Cycle touring is an incredible way to explore new countries and regions at your own pace. Despite this, cycling in a foreign country brings risks and challenges. Here we address the question “do I need specialist travel insurance for cycle touring?”
Why won’t my standard travel insurance policy cover me for cycle touring?
Many travel insurers consider cycle touring to be an extreme sport and won’t cover it in their policies. Some travel insurers will only cover you for cycling if it is an incidental activity to your trip and not the sole purpose e.g. hiring a bike for a day. Cycle touring is typically not covered if it is the primary purpose of your trip.
Even if they do cover cycle touring, most insurers will not provide personal liability cover for this activity. This is important as it covers you if you are liable to pay damages due to accidentally injuring someone or causing loss or damage to their property.
Cycle tourers should look for a travel insurance policy which explicitly lists cycle touring as a covered activity and includes personal liability cover. This article provides an overview of the key components of cycle touring travel insurance and the distinction between cycling travel insurance and bicycle insurance.
✅ See here for our curated list of insurance policies covering cycle touring trips.
What is the difference between cycling travel insurance and bicycle insurance?
It is important to remember that cycling travel insurance and bicycle insurance are two different insurance policies. Cycling travel insurance is travel insurance which covers you for medical expenses plus personal liability and cancellation cover. Bicycle insurance provides cover for theft or damage to your bicycle. This article focuses on cycling travel insurance.
Key components of cycle touring travel insurance
How long can I cycle for?
Cycle touring trips can range from a few days to 12 months plus. Our curated list of cycle touring policies covers all durations. Some insurers have a maximum trip length, e.g. Adventures Insurance will only cover trips of six months or less. Yellow Jersey covers trips of up to one month, however you could opt for their annual travel insurance which allows you to select single trips of up to 120 days.
Most travel insurers have quote engines which ask you to list each country you will be travelling through. If you are more of an “I’ll see where my bike takes me” traveller, Big Cat Travel Insurance offers policies covering Europe and worldwide.
When won’t I be covered?
You are unlikely to be covered in the following instances;
- ❌ If you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- ❌ If you are not wearing a safety crash helmet
- ❌ If you are participating in organised events, races or competitions or on a professional basis
- ❌ If you travel to countries against FCDO advice (or where they are advising against all but essential travel)
- ❌ If your trip has already started (however, our list contains a limited number of policies that will cover you even if you are already travelling).
Many insurers won’t provide personal liability cover when you are cycle touring. This covers you if you are liable to pay damages due to accidentally injuring someone or causing loss or damage to their property. At Cover My Adventure, all of our listed policies include personal liability cover when cycle touring.
Single trip versus annual travel insurance
If you are planning a shorter cycle touring trip and want to travel more than once during the year, you could also consider an annual travel insurance policy. Big Cat Travel Insurance‘s premier annual policy will cover individual trips up to 70 days (30 days for the standard policy) whilst Adventures Insurance annual policy covers trips up to 60 days.
Travelling in Europe
The Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC, formerly EHIC) is free to apply for and entitles UK residents to free or discounted medical care in an EU country. Some insurers will even waive the excess if the GHIC is used to reduce the cost of a medical claim. However, it is no substitute for travel insurance and will not necessarily cover all medical costs nor any emergency flights home.
Conclusion
Finding the right cycle touring travel insurance for your trip can feel daunting. Only a limited number of insurance policies are appropriate for a dedicated cycle touring trip and include personal liability cover.
✅ To help you find the right policy with ease, check out Cover My Adventure’s list of insurance policies covering cycle touring trips.