bike insurance

[logdiva32]

Does anyone know if companies offer bike insurance? I have to go to VA this summer and will not be staying in the best part of the city. Would love to take my new bike but scared to have it stolen. Any tips??

[anakiwa]

My homeowners policy covers my bike (I think with a $500 deductible). I'd suggest checking with your insurance agent. If you have a homeowners plan you might already be covered, if not you may be able to add something on to homeowners or auto insurance.

[Irulan]

talk to your homeowners' insurance agents. While you might have some basic coverage as mentioned above, you need to check the valuation of your bike against the coverage. You might need to purchase a rider ( no pun intended) for your bike if the value of it exceeds the basic coverage.

[suzieqtwa]

When I got my bike stolen I did have home owners insurance ,but they said it would be a 500.00 deductible ,and a administration fee (what) !!! I was so mad already ,I just took the loss. My bike wasn't worth more than 800.00 with all the stuff I had done to it. I imagine if I had ,had an expensive bike it would have helped.

[Susie]

My renters insurance covers my bikes and my deductable is $250. You might want to check and see what your insurance company can provide.

Susie

[TsPoet]

When I got my more expensive bike, I asked my home owner's insurance agent. He told me it was covered, but it was good to tell him exactly what the bike is and that I'd better not make a claim against it for 6 months . It turns out, I needed to have the policy for 4 years before claims like bicycles would not have deductibles, fees, and possibly increase my insurance $ and I'd had the policy with them for 3.5 years at that time. After 4 years, I guess they decide you are a good customer and the fees, etc. are less.

[Kathi]

My bike is covered against theft and damage in 2 ways.

I have a rider on my homeowner's insurance. I gave my agent an itemized list of everything that is on my bike. My LBS created the list for me with their company logo on it.

Serotta has a crash protection program which provides repairs to the frame in case of damage. If the frame can't be repaired, they will replace it at a minimal cost.

[IFjane]

I, too, got an itemized list from my LBS for insurance purposes. My homeowners is supposed to cover it.

Diva, where in VA will you be traveling?

[LBTC]

Our bike rider on our home insurance, covering the best 6 of our bikes, costs more than the rest of our home insurance, but there is no deductible. (for one bike, it would probably be quite affordable) Apparently, though, they are not covered for crashes. Crash the car with the bikes on the rack and they are covered, crash on a wicked downhill and they are not. Not sure about a collision with a car, I'll have to check with my agent!

Have a great trip, I hope you don't need to use the insurance!

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[Blueberry]

We've been puzzling through this too. According to our agent, they can't put a rider on for the bikes (jewelry yes, bikes no). We would have to go to another company and get an inland marine (?!) policy (they don't sell such a policy, but recommended a few competitors who do). Anyone had to deal with this before?

For now, they're covered under the homeowners policy - we just have a $500 deductible.

Carrie Anne

[logdiva32]

Seems very confusing. Wonder if I can have a whole separate policy just for my bikes?? Oh I will be in the Petersburg, va area. With lots of weekends in DC and other parts of MD. Looking for some fun weekend rides...

[KayTee]

Logdiva, check out www.raba.org for some club rides not too far from Petersburg. Most of RABA's rides are north of the James, but there are one or two weekend rides a month that start not too far from P-bg. Good luck with the insurance.

[Duck on Wheels]

Yes, many insurers also offer supplementary insurance that will cover the bike (i.e. eliminate the deductible on the bike coverage of your homeowner's or renter's insurance). The simplest way to find out, is to call your insurance company and ask what your coverage on the bike is now, and what they offer that might improve that.