On Your Bike - On Your Home Insurance?

If you're one of the growing army of bike riders, you'll have realized how much independence a bike can give you. Whether it's the pure pleasure or riding around the country lanes or avoiding the over packed, hot and sticky bus or even the wait at the bus stop, you're free to choose. What you're not free from is the concern that your bike will get stolen and some recent figures show that bike theft is costing over 62 million pounds per year. It also seems that only 5 per cent of bikes are found and returned to their owners.

It's obvious that insurance is needed and you shouldn't assume that your home contents policy automatically covers it. It may well do, but it could be that you're only covered if the bike goes missing from your home. If your bike is to be used away from home, then you should consider adding it on to your home policy for away from home use. It should be quite a modest amount and its well worth checking. Check too whether the insurance only applies if the bike is locked. It may not be enough to put it away in the garage - if the garage isn't locked then the insurance may not cover.

If you've bought a top-of-the-range bike, or something more expensive than the usual workhorse, it may be worth finding a more comprehensive type of cover of the type you'd find in a standalone policy. Some of these include public liability to cover you in the event of injury to someone else.

If your bike is used purely for pottering or simply to get to work, you're probably not going to choose anything too tempting for the thief. It's the flashier, expensive ones that the thieves tend to go for. With cycling becoming more popular, there are lots of budget models being produced and you can find them from less than 100 pounds.

You should always lock up your bike. The few minutes it takes to return a library book can be the few minutes it takes for a thief to ride away on it. You should use a strong secure lock and fasten it to something immovable, such as a proper bike rack or lamp post.
Drainpipes are not a good idea, as they're easily removed. The wheels and frame should be locked together. It's a good idea to make a note of the model of the bike, the make and the frame number. A picture of it could come in handy too. If it gets stolen it's so much easier if you have a photograph handy. Security markings, by way of an etched number, are a good idea and thieves don't like them, so make them obvious.

Don't leave your bike in a poorly lit or isolated place - it makes it far too easy for a thief to operate without being noticed. If you have to leave it in a particular area on a regular basis, try not to leave it in exactly the same place. Hopefully this will stop thieves from targeting the bike. But don't forget to insure it!

It's great to have Home Insurance to insure your bike! But what if you have a fatal accident on your bike? That's why is vital you have some sort of Life Insurance! At least then your family (if you have on) will be able to receive the proceeds of your Life Insurance. At the Life Insurance Protection website we offer all kinds of information on Life Insurance