General Cycling Discussion - Bike covered by Insurance?

Well, I finally did what I've been having nightmares about for the last 5 years. I drove my car with my cannondale road bike into the garage (and the side of the house). Besides bending my rack and putting a few good size dents in the roof of my subaru, I also now have a beautiful blue cannondale frame in 3 pieces.

So, I've been reading over my homeowners and auto insurance policies to see if this is covered. The last time I tried to claim something on homeowners I was given some long lawyer speak about why it wasn't covered.

Does anyone have any ideas, pointers, etc. on how to (legally) go about getting them to cover this?

Well it could be covered by either one really, which one do you have a larger deductible on? Other thing to factor in is how much will your home/car insurance go up. I doubt your home owners will fix you're car, but the car insurance will fix the car plus you're bike (claimed as personal property damage). Whichever you decide to go with find which will cost you the least amount in the long run.

First don't take no for an answer. Make your agent take a claim form and have it forwarded to the company adjuster. Give "reasonable" time and call the adjuster to see the status of the claim. If you have different companies that carry house and car file a claim with each. Again don't take no or you don't have coverages for this as an answer. As a former full line agent I was taught to deny claims. and to really put resistance to keep clients from filing. Unknown to me it made my districe mgr get a bigger loss ratio check every 3 months. "HE" would also encourage me to not take claims. I don't mean to say your agent is going to do this but be prepared. Good hands and good neighbor was terrible. (and still are) Not to mention any names. Hope this helps............

It really depends on your deductable whether or not it is worth claiming. I have a 1% deductable to keep my premiums reasonable. If your bike is worth $1500 and your deductable is $1000 you are only looking at a $500 claim. Not worth it IMO. You probably can get a new frame for around $500 anyway. I did it with one of my beater messenger bikes many years ago so no great loss. But I am sure you will NOT do it again. An expensive lesson but one you will not soon forget! Good luck!

Just a thought.

Recent article/feature in newspaper stated that HO policies with too many claims were being cancelled by insurance companies upon annual renewal.

Don't know about your case, and I know there is a lot of expense involved. So most likely will not apply.

Good luck.

(Some folks keep their garage door openers in the bike bag when transporting bikes on the roof).

Just a thought.

Recent article/feature in newspaper stated that HO policies with too many claims were being cancelled by insurance companies upon annual renewal.

Don't know about your case, and I know there is a lot of expense involved. So most likely will not apply.

Good luck.

(Some folks keep their garage door openers in the bike bag when transporting bikes on the roof).
Yep,keep those payments coming in but dont you dare use us or thats it for you.I love paying for something you shouldnt use,that insurance.

Yep,keep those payments coming in but dont you dare use us or thats it for you.I love paying for something you shouldnt use,that insurance.

Totally agree with you. They can really get one between a rock and a hard place. This practice should be outlawed.

You buy insurance to cover a loss, but they don't want to pay!!

I think a big thing is to really read your policy, find out what it does cover and does not if you don't like it change companies. Biggest thing everyone really should check does your insurance cover replacement value or current value? If you claim to many times they will drop you or raise your rates so high you have to leave them.
When I was 21 I got in my 2nd accident in 3 years(second accident I was rear ended at a red light) my car insurance company at the time doubled my rates! If a law goes into effec to force them from dropping people, they will just raise rates so you will leave I'm not saying it is right but it is reality.

It is very doubtful your auto insurance will cover it. They rarely cover anything in your car or attached to it.
Your homeowners probably WILL cover it, BUT... considering the deductible and the fact that they (usually) only pay for the actual value not the replacement value, it's probably not worth the time to file the claim. I suppose if it was a brand new bike, it might be worth it.

I had the same issue 2 months ago when my wife backed our Tahoe into a handicap space at my condo. I have a hitch mount 3 bike rack that extends another 3-4 feet behind the truck. My wife backed my Bianchi into the pole crushing the top tube. I had a LBS determine the frame to be unsafe and not repairable and my homeowners bought a new frame minus my deductable of $250. I have USAA and they are excellent about these things. Good Luck.