If you are about to purchase your first electric bicycle, there are a few things you will need to know first. You will need to know about the three classifications and the laws surrounding their legal use. In the United States, laws have been put in place that allows each state to dictate the use of electric bicycles. The laws in the states can differ widely for every state. Some require you to be a certain age, wear a protective helmet, or limit the type of electric bicycles you can use. But what about insurance? Do you need insurance to ride an electric bicycle?
When it comes to insurance for your electric bicycle, a few states require you to have insurance for your electric bicycle. Here are the things that require you to have insurance for your electric bicycle to legally ride them.
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- North Dakota
- West Virginia
Most of these states either classify electric bicycles as mopeds or motorized vehicles, and as such, they are subject to license, registration, and insurance requirements. However, most other states have laws that only restrict the use of e-bikes by age or require you to wear a protective helmet.
With that said, you can get insurance for your e-bike in every state, and it can be a lifesaver. Electric bicycles tend to cost around $1,500 or more, and insurance will help cover damages and theft, which can save you a ton of money.
As you continue to read this article, we will go in-depth about the laws in the four states that require you to have insurance. Furthermore, we will cover why you should have insurance on your electric bicycle regardless of the state in which you live. Finally, we will discuss what you should do to get insurance for your electric bicycle.
Which States Require You To Have Insurance For An Electric Bicycle
In the United States, there are only four states that, by law, require you to have insurance for your electric bicycle in order to ride your electric bicycle legally. We will discuss the laws for these states so that you can understand why you are required by law to have insurance for your electric bicycle.
- New Jersey
New Jersey follows the three classification systems for electric bicycles. However, for class 1 and class 2 electric bicycles, New Jersey has designated them as “low-speed electric bicycles.” Because of this, class 1 and class 2 e-bikes are regulated the same as traditional pedal bicycles and must share the same bike lane.
With that said, when it comes to class 3 electric bicycles, New Jersey has defined them to be motorized vehicles. Because class 3 e-bikes are considered motorized vehicles in New Jersey, they are regulated. In order to legally ride a class 3 electric bicycle in New Jersey, you must be at least 15 years old and must have a special license. Furthermore, because class 3 e-bikes are considered motorized vehicles, you must register your electric bicycle with the state and have viable insurance.
- New Mexico
In New Mexico, all three classes of electric bicycles are classified as mopeds. Because of this, all-electric bicycles need to be registered to the state and have viable insurance. Furthermore, you must be at least 15 years old in order to legally ride an electric bicycle in New Mexico.
- West Virginia
Like New Mexico, West Virginia has decided to classify all-electric bicycles as mopeds and are regulated as such. Because of this, you must have insurance and register your electric bicycle with the state. Furthermore, you must be at least 15 years old in order to legally operate an electric bicycle.
West Virginia also has a helmet law that requires all electric bicycle riders to wear a protective helmet.
- North Dakota
North Dakota has classified all-electric bicycles as “motorized bicycles”, but they are all regulated like traditional pedal bicycles. However, because all electric bicycles are defined as motorized bicycles, by law, you must register your e-bike with the state and have viable insurance. Furthermore, you must be at least 14 years old to operate an electric bicycle legally in North Dakota.
Should I Get Insurance For My Electric Bicycle?
Insurance for your electric bicycle is a necessity. Although electric bicycles are not cheap, any electric bicycle made with high-quality parts that are made to last will cost you at least $1,500 or more. In our eyes, electric bicycles are an investment as a mode of transportation like any car or truck on the road. Because of this, we highly advise everyone to get insurance for their electric bicycles.
The cost for insurance for an electric bicycle is relatively cheap. While the price may differ from state to state, the cheapest form of insurance will cost no more than $100. This insurance will most likely only cover damages, but other insurances cover bodily injury, theft, and more.
One of the most incredible things about e-bike insurance is that you can tailor each coverage to your specific needs and riding style. For example, property damage arising from theft, accident, collision, fire, attempted theft, vandalism, or striking a pedestrian is frequently covered. Furthermore, electric bicycles with insurance are likely to get replacement parts and even rentals at no extra cost.
What Policies Should I Get When Getting Insurance For My Electric Bicycle?
When you are shopping for insurance for your electric bicycle, there are many things you need to consider. First of all, insurance for electric bicycles is very cheap and can be custom-built to your needs. If you live in a rural area, you might be less inclined to pay for theft protection because it is far less likely for your e-bike to get stolen. Instead, you might consider paying for insurance that covers accidental damage.
Here we have made a list of the four most important things you can have covered with insurance for your electric bicycle.
- Electric Bicycle Theft Insurance
Theft is always a problem for cyclists. In the event that your lock or chain is cut, many insurance policies will cover your e-bike, so make sure to secure your e-bike when acquiring an insurance policy. For example, suppose your electric bicycle insurance policy includes a theft provision. In that case, it will cover the cost of a replacement if it is stolen, which is especially important if your e-bike is expensive.
- Personal Bodily Injury Insurance
If you’ve been in an accident while riding your e-bike as an uninsured motorist, you’ll have to figure out how to pay for the damage to your e-bike with your own money. Suppose your electric bicycle insurance policy includes a personal accident policy. In that case, you will be granted a lump sum amount of money if you are critically wounded in an accident while riding your e-bike. Even in the worst-case situation, this might help you relax.
- Third-Party Liability Insurance
When the topic of electric bicycle insurance comes up, this is most certainly what comes to mind. Third-party liability insurance would cover the cost of any damages incurred as a consequence of an accident while riding your e-bike. Because an e-bike is a motorized bike, third-party liability insurance is crucial because it is seldom discussed but may happen to any user.
- Accidental or Malicious Damage Insurance
Accidents and acts of vandalism occur regularly. While you are not to blame, you will almost probably want assistance in paying for any repairs or replacements. If you’re thinking about getting electric bicycle insurance, be sure it covers both accidental and intentional damage so you can keep your bike in good shape no matter what occurs.
How To Get Insurance For My Electric Bicycle?
Getting electric bicycle insurance is quite easy. There are a bunch of insurance companies that offer electric bicycle insurance. We have gathered a list of these insurance companies.
Something to note, all of these insurance companies do offer electric bicycle insurance. However, like SafeCo and State Farm, some of them do not offer insurance policies for electric bicycles on their websites. With that said, contact your local office for the company you wish to use and ask them about their electric bicycle policies. They will be more than happy to explain everything.
Final Thoughts
Electric bicycle insurance is required by law in four states. However, you can get electric bicycle insurance in any state. We believe if you have an electric bicycle, you should purchase insurance. Electric bicycle insurance provides many needed benefits and is very cheap. Furthermore, you can customize your insurance to tailor-fit your needs as a rider, which ensures you are not paying for specific insurance policies that you know you will not need.
