What is it?
Cyclist liability insurance protects cyclists from financial responsibility if they cause injury or property damage while using, transporting, or storing a conventional or electric bike.
Cyclist liability insurance exists to protect riders from the financial risks associated with causing injury to others or damaging property while riding. Accidents involving pedestrians, other cyclists, or vehicles can lead to costly medical bills, repairs, and legal claims. Since standard home policies often offer limited or no protection against cycling-related incidents—especially involving e-bikes—this coverage on specialized bicycle insurance fills this gap. It ensures cyclists are financially protected if they are found responsible for an accident, offering peace of mind while riding in busy urban areas, on shared paths, or alongside motor vehicles.
Third-Party Liability
Third-party cycling liability insurance protects cyclists from financial responsibility if they cause injury to someone else or cause harm to someone’s property while riding a conventional or an electric bike. Whether commuting through busy streets, riding recreationally, or navigating trails, cyclists can unintentionally collide with pedestrians, other cyclists, or vehicles, leading to costly consequences. Without adequate protection, a rider may be held personally liable for medical expenses, repair costs, or legal fees arising from such incidents. Carrying such insurance provides peace of mind, ensuring that these unexpected expenses are handled, allowing the cyclist to focus on their recovery and continued riding.
Accidents with pedestrians and other cyclists
Collisions involving pedestrians and other cyclists present significant risks for riders, often resulting in personal injuries, medical expenses, and property repair costs. If a cyclist hits a pedestrian, that pedestrian might sustain serious injuries, such as broken bones or head trauma, leading to high medical bills and possible legal action against the cyclist. Likewise, a collision with another cyclist can cause damage to bicycles, injuries to riders, and disputes regarding fault, which may necessitate legal intervention. In both scenarios, the cyclist at fault may be held financially liable, facing compensation claims and legal fees. Without liability insurance, these expenses can become a substantial financial burden, making coverage essential for safeguarding riders against unexpected claims.
Accidents with Cars
Collisions involving bikes and cars carry significant risks, often leading to severe injuries, expensive property damage, and complex legal disputes. If a cyclist is found at fault—such as running a red light, swerving unexpectedly into traffic, or causing a driver to swerve and crash—they could be held liable for the vehicle’s repairs, medical expenses for injured drivers or passengers, and even legal costs. Additionally, if a cyclist causes a multi-vehicle accident or disrupts traffic, the financial consequences could escalate further. While cyclists are often the more vulnerable party in these accidents, responsibility can still fall on them if their actions are deemed negligent, highlighting the importance of liability insurance to protect against these potentially devastating costs.
E-bike Liability
As e-bikes grow in popularity, the risk of accidents involving others is rising. Conventional insurance shies away from e-bikes, leaving riders vulnerable. Third-party cycling liability insurance fills this gap, offering tailored protection specifically for cycling-related risks. This type of protection is especially crucial in areas with dense traffic, shared-use paths, or where local regulations hold cyclists to a high standard of responsibility.
E-bikes also face battery-related fire risks, prompting concerns from both insurers and property owners. Many apartment complexes, HOAs, and offices now require liability coverage for e-bikes to be stored on-premises.
Coverage Limits
Liability insurance with flexible coverage limits allows riders to tailor their protection to align with their personal risk tolerance and financial situation. Cyclists can choose lower limits if they feel their exposure is minimal or opt for higher limits to safeguard against potentially costly claims involving injuries or property damage. For those who carry an umbrella policy, there is often a requirement for underlying liability coverage—commonly set at $300,000—before the umbrella policy will activate. Velosurance offers liability limits up to $500,000, ensuring that cyclists can meet this requirement and maintain seamless protection across policies. This flexibility gives riders confidence that their liability protection is appropriately scaled to their lifestyle and insurance needs.
New Jersey E-bike Liability Compliance
New Jersey Senate Bill S4834 introduces new liability insurance requirements for certain e-bikes when operated on public roads. Under the law, all e-bikes, including those previously classified as Class 1 and Class 2, are required to carry liability coverage with minimum limits of at least $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $5,000 for property damage. The optional liability coverage that can be added to any policy from Velosurance is compliant with this requirement, and a $50,000 liability limit satisfies the minimum coverage thresholds, helping protect riders if they are found legally responsible for an accident involving others in New Jersey.
We cover all types of bikes
Whether you ride the tarmac or shred the gnar, dodge pedestrians, or cruise the beach, you're a member of a special club of people who appreciate the world in a primal way – on two wheels. To keep you rolling, we address the specific risks associated with your discipline.
Coverages and Features
Velosurance offers must-have protection such as accidental damage, theft, or loss in transit. Each policy can be customized by adding additional coverages such as liability protection, uninsured motorist, and medical payments. Select any coverage to see the details.
Bicycles are very easy to steal and equally difficult to recover, and even a hefty U-lock doesn’t guarantee your bike is still there when you return. Velosurance provides peace of mind if it is stolen or damaged in the process.
Our policy will pay to replace your ride if it is accidentally damaged and beyond repair, including damage that occurs while being carried on or in your vehicle. If it can be repaired, we will pay all the costs associated with the bike's repair, including tax, labor, and shipping, minus the deductible. Cosmetic damage that does not affect safety is excluded.
Our policy optional coverage purchase will protect and defend you from your personal liability (injury, sickness, death, or damage to property, including fire damage) that you are found legally liable for. Coverage limits offered: $25,000, $50,000, $100,000, $300,000 or $500,000 per occurrence.
E-bike liability insurance →If you’re hurt and require medical attention, our optional medical gap will take care of your medical bills, up to the selected limit. The payments are paid directly to you to supplement the deductible of your personal health insurance policy.
Medical gap insurance →Depreciation is a hidden deductible that increases every year and is applied if the bicycle is stolen or totaled. No one is ever happy with an Actual Cash Value insurance settlement: the bike is first devalued, and then a deductible is applied, resulting in a reimbursement that is far less than the cost of a replacement. We reimburse without depreciation, for the cost of a replacement that is of like, kind, and quality similar to your totaled bike.
One of the scariest things that can happen to a cyclist is getting hit by a car. This coverage will pay for medical expenses, physical therapy, mental health services, lost wages, and other expenses that arise from a bicycle-car accident.
Uninsured motorist insurance →We cover all electrically assisted Class 1, 2, and 3 bikes with a maximum assisted speed of 28 mph. All protections available for conventional bicycles also apply to electric ones.
E-bike insurance →Bikes often get damaged in transit by personal vehicles, airlines, or courier services. Filing a claim with the airlines and courier services is a notoriously difficult process with a questionable outcome. We cover the insured bicycle for loss or damage while it's on its way to or from your destination by air or road. Even if it falls off a vehicle rack or is hit in a rear-end accident, it is covered, no arguments.
Bicycle travel coverage →If you go down in a crash, we cover your ride as well as your apparel, such as helmet, shoes, glasses, or riding kit that are torn up, and pay up to $500 per accident and $1,000 per term. Spare parts that are not installed, such as a spare wheelset, are also covered up to $500 per loss and $1,000 per year.
Our policy does not piggypack on any coverage you may already have, such as homeowners policies. Filing a claim won’t impact your rates with other carriers. With home insurance premiums rising each year in the U.S., it’s wise to reserve that policy for major incidents, because no matter how valuable your bike is, it’s still a lot cheaper than a kitchen fire or a flooded basement.
We cover the insured bike at all times, anywhere in the USA and Canada, and can be extended worldwide on request. There are no exclusions on the time of day or limitations on how long it can be stored away from home. 24/7/365 means every minute of every day, no matter where or when.
In the heat of a race, the focus on speed often outweighs concerns for safety, leaving little margin for error. If you go down in a crash, this optional coverage takes care of repairs or replacement. If you use your bike in a competitive environment, this is a no-brainer because it offers protection in the highest-risk category.
Bicycle racing insurance →If your travels take you beyond the USA and Canada, for a small additional premium, this option extends the physical loss and damage protection, including loss or damage caused by an airline, to any country in the world.
International coverage →You can lend it to anyone you choose, and it will be covered. The bike and the person riding it are covered as if it were you riding it‚ this includes theft and crash damage as well as any purchased optional coverages.
We do not dictate what type or brand of lock must be used to protect your ride from theft – you are welcome to use any lock that you trust. The best security is provided by metal locks combined with a high-quality chain. Securing your ride to a solid and immovable object, such as a bike rack, with a high-quality lock will send the thief onto the one secured with a more vulnerable lock.
Why Velosurance is best choice for your bike
Not all types of insurance are created equal. Velosurance levels the playing field by offering stand-alone bicycle coverage, where claims won’t affect your homeowner's or renter’s policy premiums.
| Policy Coverage |  | Homeowner/Renters Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Insured at Full Value | Yes | Possibly |
| Crash Damage | Yes | No |
| Theft Coverage | Yes | Limited |
| Theft by Force | Yes | No |
| Theft of Accessories | Yes | Limited |
| Theft Away From Home | Yes | Possibly |
| Vehicle Contact | Yes | No |
| Personal Liability | Yes | Possibly |
| Permissive Use Policy | Yes | No |
| Replacement Rental | Yes | No |
| Event Fee Return | Yes | No |
| Cycling Apparel Coverage | Yes | No |
| Medical Payments | Yes | Possibly |
| Racing Coverage | Yes | No |
| E-bikes | Yes | No |
| Coverage in-transit | Yes | No |
| USAC, USAT and IMBA Member Discount | Yes | No |
| FREE INSTANT QUOTE |
Not all insurance policies provide the same level of protection, and many people only discover gaps in their coverage after filing a claim. We’ve done the hard work of reviewing the fine print. To see how plans compare, check out our insurance comparison.
Client satisfaction is our #1 goal, and we strive to deliver the best experience every time. Here's what our clients say about Velosurance:
Velosurance really stepped up and put me at ease. The claim was fast and easy. I am insuring all my bikes now.
Check out Velosurance reviews to see what people are saying about us.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does cyclist liability insurance cover?
- It protects you from financial responsibility when you injure someone or damage their property while riding, transporting, or storing a conventional or electric bike. That includes collisions with pedestrians, other cyclists, and vehicles, where the at-fault rider can be on the hook for medical bills and repair costs; the coverage pays those damages up to your chosen limit and includes the cost of defending a covered lawsuit. It is optional and must be elected before the accident, so add it when you buy the policy.
- How much liability coverage can I choose?
- Limits are flexible, from $25,000 to $500,000, so you can match the coverage to your risk tolerance and what you have to protect. If you carry an umbrella policy, check its underlying coverage requirements: umbrellas typically require a set amount of liability beneath them, commonly $300,000, and the $500,000 ceiling clears that threshold with room to spare.
- How much does cyclist liability coverage cost?
- Liability coverage runs $87 per year per insured bicycle for a $50,000 limit, or $105 for $100,000, so doubling your protection costs $18 a year. Both include the cost of a law firm to defend you against a covered lawsuit. Measured against defense attorneys who charge several hundred dollars an hour with retainers reaching $15,000, it is the cheapest legal protection a cyclist can buy.
- Does liability coverage apply to Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 e-bikes?
- Yes, Class 1, 2, and 3 e-bikes are all eligible. That matters for two reasons: homeowners and renters policies routinely exclude anything with a motor, leaving e-bike riders without liability protection they may assume they have, and e-bike speeds raise the stakes, since a collision at 28 mph does far more damage than one at 12. Cyclist liability coverage is written for bikes and e-bikes specifically, so the motor does not void your protection.
- Does the coverage apply if my e-bike battery starts a fire?
- Yes. Liability coverage applies while the bike is stored as well as ridden, so a battery fire that damages someone else's property is covered. Note that liability pays for damage to others' property, like your rental building or a neighbor's unit, not your own; damage to your own home falls to your homeowners or renters policy. Lithium-ion fires are the reason many apartment buildings, HOAs, and offices now require proof of liability coverage before an e-bike can be stored or charged on-premises, and a policy with limits up to $500,000 satisfies even demanding property managers.
- Does it satisfy New Jersey's e-bike liability requirement?
- Yes. New Jersey Senate Bill S4834 requires all e-bikes operated on public roads, including models that previously needed no insurance at all, to carry liability coverage with minimum limits of $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $5,000 for property damage. The optional liability coverage on a Velosurance policy is compliant with the requirement, and a $35,000 limit satisfies the minimum thresholds.
- What happens if I am sued after a cycling accident?
- The coverage does two things: it pays for your legal representation, assigning attorneys to defend you, and it pays the settlement or judgment itself, up to your chosen limit. You do not have to be at fault to be sued, and even a groundless claim has to be defended, so the defense benefit alone earns the premium. One timing rule matters: the coverage must be in place before the accident, not before the lawsuit, so it cannot be added after a crash to cover a claim you see coming. Fault disputes after bike collisions are common, and when one lands on you, the law firm is already paid for.
- Does liability coverage apply if someone else rides my bike?
- Yes. Permissive use is built into the policy: anyone riding your bike with your permission is covered, and the liability coverage you purchased rides along with them. The permission must come from you, the policyholder, so set the ground rules before handing over the bars.
America's best bike insurance
Velosurance was created to give our fellow riders insurance that actually covered their lifestyle and peace of mind that no matter what happens on the road or trail, there would be a helping hand to get them back in the saddle.