you do not have the original proof of purchase then we ask that you provide three digital photographs, showing the entire left side of the bicycle, the entire right side of the bicycle and one of bicycle's serial number (this is usually located under the bottom bracket). When taking these photos, please ensure a piece of paper with your policy number written on it is clearly visible within each image.

You can submit a cycle insurance claim online here.

You will require proof of purchase for both the bike and lock, a VAT-registered trader’s estimate for the cost of repair/replacement, as well as any photographic evidence supporting your claim.

Yes, this will be covered under our accessories add-on, if selected, and provided you re also claiming against the bicycle.

If you have selected the accessories cover add-on then we will provide cover for cycle-specific equipment and parts that are not core to the operation of your bicycle and are removable without specialist tools. This includes items such as a bicycle trip computer, GPS, lights, cycling helmets, cycling clothing, bicycle locks, and sports equipment such as travel bicycle boxes. You can choose the benefit amount required for accessories, up to £5,000.

We no longer require a frame number when you insure your bike with us. However, if you would like your bike to have an identifie, the easiest way is to use the Datatag system. The Datatag system includes a four etches to permanently mark your frame and forks and a series of micro dots to mark components.

Yes, many of our cusomers have bought bikes through the Cycle to Work scheme. Although the bicycle technically remains the property of your employer throughout the Cycle to Work scheme, it is your responsibilty to insure it for theft, because if it is stolen you will still have to repay the loan.

We have earned a fantastic reputation over the last thirty years and the vast majority of claims are handled quickly and efficiently, without issue. The only time we are unable to pay out is if you are in breach of the security, or other requirements outlined in your policy.

The frame number can usually be found on the tube that connects your seat pin and your pedals or on the receipt for your bike. It is a relatively long alphanumeric number which the cycle shop you bought the bike from should have a record of too. More info on where to find your bike frame number.

To ensure your claim is processed as quickly as possible, we urge you to keep original receipts for cycles insured with us as proof of ownership. If you do not have the original proof of purchase then we ask that you provide three digital photographs, showing the entire left side of the bicycle, the entire right side of the bicycle and one of bicycle's serial number (this is usually located under the bottom bracket). When taking these photos, please ensure a piece of paper with your policy number written on it is clearly visible within each image.

We will accept photos of the lock and/or bank statement to show the transaction when the lock was purchased. We recommend that you take photos as soon as you take out the insurance in case the lock is stolen along with the bike, otherwise you might not be able to prove ownership after the theft has taken place. If you are supplying photographs as proof of ownership, you should at the very least be sure to provide one close up showing make and model, and one of it locked to the bike, as you would usually secure it (through the frame). All photographs used in support of a claim should be clearly date stamped.

If the roof rack is properly fitted, and you use a Sold Secure lock of the correct rating, you can leave your bike unattended on your roof rack for up to 18 hours at a time and it will be covered against theft, if you have selected the theft option (be aware that if you leave it on the roof rack overnight, a higher excess applies if it is left between 1am and 4am). When you carry your bicycle on your car roof rack it is also covered against accidental damage, if you have selected the accidental cover option.

If the make and model of your lock is listed on the Sold Secure website then we will accept it if it meets the correct silver or gold rating relating to the value of your cycle.

If you receive a cable as part of a pack with a D Lock, please note that this part of the product has not passed the Sold Secure test and is only meant to provide a minimal level of security for accessories.

Bicycles, inclusive of any fixed accessories, that have an insured value of less than £1,500 require a minimum Silver rated lock.

Bicycles, inclusive of any fixed accessories, that have an insured value of £1,500 or more require a minimum Gold rated lock.

No. As long as the garage or shed is locked- then you will not need to secure your bike when inside.

You need only provide ownership of the lock when the bike is stolen or damaged/vandalised whilst locked in a public place or communal hallway. If you never keep your bike in one of these areas and it is kept out of sight in a locked private building, shed or garage, then we will not require proof of ownership of your lock.

Yes. The bike will need to be locked to an immovable object using an approved lock and stored out of sight from the public, if visible from a window or door. As other residents, and possibly members of the public, can gain entry to the building, the bike would not be covered unless it were locked or stored away from external view.

Yes, non-privately accessed enclosed structures located within the secured boundaries of your home, for example a communal area or a shared storage unit are covered. These structures need to be fully enclosed with walls, a floor and a roof and provided that, your bicycle is locked through its frame to an immovable object using an approved lock.