Home & Contents Insurance vs. Specialised Bicycle Insurance

Perhaps you have to be a cyclist to understand how devastating a bike theft can be. After all, a bike is more than just an object, it’s an extension of yourself. A super-efficient machine to race for the finish line or office, and at the same time a powerful way to bond with friends and family or to simply ride alone to clear your head.

Insurance can’t prevent the upset of having your bike stolen, but it gets you back on two wheels without the financial pain of having to pay for a replacement bicycle yourself. Or at least it does if you have the right cover.

It can be hard to compare policies and decide whether to insure your bike with a specialist bicycle insurer or under your home and contents insurance. What’s in no doubt at all, however, is the significant risk of theft.

Why do I need bicycle insurance?

A staggering 18,000+ bicycles were stolen in London in 2021 according to the Met – and that’s only those that were reported. Worse still, only 1% of cases resulted in a charge or caution so the chances of recovering a stolen bike are slim to say the least. And if that wasn’t bleak enough, the capital has seen a rise in the vandalism of bikes or their cannibalisation for parts – crimes rarely reported to police.

Our own statistics reveal that while claims increase over the summer months, bike theft occurs throughout the year.

According to BikeRegister, the national bicycle database, bike theft hotspots include:

1. Cambridge
2. Bristol
3. York
4. Oxford
5. South-West London (particularly Kingston)
6. Brighton
7. Portsmouth
8. Nottingham

Top bicycle theft areas in the UK

Protection against theft might be the main reason people opt for insurance, but accidental damage or crash damage can be no less devastating if you have to foot the repair bill yourself.

Is home & contents insurance best for you and your bike?

Covering your bicycle under your home & contents insurance may seem a cost-effective option but it’s important to do your homework. Though the policy may offer some protection for your bicycle, the typical risks faced by cyclists away from the home are unlikely to be covered. On top of that, if you make a claim for bicycle theft against your home & contents policy, you could jeopardise your no-claims discount and see your entire policy premium increase. By contrast, if you make the same claim against a standalone bicycle insurance policy, you avoid affecting your home and contents policy premium. Plus, when you protect your bike with Sundays insurance, you have the assurance that your premium will not increase after a claim.

Here's how home & contents insurance compares to specialist bicycle cover.

Along with our cover options for your bicycle, Sundays also offers cyclist liability insurance that protects your pocket if you’re found liable for injuring someone or damaging their property while riding your bike.

Our cyclist insurance comes standard with:

• Liability cover up to £2,000,000.
• Personal accident cover up to £10,000 in the event of death or permanent injury.
• Private medical for costs up to £300.

Why choose specialist bicycle insurance

It's a common misconception that bicycle insurance is pricey and only designed for serious cyclists or those with expensive bikes. However, that is not the case with Sundays insurance. Our bicycle insurance plans are affordable and available to all types of cyclists, regardless of the cost of their bike.

At Sundays, we don't believe in one-size-fits-all insurance packages. Instead, we provide you with tailored, personalised cover that can be adapted to fit your budget. This means you only pay for the cover you need. In addition to the standard and optional cover options detailed in the table, you can opt for additional cover to best suit your requirements.

What Sundays covers:

New-for-old replacement

If your bike, which was bought brand new by you, is stolen, we will base your claim settlement on the cost, or replacement, of a new one. Make sure you save the proof of purchase; you will need it when filing a claim.

Accessories, cycling apparel & wheelsets

With Sundays, you can insure accessories up to £5,000. You can also cover the kit you’re wearing while you ride.

Plus, you can add additional wheelsets to your policy so you can swap them out to suit your ride with total peace of mind.

Racing & event cover

Choose racing & event cover and we'll cover your bicycle if the damage is caused by a specific incident, crash, impact, or road hazard while taking part in a race or event.

If you don't participate in races and don't want your cover to extend to them, you don't need to choose or pay for this cover.

Why choose Sundays bicycle cover?

Monthly premiums

Insurance premiums are usually calculated annually and divided by 12 to give you your monthly premium. Many specialist bicycle insurers require that you pay a portion of the annual amount upfront, but we don’t.  

Enjoy simple monthly payments with no upfront or minimum premium. Plus, you can cancel your cover at any time without penalties.

Personalised policies

We draw from 13+ years of cycling insurance data to offer customisable cover for serious and casual cyclists.

Personal service

We’re not your typical faceless insurance company. Our close-knit vibe ensures you’ll always be part of the Sundays cyclist family.

14-day cooling off period

Try our policy for 14 days and get your money back if you cancel within 14 days and did not claim. No questions asked, no penalties.

Don’t insure your bike with us yet?

Get an obligation free quote online now.

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