Lock requirement · battery · depreciation
Bicycle insurance through Klaverblad
When an e-bike is stolen, the discussion is rarely about the bicycle. It is about the lock, the keys and the question of where the bicycle was.
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Deze pagina in het Nederlands: Fietsverzekering via Klaverblad.
The calculator and the quote form below are in Dutch. Prefer to do this in English? Email info@finassverzekert. nl or call 072 - 509 24 56 and we will take it from there.
Work out for yourself what it would cost.
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- We compare the offerings of several insurers
- An adviser checks whether the cover suits your situation
- We arrange the switch, including cancellation
A premium indication, not personal advice. Prefer to talk it through? Call 072 - 509 24 56.
In brief
Finass acts as an intermediary for the range of Klaverblad among others and compares it objectively with more than thirty other insurers. Bicycle insurance (fietsverzekering) generally comes in two forms: theft theftonly, or theft plus damage to the bicycle itself, including fall and collision damage and vandalism. For an electric bicycle with a mid-drive motor and an integrated battery, that second version is usually the reason to insure, because those parts in particular are expensive and prone to failure. The main points are set out on the bicycle insurance hub page.
The most important provision is the lock requirement. Almost every policy requires a lock approved by a recognised testing body for the class that goes with your bicycle, and that the bicycle is secured to a fixed object when away from home. Also, when you claim you must be able to hand in all the keys supplied with the bicycle and report the theft to the police. A missing key or lock is the most common reason for a claim being declined &mdash. More common than doubt about how it happened.
Also look at the depreciation scheme. Many policies pay for a new, equivalent bicycle in the first period after purchase and then switch to depreciation per month or per year. With a bicycle that is five years old, the difference is large. Also ask whether a replacement bicycle is arranged while yours is being repaired. Different rules apply to a speed pedelec: that has a registration number and falls under the compulsory insurance requirement under Article 2 of the Dutch Motor Insurance Liability Act (WAM).
This page deals with one situation. The full overview is on Compare bicycle insurance.
What to look out for
Four provisions that are decisive in a bicycle claim.
What is structurally outside the cover
Excluded are, among others theft from a communal store, shed or cellar without signs of forced entry; wear of tyres, brake blocks, chain and battery capacity through normal use; and damage caused by tuning or technically modifying the motor. Scratches that do not affect use, and loss of accessories that were carried loose, are also usually not reimbursed.
The battery is a subject of its own
Loss of capacity through ageing is not damage but wear and is not reimbursed. What is usually covered is sudden damage, for example after a fall or through moisture. Charge with the original charger and follow the manufacturer's advice about storage in frost; where the policy conditions set requirements on that, those are conditions and not tips.
Where the bicycle is kept at night
Insurers distinguish between locked premises of your own, a communal store and the public road. If the bicycle is habitually left outside or in a shared store, declare that. An incorrect statement about where the bicycle is kept goes to the heart of the risk and may, under Articles 7:928 and 7:930 of the Dutch Civil Code lead to a reduction or loss of the payout.
Liability does not come along for the ride
If you hit a pedestrian, that is loss to someone else and not to your bicycle. That liability runs through Article 6:162 of the Dutch Civil Code and belongs on your personal liability insurance (AVP), not on this policy. If you are hit by a car, Article 185 of the Dutch Road Traffic Act gives you a special position towards the driver as a non-motorised road user.
What does your premium depend on?
- Purchase price of the bicycle: the basis for the premium and the payment
- Type of bicycle: city bike, e-bike, cargo bike or racing bike
- Place of residence: the theft risk differs widely by postcode
- Storage location: locked premises of your own or a shared store
- Cover chosen: theft only, or damage and vandalism as well
- Excess: often arranged separately for the battery and accessories
Insurers weigh these details differently. That is where your saving is.
What is covered
| Situation | Theft only | Theft and damage |
|---|---|---|
| Your e-bike is taken from the station, the lock has been cut through and you have all the keys | Yes | Yes |
| The front wheel buckles after you hit a kerb at an angle | No | Yes |
| Someone smashes the display and the spokes of your bicycle in the front garden at night | No | Yes |
| The bicycle falls against a wall and the battery casing cracks | No | Provided that |
| Your pannier with a laptop disappears while the bicycle itself is left behind | No | No |
| Your racing bike is stolen from the locked car during a break in the journey | Provided that | Provided that |
Whatever is fitted on or to the bicycle usually has its own maximum, separate from the insured value of the bicycle itself.
Frequently asked questions
This is what people ask us most.
My e-bike was stolen from the communal cycle store. Is that covered?
That depends on the policy conditions. Many policies require the bicycle to be locked and secured to a fixed object even inside a shared store, and require signs of forced entry to the store door. If those signs are absent and the bicycle was not secured separately, no payment usually follows. Always report the theft to the police and ask the owners' association for a statement.
I only have one key left. What does that mean if the bicycle is stolen?
Almost every bicycle policy requires you to hand in all the keys supplied with the lock. If you lost one earlier, have the lock replaced and keep the receipt for it. Anyone who cannot produce all the keys when claiming runs a real risk of the claim being declined, because the insurer cannot then distinguish the theft from use of the key.
Is my bicycle also insured abroad?
Most policies cover Europe or part of it, often for a limited number of weeks a year. Take the same approved lock with you on holiday and report a theft to the police on the spot. A statement from the local police cannot be obtained afterwards. Check in advance which area is stated on your policy schedule.
Do I get a new bicycle or the old value back?
In the first period after purchase, many insurers pay for a new, equivalent bicycle. After that depreciation applies and you receive the market value. You are not left better off than you would have been without the loss; Article 7:960 of the Dutch Civil Code prohibits an indemnity insurance from producing a profit. Report the theft immediately, because Article 7:941 DCC requires you to notify in good time.