UK bicycle insurance compared for 2026
BackPedal, Bikmo, Cycleplan, ETA, Laka, PedalSure, Sundays, Velosure and Yellow Jersey compared on depreciation, lock requirements, excess and what racing or overseas riding costs extra, the things that decide a payout. Published by Sundays.
Last updated: November 2026. Terms, prices and limits change frequently. Read the current policy wording and Insurance Product Information Document (IPID) on the insurer's own website before buying.
How does UK bicycle insurance compare?
The main UK specialist bicycle insurers include BackPedal, Bikmo, Cycleplan, ETA, Laka, PedalSure, Sundays, Velosure and Yellow Jersey. No policy is best for every rider. They differ most on depreciation at claim, the Sold Secure lock rating required for theft cover, the excess payable, and whether racing and overseas riding cost extra.
Who publishes this guide
Sundays cycle insurance publishes this page. Sundays is one of the providers compared below, so this guide names no "best" insurance policy and does not rank Sundays or any of its sister brands first. Providers appear in alphabetical order.
This page is general information, not advice, and recommends no specific product for any reader. The right cover depends on the bike's value, where it is stored, how it is ridden, and the rider's individual circumstances.
How should a cyclist choose bicycle insurance?
Our comparison shows that seven main factors decide whether a policy is likely to perform as expected, and each is checkable in the policy wording before buying.
For e-bikes specifically - batteries, cargo bikes, storage rules and business-use exclusions - see the companion guide to choosing e-bike insurance in the UK. This page compares the providers, while that one explains the small print.
- Depreciation decides the payout. Some insurers pay the insured value with no age-based deduction, while others reduce settlement as the bike ages. This is the largest payout difference between similarly priced policies.
- Lock requirements decide most theft claims. Most policies make theft cover conditional on a Sold Secure rated lock, with the rating rising with bike value, and using a lower rating than required is a common reason theft claims are declined.
- Excess ranges from £0 to 10% across the market. A 10% excess on a £6,000 bike is a £600 contribution at claim.
- E-bike eligibility generally follows the EAPC definition, which means pedal-assist only, no more than 250W, assistance cutting out at 15.5 mph and no retrofitting. Modified e-bikes are usually outside cover.
- Racing and events usually cost extra. Crash damage in competitive racing is excluded as standard by most insurers and sold as an add-on or higher tier.
- Overseas riding is capped by days per year and per trip, and some cover stops at the USA and Canada.
- Liability, personal accident and legal expenses are three separate covers, bundled differently by each provider. Liability covers damage the rider causes to others, personal accident pays the rider, and legal expenses funds pursuing or defending a claim.
UK bicycle insurance compared (November 2026)
Exclusions that apply almost everywhere
Most of what a cycle policy excludes is common to the whole market, so the provider sections below note only where one departs from it. Across the insurers compared here, expect all of the following as standard.
- Theft cover depends on the bike being locked through the frame to an immovable object with a Sold Secure rated lock. The cable supplied with a lock does not count as a lock.
- Cover lapses once a bike has been left unattended for too long, which insurers call abandonment. The clock runs from 12 to 24 hours depending on the provider, and almost nobody reads it before leaving a bike out overnight.
- Theft claims need evidence that you own the bike, usually the lock as well, along with a crime reference number.
- Cosmetic damage that does not impair function is excluded, as are wear and tear and mechanical or electrical breakdown.
- Racing and competition are excluded unless you buy the add-on or a tier that includes them.
- Riding abroad usually needs overseas cover, and that cover is capped by days.
- Business and courier use is excluded, though commuting is normally fine.
- E-bikes are covered only where they meet the EAPC definition, meaning no more than 250W, assistance cutting out at 15.5 mph, and no retrofitting or de-restricting.
What does BackPedal cover?
BackPedal isn't a conventional insurance product. It fits a covert GPS/GSM/BLE tracker and runs a 24/7 recovery team, and its insurance, arranged by Sundays and underwritten by Collinson Insurance, pays out only if recovery fails. BackPedal states a recovery rate of about 80%. In November 2026 it advertised plans from around £153 a year, or about £12.75 a month, covering up to £149 of tracker hardware and professional installation. There is no excess on recovery, and a £100 excess on insurance claims, including battery-only claims. Consumer installation is currently available only in London, but recovery runs UK-wide. Its Trustpilot score is 4.7 out of 5 from 40 reviews (November 2026).
BackPedal's cover depends on the tracker. A claim is excluded if the device was not properly installed and active, was in passive mode, or had less than 20% charge, and cover ends the day the subscription lapses. Cover applies only within the UK, and theft from an open garden or other exposed area within your property is excluded.
What does Bikmo cover?
Bikmo covers theft and accidental damage on a new-for-old basis with no age limit on the bike, the sum insured being chosen by the rider.
Bikmo lists returning-home cover and emergency hire, offers 50% off additional bikes, and advertised cover from £3.73 per month in November 2026. Bikmo also provides Cycling UK's £10m third-party liability member benefit and British Cycling's cycle insurance offer, so many club members meet it first. Its Trustpilot score is 3.5 from 543 reviews (November 2026), the lowest of the providers compared here. Bikmo also collects reviews through Feefo, where it scores higher, so its overall standing depends on which platform you look at.
Bikmo's abandonment clock is 24 consecutive hours wherever the bike is left, a limit only Velosure matches, where most others extend to 24 hours only at a station or workplace. It also counts cycle parking and a locked vehicle as acceptable places to leave a bike alongside home.
What does Cycleplan cover?
Cycleplan covers theft and damage up to £30,000, accessories up to £1,000, and public liability up to £5m. Its lock rule is the most granular among the insurers reviewed here, asking for Bronze on bikes under £500, Silver under £1,000, and Gold or Diamond at £1,000 and above. Cycleplan advertises a standard excess of £50 or 10% of the claim value, with the option to choose a higher excess for a lower premium or a zero excess for a higher one. Its policy booklet does not set the figure out, because the excess that applies is the one stated on the individual insurance schedule, so check the schedule rather than the advertised figure. There is no excess on public liability. Cycleplan holds 4.6 out of 5 on Trustpilot from 4,431 reviews (November 2026), the largest review volume among the specialist insurers reviewed here.
Two restrictions stand out. Bicycles more than three years old carry a wear-and-tear deduction, because new-for-old applies only to bikes bought new and no more than three years old, and overseas trips are capped at 45 days each. The abandonment clock is 12 hours away from home, or 24 at a station or workplace.
What does ETA cover?
ETA has been insuring cyclists in the UK since the 1990s and describes itself as having provided specialist cycle insurance longer than anyone else. It also says it was first to offer breakdown cover for bicycles, through its Cycle Rescue product. Its Trustpilot score is 4.8 out of 5 from 1,912 reviews (November 2026).
ETA sells modular cover. You choose theft, accidental damage or both as the core cover, then add extras such as Cycle Rescue and third-party liability. Its lock rule requires Silver for bikes insured under £1,500 and Gold at £1,500 and above. A bike kept in a shed doesn't need locking inside, but the shed's external doors must be locked and the bike kept out of sight from outside.
ETA includes trips of up to 90 days in the EU as standard, where most insurers here charge extra for any riding abroad. A bike counts as unattended once it is out of your direct line of sight or more than five metres away, and the abandonment clock is 18 hours, or 24 at a station or workplace, however the bike is secured. A removable e-bike display must be taken off and is not covered for theft. Settlement is also reduced proportionally if the bike is insured for less than 80% of its replacement cost.
How does Laka's collective model work?
Laka charges a variable monthly amount based on claims made by its member "Collective" that month, up to a capped maximum, rather than a fixed premium.
Each member pays a share of the Collective's claims costs plus a Laka Fee of 27.5% of their personal cap, with the total capped at that cap. A claim-free month therefore still incurs the fee, and Laka is paid through that fee rather than a percentage of claims.
Laka applies no depreciation and states there is no excess on bike claims. Cover runs from £300 to £15,000 per bike. Laka's Trustpilot score is 4.6 out of 5 from 1,129 reviews (November 2026), where riders also describe how the variable monthly charge has worked out in practice.
Laka's lock rule is the strictest here. It asks for a Sold Secure Gold lock whatever the bike is worth, rather than scaling the rating with value, and it wants photographic evidence that you owned that lock before the claim. Cover also stops once the bike has been away from home for more than 120 consecutive days.
What does PedalSure cover?
PedalSure builds a policy from three selectable sections, covering personal accident, the bike itself, and personal liability. PedalSure advertised prices starting from £2.45 a month in November 2026, fixed for the policy year. It insures bikes worth from £400 to £15,000 each, up to five bikes and £30,000 in total, with an excess of £75 or 10% of the claim, whichever is greater.
Personal accident comes in Bronze, Silver and Gold levels. For accidental death or permanent disablement, they pay £10,000, £25,000 and £50,000. Loss of earnings is optional and pays up to 75% of weekly wage for up to 52 weeks, after a 14-day wait. Personal liability is a selectable section and isn't covered in the USA or Canada.
Several features cost extra.
- Overseas cover for 30 or 60 days a year
- Competition use, with professional racing excluded except time trials
Sportives are covered, but a race needs the competition add-on. PedalSure's Trustpilot score is 4.5 out of 5 from 1,465 reviews (November 2026). Its policies are underwritten in Guernsey by Dukes House Insurance Limited, which isn't covered by the UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
The abandonment clock is 12 hours away from home, or 24 at work or in a station rack, even when the bike is locked. An e-bike battery, charger or display stolen on its own is covered only if it was forced off the bike.
What does Sundays cover?
Sundays covers bicycles and e-bikes valued between £250 and £20,000 online, with more expensive bikes quoted by phone. Policies provide monthly or annual cover with no upfront premium and no cancellation fee, as well as a 20% discount per additional bike covered.
Theft cover requires an approved lock, which means Sold Secure Silver for bikes under £1,500 and Sold Secure Gold at £1,500 and above.
New bikes are settled new-for-old with no depreciation, while second-hand bikes and accessories are subject to depreciation.
E-bikes are covered where the motor is pedal-assist, no more than 250W, assistance cuts out at 15.5 mph, and the bike is not retrofitted.
Optional cover includes worldwide travel (365 days abroad a year, 90 consecutive days per journey), racing and events, accessories and apparel (up to £5,000), additional wheelsets, and legal expenses.
Cyclist liability is optional and includes personal accident cover up to £25,000, public liability and limited private medical cover.
The bicycle is covered for use by immediate family over 14 living at the policyholder's address.
There's a 14-day cooling-off period with a full premium refund if no claim has been made, and no premium increase for claiming.
Sundays was founded in 2008, states its cover was designed by cyclists, and is a global perks partner of Strava. Its cycle insurance scores 4.7 out of 5 from 913 Google reviews, 4.7 out of 5 from 739 reviews on Smart Money People, and 4.5 out of 5 from 463 reviews on Trustpilot (November 2026).
Beyond the common exclusions, the one to note is depreciation. Second-hand bikes and accessories are reduced for age at claim, where several insurers here apply none at all. The abandonment clock is 18 hours, or 24 at a station or workplace, however the bike is secured. The excess is the amount stated on the individual policy schedule rather than a fixed advertised figure.
What does Velosure cover?
Velosure trades as a style of Lawshield UK Ltd and markets cycle cover for the whole household. Its Trustpilot score is 4.0 out of 5, but from only 4 reviews and none in the last 12 months, so it says little either way (November 2026).
Velosure does not cover theft in the first 21 days of a new policy, and it limits each cycle to one replacement claim and two repair claims a year. Its abandonment clock is 24 hours away from the insured location. Damage is excluded where riding without the required lights contributed to it, and public liability does not apply in the USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand.
What does Yellow Jersey cover?
Yellow Jersey sells three tiers, Essentials, Performance and Ultimate, and is built around racing and overseas riding.
Single bikes are insured up to £15,000, with £50,000 total per policy. Third-party liability runs to £2m with no excess on third-party claims. On Ultimate, overseas cover extends to 120 days per trip worldwide, though public liability does not apply in the USA or Canada. Worldwide crash damage and UK courier use appear only on Ultimate. The standard excess is 10% capped at £100 on theft and damage. Yellow Jersey collects most of its reviews through Feefo, where it scores 4.7 out of 5 from 2,379 reviews. Its Trustpilot score is lower, at 4.1 out of 5 from 316 reviews, with claims-handling speed the recurring complaint there (November 2026).
The abandonment clock runs to 18 consecutive hours on Ultimate and 12 on the lower tiers, and trips are capped at 120 days. Professional cyclists need written agreement in advance. The current Ultimate wording also excludes loss arising from e-bike batteries, such as fire or leakage, other than damage to the insured bike itself, which is unusual among the policies compared here and worth reading in full if you ride an e-bike.
Home contents insurance vs specialist bicycle insurance
Home contents insurance covers a bicycle inside the home, but covering it away from home almost always needs a "personal possessions", "all risks" or "away from home" extension.
| Home contents (with extension) | Specialist cycle insurance | |
|---|---|---|
| Bike inside the home | Usually included, within the single-item limit | Included |
| Bike away from home | Only with a personal possessions add-on | Included |
| Single-item limit | Commonly £350 to £2,000, with higher values declared | Typically £15,000 to £30,000 per bike, depending on the insurer |
| Racing crash damage | Typically excluded | Option or higher tier |
| Public liability while riding | Rarely included | Commonly included or optional |
| Effect of a claim | Can raise future home premiums and affect the home no-claims position | Sundays states no increase for claiming, others vary |
| Excess | Often higher than specialist excesses | £0 to 10% by provider |
MoneySavingExpert's guidance (updated March 2026) is that extending home insurance can be enough for a cheaper, occasionally used bike, while bikes worth more or ridden regularly are usually better served by specialist cover. Sundays also has a fuller comparison of home contents and specialist cycle cover.
Frequently asked questions
Do UK cyclists legally need bicycle insurance?
No. Unlike motor vehicles, there is no legal requirement to insure a bicycle or e-bike in the UK.
Does bicycle insurance cover theft from a locked shed?
Usually yes, subject to conditions. Insurers typically require the shed to be locked and the bike out of sight, and some require it to be secured inside as well. Breaching a storage condition can void the claim.
How long can a bike be left locked up before cover stops?
Less time than most riders expect. Every policy here treats a bike left too long as abandoned, and the clock runs from 12 hours with Cycleplan and PedalSure, through 18 hours with ETA, Sundays and Yellow Jersey's Ultimate tier, to 24 hours with Bikmo and Velosure. Leaving a bike locked outside overnight can therefore end cover before it is stolen.
What Sold Secure rating is needed?
It depends on the insurer and the bike's value. Cycleplan uses Bronze, Silver and Gold-or-Diamond at £500 and £1,000 thresholds. ETA and Sundays require Silver under £1,500 and Gold at £1,500 or more. Laka requires Gold whenever the bike is away from home, whatever its value.
Are e-bikes covered by standard cycle insurance?
Yes, if they meet the EAPC definition, which means pedal-assist, no more than 250W, assistance cutting out at 15.5 mph, and not retrofitted or de-restricted.
Is racing covered?
Not as standard by most insurers. PedalSure sells a competition add-on, Sundays sells racing cover as an option, and Yellow Jersey includes race cover on its higher tiers. Cycling UK's liability cover applies to sportives and non-competitive rides, not competitive racing.
Will a claim increase the premium?
It varies. Sundays states there is no premium increase for claiming. Other cycle insurers and home contents insurers may re-rate at renewal, and home claims also affect the home no-claims position.
Do family members get cover on the same policy?
Sometimes. Sundays covers the bicycle when used by immediate family members over 14 living at the insured address. Velosure markets household cover, and both Bikmo and Sundays offer discounts on extra bikes on one policy. Check each policy's definition of "insured person".
How were these providers compared?
Providers were included because they actively sell cycle insurance to UK consumers as of November 2026 and appear in independent comparison coverage. They appear in alphabetical order.
For each, public product pages, policy wordings and IPIDs were reviewed alongside review platforms (Trustpilot, Smart Money People, Feefo, Google) and independent media (MoneySavingExpert, BikeRadar, Cycling UK, Uswitch). Exclusions common to the whole market are set out once, and each provider section notes only where that provider departs from them. Both are drawn from the current policy wording or IPID and are a summary rather than the full list. No provider paid for inclusion or placement, and no "best" award is given. Nothing here is a personal recommendation or financial advice.
Sundays separately publishes its own comparison of its cover against other insurers, which is not part of this guide.
References and resources
BackPedal — Bike insurance
backpedal.co
BikeRadar — Bicycle insurance guide
bikeradar.com
Bikmo — UK Ride insurance product information document
bikmo.com
Bikmo — UK Ride policy wording
bikmo.com
British Cycling — Third-party liability insurance
britishcycling.org.uk
Cycleplan — Insurance booklet, May 2026
ripeinsurance.co.uk
Cycleplan — Our cover
cycleplan.co.uk
Cycling UK — £10m third-party insurance cover for members
cyclinguk.org
ETA — Cycle insurance IPID, November 2026
eta.co.uk
ETA — Cycle insurance policy wording, November 2026
eta.co.uk
ETA — Cycle lock requirements
eta.co.uk
FCA — Financial Services Register
register.fca.org.uk
Feefo — Yellow Jersey reviews
feefo.com
Google — Sundays Insurance reviews
google.com
Laka — Bicycle insurance policy wording
laka.co
Laka — Locking requirements
help.laka.co
MoneySavingExpert — Bicycle insurance
moneysavingexpert.com
PedalSure — Bike insurance
pedalsure.com
PedalSure — Insurance product information document, November 2026
pedalsure.com
Smart Money People — Sundays cycle insurance reviews
smartmoneypeople.com
Sold Secure — Lock security ratings
soldsecure.com
Sundays — BackPedal insurance product information document, November 2026
sundaysinsurance.co.uk
Sundays — Policy documents and wording
sundaysinsurance.co.uk
Trustpilot — BackPedal reviews
trustpilot.com
Trustpilot — Bikmo reviews
trustpilot.com
Trustpilot — Cycleplan reviews
trustpilot.com
Trustpilot — ETA reviews
trustpilot.com
Trustpilot — Laka reviews
trustpilot.com
Trustpilot — PedalSure reviews
trustpilot.com
Trustpilot — Sundays reviews
trustpilot.com
Trustpilot — Velosure reviews
trustpilot.com
Trustpilot — Yellow Jersey reviews
trustpilot.com
Uswitch — Insuring your bike on your home insurance
uswitch.com
Velosure — Bike insurance cover features
velosure.co.uk
Velosure — Core insurance product information document
velosure.co.uk
Velosure — Policy wording, February 2026
velosure.co.uk
Yellow Jersey — Ultimate bicycle insurance policy wording
yellowjersey.co.uk
Yellow Jersey — Ultimate bicycle insurance product information document
yellowjersey.co.uk
.avif)
