A moped in law · registration · compulsory third-party cover
Unigarant high-speed e-bike insurance
A speed pedelec rides like a bicycle but counts in law as a moped. That difference determines which insurance is compulsory and why an ordinary bicycle policy is not enough here.
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Deze pagina in het Nederlands: Unigarant high speed e-bikeverzekering.
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
A high-speed e-bike gives assistance above 25 kilometres per hour and therefore falls into the statutory category of moped. It needs moped registration, a helmet that meets the requirements laid down, an AM driving licence and, under Article 2 of the Dutch Motor Insurance Liability Act (WAM), compulsory liability cover. An ordinary bicycle insurance does not meet that requirement: it has no third-party section for a motor vehicle. For the difference between the versions you can also turn to speed pedelec bicycle insurance.
Finass is independent and compares the range of several insurers. Unigarant is one of the companies with which we can apply for this type of two-wheeler; which one it turns out to be follows from the cover you need and not from any preference of ours. In doing so, compare above all the period of the new-for-old arrangement, the treatment of the battery and the requirements for the lock. Policies differ widely on those three points, while the premiums are close together.
The third-party section covers the damage you cause to others with the speed pedelec: a pedestrian who is hit, a damaged car. Damage to the e-bike itself is not included; own-damage cover is needed for that. Luggage, a pannier with a laptop or a child seat belong on your home contents insurance or on separate cover, not on the two-wheeler policy.
This page deals with one situation. The full overview is on Compare bicycle insurance.
Where things go wrong in this category
Four provisions that lead to a claim being declined more often on a speed pedelec than on an ordinary electric bicycle.
Tuning makes the cover invalid
Removing the speed limiter or fitting a tuning module changes the vehicle category. The construction then differs from the type approval, so that formally there is no longer a valid registration for it. Insurers exclude damage involving a tuned vehicle, and if a third party is injured the third-party insurer recovers the amount paid from the rider.
The lock and where the machine is kept
The policy usually prescribes an approved lock, often with the requirement that the e-bike is secured to a fixed object and kept in locked premises at night. Theft from a communal cycle store or from an unlocked balcony falls outside that. Keep the keys and the frame number; without all the keys being handed in, a theft claim is usually not taken forward.
Battery, wear and inherent defect
Loss of battery capacity is wear and not a sudden event. That is excluded. The same applies to a fault arising from an inherent defect in the vehicle, and to damage from rusted-through or worn parts. Those cases belong with the manufacturer's warranty or with the seller, not with the insurer. Loose batteries kept separately are often only covered in the event of a break-in.
Who may drive
Riding without an AM licence, without the prescribed helmet or after drinking causes the own-damage cover to lapse. The third-party section is paid to the victim and then recovered from the rider. If you lend the e-bike to a minor without the required entitlement, the loss is at your expense. When applying, also state honestly who the regular driver is; an incorrect statement falls under Article 7:928 of the Dutch Civil Code.
What does your premium depend on?
- Purchase price of the vehicle: decisive for the own-damage premium
- Cover chosen: third party only, or third party with theft and own damage
- Age of the regular driver: young riders fall into a higher class
- Lock and where it is kept: an approved lock and a locked store both count
- Home address: the theft risk differs widely by postcode area
- Replacement-as-new period: a longer period means a higher premium
Insurers weigh these details differently. That is where your saving is.
What is covered
| Situation | Third-party liability | Comprehensive |
|---|---|---|
| You hit a pedestrian who steps off the cycle path | Yes | Yes |
| You fall because of a pothole in the road surface and the frame is bent | No | Yes |
| Someone kicks in your front wheel at the supermarket | No | Yes |
| Your speed pedelec disappears from the cycle rack at the station | No | Provided that |
| The battery charger causes a short circuit and damages the meter cupboard at home | No | No |
| Your pannier with a laptop is taken in that same theft | No | No |
In the event of a total loss, what you get back is determined by the period of the new-for-old arrangement, not by the form of cover chosen.
Frequently asked questions
This is what people ask us most.
Is my ordinary bicycle insurance enough for a speed pedelec?
No. A speed pedelec is legally a moped and therefore falls under the compulsory insurance requirement of the Dutch Motor Insurance Liability Act (WAM). A bicycle policy has no liability cover for a motor vehicle and at most covers theft of and damage to the machine itself. If you ride uninsured, a penalty follows through the RDW (the Dutch vehicle authority), whether or not you ever cause any damage.
What exactly does Finass arrange through Unigarant?
We act as intermediary: we take the application, put it to the insurer that suits your situation and support you later with changes and claims. Unigarant is one of the parties we work with. Because we compare the range of several insurers, the choice depends on the cover you want and not on a fixed preference.
Is the battery insured against theft?
If the whole vehicle is stolen, usually yes, because the battery is then part of the e-bike. If only the loose battery is taken from a store or from a charging point, a separate provision often applies and sometimes cover only after forced entry. Loss of capacity through normal use always falls outside it, because that is wear and not an insured event.
What if I have a claim and report it too late?
Under Article 7:941 of the Dutch Civil Code you have a duty to notify as soon as you could reasonably be aware of the loss, together with the duty to limit further loss as far as possible. If you only report it weeks later, the insurer may reduce the payment to the extent that it has been placed in a worse position, for example because investigation is no longer possible. In the event of a theft, also report it to the police immediately.