NH1816 · compared independently · advice from Finass
Bicycle insurance through NH1816
A bicycle claim almost always comes down to two questions: which lock was fitted and where was the bicycle, and with an electric bicycle the battery is a third question.
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.
Enter your details; you will receive a proposal within one working day.
We compare the offerings of several insurers
An adviser checks whether the cover suits your situation
A premium indication, not personal advice. Prefer to talk it through? Call 072 - 509 24 56.
In brief
Bicycle insurance (fietsverzekering) covers the bicycle itself: theft and, depending on the version chosen, damage to the machine. What it does not cover is liability if you hit a pedestrian with that bicycle. That runs through personal liability insurance (AVP) and through Article 6:162 of the Dutch Civil Code. So they are two different policies, for two different kinds of loss.
Because it is an indemnity insurance, the principle of indemnity under Article 7:960 of the Dutch Civil Codeapplies: you do not receive more than the bicycle was worth. Most policies pay the replacement value as new for a period stated in the policy conditions after purchase, and the depreciated value after that. For an electric bicycle or cargo bike that is a few years old, that makes a considerable difference.
Finally, pay attention to the category of your machine. A speed pedelec is legally not a bicycle but a moped, which must be registered and must have liability insurance under Article 2 of the Dutch Motor Insurance Liability Act (WAM). Such a vehicle does not belong on a bicycle policy. We check that in advance, so that you are not riding around with a policy that does not recognise the vehicle.
The structure of the cover in three parts, with an overview per situation below.
Basic cover
The basic cover insures the core of your bicycle insurance. We show what NH1816 and other insurers offer within it.
Injury to persons
Property damage to third parties
Employees included
Retroactive cover (prior risk)
Extended cover
On top of that to damage to third parties, employers' and product liability and damage during work at the client's premises.
Employers' liability at the client's premises
Product liability
Agency workers, interns & volunteers
Care, custody and control (property in your care)
Complete package
The most complete cover. We compare NH1816's extended version with the market.
Environmental impairment (unforeseen, limited)
Retroactive cover (prior risk)
Higher sums insured
What is covered
Situation
Theft cover
Comprehensive
Theft away from home, locked with the prescribed lock
Yes
Yes
Theft from a locked shed or store
Provided that
Provided that
Vandalism to the bicycle while parked
Provided that
Yes
Fall or collision damage to the frame
No
Yes
Damage to or theft of the removable battery
Provided that
Provided that
Wear to tyres, brakes and the chain
No
No
An ordinary bicycle and an electric bicycle up to 25 km/h are not motor vehicles: there is no third-party liability requirement, and damage you cause to others with one falls under your personal liability insurance (AVP). A speed pedelec is a motor vehicle and does need its own third-party liability insurance (Article 2 WAM). Almost every policy requires an approved lock and that you keep both keys.
What we do
What we do
At Finass
Direct with NH1816
Comparison across several insurers
Yes
No
Advice based on your own situation
Yes
Sometimes
One point of contact for claims
Yes
Sometimes
Cancellation with your current insurer arranged
Yes
No
We determine whether NH1816 is the best choice
Yes
No
Advice fees for you as a customer
No
No
This overview concerns our service, not the cover. What is actually covered is set out in the policy conditions and on the insurer's insurance card (verzekeringskaart); you receive both before you take out cover.
Where things go wrong in practice
Four points that make the difference between a policy that pays out and one that does not.
The lock determines whether theft is paid for
Almost every policy requires an approved lock, usually with the ART mark, and for more expensive bicycles that the bicycle is secured to a fixed object. After a theft you must report it to the police and hand in all the keys supplied with the bicycle. If a key is missing or you cannot produce the lock, the discussion is no longer about the bicycle but about whether the security requirement has been met.
Where the bicycle was and at what time
Many policy conditions distinguish theft during the day from theft during the night, and then require the machine to be in properly locked premises. A communal bicycle store in a block of flats does not always count as such, and nor does a garden behind a gate. Anyone who habitually leaves the bicycle outside would do well to declare that situation in advance rather than explain it afterwards.
The battery is a chapter of its own
Theft of or damage to the battery is usually covered, but a decline in capacity is not: that is wear and tear. Punctures, scratches, a worn chain and loss of value after a repair are also not covered. A fire that starts while charging indoors is more likely to fall under your home contents or buildings insurance than under the bicycle policy, because the damage is then to the building and the contents.
Speed pedelecs and fat bikes work out differently
A speed pedelec is a moped: registration, compulsory insurance under Article 2 of the Dutch Motor Insurance Liability Act (WAM) and a helmet requirement. Bicycle insurance does not cover that vehicle. The same applies to tuned or non-compliant electric bicycles: if the machine does not fall within the description in the policy conditions, there is no cover for theft or damage, however promptly the premium has been paid.
Retroactive cover (prior risk)
Retroactive cover (prior risk) Included for your staff during work.
Defence & legal costs
What does your premium depend on?
Type of machine. A city bike, an electric bicycle, a cargo bike and a racing bike each represent a different theft risk.
Purchase value and year of manufacture. The replacement value as new is the basis for calculation. The year of manufacture determines whether the new-for-old arrangement still applies.
Postcode where the vehicle is kept. Theft figures differ widely by area, and the address where the bicycle is kept at night counts in that.
Type of cover chosen. Theft only is cheaper than cover that also pays for damage from falls, collisions and vandalism.
Lock and security. An approved lock is often a condition of acceptance; extra security or a track-and-trace system can earn a discount.
Excess. A higher excess per event brings the premium down, but it hits you precisely on the smaller claims.
Insurers weigh these details differently. That is where your saving is.
How we arrange it
You request a quoteWe take stock of your situation, your risk and your wishes.
We compareseveral insurers, on premium as well as conditions.
You receive a proposalWith an explanation of the differences and the exclusions.
We arrange the switchIncluding cancellation, so there is no gap in cover.
Customers rate our service on four aspects: personal service, service delivery, availability and the outcome. The reviews are collected and published by NH1816 and come from customers who have actually taken out a policy with Finass Advies B.V. or reported a claim.
Then it becomes difficult. After a theft, insurers ask for all the original keys in order to rule out that the bicycle was ridden away with a key. If one is missing, payment may be refused or reduced. If you lose a key, report it straight away and have the lock replaced; that is considerably cheaper than a rejected theft claim.
Is my e-bike covered against theft from the communal store?
That depends on how the policy conditions describe locked premises. A store to which all the residents have a key is not regarded by some insurers as properly locked. There is often the further requirement that the bicycle is locked inside those premises too, preferably secured to a rack. So always lock it, even indoors.
Will the insurance pay for a new battery if the range declines?
No. Loss of battery capacity is wear and tear through normal use and that is excluded on every bicycle policy. What is covered is theft of the battery or damage from an external event, such as a fall or vandalism. For declining performance you have to rely on the supplier's manufacturer warranty.
Do I need this alongside my home contents insurance?
Home contents insurance usually only covers a bicycle against theft from the home or from a locked outbuilding, and up to a limited amount. Theft at the station, at school or outside the shop falls outside it, and that is precisely where most bicycles disappear. With a more expensive electric bicycle, the separate policy is therefore rarely superfluous.
Finass Verzekert is a trading name of Finass Advies B.V. We advise on and arrange non-life insurance on the basis of an objective analysis of several insurers, and receive commission for this from the insurer, which is included in the premium. You pay no separate advice fee. Before you take out cover, we establish your wishes and needs.
You will find our licence, KvK and Kifid details and our complaints procedure at the foot of every page.
