Cycling UK Forum

I asked my cycleplan insurer how much it would cost to upgrade my liability insurance to cover full business use:

but they just said 'we don't do that'! And searching for it I can't find anyone who does. Why not?

Does anyone know of a supplier of said insurance and how much?

SA_SA_SA wrote:I asked my cycleplan insurer how much it would cost to upgrade my liability insurance to cover full business use:

but they just said 'we don't do that'! And searching for it I can't find anyone who does. Why not?

Does anyone know of a supplier of said insurance and how much?

It's part of my co-op's general public liability insurance. I see that our current policy also covers hand-propelled watercraft Knowing what we pay probably wouldn't be helpful because it's linked to size, profession and turnover, and there are plenty of people willing to quote for general business insurance.

So is easiest to visit a bricks and mortar insurance broker?

I wonder why standard cycle insurers run away from business use: is the risk that much more/unquantifiable?

Try Butterworths.....they do the CTC, BikeRight!, etc insurance, and when I asked for cover for new activities they were very much "as long as it's stated in the plan you can have it" sort of thing. Although it is hard work trying to give them money.

SA_SA_SA wrote:So is easiest to visit a bricks and mortar insurance broker?

I wonder why standard cycle insurers run away from business use: is the risk that much more/unquantifiable?

Probably because they are thinking of couriers. Can you imagine insuring all those Deliveroo riders? They have no way of knowing how long you've been riding or what kind of rider you are.

edocaster wrote:

SA_SA_SA wrote:So is easiest to visit a bricks and mortar insurance broker?

I wonder why standard cycle insurers run away from business use: is the risk that much more/unquantifiable?

Probably because they are thinking of couriers. Can you imagine insuring all those Deliveroo riders? They have no way of knowing how long you've been riding or what kind of rider you are.

Probably, although I've never seen a bicycle courier - perhaps they're only dahn sahf - no idea what Deliveroo is. I think it's that, besides these couriers, no-one uses a bicycle for business purposes (for standard retail values of "nobody"). I gather I can claim 10p a mile if I ride somewhere, but with 15 miles each way either end of the day I'm not going more than a few miles (in reality I've used the bike about twice for work, probably a total of 10 miles) and I'm buggered if I'm navigating the Byzantine expenses system to claim a quid. It's such a tiny market I expect the actuaries can't be buttocked to work out the odds - I mean, it would not be a valuable use of their time to quantify the risks in order to set premiums.

I get my business cover through MIAS. It's primarily intended for training but covers me for all business activities on the bike.

Used to claim my mileage too - the rates are set by HMRC and are higher most firms set for a typical car, so its worth 5 minutes a week to claim.

Are you going to be working as a cyclist? Or do you just wish to use your bicycle as part of your job. The standard CTC insurance covers the latter:

You are covered while you are using your cycle for private and professional purposes, including business cycling. You will not be insured if you are specifically employed as a cyclist e.g. as a cyclist-messenger or a carrier cyclist

http://www.cyclinguk.org/sites/default/ ... _party.pdf

Bicycler wrote:Are you going to be working as a cyclist?.....

I was wondering where I could get insurance if I thought of a way of earning money using my bike , so a provisional yes....

SA_SA_SA wrote:

Bicycler wrote:Are you going to be working as a cyclist?.....

I was wondering where I could get insurance if I thought of a way of earning money using my bike , so a provisional yes....

Well, if you will be putting on cycling activities in return for money then you might consider the CTC's Cycle Activity Provider Insurance which is about £70 give or take. Of course, it'd depend on exactly what you were doing with it. If you were, say, working as a cycle courier then I doubt it'd cover you. But if you were leading rides for payment then I guess it would.

Si wrote:....if you will be putting on cycling activities in return for money then you might consider the CTC's Cycle Activity Provider Insurance.....

No, thanks anyway, but I wasn't thinking of that.

I still don't understand:

they will insure anyone without question for noncommercial use (but they could still be cycling a lot per day) but will not insure business cyclistsas easily even for a bigger premium?

They must be somewhere to get 3rd party cycle insurance for business use?

I think the worry is cycle couriers - a notoriously reckless breed. Also, it might just be a bit niche for insurance companies to have off the peg packages for individuals needing insurance for working specifically as cyclists. Most, I suspect, are working for an organisation and covered under their policy or else are doing 'business cycling' as covered by the CTC policy. There is nothing to stop you asking insurance companies to quote for your individual circumstances. Then again, this might be covered by general business insurance anyway.

Yet they will insure motorcycle couriers...

SA_SA_SA wrote:I asked my cycleplan insurer how much it would cost to upgrade my liability insurance to cover full business use:

but they just said 'we don't do that'! And searching for it I can't find anyone who does. Why not?

Does anyone know of a supplier of said insurance and how much?

I would try an insurance broker who does insurance for businesses. I know the cycle courier and rickshaw firms get insurance for employees, 3rd party, bikes, etc. as a package. There used to be difficulty getting insurance for goods in transit for bicycle couriers. I don't know if that is still the case.