Liability Insurance?

[Phoebus]

Has anyone been able to get liability insurance for their ebike?

My insurance company claims that, because I've built the bike myself, they are more or less unable to classify it. I may end up paying more or less the same as a dirt bike, $75/yr, for liability. A bit insane to cover a 1hp bicycle the same as a 40hp dirt bike.

Anyone else had any luck?

 

[Cowardlyduck]

Has anyone been able to get liability insurance for their ebike?

My insurance company claims that, because I've built the bike myself, they are more or less unable to classify it. I may end up paying more or less the same as a dirt bike, $75/yr, for liability. A bit insane to cover a 1hp bicycle the same as a 40hp dirt bike.

Anyone else had any luck?

I'm in Aus so it may be a different story, but I managed to get my Stealth Fighter covered under my home and contents insurance, which also included up to 20M in liability.

Mind you my home and contents were insured for 30K + the bike for 7K as an 'extra' for cover on it outside the home. All up I think it was about $500 for a year. That's with a $400 excess.

Cheers

 

[Lessss]

Hey insurance company can I pay you more than what my bike is worth over the course of the life of the bike? Oh I can THANKS!

 

[neptronix]

Hey insurance company can I pay you more than what my bike is worth over the course of the life of the bike? Oh I can THANKS!

:lol:

yup..
insurance companies don't recognize ebikes as anything other than bicycles. So if you can find bicycle insurance ( i don't believe such a thing exists ), go for it.

Why do you want liability insurance for a bicycle? think you're gonna cause some serious damage some time soon?

 

[motomech]

I look at this the same way I did about motorcycles.
If I hit someone hard enough to do damage, I won't be around to be sued anyhow

 

[Sunder]

There was a case in Australia where the rider went skidding along the road with virtually no injuries, while the bike kept flying and killed an older lady. (motorcycle)

Also, in the US, a woman is suing a dead mans estate after she got hit by his bloody body parts after getting hit by a car. Might not matter if you're unmarried and have no kids, but could you imagine if some woman got half your wife's house and money, because you were negligent and hit her with what was left of your intestines?

 

[dogman dan]

Another reason not to haul ass around town with speeds that make your brakes, and tires if your brakes are better, a joke.

Riding 20 mph or less if really crowded, around pedestrians is a good idea. Do your hauling ass when the road is empty, such as a dawn patrol. Commuting in a crowd, you should behave so nothing bad ever really happens.

 

[Phoebus]

I'm in California... Reason is irrelevant here.

 

[gogo]

Also, in the US, a woman is suing a dead mans estate after she got hit by his bloody body parts after getting hit by a car. Might not matter if you're unmarried and have no kids, but could you imagine if some woman got half your wife's house and money, because you were negligent and hit her with what was left of your intestines?

Seriously, wouldn't that fall under the "act of god" clause?

 

[Phoebus]

I should add that my bike is CA legal, 1000W. It's a torque geared bike, so doesn't go fast either.

But a pedestrian running in front of you, someone stealing my bike then getting hurt while riding it, etc etc are all concerns. I can't believe I'm the only one worried about liability...

 

[John in CR]

It's far better to not get in an accident than to have insurance. Simply ride in a manner that makes the odds injuring someone so low that you'd rather self insure than buy that stupid insurance lottery ticket. IOW don't ride within reach of pedestrians and the mistakes they make.

 

[number1cruncher]

Well, I did hit a Camry in February with my ebike @ 35mph. I t-boned him. It was kinda funny actually. I took his side view mirror off and put a nice dent in the driver's door. It only knocked the basket of the front of my bike. And my pelvis was a little sore for a couple days. Teach him to cut me off!

I gave him my number, but never heard from him.

 

[Kingfish]

Because my ebike does not require licensing, I am covered under my Homeowner's policy. If you want more protection, get with an underwriter and sort out what you think is reasonable. Having a high deductible (> $1000) can really clamp the annual costs.

The Business of Business is Business.
-unknown

~KF

 

[amberwolf]

A year or two ago, when I last checked around with all the major insurance carriers (who constantly send me spam letters about great deals on car insurance, even though I have never owned or registered a car, and who all refuse to stop sending this waste of paper and postage), and a few of the minor ones, they all either were baffled by my inquiry to the point of being unable to coherently respond, sent me canned responses about contacting my local DMV (whcih made no sense at all), said that they dont' insure bicycles at all, or said that they are only covered for theft under their homeowner's or renter's policies.

Not a single one would provide any kind of on-road coverage for any kind of bicycle, motorized or not.

There *is* a carrier that I can't recall the name of that will insure anything, for the right price, but it ain't cheap or even affordable, for most. A fair few EV builders have used them, as the first place I saw their name was on EVAlbum in a couple of builds, and then on DIY Electric Car forums.


AAA also wouldn't even talk to me about any kind of service for bicycles, either, although they too send me letters every two or three weeks trying to sell me car service, despite repeated attempts to get them to stop wasting the time and materials. Last few times I asked I was simply put on terminal hold, or hung up on.

 

[The fingers]

Lloyd's of London?

 

[Phoebus]

Okay, I've got State Farm offering to cover my bike - as a "moped." They claim that it's okay that it won't be registered, that I won't have a license, and that I will be riding it as a bicycle (in bike lane, etc).

They said that I would be covered for liability under my renters' insurance (ie, without any extra charges) had I bought a complete ebike from a company instead of building myself - presumably, buying from a company gives State Farm someone to sue if the sh*t hits the fan.

Initially, we were thinking that I could get coverage as a "recreational vehicle" (MX / moto bike), but after some thought, State Farm did not want to do this - ebikes are permitted on roads, whereas motos are only permitted off road. Hence the moped classification.

Liability is only $22.60 per six months per bike. Works for me. Hopefully I won't need to use it. If I do, hopefully they honor it.

 

[johninsd]

Have you got all that in writing? I'm curious whether they would be willing to sell you uninsured motorist coverage - did you ask about that? I have a few friends who don't have driver's licenses and have not been able to find uninsured motorist coverage to protect themselves while riding their bikes or walking. And even though motorists are required by law to carry liability coverage the minimum required coverage is so low as to be essentially zero and the politicians have decided not to even attempt to enforce this particular law.

 

[Phoebus]

Yes they offered uninsured motorist coverage.

Question regarding uninsured motorist coverage: if you have health insnurance, why bother?

Will see if I can get everything in writing and report back.

 

[o00scorpion00o]

I've been wondering about this too, in fact my house insurance came up for renewal recently and they said they wouldn't insure the my bike.

You see if for instance I knocked the mirror off a brand new bmw or merc, that is several hundred euro's straight away. If I do more damage and hurt someone badly, then I risk loosing my home to pay solicitor, barrister and court fees, not to mention the several thousand I would have to pay up in damages to the person!

Then I risk getting prosecuted for having an illegal electric bike and risk a jail sentence! The thoughts of that scare the bejesus out of me sometimes. But I got to say I do ride responsibly all the time and in town or around people ride it like a normal bike and I never have issues, but there is always "if"

A friend of mine a few years ago got sued because a child fell into his property while walking on the front wall of his property,he had to pay the child's parents 10,000 Euro's, I think he sprained or broke his wrist, not sure. And that was settled out of court and he could have got twice that eh was told if it went to court. It's scary what can happen!

 

[Phoebus]

I suspect that the reason I am being offered insurance at all is because I have one company doing all of my insurance. Further, I suspect that if you used one of the reputable companies for everything, including umbrella, auto, renters/owners, that your agent would get your ebike insured.

 

[o00scorpion00o]

I think if the house insurance were to insure it, it would be in the case of theft and nothing else.

After the hassle I got about the Renault Twizy I wouldn't want to ring them in an hurry again!

I rang just for the curiosity and got a quote of 845 Euros, about 1100 USD! Insane!

Another company wouldn't insure it at all!

 

[shock]

hehe, bike insurance. Whats next t-shirt insurance??

 

[Phoebus]

Bike insurance would be insuring against the loss of the bike.

Liability insurance covers the $250,000 before most umbrella policies kick in.

 

[o00scorpion00o]

Bike insurance would be insuring against the loss of the bike.

Liability insurance covers the $250,000 before most umbrella policies kick in.

Well there is no way they would do that that's what I mean, they will insure a normal bike against theft, or whatever but not an electric bike, and certainly not liability, that would be more in the line of auto insurance and there is nobody that will insure a DIY electric bike here for sure.

Yeah people laugh but really if I injure someone I'm screwed unless I can get away

I risk being sued or prosecuted or both! Legal bills are hugely expensive here!

You see having a bike with a throttle and more than 250 watts means I'm in the wrong straight away. And no insurance company will insure a bike that is not legal!

I'm sure in court it can be proved I'm running way more power than I should have been!

 

[GCinDC]

i have a liability policy along with my homeowners. it has a section called EXCLUSIONS, one of which is 'bodily injury or property damage arising out of the ownership, maintenance, use, loading or unloading of (1) an aircraft; (2) a motor vehicle...'

presumably the auto insurance is meant to cover the 'motor vehicle' CAR usage.

DC now requires insurance for any 'motorized bicycle', but my State Farm contacted the underwriter and was told the ebike must be manufactured. She said I could forward a photo along for consideration, but ebike with conversion kits are otherwise not covered.

what state are you, phoebus?