Liability Insurance (not theft insurance) minefield!

[accountdeleted]

My British Cycling membership (Member, £50/year) is up for renewal and I'm shopping around for what I really need:

• I don't race (I'm a bike commuter)
• I don't go on an event / tour, UK or abroad (I ride solo locally on weekends)
• My bikes aren't valuable at all (happy to replace if stolen / damaged from a second-hand market).
• Only looking to protect myself if anything happens to me on the road, so I'm looking for:
  • Third party liability (TPL; to cover myself if I get sued)
  • Legal advice / support (to cover headache / time / effort)
  • Personal injury cover (PAC; would be nice, but not a must)

I've always gone with British Cycling (from the days of "Commuter" membership) because that's all I knew in terms of "liability" insurance when out cycling. But having read the pinned post (Insurance and cycling) on here (very informative, indeed), I've done my homework and narrowed down to:

Wiggle Cycle Insurance (Assist tier) = £24/year (incl. TPL, PAC, but not Legal Advice)
British Cycling (Member tier) = £50/year (incl. TPL, Legal advice, but not PAC)
Cycle UK (Individual Membership) = £55/year (incl. TPL, Legal Advice, but not PAC)
Laka (Core tier) = approx. £60/year (incl. TPL, Legal advice, but not PAC)

Why such a difference in policy price?
Can any of these be really covered with "home" or "car" insurance (currently I've opted out with any of these from the home content or car insurance)?

Simple maths indicates go with Wiggle (Assist), but is it that simple?

Any 2p from your own experience of actual claim / understanding would be very helpful for me.

Thank you and safe cycling!

 

[dicko]

I took out a Liability Insurance with Cycleplan recently with public liability £1 million plus I added £25k personal injury all for £25.67 Pa. The insurer is Ripe insurance.
Link
https://www.cycleplan.co.uk/?ref=CP...0yjVop-zHkpwOILnRumZqBnALK8hNT0waAjYJEALw_wcB

 

[fossyant]

I'd stick with the middle two, because I know they work. I've both claimed and had a claim against me and British Cycling sorted it.

The claim against me was a hit and run - I was hit, went down, but in the process, slid into another cyclist and took them down too. They claimed against me. I was protected and the claim was settled.

 

[si_c]

I wouldn't go Wiggle Assist, since the brand was bought out by Sports Direct I have no confidence in anything branded by them.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

I'm with Cycling UK, because they campaign on cycling issues. The insurance is a bonus.

 

[fossyant]

The middle two are tried and tested and recommended by cyclists. £50 isn't much. My 'claims' have been commuting which is where most of the risk is. You want to be sure they will pay out if you knock an expensive wing mirror off (talking over £500 these days).

 

[matticus]

I'm with Cycling UK, because they campaign on cycling issues. The insurance is a bonus.

Same here. Although in my case I have used the insurance to claim from a driver, AND to pay out to a 3rd party!

 

[accountdeleted]

Absolute gem advices, thanks everyone for posting so quickly!

The comments about Wiggle (recent purchase by Sports Direct) and going with the tried and tested organisations (British Cycling / Cycling UK) confirms my initial hunch.

Laka, CyclePlan (thanks @dicko for the advice), and other "cycle specific" insurance companies don't have the added value of putting the money to the good cause that BC and CUK do...

Ok, I think I know what I'm going to do, I'd value other people's thoughts if there are any more! 👍

 

[All uphill]

I'm with Cycling UK, who use Bikmo. I also have my bikes insured against theft.

What convinced me was their claim that they accept something like 99 per cent of claims. I want an insurer who is on my side, not one who wants to wriggle out of any liability.

 

[wiggydiggy]

CyclingUK definately includes Personal Injury Cover, that is a payment to you (if the claim is succesful) if you are in a Road Traffic Accident and it is someone elses fault.

Theft I use a dedicated cyling insurance policy through Aviva.

 

[vickster]

I pay £1.50 a month for LAKA

 

[kingrollo]

I took out a Liability Insurance with Cycleplan recently with public liability £1 million plus I added £25k personal injury all for £25.67 Pa. The insurer is Ripe insurance.
Link
https://www.cycleplan.co.uk/?ref=CP...0yjVop-zHkpwOILnRumZqBnALK8hNT0waAjYJEALw_wcB

Yep I have this.
Haven't had to claim yet - so don't know how good it is. But certainly the cover stated seems to blow everything else out of the water.

 

[kingrollo]

CyclingUK definately includes Personal Injury Cover, that is a payment to you (if the claim is succesful) if you are in a Road Traffic Accident and it is someone elses fault.

Theft I use a dedicated cyling insurance policy through Aviva.

That isn't personal injury cover .

Personal injury cover is a BENEFIT - that IS paid if you are injured cycling. You don't claim off anyone else you invoke the cover.

What you have described isn't really cover at all . You could have no cover in place in at all and appoint a solicitor to claim compensation.

 

[kingrollo]

Direct Line seemed totally clueless when I considered them.

They excluded group rides - as I ride with a club - I phoned to ask if club rides would be covered - they said no they wouldn't. During in the conversation I was told "any cycling where your wheel is in close proximity to another cycle wheel wouldn't be covered". - I then asked well I sometimes ride with my son would they be covered ? - they said no it wouldn't.

I'm pretty sure it's incorrect - but I wouldn't like to be relying on it !!!!!

 

[wiggydiggy]

What you have described isn't really cover at all . You could have no cover in place in at all and appoint a solicitor to claim compensation.

It is cover in that there is already a solicitor included in the price of membership that you can call in the event of injury.