# Bicycle and e-bike insurance in Germany: contents add-on or a policy of its own > Bike theft is common in German cities, and the cover most people assume they have often is not there. Contents insurance, called Hausrat, only pays for a bike stolen outside if a bicycle clause has been added. A separate bike policy also covers accidents, vandalism and battery failure, which contents insurance never does. Quelle/Source: https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-bicycle-insurance.php Updated: 2026-09-18 ## Is my bike covered by my German contents insurance? Only partly. If the bike is stolen from your locked flat, cellar or garage, Hausrat pays as a normal burglary. If it is stolen from the street, the policy pays only if the bicycle add-on is included, and then usually up to a limit such as 1 to 5 percent of the sum insured. Damage from a crash, vandalism or a failing battery is never covered by Hausrat. For an e-bike worth a few thousand euros, a separate policy is usually the better choice. ## At a glance - **Mandatory?:** No, except an insurance plate for speed pedelecs up to 45 km/h - **Two routes:** bicycle add-on to contents insurance or a separate bike policy - **Contents add-on limit:** often 1 to 5 % of the sum insured - **Guide price e-bike EUR 3,000:** around EUR 80 to 140 a year for full cover - **Key clause:** no night-time exclusion, purchase price instead of current value ## Why your Hausrat may not pay for a stolen bike German contents insurance distinguishes between burglary and simple theft. A bike taken from a locked room in your home is burglary and covered. A bike locked to a railing outside is simple theft and covered only with the bicycle add-on. Many newcomers take out Hausrat without it. The add-on is often limited to a percentage of the contents sum insured. For a small flat insured for EUR 30,000, a 1 percent limit means EUR 300, well below the price of an e-bike. Some older policies also exclude theft between 10 pm and 6 am unless the bike was still in use that night. ## Pedelec, speed pedelec and e-scooter: three different legal categories A pedelec assists you up to 25 km/h and is legally a bicycle. It needs no registration and no insurance, and your personal liability policy covers damage you cause to others. A speed pedelec assists up to 45 km/h and counts as a small motor vehicle: it needs an insurance plate, type approval and at least a class AM licence, and your personal liability policy no longer covers it. E-scooters are a third category and always need an insurance plate. People arriving from countries where e-bikes and scooters are unregulated are regularly caught out by this. ## Battery, electronics and wear Replacement batteries often cost EUR 500 to 1,000. Good e-bike policies pay for a new battery if capacity drops below a set level, typically 50 or 60 percent, and cover electronic damage from moisture or power surges. Contents insurance does none of this. Wear cover for chains, brake pads and tyres sounds attractive, but usually comes with waiting periods and servicing obligations. It raises the premium noticeably and pays off mostly for daily commuters and for bikes leased through an employer scheme. ## What is covered - Theft of the locked bike, in good policies around the clock - Theft of fixed parts such as saddle, wheels and battery - Accident and fall damage to the bike - Vandalism - Motor, electronics and battery damage - Wear parts, if included - Breakdown assistance in premium policies - Replacement bike during repairs, depending on the policy ## What is not covered - Theft of a bike that was not locked - Races and competitions unless included - Defects covered by the manufacturer's or dealer's warranty - Damage you cause to others, which is personal liability - Your own injuries, which fall under accident insurance - Wear without a wear add-on ## Who needs it - Owners of e-bikes or high-value bikes from around EUR 2,000 - Commuters who leave their bike at stations or outside the office - Residents of large cities with high theft rates - Employees with a leased company bike whose scheme insurance has gaps ## Who can do without - Owners of an inexpensive city bike covered by a contents add-on with an adequate limit ## What it costs Premiums depend mainly on the purchase price, where you live and how much cover you choose. Published comparisons show that prices rose markedly in 2025 and 2026, particularly in cities. | Example | Typical range | | --- | --- | | E-bike EUR 3,000, full cover, mid-sized town | around EUR 80 to 120 a year | | E-bike EUR 3,000, full cover, large city | around EUR 100 to 140 a year | **What drives the premium:** - Purchase price and age of the bike - Postcode, because theft rates vary widely - Theft only or full cover including damage and wear - Deductible - Contract term and payment frequency _Guide figures from published German market comparisons, as of 2026. A contents add-on is cheaper but covers less. Your premium is only fixed in the quote._ ## The policy levels on the market - **Contents add-on:** Theft outside the home up to a limit. No accident damage, no battery, and the claim counts against your Hausrat policy. - **Theft policy:** A separate policy against theft only, usually with new-for-old in the first years and no night-time clause. - **Full cover:** Theft, accidents, vandalism, electronics and battery, optionally wear and breakdown help. The usual choice for e-bikes. ## How to recognise a good policy | Criterion | Minimum standard | Strong policy | Why it matters | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Settlement | current value | purchase price for the first three to five years | An e-bike loses value quickly, a replacement does not. | | Night-time | excluded 10 pm to 6 am | no time restriction | Most bikes disappear at night. | | Battery | theft only | also failure and capacity loss below 50 or 60 % | The battery is the most expensive wear part. | | Lock requirements | minimum lock price specified | any separate lock | Strict lock clauses are the most common reason for refusal. | | Payout | replacement bike from a partner dealer only | cash settlement at your choice | Cash lets you buy the bike you want, where you want. | | Territory | Germany | worldwide | Bikes are stolen on holiday too. | ## Insurers on the German market Bike insurance is sold by specialist insurers, by traditional property insurers and as an add-on to almost every contents policy. Many online brands are intermediaries backed by another insurer. This list names the companies that carry the risk and is a market overview. - **WERTGARANTIE**: specialist for device and bike cover, sold largely through bike shops - **Ammerländer**: mutual insurer with its own bike and e-bike policy, sold through brokers - **Barmenia**: own bike policy, part of Barmenia Gothaer since 2025 - **Helvetia**: Swiss group, property insurance via agents and brokers - **Die Bayerische**: brokers and direct sales - **Allianz**: bike theft as a contents add-on - **HUK-COBURG**: bike theft as a contents add-on, does not work with brokers 155 insurers supervised by BaFin, the German regulator, are licensed for this class of insurance. (Hagel-, Frost- und sonstige Sachschäden). Source: BaFin company database, retrieved 2026-09-18. Insurers from other EU countries selling through a branch or without a German office are not included. ## Typical claims and who pays - **Bike taken from the courtyard overnight** (around EUR 800 to 4,000): A shared courtyard counts as outdoors. Contents insurance without the bicycle add-on pays nothing, a dedicated bike policy does if the bike was locked. - **Left unlocked outside the Späti** (the price of the bike): Even a two-minute stop without a lock voids the cover. Locking the bike is an obligation in every German policy. - **Only the battery is stolen** (around EUR 500 to 1,000): Contents add-ons often pay only when the whole bike disappears. Strong e-bike policies cover the battery on its own if it was locked or fixed. - **Cobblestones, crash, bent wheel** (around EUR 100 to 600): Contents insurance never pays for accident damage to your own bike. A full-cover bike policy pays for the repair. - **Stolen on a weekend in Amsterdam** (the price of the bike): Some policies only cover Germany, some Europe with limits. Strong policies apply worldwide on the same terms. - **Charger surge fries the controller** (around EUR 300 to 800): A power surge is neither theft nor an accident. Only e-bike policies with electronics cover pay for it. ## Myth or truth - „Cycling home from the beer garden is legal in Germany whatever you drank." ✘ No. From 1.6 per mille cycling is a criminal offence even without an accident, and from 0.3 per mille wobbly riding or a crash is enough. The authorities can also order a medical and psychological assessment that puts your driving licence at risk. - „A pedelec needs no plate, no insurance and no helmet in Germany." ✔ True for pedelecs assisting up to 25 km/h. Germany has no helmet law for cyclists, although insurers can argue contributory fault in some cases. Speed pedelecs are a different category. - „You have to register your bike with the police in Germany." ✘ No, there is no registration duty. Police stations and cycling clubs offer engraving with an owner code, which makes a stolen bike easier to return. - „Adults may ride on the pavement if it is quiet." ✘ No. Only children under eight must, and children under ten may, ride on the pavement. An adult who injures a pedestrian there is usually fully liable, which your Privathaftpflicht pays. - „Without a receipt, a bike theft claim is hard to win." ✔ True. The insurer needs proof of the price and the frame number. Photograph both and keep the pictures somewhere other than your phone. ## Common mistakes - Assuming Hausrat covers a bike stolen from the street - Not keeping the receipt and frame number - Using only a frame lock when the policy requires locking to a fixed object - Riding a speed pedelec without an insurance plate - Waiting too long after purchase, as many policies only accept bikes up to a certain age ## FAQ ### Do I have to insure my e-bike in Germany? No, a pedelec assisting up to 25 km/h is legally a bicycle. A speed pedelec up to 45 km/h must have an insurance plate, and the rider needs at least a class AM licence. ### What does e-bike insurance cost in Germany? For a EUR 3,000 e-bike with full cover, published comparisons show around EUR 80 to 140 a year, higher in large cities. Theft-only cover and contents add-ons are cheaper. ### My bike was stolen at the station. Will Hausrat pay? Only if your policy has the bicycle add-on, the bike was locked and the theft does not fall into an excluded night-time window. Payment is limited to the agreed amount. ### Is the battery covered if only the battery is stolen? In good bike policies yes, if it was locked or fixed to the bike. Contents add-ons often cover it only when the whole bike is taken. ### Who pays if I injure a pedestrian while cycling? Your personal liability insurance, called Privathaftpflicht, for bikes and pedelecs. For speed pedelecs and e-scooters, the liability cover attached to the insurance plate. ### Can I insure a bike I brought from abroad? Usually yes, with a receipt showing price and purchase date. Some insurers limit the age of the bike at the start of the policy. ### Does the policy apply when I cycle in other countries? It depends on the territory clause. Good policies apply worldwide, some only in Germany or Europe. ## Legal basis and sources - [Insurance Contract Act (VVG, German)](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/vvg_2008/) - [BaFin company database (licensed insurers)](https://portal.mvp.bafin.de/database/InstInfo/) ## Request quotes We obtain quotes and come back with a comparison. Free of charge and without obligation: the insurer pays our commission. You can write in English. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-bicycle-insurance.php#anfrage --- NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH, insurance broker licensed under section 34d(1) of the German Trade Regulation Act, broker register no. D-C08Q-TOSD4-37. For boat and yacht insurance we act as underwriting agency, not as broker. NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH, Karl-Marx-Straße 4, 15711 Königs Wusterhausen, +49 3375 29 12 77, info@nammert.com. Wikidata: Q141141479.