Frequently Asked Questions
A compiled and categorised list of Cover4Cycles most frequently asked questions
Buying
Claims
Coverage
Security
You can amend or cancel your policy free of charge within 14 days from your policy inception date, otherwise known as the cooling-off period.
After this 14-day period, any amendments or cancellations will incur a non-refundable £11 administration fee.
Yes, age limits do apply depending on the type of cover you want to purchase.
To purchase a standard policy, you must be between 18 and 84 years old inclusive.
To add Public Liability cover, you must be 16 to 84 years old.
To add Personal Accident cover, you must be 16 to 69 years old.
There are two ways you can pay for your bicycle insurance:
• Pay in Full
You can use any UK debit or credit card, including American Express, to pay the full annual premium upfront.
• Monthly Instalments (available for policies over £120)
Alternatively, you can spread the cost by opting for monthly payments through our finance partner, Premium Credit.
You’ll pay a deposit to Cover4Cycles, and the remaining balance will be collected monthly by Premium Credit with the first instalment taken one month after your policy start date.
You’ll receive a welcome pack with your repayment schedule and Credit Agreement. Please read and sign it promptly to avoid the £10 reminder fee.
Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer insurance to non-UK residents. This includes residents of the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.
To qualify as a valid resident for our cycle insurance, you must:
• Have spent at least 6 of the last 12 months in the UK, and
• Intend to remain in the UK for the next 6 months.
If you are staying in the UK on a visa, you can be covered as long as your policy ends before your visa expires.
Your policy can include cover for your bike lock, but you must have selected ‘Accessories’ cover during the purchase process.
Please note, your lock must be an approved lock from the appropriate SoldSecure rating. Find our list of approved locks here.
You can find the full policy wording via the navigation bar under ‘Docs’. We recommend you read it before purchasing you know what your Cover4Cycles policy covers and how it works.
If you are already a policyholder, the policy wording was emailed to the email address you provided at time of purchase.
Yes, we offer public liability as an optional add-on to your bicycle insurance policy. You can choose from two levels of cover: £1 million or £2 million.
Public liability protects you against claims made by third parties for damage caused or injury caused by you whilst cycling. Only customers aged 16 to 84 inclusive will benefit from this if selected as an add-on.
This is common question, and the answer depends on whether you’re comfortable with the exclusions typically found in Home Contents insurance policies.
Home insurance typically covers your possessions against fire, theft, floods and accidental damage, crucially, within the home. You should be aware that your home insurance is unlikely to extend coverage to damage or theft that occurs outside your home.
Furthermore, home insurers often impose a value limit on bikes meaning if your bike is valued above their limit, you are likely responsible for covering the remaining cost in the event of a claim. You also won’t be protected in the event of personal injury or third-party damage.
Choosing tailorable bicycle insurance from Cover4Cycles means you’ll have coverage you can trust to meet all your cycling needs.
We hope you’re happy with the cover we provide. However, if you decide the policy no longer meets your needs, you’re entitled to cancel within 14 days of your policy starting.
You can cancel your policy within 14 days of issue by contacting Cover4Cycles in writing via our ‘Contact Us’ form or by post at: Cover4Cycles, Bury House, 1–3 Bury Street, Guildford, GU2 4AW, and our friendly team will be happy to assist.
If you are cancelling within 14 days you will receive a refund of the premium paid without any cancellation fee. If you’ve made a claim, the full premium is due and no refund will be issued.
If you won’t to cancel outside the 14-day window no premium will be refunded and a £10 cancellation fee will apply, as detailed in your Terms of Business.
Please note: We may also cancel your policy by providing 14 days’ written notice to your last known address. Any refund will depend on how long the policy has been active, unless a claim has been made.
The most common form of evidence is the original receipt you received upon purchasing the bike. It should show the date, price paid, item (of the bicycle and/or approved lock), and the seller’s name and address.
Other acceptable evidence of ownership includes at least one of the following:
• A retailer-issued copy receipt stating the item, value and purchase date.
• An invoice specifying the item, value and purchase date.
• A credit agreement stating the item details, value and purchase date.
If you do not have any of the above, you may proide a combination of at least two of the following:
• Clear, date-stamped photographs of your cycling equipment.
• A bank or credit card statement showing the date, amount paid and retailer details.
• Documentation including item details and purchase information.
• A recent valuation or repair statement from a reputable cycle dealer stating the item, value and date.
• If you purchased items via online auctions such as eBay, a printed copy of the auction listing (including photos, descriptions and the auction number) as well as the relevant proof of payment.
Having this evidence to hand in the event of a claim will help the processing go smoothly.
At Cover4Cycles we treat everyone as an individual and we consider the circumstances of their claim and, if any action is possible, what they have done to prevent it happening again.
If you have made a claim, our online underwriting may prevent you purchasing our products instantly and should this happen please get in touch with us to discuss your application and we will refer your responses to our underwriters for a decision.
Any bicycle purchased brand new should be insured for the full replacement cost. You will then have what’s known as ‘New for Old’ cover.
Bicycles bought second hand should be insured for their replacement value at a reputable supplier. Your cover will then be referred to as ‘Market Value’ cover.
If you need to make a claim contact Cover4Cycles as soon as possible by visiting our online claim form.
To make things easier, you should get your Policy Number from your Certificate of Insurance (emailed to you upon purchasing a policy) ready.
You will also need to send us any legal documents that relate to the claim. This includes details of inquests or investigations.
We will also need proof of ownership for the insured bike as well as before and after photos to show damage.
When making a claim, you might need to pay an excess. This amount depends on the value of the bike. Please refer to the grid below:
| Policy Section | Sum Insured | Excess |
| Theft Accidental Damage Malicious Damage | £100 – £15,000 | Bike value: Up to £500: £25 Up to £1000: £50 Up to £2000: £75 Over £2000: £100 |
| Optional Cover | ||
| Accessories | Up to £1500 | £25 |
| Replacement Bike Hire | Up to £1000 | None |
| Personal Accident | Up to £25,000 | None |
| Public Liability | Up to £5 million | £250 for third party property and £500 for third party injury |
Our standard cover includes up to £100 of accessories. If you’d like to extend this, you can opt for additional cover of up to £2000.
The following items are classified as accessories:
Clothing: Cycling jerseys, vests, base layers, gilets, gloves, jackets, shorts, tights, trousers, socks, warmers, compression clothing, shoes, boots and overshoes.
Safety: Cycling helmets, hats or caps, glasses, goggles, body armour/guards, lights (including rechargeable battery packs).
Technology: Cameras intended for cycling (that attach to a bicycle or helmet using a mount designed for that purpose) and cycling computers (including sensors and monitors).
Other: Spare wheelsets, water bottles and cages, backpacks and hydration packs, cycling luggage (panniers, saddle and frame bags), mudguards and cycling tools.
Bicycles outside this definition are not covered:
A bicycle, electric bicycle (provided it has power assistance to a maximum of 25kmh/15.5mph using a motor of no more than 250w rated output), adult tricycle or tandem including permanently fixed component parts, including the approved lock and that belongs to you or a family member.
We only cover pedal bikes; we do not cover motorcycles or electric scooters.
Hired bikes are not covered. We only cover bicycles that you own.
Although our coverage is comprehensive there are some exclusions you should be aware of. Please consult this list and review the policy wording for further detail:
• Professional use: We don’t cover bikes used for professional purpose or any trade or business.
• Competitive events: If you haven’t selected the competitive/sportive usage option then you cannot claim for events such as triathlons, sportives, cyclo-cross, road cycle races, time trials, track cycling or mountain bike races.
• Commuting: You must select the commuting usage option to claim for any incidents related to commuting to or from work.
• Theft claims will be denied if the specified security requirements in your policy haven’t been met.
• Accessories and removable parts: These are not covered unless the bike itself is also stolen or damaged, and you have adequate accessories cover.
• Claims cannot be made without proof of ownership.
• Abandonment: We won’t cover claims if the bike has been abandoned.
• Non-functional damage: Damage that does not impair the function and/or the performance of your bike is not covered.
• Tyres and inner tubes: These are only covered if your bike suffers accidental or malicious damage at the same time.
• Personal accident cover for anyone under 16 years old or over 69 years old.
• Public liability cover for anyone under 16 years old or over 84 years old.
• General wear and tear is not covered.
• Deliberate or intentional damage caused by you is not covered.
Please select the appropriate cover for your usage and adhere to policy conditions to avoid any surprises when making a claim.
Your bicycle insurance policy can assist you in this unfortunate situation. It’s crucial that you report the incident to the police as soon as possible, providing them with a detailed account of what occurred. Before submitting your claim, you must have the following:
• A valid and confirmed crime reference number
• Evidence of ownership of the cycle
In addition to the above, you’ll also need to provide the following if your bicycle has been stolen:
• The key for the approved lock
• A receipt that shows the make and model of the lock used.
Having these details ready will help speed up the claims process.
The policy will cover repair costs if your bike is accidentally damaged whilst being transported by a recognised transport provider. However, to make sure you are covered, you must securely package your bike and obtain a receipt as proof of transit.
Please note, theft of your bicycle whilst in transit is not covered under this policy. If your bike is stolen after being entrusted to a transport provider, then you need to contact the company directly for assistance.
Your policy does provide coverage for accidental damage to the cycle while it is on the carrier.
If you are transporting your bicycle using a rear-mounted carrier and a third party collides with your car, you should seek compensation for the damage from the third party, as they would be liable for the damages.
Please note, though, that theft of your bicycle while mounted on the racks is not covered under this policy because you would not have secured it with an approved lock through the frame to an immovable object.
Covered as standard:
• Theft
• Accidental damage
• Malicious damage
• Replacement bicycle hire
• Personal accident
Optional add-ons for additional cover:
• Public liability cover
• Cycle breakdown
• Cycling accessories
• Cycle event cover
• Worldwide cover
If you select Competitive/Sportive use when getting a quote, you’ll be covered when participating in organised cycling events. This includes triathlons, sportives, cyclo-cross, road races, time trials, track cycling and mountain bike races.
Yes, wheels are covered as part of your bike insurance. You must take reasonable steps to secure your bike and components to make theft as difficult as possible. For example, if your bike has quick-release wheels you can:
• Use an approved lock to secure both the front wheel and the frame.
• Consider purchasing additional approved locks to secure the frame and wheels to an immovable object.
Yes, our standard cover includes mountain bike insurance as well as electric bike insurance, push bike insurance and road bike insurance. We can even provide cover for adult tricycles or a tandems.
Yes, we can cover electric bicycles providing they meet EAPC requirements.
Electric cycles must have powered assistance to a maximum of 25 km/h (15.5 mph) using a motor of no more than 250 Watts rated output.
Yes, bikes obtained through the ‘Cycle to Work’ scheme will be protected by a Cover4Cycles policy.
Our standard policy covers you in the UK only.
You can upgrade your policy to include trips abroad for durations of up to 30, 60, or 90 days, with no limit on the number of trips you can take in your selected time frame. All trips must begin and end in the United Kingdom before the end date shown on your policy schedule.
Please note, we do not cover travel to any country where the Foreign Office has advised against all travel or all but essential travel. For a complete list, please refer to the Foreign Office website: www.fco.gov.uk.
To be insured for personal accident cover, you must select this option as an additional add-on to your policy.
If you or a family member are involved in an accident while using the bicycle, which – solely and independently of any other cause – results in bodily injury leading to death, loss of limb, loss of sight, or permanent total disablement, then you will be protected by personal accident cover.
The amounts payable depends on the level you select and are as follows:
Our policy only covers you and the family members who permanently reside with you at the same address. Eligible family members include:
• Parents
• Spouse
• Partner
• Children or siblings (aged 12 years or over)
You must follow the security requirements; not adhering them could invalidate a claim. The way you secure bike depends on whether you are storing at your specific insured location, away from your specified location or in/on a vehicle. Here are the minimum-security requirements under this policy:
At insured location
If you keep your bicycle inside your home or in an alternative specified insured location then theft and accidental or malicious damage will be covered, as long as all security devices are in operation and accompanied by evidence of forced or violent entry/exit.
If you choose to store your bike in communal areas, then the communal area must only be accessible to residents and their guests. Your bike must be secured to an immovable object with an approved lock through the bike frame. You must not leave your bike unattended for more than 24 hours.
If you keep your bike inside a private garage or a shed then this building must be fully enclosed and constructed of brick, stone, concrete, timber or metal; this extends to include specialist bicycle storage boxes. The boundaries of the insured location must be fitted with a multi-point locking system, 5-lever mortice deadlock, a 5-lever padlock or the bicycle must be secured to an immovable object with an approved lock through the bike frame.
Away from insured location
If you secure your bicycle away from home, then your bike must be secured to an immovable object with an approved lock through the bike frame to ensure that theft and accidental or malicious damage is covered. You must not leave your bike unattended for more than 24 hours and you must also supply evidence of force or violence used to access or take your bicycle.
In/on a vehicle
If you keep your bike on or in a vehicle, then the vehicle must firstly be insured and road legal. It must then be locked and fitted with an alarm and an immobiliser. If you leave your bike in or locked onto the vehicle between 9pm and 6am then your vehicle must be fitted with one of the following:
• A Thatcham category 1 alarm/immobiliser
• A category 2 immobiliser
• A category 3 steering lock
If any such category 1 and 2 device is not factory fitted, it must have been installed by a member of the Vehicle Security Installation Board and evidence of such must be provided in the event of a claim.
When you are outside the United Kingdom where it is impossible to comply with the Thatcham security requirements, theft shall only be covered if the vehicle is fitted with a factory fitted alarm or immobiliser and evidence of its existence must be provided in the event of a claim.
If the bike is on the roof, or on a bicycle rack then your bicycle must be secured by an approved lock through the bike frame. All doors, windows and other openings of the vehicle and cycle rack must be left closed, securely locked and properly fastened. Any security devices must be in operation.
If you store your bike in a vehicle, then it must be out of sight where possible.
To comply with your Cover4Cycles insurance policy, your bike must be secured using an approved lock. Locks should have the Sold Secure logo as these have been tested by approved bodies approved by our underwriters.
An approved lock depends on your bike value and is specified on your policy documents:
• For bikes valued up to £250: You need a lock tested to the bronze standard by Sold Secure.
• For bikes valued between £250 and £1500: You need a lock tested to the silver standard by Sold Secure.
• For bikes valued over £1500: you need a lock tested to the gold standard by SoldSecure.
• Any other lock explicitly accepted by us and agreed upon in writing.
If your lock isn’t appearing on our list, try searching the specific model name rather than the manufacturer.
Still have questions?
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch!