As we become more environmentally conscious and health-focused, cycling has seen a tremendous surge in popularity. Whether you’re commuting to work or cycling for leisure, ensuring your bike is protected is paramount. Cycle insurance, no matter whether you own a normal bike or an electric bike (E-Bike), can help protect you should your bike be damaged or stolen. But which coverage is best for you?
In this guide, we will compare our cycle insurance policies at ALA with those at Velosure. As renowned cycle insurance providers, we will look at the most important components of a cycle insurance policy, such as coverage types, cost and optional cover options. We will also discuss why you need cycle insurance, and how you can choose the best quote for you.
Before diving into the specifics of each provider, it’s worth asking: is cycle insurance necessary? If you’ve invested in an expensive bike, it may be wise to safeguard it from theft, accidental damage, or other unforeseen circumstances. Additionally, cycle insurance can cover certain medical costs in the event of an accident or provide liability coverage should you inadvertently harm someone else while riding.
Depending on the cycle insurance provider you choose, cycle insurance can also cover you should your bike be damaged or stolen abroad, providing you with peace of mind should the worst happen to your bike in another country.
ALA is a prominent name in the cycle insurance industry, known for its diverse offerings. Let’s dissect what makes our cycle insurance policies stand out:
Best Value: We frequently offer competitive prices, ensuring you get maximum protection without being extravagantly expensive . If your main aim is to keep costs down, the standard ALA policy (covering theft and accidental/malicious damage and the repair or replacement of your bike following an incident) is cheaper than the basic Velosure policy. The Velosure standard policy does include public liability and cycle hire but these aren’t necessary for everyone and add to the cost of the policy. A standard ALA cycle insurance policy costs £37.42 for a bike worth £1000*; with Velosure, a bike worth the same amount on a “Core” policy costs £52.35*.
Best Rated on Trustpilot: Trustpilot reviews are testament to a company’s reputation. At ALA, we have achieved an impressive rating, reflecting the trust we’ve built amongst our customers.
Flexibility: Whether you cycle only on weekends or commute daily, ALA provides a range of policies to cater to varied needs. At ALA, worldwide cover is provided as standard on all policies; at Velosure, it is only included on their “Performance” policy
Commuters & Professionals: Our tailored policies ensure that both everyday commuters and leisurely cyclists find suitable coverage. We have specialist policies, such as BMX insurance and e-Bike cover.
Accessory Cover: Beyond just your bike, ALA offers protection for accessories, ensuring equipment like lights, bells, or bags are also covered.
Legal Expenses: In the unfortunate event of an accident where legal involvement is required, we can provide coverage to mitigate your legal costs.
Personal Accident: Should you suffer an injury while cycling, ALA’s personal accident coverage can be invaluable.
Excellent Customer Service: Prompt assistance, clear communication, and hassle-free claims are the cornerstones of ALA’s acclaimed customer service.
After examining Velosure policies, they too offer enticing benefits:
Comprehensive Coverage: Velosure prides itself on its all-encompassing policies, ensuring cyclists are protected against various potential mishaps.
Specialised Policies: Understanding the diverse needs of cyclists, Velosure offers specialised policies for mountain bikers, road cyclists, and more, as do ALA.
Two Coverage Levels: Velosure offers “Core” and “Performance” levels of cover. Damage, theft, public liability and accessory cover come as standard on a “Core” policy, whereas European/worldwide cover, 24/7 cycle rescue and personal accident are exclusive to “Performance” policies.
Multi bike cover: if you need to insure more than one bike, Velosure offers multi-bike coverage, like ALA policies.
Global Coverage: For the international cyclist, Velosure provides worldwide coverage on their “Performance” level of cover, ensuring your peace of mind on global terrains. With ALA, this is included as standard.
What Additional Features Can I Add to my Cycle Insurance Policy?
Beyond the standard offerings, both providers offer add-ons to enhance your protection:
Travel Cover: Protect your bike even when you’re cycling abroad. This is included as standard on all ALA policies, whereas you must upgrade to “Performance” cover with Velosure.
Specialist cover for certain bikes: no matter whether you own an electric bike or a mountain bike, you can choose specialist cover at ALA. E-Bike cover is also provided by Velosure.
Family Cover: Extend your policy to cover family members on the same bike at Velosure. With ALA, you can add multiple bikes to the same policy.
Public Liability: Protects against claims made by third parties if you’re found at fault during an accident. This is an optional extra with ALA and is included as standard with Velosure on “Core” policies.
Accessory Cover: protect your accessories whilst you’re out on the road
Replacement Cycle Hire: if you need a “courtesy” bike whilst yours is being replaced, ALA and Velosure will cover the cost of bike hire.
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