How to properly insure your bike – the big comparison!

How to properly insure your bike – the big comparison!

In 2024, a total of 245,868 bicycle thefts were reported in Germany, although the police were only successful in solving them in around 10% of the cases. Given these alarming statistics, many bicycle owners are becoming increasingly interested in insuring their bikes. Good insurance can help compensate for financial losses in the event of theft. However, various factors play a decisive role when choosing the right insurance, such as the value of the bike, the frequency of use and the place of residence with different theft rates. This reports ksta.de.

The choice of bicycle insurance is diverse. Essentially three types can be distinguished:Home contents insurance,separate bicycle insuranceandBicycle insurance with comprehensive cover. Household contents insurance is particularly useful if the policyholder already has such a policy. Bicycle protection can often be added, with the maximum benefit amount being contractually agreed, for example 1,000 or 1,500 euros. Multiple thefts can be counted as a single incident. A disadvantage could be the possible termination of the policy by the insurer after a claim.

Advantages of special bicycle insurance

Separate bicycle insurance is available for high-quality bicycles or e-bikes, which usually guarantees replacement value compensation over several years without requiring complicated safety requirements. Comprehensive protection, on the other hand, not only covers theft, but also falls, vandalism and wear and tear. This type of insurance is particularly recommended for bikes with a value of 3,000 euros or more and for daily or sporting use. Many tariffs offer additional services such as a letter of protection in the event of a breakdown.

Stiftung Warentest tested 119 tariffs from 44 insurers in a recent audit. Of these, 36 tariffs received a “very good” rating. The best rates for theft insurance come from Huk Coburg, Huk24, VRK and Signal Iduna, among others. Signal Iduna, for example, charges 32 euros annually for a 1,500 euro trekking bike in high-risk cities, while the contributions for slightly more expensive e-cargo bikes are around 50 euros. In contrast, Huk24 offers insurance coverage starting at just 25 euros in low-risk areas, and up to 101 euros in high-risk areas.

Prices and differences in comprehensive insurance

Comprehensive insurance prices vary significantly depending on the city and bike value. These start at around 32 euros up to 655 euros for an e-cargo bike in the capital Berlin. In general, the comparison shows that good theft protection is possible from around 30 euros per year for bicycles worth 1,500 euros or e-bikes worth 6,000 euros. However, it is important to note that higher premiums often provide additional protection against accidents, vandalism or wear and tear, while some more expensive policies have fewer benefits.

Loud test.de Cyclists should carefully weigh the pros and cons of their coverage, particularly whether they choose a household contents policy or prefer stand-alone bike insurance. Statistically speaking, the uninsured suffer high financial losses on average. An online calculator therefore offers a useful decision-making aid to find the best insurance for your individual needs.

The risk of theft varies greatly from region to region. Large cities and student towns have the highest theft rates, such as Göttingen with 2,009 thefts per 100,000 inhabitants, while only 60 thefts were reported in Remscheid. Berlin has a theft rate of 766 bicycles per 100,000 inhabitants. These differences should definitely be taken into account when considering the right bicycle insurance.